Bryan Sayer

Bryan Sayer studied at The University of Auckland under Olwen Burton and Janetta McStay majoring in Music and French. In 1966 he took up Scholarships from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and the Queen Elizabeth 11 Arts Council of New Zealand at the Royal College of Music in London where his teacher was Eric Harrison. He then spent a year in Paris studying French music with the celebrated pianist, Vlado Perlemuter.

In 1970 Bryan returned to New Zealand to join the staff of the School of Music at the University of Auckland. He subsequently held the positions of Senior Lecturer in Piano, Head of Performance Studies, Co-ordinator of Scholarships and Prizes and Co-ordinator of Chamber Music.

Over the last 30 years Bryan has toured as recitalist and chamber musician for Chamber Music New Zealand, recorded more than 100 programmes for Concert FM, appeared many times with orchestras as concerto soloist, and as accompanist for leading instrumentalists and singers including Marya Martin, Wilma Smith, Wendy Dixon, Anthea Moller, Heinrich Schiff and Hakan Hardenberger.

He has, besides, tutored at summer music schools, given many masterclasses and seminars, and acted as an adjudicator and examiner throughout New Zealand and in Australia.

Bryan has had a long list of distinguished students. They won all the major scholarships, prizes and competitions in New Zealand on many occasions and participated with success in such international competitions as Tokyo, Hamamatsu, William Kapell, Queen Elisabeth, Sydney and Rubinstein. They are now based throughout the world, teaching and performing in the USA, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, England, Australia, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, China and Malaysia.

In 1994 Bryan was the first recipient of the University of Auckland’s Distinguished Teaching Award, and in the following year he was made a Fellow of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers. He retired from the University in 2004 and now enjoys travel to musical events and festivals in different parts of the world as well as examining, adjudicating, and giving masterclasses and seminars throughout the country.

c/- music@waikato.ac.nz