Playing piano was not Madeline Hildebrand's first inclination as a child.
"It happens. I was put into lessons at a very early age," said the acclaimed pianist and 2012 winner of the prestigious Doris McLellan competition for live solo performance with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. "But I am grateful my parents did put me into lessons."
The Winnipeg resident also been awarded a Master of Music from the University of British Columbia, is a four-time scholarship winner at Manitoba's Provincial Festival piano finals, represented Canada in the classical division at the Eastern European Cultural Arts Festival in Sibiu, Romania, and she recently returned from Maine's Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, where she was awarded a full scholarship to study and perform in July and August.
Hildebrand said piano eventually became her passion when she finally began playing what she calls the "real music."
"Beethovan, Bach, Prokofiev ," she said. "When I started playing the classical composers, I realized I was able to play some of the most beautiful music in the world, and was the medium through which it could be shared. I'm so lucky to be an ambassador for such great music."
Hildebrand will be in Squamish on Sunday (Feb. 3) for a special, intimate concert presented by the Howe Sound Performing Arts Association (HSPAA) at the Squamish Academy of Music (SAM) at 6 p.m.
"We chose to present this in a more intimate venue," she said. "A smaller venue offers a more communicative vibe, and people are encouraged to ask questions and interact with me."
This is Hildebrand's second concert in Squamish.
"Madeline and I grew up in the same community - Steinbach, Manitoba," said Colleen Koop, who is producing the show. "Her father was my high school music teacher.In 2001, I introduced Squamish and Whistler to the concept of an adjudicated music festival. Madeline's parents Ed and Millie were the Howe Sound Music Festival'sfirst adjudicators. Having this strong connection with the Hildebrand family, and knowing Madeline was at U小蓝视频last year studying under Jane Coop, I thoughtit would be a great opportunity for this up-and-coming pianist to perform here in Squamish."
Hildebrand said she plans to share some newer "real music" with Sunday's audience.
"My repertoire is going to be a mix of classical and contemporary leaning more toward contemporary. I find it dramatic and exciting to share music that may not have been heard before. I will talk about the composers and the compositions and what influenced them."
Hildebrand said her U小蓝视频 professors encouraged their students to explore newer composers.
"Our teachers always encouraged us to find living composers," she said. "It's very exciting to interpret the music alongside the actual composer. They are very open to new ideas and interpretations of their pieces, too."
After the SAM concert, Hildebrand said she plans to organize a "house" concert tour where she'll play in intimate home settings "from Winnipeg to Flin Flon" and back again.
Catch Hildebrand at SAM on Sunday at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults/seniors, $10 for students.
