Lara Dodds-Eden

Lara completed her undergraduate studies with Susanne Powell in Australia in 2006 with Honours and the University Medal. Whilst studying in Canberra,
Lara was a three time winner of the Margaret Smiles Accompaniment Competition at the ANU, and winner of its' Chamber Music Prize as well; she was given the opportunity to perform Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 with the ANU Symphony Orchestra and conductor Max McBride, and had performed with prominent Australian artists such as cellists David Pereira and Julian Smiles, violinist Barbara Jane Gilby and singers Stephen Bennett and Louise Page. As an ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers' Award Keyboard Finalist in 2006, Lara performed the first movement of the Brahms' Concerto with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and conductor Arvo Volmer, and subsequently Lara returned to Australia in 2007 to perform Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with Sydney Sinfonia and conductor Richard Gill at Angel Place Recital Hall, Sydney in their 'Discovery Series', which was recorded for ABC Classic FM.

Lara was offered a full scholarship for postgraduate studies in Accompaniment at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and she completed two years of study and a year as a Fellow of the GSMD with Caroline Palmer. She has continued to live in London since graduating, and works as a freelance accompanist and teacher. During her time in London Lara has appeared in recital with singers and instrumentalists at prestigious venues including Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, the Purcell Room, the Royal Opera House Crush Room, St. John Smith Square, the Barbican, St. James’ Piccadilly and LSO St Lukes.
Since moving to London, Lara has performed in masterclasses with Graham Johnson, Bengt Forsberg, Sir Thomas Allen, Helmut Deutsch, Iain Burnside, Bernard Greenhouse and the Kungsbacka Trio. She won the 2007 GSMD Accompaniment Prize, and was pianist with the winning ensemble in the 2007 GSMD Award for Chamber Music. In 2008 Lara performed as a Tunnell Trust Young Musician, accompanied the string prize winner and overall 2nd place winner at the Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artist’s Competition, and performed with cellist John Myerscough at the Wigmore Hall. In 2009 she performed with cellist Matthijs Broersma at the Royal Festival Hall and they appeared again the following year at the Purcell Room. She also performed at the Crush Room of the Royal Opera House in their lunchtime series with Anna Devin, prizewinner of the Maggie Teyte Song Prize and current Jette Parker Young Artist. In February this year Lara performed at the Royal Festival Hall with violist Rosalind Ventris and they have since performed at a number of music societies around Britain on the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme.

Lara performed at the Paxos International Music Festival in Greece in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and since 2010 has been responsible for devising the programmes and co-ordinating the performers for the festival. Please see www.paxosfestival.org.uk for details.
Lara also programmed a concert series at St. Mary and St. John the Divine in Balham from 2009-2011.

Lara has been very grateful for the support of the Wingate Memorial Trust, the Tait Memorial Trust, the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers, members of Sing Australia, and many colleagues, family and friends.