Igor Hmelnitsky (27 December 1920 – 27 September 1987) was a distinguished classical pianist and pedagogue who was based for most of his life in Australia, where he built his reputation.

Life

Igor Hmelnitsky was born in

Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...

, then in the

Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies (; ), was a Dutch Empire, Dutch colony with territory mostly comprising the modern state of Indonesia, which Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, declared independence on 17 Au ...

(now

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

). His father, the noted pianist Alexander Hmelnitsky, had emigrated to Asia from

Kiev Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

after the

Russian Revolution The Russian Revolution was a period of Political revolution (Trotskyism), political and social revolution, social change in Russian Empire, Russia, starting in 1917. This period saw Russia Dissolution of the Russian Empire, abolish its mona ...

. In 1925 the family moved on to Sydney. Igor served in the

Royal Netherlands Air Force The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF; , "Royal Air Force") is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. It was created in 1953 to succeed its predecessor, the ''Luchtvaartafdeling'' () of the Dutch Army, which was founded ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. In his ensuing Australian musical career he was known as an exponent of the grand Romantic school of classical pianism. He performed for the

Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s principal public service broadcaster. It is funded primarily by grants from the federal government and is administered by a government-appointed board of directors. The ABC is ...

and promoted the piano works of the Australian composer Raymond Hanson. From 1972 to 1985 he taught at the

Sydney Conservatorium of Music The Sydney Conservatorium of Music (SCM) — formerly the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music, and known by the moniker "The Con" — is the music school of the University of Sydney. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious music ...

. A notable student was the Australian pianist and teacher

Gabriella Pusner Gabriella Pusner is an Australian classical pianist and pedagogue. Studies and career Pusner studied with the distinguished pianist and pedagogue Igor Hmelnitsky and graduated with both Teacher and Performer Diplomas from the Sydney Conserva ...

. Igor Hmelnitsky died of cancer on 27 September 1987 at

St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney is a leading tertiary referral hospital and research facility located in Darlinghurst, Sydney. Though funded and integrated into the New South Wales state public health system, it is operated by St Vincent's Hea ...

, and was survived by his fifth wife and four children. In February 2024 his nephew Justice James Hmelnitsky was sworn in to the

Supreme Court of New South Wales The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian States and territories of Australia, State of New South Wales. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil law (common law), civil matters, and hears ...

Medical research

Igor Hmelnitsky undertook significant medical studies to help inform his pedagogy, and he co-authored a research paper examining weight-bearing manipulation in piano playing, along with the syndrome of overuse.

References

External links

Playlist of archival Igor Hmelnitsky video performances

Playlist of archival Igor Hmelnitsky audio performances
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hmelnitsky, Igor 1920 births 1987 deaths Australian classical pianists Australian male classical pianists 20th-century classical pianists Piano educators Academic staff of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Musicians from Sydney People from Java Emigrants from the Dutch East Indies Royal Netherlands Air Force personnel