Mahani Teave | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mahani Teave Williams |
| Born | February 14, 1983 Hawaii, U.S. |
| Origin | Easter Island, Chile |
| Genres | Classical |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
Mahani Teave (born 14 February 1983) is a classical pianist from Easter Island, Chile.
Teave was born on Hawaii, to a Rapa Nui father and an American mother.[1] She attended the Austral University and studied music at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Hanns Eisler Music Academy (where she received the Konrad Adenauer Fellowship).[2][3]
Teave is considered Easter Island's only classical musician.[3] She began playing Western classical music as a child, and, after her teacher left the island, Teave's family moved to mainland Chile so she could continue her musical education.[2]
Teave has toured globally, including performances throughout Chile, Europe, and Asia.[2] Her first performance in Canada was in 2014 at the Carleton University symposium celebrating Franz Liszt.[3]
In 2012, Teave founded the Easter Island Music School, the island's first music school, teaching piano, cello, ukulele, and violin.[2][4][5] She and her husband, Enrique Icka, manage the NGO Toki Rapa Nui, which helps sponsor the school.[6]
In 2020, producer and filmmaker John Forsen released a documentary, Song of Rapa Nui, about Teave.[7] The documentary focuses on her life journey through music as well as her contemporary work in conservation. In 2021, Teave released her debut album, Rapa Nui Odyssey.[7] It includes pieces by Bach, Chopin, Handel, Liszt, Rachmaninov and Scriabin.
In 2008, Teave's performance of Rachmaninov's Concerto No. 1 (with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Chile) was awarded the APES Prize for the best classical music performance in Chile.[3][8]
Additional awards Teave has won include the Cleveland Institute of Music Concerto Competition (2004), the Claudio Arrau International Piano Competition (1999), and Merit Prize (arts) from Andrés Bello University (2012).[3]
In 2012 Teave was selected to become a Steinway & Sons Artist.[3][9] In 2016 she received the Advancement of Women Award from Scotiabank for her leadership and work on Easter Island promoting music.[10]
