Filipino-Austrian Pianist Aima Labra-Makk

Aima Maria Labra-Makk leads a solid career as a solo concert pianist, chamber musician and educator. Her perfo rmances and magnetic presence have earned her world-wide acclaim. European critics describe her playing as "peerless marked by high musical intelligence, colorful expression with physical robustness (to sound) with elegant ease of touch but never for the sake of display." Even the famous pianist and pedagogue Tatjana Nikolaeva highly praised the expressiveness and depth of her playing.

Born 1965 in Cebu City, the Philippines, Ms. Labra-Makk received her first piano tutorials from her pianist mother at age three. By the time she entered teenhood, she seriously committed herself to piano. After balancing rigorous and intensive piano lessons and high school academics, she proceeded to the University of the Philippines where she studied under Perla Suaco and earned a Bachelor of Music degree.

In 1985, she won the top prize of the National Music Competion for Young Artists (NAMCYA), piano category C. Overwhelmed and impressed by her technique and her performance, the judges decided not to award a second prize. The top prize in that category has never been won since then.

In 1986, she was granted acceptance at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria, where she studied under her mentor Eugen Jakab. It was at this same period too when she was granted numerous and generous scholarships such as the Bosendorf Scholarship, Martha Debelli Stipend, Alban Berg Foundation Scholarship.

In 1989, after winning the third prize at the First International Competition Franz Schubert and 20th Century Music in Graz, she started getting invitations to do recitals, radio and television recordings, and concert tours.

In 1990, with a unanimous board decision, Ms.Labra-Makk was awarded the highest honors in Concert Diplomate from the University of Music. She later received a recognition award from the Ministry of Education of Austria (Wurdigungspreis des Bundesministers fur Wissenschaft and Forschung).

She performs in key cities and venues in Europe such as the Konzerthaus in Vienna, Haydnsaal in Eisenstadt, Mirabell Palace in Salzburg. Stefaniensaal in Graz. and in Asia. She has also performed in international festivals such as the Vienna International Festival (Wiener Festwochen), 1st Women´s Festival in Eisenstadt (Frauenfestival), Liszt-Beethoven Symphonies for Piano Series in Wiesbaden, Germany.

In 1999, she was the featured pianist at the Easter Concert of the Liszt Society in Raiding, Austria. In November, 2001, she successfully made her U.S debut in Washington, D.C to a rousing applause and standing ovation. She has since played in Chicago, Los Angeles, Tennessee and Dallas.

As a chamber musician, she has collaborated with her husband Nikolaus Makk, who is himself an accomplished cellist, and with the clarinettist Peter Forcher to form the ensemble "Tonstrom". She sometimes play duo-recitals with her austrian pianist friend Janna Polyzoides.

She recently played at the Cultural Center of the Philippines to a full house and several standing ovations in the Filipino Artist Series 2003 Season . Her program included works by Bach-Busoni, Beethoven, Ausgusto Espino, Liszt and Bartok. A music critique from a national daily described in part, "Each selection that Labra-makk served was a tour-de-force, a showstopper that sprang from her belligerent spiritual self."

Labra-Makk is the only pianist who has recorded the complete solo piano works of Jenö Takacs on four CDs. Coming out too is her recording of the Takacs´ Piano Concerto, a world premiere recording, with the Savaria Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Tamas Pal. The CD is being released by Hungaroton, the leading classical recording company of Hungary.

Aima Labra-Makk and her husband Nikolaus live in a small and peaceful village in Oberschuetzen, Austria with their two lovely cats.

Aima Labra Makk's Concert at Santa Monica, Ca

Former Consul General & Mrs. Edwin Bael, Event Honorary Chairs, with Helma Christianne-Bloomberg, Founder of the International Society of Cultural Ambassadors and Naouma Haim of the International Committee of the Philharmonic Asso. of Los Angeles during Aima Labra-Makk's Concert at Santa Monica