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Famous New Zealanders

Michael Houstoun

  • Born 20 October 1952 in Timaru.
  • Studied piano with Sister Mary Eulalie in Timaru and Maurice Till in Christchurch.
  • Was placed third in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in the United States in 1973, fourth in the Leeds International Piano Competition in England in 1975, and sixth in the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow.
  • Based in New Zealand since 1981.
  • Recent achievements include performing and recording the 32 piano sonatas by Ludwig von Beethoven, working on a television programme about the composer Franz Liszt, and establishing a summer music school in Nelson with the NZ String Quartet.
  • In May 1999, Houstoun received an honorary doctorate in literature from Massey University.
  • Regarded as New Zealand's leading concert pianist.