Lunchtime Concert: Ethan Rawhiti and Weiran Chen, Piano Four Hands

Dvorak – Slavonic Dance, Op. 72, No. 2
Brahms – Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 90
I. Allegro non assai
II. Andante moderato
III. Allegro giocoso
IV. Allegro energico e passionato

Weiran Chen & Ethan Rawhiti formed a piano duo earlier this year, performing in lunchtime concerts focusing on the piano four-hand music of Brahms.

Ethan Rawhiti is a Wellington-born pianist and has enjoyed collaboration since he first attended the NZSM Young Musician Programme at the age of 15. Last year, he graduated with a Bachelor of music with honours from Victoria University of Wellington. He is currently working as an accompanist at NZSM. Ethan has performed in a wide range of contexts. In 2026, he played a solo recital in Christchurch and participated in the Adam Summer School in Nelson. In 2025, he was the répétiteur for Wellington Operas’ premier production of ‘Mate Ururoa’ by Dame Gillian Whitehead and played for Brigid Bisley’s ‘In Return’ concert. In 2024, Ethan was sponsored by Professor Jack C. Richards to attend the Semaine Internationale de Piano festival in Switzerland.

Weiran Chen is currently a second-year DMA student at the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington. She previously completed her Bachelor of Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, a Recital Artist Diploma at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and a Master of Music at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is currently working as an accompanist at NZSM. Weiran is a prize winner in several competitions, including the 2024 Charles & Sofia International Piano Competition. Weiran has performed in China, Europe and the U.S. Weiran also enjoys collaborating with living composers. She was invited to record a new piano work for the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Press, a project featured in the MEiC Chinese Music Education documentary series. She has since collaborated with New Zealand composer Penelope Axtens, commissioning Afternoon Fantasie and giving its premiere at the Douglas Lilburn Open Day last year.