Mozart Helps To Celebrate A Life Full Of Music
Newcastle Herald
Monday May 17, 1999
NEWCASTLE concert pianist Sharon Raschke may be battling cancer but her life-threatening illness is not going to stop her making music.
Yesterday the 61-year-old soon to be grandmother of 10 took to the stage at Newcastle City Hall for her first concert in 12 months.
In temporary remission from bowel cancer, Ms Raschke said she needed to perform to celebrate her `good health', to raise cancer awareness and to thank Novocastrians for their support.
She underwent cancer surgery after a similar concert performance last year.
`It's time to celebrate the first anniversary since the operation and hopefully five years down the track we'll still be celebrating,' the brilliant musician said.
When diagnosed last year, Ms Raschke was told she had a 50% chance of another five years of life.
`I've booked out the city hall for the same date for the next six years,' she laughed.
`I suppose you could say this is the start of my series of farewell concerts.
`I just want to play piano as much as I can between now and when it actually happens.'
Ms Raschke has been diagnosed with coeliac disease, which she has suffered for 25 years.
`As soon as I went on a gluten-free diet I felt a million dollars,' she said.
`People who suffer this complaint are 80 times more likely of getting bowel cancer.'
Ms Raschke's career spans 53 years, beginning with her first public appearance when she was seven.
She composed the original music for the film My Brilliant Career, taught actors Sam Neill and Judy Davis their piano skills for that film, was the first Australian musician accepted into the prestigious Tchaikowsky Competition and founded the Newcastle Chamber Music Society, which became known as Musica Viva.
Hunter bass baritone Peter Brock also performed at yesterday's concert, Mozart Words and Music.
© 1999 Newcastle Herald
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