artist profile
EARLY LIFE & SCHOOL YEARS
Andre Mendes da Costa is of Dutch-Portuguese ancestry but was born in New Zealand and grew up in the Coromandel Peninsula gateway town of Thames.
Andre’s love of music was evident from an early age, and his musical voyage began with piano tuition from the age of seven, which progressed to classical training. While other children were scoring tries on the rugby field, Andre was scoring points with his tutors, winning one performance award after another in local and regional competitions while studying for Trinity College of Music examinations.
During high school Andre also learned trumpet and violin, and was involved in a number of musical productions as member of the school orchestra. His music teacher John Mullon later described Andre as “one of the most talented musicians at Thames High School.”
Andre’s professional journey began when he worked during his school holidays as a store demonstrator of electronic organs and keyboards in Thames and Paeroa, fascinating shoppers and passersby with his versatility and broad musical repertoire. Andre was never far away from the public eye as his parents always encouraged him to use his musical skills to entertain others — a gift he holds in common with his cousin, well-known NZ entertainer and former TVNZ music director Garth Young (now based in Rarotonga).
At the age of 17 Andre was invited to perform at the official grand opening in Newtown, Wellington, of what was then known as the prestigious Piano House of New Zealand, officiated by the late former Prime Minister Sir David Lange. This occasion was Andre’s formal introduction to live piano performances, and was also his first opportunity to experience playing a Steinway & Sons grand piano.
KEYBOARDIST & SESSION MUSICIAN
While Andre has not pursued music as his primary career, music has nevertheless played a significant part in his life. In addition to providing entertainment on countless occasions for friends and family, for more than 25 years he has performed as a freelance pianist and as keyboard player and vocalist with bands in New Zealand and Australia, including the Brisbane-based Backstreet Blues Band during the 1980’s, and featured in their debut album recorded at Creative Space Studios, Brisbane.
André is just as at home playing in an informal setting as he is in a formal one. Some of his most memorable jam sessions have been with the extremely talented Adrian Stuckey of Bignote Productions in Australia, French-Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Huard (former member of 1960’s rock band The Sultans) while visiting Montreal in 1997, and more recently on a number of occasions with Finnish violinist and NZSO concertmaster Vesa-Matti Leppänen.
While Andre can read music, his greatest talent is the ability to perform a song after only hearing it, and as a result he has an endless repertoire that continues growing to keep pace with the ongoing release of modern easy-listening songs. His versatility as a session musician has also meant that he can easily adapt to accompany other musicians and singers, and has done so on many hundreds of occasions over the years, both in rehearsed settings as well as spontaneous performances.
To this day, Andre regularly receives offers to work the international luxury hotel chain and cruise ship entertainment circuits, and while professionally such offers are tempting, for personal and family reasons he prefers to remain in New Zealand.
While an experienced band keyboardist, in recent years Andre has focused more on live solo piano work, performing as resident and guest pianist at a number of establishments in the Auckland, Waikato, and Wellington regions, and proving to be a popular music choice for wedding receptions, cocktail parties, and corporate functions. In his rare spare time he puts his hand to songwriting, and while he is by no means prolific, the quality of his lyrical and melodic compositions has won praise from music professionals worldwide.
AWARD-WINNING PERFORMER
In 2006 Andre was awarded Top Ten status by Music Wairarapa Incorporated, and was selected as one of the Performing Artists for Zest Wairarapa, an inaugural festival showcasing Beer, Wine & Food from around New Zealand, set amongst Wairarapa’s premium outdoor setting QE II Park. Andre has since been sought after for other high-profile public functions, such as Wairarapa’s annual Bride of the Year, where discreet yet top quality live music has been an integral part of the proceedings.
In 2009 Andre was announced as the winner of the Corporate Events Guide's 2009 People's Choice Award for Best Nationwide Band — his "band" comprising the 88 black and white piano keys on whatever quality instrument he chooses to work with. The People's Choice Awards are designed to highlight the best of every service and product in the events industry. This was a marvelous accolade for Andre, as the Corporate Events Guide People's Choice Awards are known as the most prestigious awards in the event planning industry, and event planners are assured that the winners and finalists in these awards offer their clients a fantastic service and product that will help to make their event both memorable and successful.
STEINWAY PIANOS — THE ARTIST’S CHOICE
This artist’s profile would not be complete without reference to his instrument of choice. Like most pianists who have had the opportunity to play on a variety of pianos in their career, Andre has acquired a taste for those instruments which enable him to give the full range of expression to his music, and which allow him to turn a palette of ebony and ivory into a veritable artwork of colour. While Andre admires and enjoys performing on quality instruments made by Kawai and Yamaha, he joins many world-class pianists in regarding instruments made by Steinway & Sons as the pinnacle of piano achievement. However, if a quality grand piano is not available at your chosen venue, Andre can supply a quality digital piano for the occasion.
THE DISCERNING CHOICE IN LIVE MUSIC
Whether you are planning your wedding or organising a company function, enhance your upcoming special event with beautiful live piano background music performed by award-winning Wairarapa pianist Andre Mendes da Costa.
Based in New Zealand’s picturesque Wairarapa region since 2003, Andre enjoys performing for most functions where discreet live background music is appreciated, and he is available to travel throughout the Wairarapa and Wellington regions, or further if required.
Highly recommended as the first choice for intimate music at weddings, corporate functions and other special occasions, Andre will add a touch of class to your special day.
