Music man tunes in at academy

Great things are expected of master pianist Inaki Sandovol, who started yesterday as dean of music at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

The world-renowned musician, composer and music producer is expected to promote major enhancements in performing arts education, with academy director Gillian Choa pointing out he has two decades of experience in arts administration. "I'm confident he will build upon existing strengths of the school," she said.

Sandoval, 48, has been recognized as one of the most important of Spanish jazz pianists, and he's recorded and collaborated with musicians such as Eddie Gomez, Billy Hart, Carles Benavent, Horacio Fumero, David Xirgu, Stefan Karlsson, Sizao Machado and Greg Badolato.

He graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

He was most recently director and professor at the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy in Estonia.