Tedeschi to play benefit for Malawi

Simon Tedeschi wants it known that he has no intention of adopting an orphan from Malawi.

But that hasn't stopped the Australian concert pianist from throwing his support behind a charity in a country usually associated with Madonna.

The US popstar is funding an orphanage in the impoverished African country through her charity Raising Malawi and has adopted two children, David Banda and Mercy James.

Tedeschi will to play at a concert in Sydney in July to help raise money for the MicroLoan foundation, which gives small loans and training to help women in Malawi start a business.

He will perform works by Bach and Beethoven at the benefit concert, which will be held on July 22 at St James Church in Sydney's CBD.

Returning to Australia regularly is a must for Boston-based Tedeschi, who is the son of Sydney barrister Mark Tedeschi QC.

"I would be pretty unhappy if I didn't," he says.

"(But) as a musician one can only grow to one's full potential if you are exposed to other cultures, especially the cultures where that music came form."

At the age of 29, Tedeschi has achieved much in his career, which has blossomed since he performed a Mozart Piano Concerto at the Sydney Opera House at the age of nine.

At fourteen he performed privately for Luciano Pavarotti and in 1998 he was named Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year.

He has toured the US, Taiwan, New Caledonia, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Japan and the UK and performed in front of the Dalai Lama and Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark.

Tedeschi says everyone should be exposed to classical music, especially young children.

"Kids are so smart it is not something that needs to be something that is force fed to them, most kids will love classical music given half a chance," he says.

"From a very young age it is something that both parents and kids can get a lot out of, I know I did."

Tedeschi acknowledges that he is following big footsteps by supporting a Malawian charity.

"I guess musicians of all kinds are often associated with causes and without knowing much about Madonna I know that she has an association with a lot of causes," he says.

"I generally get behind any cause that I feel strongly about, it's really the minimum a musician can do in order to give back.

"Micro finances have changed everything in terms of international development, mainly focusing on women who have a cumulative effect on their community."

But despite the 88 keys having consumed most of his life, Tedeschi still muses about other paths he might have taken, such as working with animals or even becoming a cricket umpire.

"It's a job, it's a job I love, it's a very big part of my life but it's not the meaning of my life," he says of the piano.

And while he says he's keen to visit Malawi one day, he won't be bringing any orphans home.