CVCon Term 3 Newsletter

J ULY 2022 VOL. 3

THE MEMORANDA HOW TO PRACTICE ACACIA QUARTET SUNDAY SERIES A NEW BUILDING

A Conservatorium for the 21st Century The Conservatorium can trace its roots back to the 1920's when music education was first delivered on the site in Grafton. Our main building was purpose-built in the 1980's and serves music education well.

In recent years it has become ever more evident that the 'house' next to the main building is not suitable for all that CVCon needs to accomplish and continue to grow the music services offered and provided.

Local architect, Warren Steele, from DRA Architects has been engaged to work with the Conservatorium to deliver a new building that can deliver first-class space for residents of the Clarence Valley. A new space that would pay tribute to the 1980's building while becoming one unified space.

The Management Committee and staff are excited to be working on this project and looking forward to seeing some building works in the future. We are a long way from construction commencing but know that a new building will help our students achieve their full potential.

Clarence Valley Conservatorium Drama Program At the end of Term 2, the CVCon Drama Program was taken out of our weekly offerings for students. From Term 3 onwards CVCon will be focussing its resources and spaces on the development of music programs, which is in line with our NSW Government funding agreement.

There will be opportunities for drama students in the future, with plans to continue to develop a Music Theatre program at the Conservatorium from 2023 onwards.

The Conservatorium pays tribute to Bronwyn and the incredible work that has been undertaken over her 17 years at CVCon. Bronwyn’s dedication to the drama program over that time has been enormous and we thank her for the hours that she has put into the drama program and wish her all the very best.

Visiting Artist Series

Andrea Lam - Piano The way we listen to music is ever changing with technology. More than anything, music is a way to connect us and to make us feel and think differently; moods change too and the things we’d like to hear can depend simply on the kind of day it has been. To explore this, awardwinning pianist Andrea Lam throws open the doors to an interactive, ever-changing experience where the audience ‘chooses its own [musical] adventure’ and determines the music playlist according to what they wish to hear in that moment – with options spanning from J. S. Bach to Bill Evans. Interwoven through the concert will be Schubert’s breathtaking Sonata in A major, D. 959, that reveals and revels in all of life - encapsulating beauty, warmth, grandeur, intimacy, nostalgia, joy, melancholy and whimsy - all elements explored in some way through the audience’s choice of offered works, whichever they will be.

For our youngest audience members Andrea will present a special Children's Cushion Concert at 11am on Saturday 23 July.

Storytelling Dreams and Dances The adage that 'Music is a universal language' is true in the way it speaks to even the youngest little people, telling stories, weaving dreams and inspiring joy and even dancing! In this fun and informal cushion concert, Andrea invites listeners young and old to let the music do the 'talking' with bite-size excerpts from her recital programs - including a Chopin waltz, Bach's dances, Beethoven's evocative Pathétique and Debussy's What the West Wind Saw.

Saturday, 23 July 7:00pm Evening Concert

Kid's Cushion Concert

Term 3 Sunday Series Concerts Sharon Davidge - Flute CVCON flute tutor Sharon Davidge takes to the stage as part of the 2022 Sunday Series performing a wide range of music for flute.

An experienced and engaging performer this is sure to be an exciting concert of flute music with guest performances by Jill Carter and Jayne Logan.

Sunday, 31 July 3:00pm Ryan Enns - Guitar CVCON guitar tutor and local musician Ryan Enns presents a concert of guitar music from all over the world.

Be on the lookout for some guest appearances!

Sunday, 28 August 3:00pm Adam Wills & James Townsend (Percussion Duo) CVCON Director and percussion tutor joins forces with Melbourne-based percussionist James Townsend for an afternoon of percussion music.

James is a former student of Adam's and a regular performer with Orchestra Victoria.

Sunday, 11 September 3:00pm

Acacia Quartet In eleven years Acacia Quartet have won great respect for their versatile and inventive program. Acacia have recorded 12 albums, with ‘Blue Silence’ earning a nomination for an APRA-AMCOS Art Music ‘Award for Excellence’. Acacia are passionate about supporting Australian composers, working with young musicians, and sharing their love of music with audiences of all ages. Their performances feature regularly on radio stations around the world. Acacia’s engagements in Australia include the Sydney Opera House, City Recital Hall Sydney, Melbourne Recital Hall, as well as extensive touring through regional NSW and Victoria. Acacia had their international debut in Vancouver, Canada at the Roundhouse in June 2016. The following year Acacia Quartet were invited by the Christine Raphael Foundation to give their European debut, where they performed concerts in Berlin, Germany and recorded a CD with three string quartets by Günter Raphael. A new CD with quartets by Mozart, Chance and Dvorak will be released in March 2022 through Move Records. Acacia Quartet is proud to be the Ensemble in Residence at the Orange Regional Conservatorium.

NEW DATE Saturday 17 September 7:00pm

Visiting Artists Series

Suite Magica Guitar and harp is an exquisite combination that whispers its secrets only in the most intimate and transparent acoustic. Small suites by Máximo Diego Pujol and Marco Pereira bookend this concert, which also includes works by Ravel and Granados, and the premiere of a new work for the duo by Elena Kats-Chernin.

Amongst the exciting emergence of a new generation of classical musicians, guitarist Andrew Blanch stands out. He's found his own path as a soloist, winning first prize in the 2019 Adelaide International Guitar Competition, and the 2015 Melbourne International Guitar Competition. His collaborators include Ariel Nurhadi (with whom he released the album Alchemy on ABC Classic in 2020), baritone José Carbó (of The Metropolitan Opera in New York), the New Zealand Guitar Quartet, and American harpist Emily Granger.

Emily Granger grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and is rapidly establishing herself as one of the world's most exciting new exponents of her instrument. She's performed as Guest Principal Harp of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, collaborated and performed with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Renée Fleming and Jonas Kaufmann, and is a founding member of the Chicago Harp Quartet, with whom she has released two albums.

Sunday, 25 September 3:00pm

Active Learning Students getting to lessons and band every time is important but it’s not the whole picture.

It takes 100 hours of active learning to become much more competent than an absolute beginner. If we compare music lessons to driving a car, it now takes more than 100 hours for most learners to be safe in a car and get a licence. The same is similar with a musical instrument, 100 hours of steady playing is the start of the adventure.

Some things that you can do at home to help the learning process are: 1. Help your child create a special time or place where they can play (even for short period of time) regularly if possible.

2. Understand that interest = practice, and not necessarily the other way around.

3. Help your child create a music library that incorporates their instrument. YouTube, etc 4. Encourage discovery. Allow your child to make their own discoveries in music.

There is much more that the Conservatorium can help with and we are happy to answer questions.

Please read everything about music and share music with your children, good times are ahead.

Lower Clarence Eisteddfod Congratulations to all the Piano students who participated in the Lower Clarence Music Eisteddfod Scarlett Bice-McMahon Capri Thomas Willow Allen Justice Jeffery Alby Kennedy Zoe Brett Skylah Gonzales Heath Ferguson Gemma Hollington Harlow Bell Hazel Rowney Sophie Newman Emily Newman Archie Dunne Isla Morgan

Joseph Novicky Tommy Parr Hunter Smith Ethan Moore Riley Smidt Toby Smidt Travis Smidt Matilda Barnett Emily Schroder Olivia Peppernell Sieanna Sutherland Archie Talbot Jake Clark Elena Robertson

Term 2 at CVCon

What's on in Term 3 Monday 18 July: Boom Bang Boogie Workshop Monday 18 July: Term 3 lessons commence Saturday 23 July: Visiting Artist, Andrea Lam 🎟️ Sunday 24 July: Park Concert, Children's Concert Sunday 31 July: Sunday Series, Sharon Davidge 🎟️ Sunday 28 August: Sunday Series, Ryan Enns 🎟️ Sunday 11 September: Sunday Series, Adam Wills & James Townsend 🎟️ Saturday 17 September: Visiting Artists, Acacia Quartet 🎟️ Sunday 25 September: Visiting Artists, Andrew Blanch & Emily Granger 🎟️

Performing Arts Nights PAN's Term 3 Week 10 Monday 19 September Tuesday 20 September Wednesday 21 September Thursday 22 September We look forward to seeing you perform, book in now.

Choirs, Ensembles & Groups at CVCON Good Vibes Choir Theory for Juniors Con Kids Chorus Concert Band Con Youth Chorus Jazz Ensemble Con Chorus

MONDAY: 1.00-2.30 4.00-4.45 4.00-4.45 4.45-5.30 5.00-6.00 5.40-6.40 6.30-7.30

Brenda Little Peter Morgan Jill Carter Peter Morgan Jill Carter Peter Morgan Jill Carter

Forget Me Not Choir Pre-Instrumental Guitarchestra Adult Combo

TUESDAY: 10.00-11.30 3.30-4.00 5.30-6.30 6.30-7.30

Jenny W & Leigh R Jill Carter Luke Gough Kris Edwards

Pre-Instrumental Piano Ensemble Percussion Ensemble String Ensemble

WEDNESDAY: 3.30-4.00 4.00-4.45 4.30-5.15 5.30-7.00

Kidzjam KISS Vocal Group Flute Ensemble

THURSDAY: 10.30-11.00 12.00-1.00 5.15-6.00

FRIDAY: Lunchtime Drum Circle 12.30-1.30 Ensemble/Theory (Seniors) 4.00-4.45 Sax Ensemble 4.45-5.30

Jill Carter Jayne Logan Adam Wills Sarah Nicholls

Jill Carter Jill Carter Sharon Davidge

Luke Gough Peter Morgan Peter Morgan

Who's Who at Clarence Valley Conservatorium MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: Chairperson - Jenny Worrell Vice Chairperson - Calvin Terry Treasurer / Public Officer - Mark Thompson Members - Kathy Crittenden, Bree Dahl, Paul Kennedy, Fran McHugh, Deborah Wray ADMINISTRATION: Director - Adam Wills Administration Manager - Vicki Forbes Finance Manager - Carolyn Maunder Programs Co-ordinator - Kris Edwards Projects Officer - Roslyn Kennedy TUTORS: Clarinet, Saxophone, Bass Guitar, Adult Combo (Ens) - Kris Edwards Clarinet, Saxophone - Peter Morgan Flute, Fife, Piccolo, Panpipes - Sharon Davidge Guitar: Classical, Folk - Ryan Enns Guitar, Electric Guitar, Ukelele, Music Production - Luke Gough Guitar, Bottle Neck Slide Guitar, Banjo - Robert Hughes Guitar, Ukelele, Banjo, Harmonica - Damien Sullivan Percussion - Adam Wills Piano, Piano Accordion - Greta Enns Piano, Flute, Accompanying - Jayne Logan Piano, Accompanying - Leanne Taylor Strings n Things (Ensemble) - Sarah Nicholls Violin, Viola - Cherry Collins Voice, Choirs - Jill Carter

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