Sarah Kemeny
Mezzo-soprano Sarah Kemeny trained in ballet, Spanish flamenco and European character dance before beginning her formal studies at the Queensland Conservatorium, completing her third year at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance, studying with Dr Rowena Cowley). As a concert soloist, Kemeny has represented the Conservatorium in several high-profile concerts, and this year won a full-scholarship to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s prestigious ESTIVO Summer School in Verona, Italy. She tells Fine Music magazine: “I am so grateful for the opportunities I have to express myself as an artist. Every time I sing I love the feeling of being immersed within another character, thinking and feeling through different parameters. “It is such a wonderful opportunity and privilege to be a part of a competition that wishes to showcase the skills of a broad range
of musicians,” she said of YVA. “I am really looking forward to reaching out and engaging with an audience and inviting them to share in the magic of this art form”. Having developed her musical communication through dance, Kemeny found it natural to bring this to her singing. “The opportunity to move an audience to feel and experience something, is what really drives me,” she said. Amanda Chen After studying violin since Year 1, Amanda Chen received a full music scholarship to study at Meriden School and in Year 12 she served as the school’s Music Prefect. From Year 7-12 she attended the Rising Stars program through the Open Academy at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, which was a very valuable experience as it helped develop her interest in performance and chamber music. This year she performed at the Sydney Opera
House for the ENCORE 2015 concert. She has received a scholarship to study a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and hopes to study overseas in the future. She comes the YVA program without having done “anything like this before”. “It will challenge my ability to perform a lengthy program…Being able to play on air will be a wonderful opportunity to further my development as a performer and test my nerves,” she said. She will be approaching this as a performance opportunity rather than focusing on the competitive element, “so I can concentrate on giving my best interpretation of the music”, said Chen. Wednesdays 1pm See Youth tab on Fine Music website for full repertoire list YVA series - April 1 Simon Watts (saxophone) 8 Justin Julian (viola) 15 Sarah Kemeny (mezzo soprano) 22 Amanda Chen (violin) 29 James Julian (clarinet) Presenter: Troy Fil Audio engineer: Greg Ghavalas YV Co ordinator: Judy Deacon
WSOC – Fine Music 102.5 Young Composer Award 2015 In association with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Choir, Fine Music 102.5 is proud to support a new generation of Australian composers with the WSOC – Fine Music 102.5 Young Composer Award. In 2015, entrants are required to compose a work of up to 10 minutes for orchestra and choir using a set text for the libretto for the choir. Entries close and will not be accepted after Friday 10 July 2015. All entrants must be born on or after the 1st of January 1985. There’s $5,000 in prize money on offer for the selected entry as well as minor prizes.
The world premiere performance of the selected composition will take place on 26 September at 7pm with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra & Choir and Sunday 27 September at 2pm. The conductor is Stephen Mould and both performances will be held at The Concourse, Chatswood. The premiere performance will be recorded by Fine Music 102.5.and broadcast in 2016. Any composition/score submitted must be a new, original composition never before performed or published. The composition must use the following
instrumentation: two flutes (2nd may double Piccolo); two oboes (2nd may double Cor Anglais); two Bb clarinets (2nd may double Bass Clarinet); two bassoons; four French Horns in F; two Bb trumpets; two trombones; one bass trombone; two percussion, timpani and strings (violin 1, violin 2, viola, violoncello, double bass). The instrumentation is based on the other works in the program. Elena Kats-Chernin: Mythic, Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor, op. 129 and Beethoven Symphony No 8 in F major. Op. 93 For more information contact 0427 035 465.
An important objective of the Choir is ‘the encouragement and promotion of choral music in Australia through…the development and sponsorship of young singers’. With this in mind, in 2004 an award was established to provide financial encouragement to an outstanding young classical singer. Australian soprano icon Joan Carden AO OBE graciously agreed to lend her name and, most generously, her time as judge to the award.
This year, the pool from which potential competitors are drawn has been broadened and the prize for 2015 has been increased to $6,000. The distinguished adjudicators in 2015 will be Miss Joan Carden AO OBE, Mr Christopher Bowen OAM (Music Director of the Sydney University Graduate Choir), and Mr Anson Austin OAM. It is expected that the Award will be conducted biennially. But get in quickly, as the applications close on 1 May.
The Joan Carden Award 2015 A highlight of the 2015 Sydney University Graduate Choir concert series in 2015 will, with the kind support of Miss Joan Carden AO OBE, be the Joan Carden Award competition. Young singers aged between 22 and 35 years are invited to become part of this exciting event. More information about the Terms and Conditions and the application form can be found on the competition’s website sydneysings.com.au/jca/
April 2015
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