The Pizzicato Effect | Mid-Year Concert 2021

The Pizzicato Effect Mid-Year Concert 23 JUNE 2021

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Welcome Welcome everyone, to our Covid-safe Mid-Year Concert of 2021!

Though not quite how we envisaged, staff and students are nevertheless very excited to be playing a concert for you, albeit from afar. Much like the MSO itself, Pizzicato Effect staff and students have been incredibly adaptable in the lead up to this long-awaited event.

Staying strong in the knowledge that we will return to live performance at some point, I must say it has been so rewarding to see our students emerge from 2020 stronger, more resilient and able to learn music much more quickly than we have experienced previously. I hope you also experienced some silver linings in such a difficult year, which continues to affect us all. Today we celebrate with music, the hard work of all our students, from very new beginners who started with us in Term 2, to our experienced Chamber Ensemble who have been lucky enough to play a public concert already this year.

SUMMER SYMPHONY Our Chamber Ensemble was incredibly lucky to sit side by side with members of the MSO in an intensive few days in January, participating in the Summer Symphony program which saw the orchestra play in three very different venues and council areas, bringing the orchestra closer to those who might not ordinarily attend. The MSO’s Cybec Assistant conductor and cellist, Nicholas Bochner worked with a small group of MSO musicians and students of The Pizzicato Effect’s Chamber Ensemble

Photos Cover: Pizzi Rehearsal at Broadmeadows Town Hall. Photo credit: Nico Keenan Opposite page: The Pizzicato Effect’s Chamber Ensemble at Summer Symphony in Broadmeadows Town Hall.

This page: Han Diep and Nirmala Photo credits: Timothy Burgess

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culminating in a performance of Robert Cossom’s Zengule Fantezi, written for Pizzi students during lockdown in 2020, as well as Conquistador! by Deborah Baker-Monday and an arrangement of Beethoven’s Adagio Cantabile from the ‘Pathetique’ Sonata Op.13.

The students experienced a few days in the life of the MSO, with intense concentration and focus required and high expectations of them during rehearsals. This performance opened the broader MSO concert to a crowd of hundreds at the beautifully refurbished Broadmeadows Town Hall.

THE WORLD ENSEMBLE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

(theworldensemble.org)

The World Ensemble is an online publication which seeks to connect and inform all people who are committed to ensemble music education for youth empowerment and social change. The Young Ambassador cohort is a group of emerging young student leaders/ musicians in Sistema-inspired programs around the world, and Ambassadors are put forth by teaching artist recommendations and their written submissions to the program. The commitment includes a responsibility to regularly share program experiences and ideas through the newsletter and is a wonderful experience for any students with an interest in connecting with peer musicians around the world. Han Diep is the chosen representative from The Pizzicato Effect, and she shares her experience of the last months in this role. ‘ As an ambassador, I get to do all sorts of things, from writing updates about the Pizzi program that are published on The Ensemble Newsletters, participating in workshops and Symposiums, to planning for projects and events. Ambassadors also have the opportunity to receive 4

The Pizzicato Effect’s World Ensemble Ambassador, Han Diep.

mentoring of our own interests. We meet every fortnight for around one and half hour each time, within these meetings we discuss things about ourselves, our programs and possible future projects and at first, played individually for one another to show how everyone sounds like. As to what I have contributed is that I had recorded a piece for the US symposium called “What We Will Be”, a video talking briefly about Pizzi as well sharing things that are unique to Australia with other ambassadors from other countries in the world. Over the past months, I have made friendships with other ambassadors through conversations about differences and similarities in our culture, cuisine, dislikes and likes and even the weather.

Being able to participate in such a wonderful opportunity allowed me to dive further into the world of music, learn more about other programs like Pizzicato from

all over the world and most importantly meet people that share the same interests as me’.

MELBOURNE YOUTH ORCHESTRAS As Melbourne gradually found its Covid normal, MYO has been able to finally resume their ensemble numbers. I am pleased to let you know that our ten lucky scholarship students have all been able to join the Saturday music program, which offers weekly rehearsals and performance opportunities for our young musicians.

VOLUNTEERS Our Learning Partner volunteer cohort has grown in 2021, as we welcome Chloe Wade to the team. Ellen Day is now working with the Beginners and Fatemeh Moradi with the Senior ensemble have remained a part of the Teaching Artist team, supporting our Teaching Artists each program day during online delivery. Our parent volunteers are also invaluable to us, supporting the program with fruit pick up. Many thanks to Fatma Ozgun, Yasemin Bayramoglu, Zoe Erkan, Ilksen Erdogan.

This program is an exceptional example of a skilful, professional and committed team which works hard for the students and supports each other in so many ways. I feel incredibly privileged to work with them and be a part of this amazing program. A special mention to Teaching Artist Team Leader Sarina who works tirelessly behind the scenes as well as supporting the team on the ground and keeping everyone’s learning and welfare front of mind. Thank you to everyone here for continuing to make the most of this opportunity for their young people and encouraging them to continue their musical pursuits through either parental or financial support.

We are also very grateful to Meadows Primary School principal Anthony Potesta and staff, Bows for Strings and Northpoint Church for their support of our program.

Whether you join us as a donor, a volunteer, family or friend, we are so pleased you have been able to share in our first live concert in over a year.

NEWS We have some bittersweet news from the team; bitter as Lead Teaching Artist of the Beginner Ensemble, Lucy Price leaves us today. Lucy has been with us for many years now and really embodies the heart and soul of the program. Both she and the program have grown so much in this time, and we are so grateful for Lucy’s incredible skill and commitment. We wish her all the very best for her new journey in Ballarat. The sweet news is that Kiya will continue in his role as Lead TA of the Chamber Ensemble, with Stephanie and Eunise, as Gemma has decided decided to, for family reasons, remain at home with her new baby boy, Teddy. We hope to see her back in 2022!

Sylvia Hosking Schools Program Manager

Program WELCOME CREATIVE PLAY – PIZZI TUTTI Wind and Rain (Trad.)

BEGINNER ENSEMBLE Captain Jack’s hornpipe (Blackwell) I’m a little Monkey D Jam Blues JUNIOR ENSEMBLE Kookaburra (Trad.)

Küçük Kurbaǧa (Trad.)

SENIOR ENSEMBLE Mazel Tov (E.Teychenne) Dry and Dusty (Trad.)

The Senior Project: A race against time...

QUARTET PROJECT La Vie En Rose (Piaf & Monnot) CHAMBER ENSEMBLE Morning Mood (Grieg Arr. Jamin Hoffman) Howl’s Moving Castle (J. Hasaishi) GPS (Richard Meyer) PIZZI TUTTI Loops in Space (Jess Foot & Pizzi Kids)

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Our Teaching Artist Team Sarina Walter Teaching Artist Team Leader Dynamic and diversely skilled educator, clinician and strings specialist, Sarina Walter is driven by a clear purpose: to vastly improve universal access to highquality music education and ignite in her students an unwavering passion for life and music alike. As Music Coordinator and Head of Strings at Lauriston Girls’ School, Teaching Artist Team Leader at The Pizzicato Effect, and a sought-after guest educator and facilitator (Melbourne Music Summit, Border Music Camp, SEVR Stringfest, Melbourne Youth Orchestras), Sarina facilitates rich, joyful artistic experiences fuelled by the values closest to her heart: access, inclusion and relentless creativity.

CHAMBER ENSEMBLE Kiya van der Linden-Kian Lead Teaching Artist Kiya is a Melbourne-based cellist and music educator.

A recent graduate of the University of Melbourne, he has completed research into audience development strategies for classical music, highlighting the importance of music education. As a performer, Kiya regularly performs a wide range of cello repertoire in a variety of ensembles and genres. He is a firm believer in the benefits of cross-cultural musical exchanges and accessibility in music education.

Eunise Cheng Teaching Artist Eunise is a violist and recent graduate of the Australian National Academy of Music where she won the ANAM Chamber Music Competition 2018 as part of the Partridge String Quartet. She is also past recipient of numerous scholarships and prizes at UWA Conservatorium of Music and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music where she completed her Bachelor of Music Honours (High Dist). An avid orchestral and chamber musician, Eunise has performed internationally and at major festivals around Australia.

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Stephanie MacArthur Teaching Artist Stephanie is an experienced educator with a passionate interest in the effects of musical engagement on student well-being. Currently completing a PhD in Music Psychology, Stephanie has an active involvement in academic research and is studying children’s lived experience of musical skill development. Complementing her work at Pizzi, Stephanie teaches cello at Carey Grammar School and tutors in Music at the University of Melbourne.

SENIOR ENSEMBLE Ellen Block Lead Teaching Artist Violinist Ellen Block’s diverse work as a performer, educator, facilitator and presenter is unified by her ability to engage audiences of all ages in the sheer joy of musicmaking. Renowned for her passionate and naturally energetic approach, Ellen has helped build music camps and professional learning programs from scratch and in 2020, appeared as special guest on MSO Kids’ Marathon and at the inaugural Melbourne Music Summit. In addition to her role as Lead Teaching Artist with MSO’s flagship community music program, The Pizzicato Effect, and Manager of Education with Melbourne Masterclasses, Ellen enjoys teaching the violin both privately and at Sacré Coeur School (Melbourne).

Daniel Smith Teaching Artist A graduate of the Griffith Conservatorium of Music and The Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) Daniel has had a myriad of experiences as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. He plays regularly with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria however chamber music is his greatest passion.

A founding member of the Partridge String Quartet he has received many prizes in national and international competitions. Dan is also extremely passionate about music education and its access for all, and is a very proud member of the Pizzi team.

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JUNIOR ENSEMBLE Chloe Sanger Lead Teaching Artist Chloe is a Melbourne based artist with a passion for music education and contemporary music. She is currently a Teaching Artist with the Junior Ensemble at The Pizzicato Effect. She spends her time teaching music to all ages and abilities, playing in a punk band and a contemporary classical ensemble and arranging and recording strings as a session violinist.

Jess Foot Teaching Artist Jess is a violinist, oboist, teacher and composer/ arranger. She performs a diverse range of music around Australia for bands, orchestras, chamber music projects and recordings. Jess teaches in school music programs around Melbourne, has private students, and tutors at music camps and festival workshops; she explores classical, folk, early music, improvisation, and contemporary music styles.

BEGINNER ENSEMBLE Lucy Price Lead Teaching Artist Lucy is a versatile cellist who is equally passionate about performance, education and community engagement.

Lucy regularly performs with ensembles such as Melbourne Baroque Orchestra, The Muses’ Delight, and has performed in schools around regional Victoria.

In 2018 Lucy was awarded a grant to study baroque music in Italy.

CREATIVE PLAY Jenny Thomas Lead Teaching Artist Golden Fiddle Award winner and former Circus Oz performer, Jenny is a fiddle singer and composer who has toured Europe as an Indian violin soloist and performed solo with the Sydney Symphony and New Zealand Symphony orchestras. With her band Bush Gothic she takes her re-imaginings of traditional Australian songs all over the world.

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MSO Learning, Engagement and Innovation Team Director John Nolan Acting Senior Manager Helen Withycombe Schools Program Manager Sylvia Hosking Digital Content Manager Liam Hennebry Digital Content Creator Eva Otsing Schools Coordinator Valerie Becker Learning, Engagement and Innovation Coordinator Stephen Gould

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The Pizzicato Effect is the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) flagship community music program working proudly in partnership with the City of Hume, Meadows Primary School, Second Bite and Spectrum. The program provides free string instrumental and musicianship tuition to children living in the City of Hume in Victoria, Australia.

The program is closely aligned with the principles of El Sistema; the internationallycelebrated music program in Venezuela that promotes the benefits of communal music-making to children’s development.

Research undertaken by The University of Melbourne (2015) cites The Pizzicato Effect as a proven pathway to enhanced academic performance and socialemotional well-being for participating children.

In 2016, The Pizzicato Effect transitioned to an after-school program delivered by the MSO. The Pizzicato Effect is now open to any primary or secondary school-aged child in Grade 3 or above living in the City of Hume. It is completely free of charge for participating families, and caters for both beginners and children who already learn an instrument. In 2019, the program supported around 70 children from 28 different local schools to pursue their passion for music and build cultural and social bridges within their community.

The Pizzicato Effect has three clear aims: • Social development of young people and their communities through musical accomplishments • Access to musical instruction, without cost as a barrier to participation • Provision of a safe, positive, inspiring, fun and high-aspiring learning environment that promotes engagement with school and community life What does the community say about The Pizzicato Effect? ‘ If it wasn’t for my son’s violin [during lockdown] we are so lucky...thank you so much. I have never seen a team like this in my life’. ‘ You and the Pizzi family have gone above and beyond to keep the kids engaged and involved throughout the crazy year. Thank you so much’. ‘ The Pizzicato Effect allows children to learn and express themselves in a way that is not pen and paper driven.’

– Dr Margaret Osborne Performance Psychologist & Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Melbourne.

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Our Ensembles BEGINNER ENSEMBLE Violins Alper Bayramoglu Humeyra Bayramoglu Aydin Erdal Summeyye Kose Nina Le Renae Miranda Pippa Ojczyk Scarlett Pleban Pinar Ugur

Cellos Ekin Erkan Yavuz Kayadibi Adem Kilicaslan Ihsan Kucukali Sophia Andrea Mallari Queen Shodipe Elanur Uysal Ada Varol

JUNIOR ENSEMBLE Violins Alper Atlihan Miray Bektas Ardil Erdogan Lucia Faranso Selma Guzel Betul Kayadibi Eda Nur Sahin

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Violas Mark Elias Idil Kurt

Cellos Sena Atlihan Tony Le King Shodipe Arman Baran Simsek Rodin Simsek

SENIOR ENSEMBLE Violins Elanur Azman Leysan Erdemir Esma Guzel Nisa Kirci Annie Matthews Sena Tok Zeynep Tok Gulnisa Unal Nisa Yurstever

Violas Salim (Sam) Elias Charlotte Ghattas Baran Satici Usar Satici

Cellos Isaac Abd Elsayed Nihal Kirazli Oliver Ojczyk Yigit/Ata Sandalci Emily (Eylul) Ulutas

Violas Volkan Ercika Elizabeth Jacobs Clare Matthews Ruesa Ozsoy

Cellos Gokhan Ercika Okan Ercika Eylul Gulveren Elsa Hawes Feyza Kartalci Sobhan Moradi Sare Nur Sahin

CHAMBER ENSEMBLE Violins Han Diep Lois Jacobs Sogol Moradi Aleyna Ozsoy

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Thank you to our Supporters

Bows for Strings

Northpoint Church

Repairs & Sales of Bowed Instruments 7 Glenwood Ave Glen Waverley 3150 www.bowsforstrings.com 03 8802 7905

The Pizzicato Effect is proudly supported by Seven and MSO Development Partner, Berry Street.

Trusts and Foundations The Marian & E.H. Flack Trust

Flora & Frank Leith Charitable Trust

Scobie And Claire Mackinnon Trust

Donors Barbara Bell in memory of Elsa Bell

Opalgate Foundation

Heather McKenzie

Hilary Hall in memory of Wilma Collie

Jenny Anderson

Marjorie McPherson

Robert J and Janet Green

David and Heather Baxter

Christopher and Anna Long

Janet and Richard Chauvel

Neil Day

Brendan O’Farrell

Prudence Field

Amabile Pty Ltd, Lesley McMullin Foundation

Shirley A McKenzie Jeanette King Jenny Tatchell Rosemary Jacoby in memory of James Jacoby Margaret Ross AM and Dr Ian Ross

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Jean Hadges Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society Melbourne Joanne Soso Elizabeth Furman Anonymous (3)

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