Rachmaninov SymphonicDances
Piano Concerto No. 2
Johannes Fritzsch, conductor
Reuben Tsang, piano
Friday 18 October 2024 7.30 pm
Conservatorium Theatre
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work. We pay respect to the Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Director’sWelcome
Professor Bernard Lanskey
As Director, it is an honour to welcome you to this evening’s concert, the culmination of our academic year for our orchestral students. For many, the event represents their final concert in their journey before graduation in a few weeks' time. That this has been such an exciting year - largely the consequence of your commitment to music and to the Conservatorium. I want to thank you for all you have brought to us.
Let us also acknowledge all who have supported the journey - our academic and professional staff, the university's support teams and leadership, peers, family and friends, many of whom are in the audience tonight. I want in particular, to highlight the support of Professor Johannes Fritszch for his guidance, both in preparing tonight and for his commitment to the Conservatorium. The support of Dan Fossi, as Orchestral Manager, and Professor Peter Morris as Head of Ensembles have also been pivotal, along with the Front of House and Technical staff who apply their professional expertise day and night. Across 2024, we have had in excess of 200 events in building - the collective contribution to enabling such diversity and intensity is extraordinary to witness.
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I want too to acknowledge the Conservatorium and University leadership for their commitment and support behind the scenes in ensuring all comes together with such vibrancy.
Thank you all for your support and for being with us tonight.
Professor Bernard Lanskey Director, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.
Sergei Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18 (1901)
Reuben Tsang, Piano
i. Moderato
ii. Adagio sostenuto
iii. Allegro scherzando
Program Interval
Sergei
Rachmaninov,
Symphonic Dances,
Op. 45 (1940)
i. Non allegro
ii. Andante con moto (Tempo di valse)
iii. Lento assai - Allegro vivace - Lento assai. Come primaAllegro vivace
Artists
Johannes Fritzsch Conductor
Johannes Fritzsch is currently the Principal Guest Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, having previously served as their Chief Conductor (2008-2014). Since 2018, he has held the position of Principal Guest Conductor of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
From 2006–2013 he was Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Oper Graz, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester (Austria). Prior to his appointment in Graz, Johannes held the position of Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Staatsoper Nürnberg. From 1993 until 1999, he was Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Städtische Bühnen and the Philharmonic Orchestra in Freiburg. He has conducted many leading orchestras, both within Germany and internationally. He regularly conducts the major Australasian orchestras as well as leading productions for Opera Australia, Opera Queensland, West Australian Opera, and State Opera of South Australia.
In January 2015, Johannes was appointed Adjunct Professor, The Conservatorium of Music, School of Creative Arts and Media at the University of Tasmania; in June 2019, he joined the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University as Professor of Opera and Orchestral Studies.
Over the past twenty years, Johannes has given many Masterclasses for the German conductor training and development organisation Dirigentenforum des Deutschen Musikrates. Similarly, he was active and enthusiastic in the training of conducting participants selected to take part in Symphony Services’ International Conductor Development Program.
In 2017, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra invited him to design and lead the newly founded Australian Conducting Academy.
Artists
Reuben Tsang
Piano
Described in a review by Sounds Like Sydney as a pianist with “technical wizardry and versatility”, Cairns-born Reuben Tsang is now guided by Natasha Vlassenko OAM in his Bachelor of Music studies at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.
Reuben has been a recipient of numerous awards in prestigious competitions. Most recently, Reuben won first prize and received the Best Recital and the Peoples' Choice Award at the 2024 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition. At the finals night, he performed Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Northey.
Reuben was also a semi-finalist and recipient of several prizes including the Nancy Weir Best Australian Pianist Award at the 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition. Other achievements include receiving the Elisabeth Murdoch First Prize in the 2022 Great Romantics Competition and reaching the semifinals of the 2023 Aarhus International Piano Competition in Denmark. He has also received first prize in many Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Competitions including the Brisbane Club Award, Basil Jones Sonata Prize, Minnie May Bussey Prize, John and Sue Thompson Vocal Accompaniment Scholarship, Margaret Nickson Prize, Ruby C Cooling Prize and Ross Peters 4MBS Chamber Music Competition.
Reuben was also fortunate to be given a national recital tour opportunity by Piano+, performing in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, and Melbourne in March and April of 2024. He has also performed in the 2023 Peninsula Summer Music Festival, the 2024 Tyalgum Music Festival, the 2024 Sunshine Coast Chamber Music Festival, and both the 2023 and 2024 Queensland Art Song Festivals. He has also relished performing in masterclasses held by notable pianists including Sergio Tiempo, Jayson Gillham, Behzod Abduraimov, Andrea Lam, and Elisabeth Brauss.
Reuben has also enjoyed many collaborative projects, including performing and undertaking masterclasses at the 2024 Musical Chairs Chamber Music Festival in Montreal, Canada; performing with the North Queensland Chamber Orchestra; and playing in various chamber music performances which include performing alongside notable musicians like Li-Wei Qin and Dale Barltrop.
Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra
The Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra consists of approximately 90 of the most talented young instrumentalists in Queensland. The orchestra, from its home at the Griffith University South Bank campus, performs an annual series of orchestral concerts, large choral works, and operatic and musical theatre productions, in addition to a range of creative collaborations both on site as well as in the wider community.
Students in the Queensland Conservatorium orchestral program have the unique opportunity to perform under the baton of a variety of conductors, instilling a flexibility required in the profession. Resident conductors Johannes Fritzsch, Peter Luff and Peter Morris are joined each year by distinguished guest conductors from around the world, providing students with the rich depth of experience they will find when entering the profession. Notable guest conductors have included Sir Neville Marriner, Peter Sculthorpe, Jessica Cottis, Nicholas Braithwaite, Richard Mills, Natalia Raspopova, Larry Rachleff, and Elim Chan, to name a few.
Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra
Violin 1
Haneulle Lovell*~
Yuro Lee*+
Luke Hammer
Ingram Fan
Rhys Williams
Amira Ryan
Lydia Hwang
Kaia Scheidler
Sophia Di Lucchio
Imogen Revill
Lily Song
Emily Thompson
Miles Le Goullon
Violin 2
Noah Coyne*
Lauren Mellor
Alisha Dunstan
Allan Leslie
Melissa Buddle
Mirage Hunter Demecs
Irene Shim
Kate Stone
Ally Liu
Yvonne Spina
Madison Sim
Evie Scott
Guy Tomlinson +
Jade Leong +
Viola
Ella Pysden*
Olivia Spyrou
Felix Hughes-Chivers
Caitlin Annesley
Jasmine Smith
Harriet Dykes
Eben Yeh
Alexandra Kho
Dylan Weder
Violoncello
William Bland*
Kate Hwang
Milo Duval
Matthew Stuart-Street
Laura Boon
Caleb Christian
Kathryn Phun
Emma Seedell-Green
Contrabass
Sophia Buchanan*~
Rio Kawaguchi *+
Cooper Le Brocq
Daniel Wilesmith
Rylan Baird
Jessica Clark
Alyssa Deacon+
Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra
Piccolo
Bonnie Gibson*+
Flute
Nathan Smith*~
Bonnie Gibson~
Braden Simm*+
Keisha Neale+
Oboe
Liam Robinson*~
Tina Gallo*+
Ethan Seto+
Cor Anglais
Liam Robinson*+
Clarinet
Catherine Edwards*~
Nathanael Duffy*+
Angel Stevens
Bass Clarinet
Hinata Nishimura*+
Bassoon
Mairin Thompson*~
Patrick Martin~
Zane Lai*+
Jake Busby+
Contrabassoon
Mairin Thompson*+
Alto Saxophone
Isaac Reed*+
French Horn
Alec Berg*
Jessica Piva~
Hannah McLellan+
Matilda Monaghan~
Thomas Ferreira-Montague+
Emma Rolfe
Hannah Waterfall
Trumpet
Rachel Redlich*~
Megan Barber
Brandon Ivers*+
Ethan Kircher+
Trombone
Jay Ghodke*~
Jonah Nakagawa*+
Matthew Redman+
Bass Trombone
Ethan Parfoot*
Tuba
Jack Gawith*
Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra
Percussion
Jaymee Homeming*~
Connor Dinneen*+
William Smith
Sana Rane
Holly Tate
Timpani
Matthew Conway*
Harp Myeisha Maisuria*+
Piano
Julia Zhu*+
*Principal ~ Concerto + Symphony
Special thanks
Special thanks to Queensland Conservatorium supporters and donors.
Philanthropy plays a vital role at Queensland Conservatorium. Only through your support can our students experience valuable learning opportunities through productions such as this one. To invest in the future of music and performance in Queensland, contact us on +61 (0)7 5552 7218 or email giving@griffith.edu.au
Queensland Conservatorium thanks our generous donors and supporters. We would like to acknowledge our instrument bank donors supporting the students in tonight’s performance.
Make a donation
Conservatorium Staff
Director
Professor Bernard Lanskey
Deputy Director (Learning and Teaching)
Associate Professor
Donna Weston
Deputy Director (Research)
Dr Alexis Kallio
Head of Ensembles & Orchestral Conducting
Professor Peter Morris
Professor of Opera and Orchestral Studies
Professor Johannes Fritzsch
Head of Strings
Associate Professor
Michelle Walsh
Head of Woodwinds
Associate Professor
Tim Munro
Head of Brass
Associate Professor
Peter Luff
Head of Percussion
Dr Rebecca Lloyd-Jones
Head of Composition
Dr Gerardo Dirie
Head of Acting
Ms Jacqui Somerville
Conservatorium Manager
Stuart Jones
Technical Team Leader
Cameron Hipwell
Front of House
Operations Manager
Michael Hibbard
Executive Officer (Engagement)
Dr Natalie Lewandowski-Cox
Program Coordinator (Ensembles) &
Orchestra Manager
Daniel Fossi
Operations Administrator
Clare Wharton
Technical Officers
Keith Clark, Amy Hauser, Len McPherson, Tobias Trstenjak, Dylan Smith
Venue Officers
Grace Royle, Joshua White, Joseph Gale-Grant
Administration Officer
Liz Tyson-Doneley
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
140 Grey Street, South Bank 4101
Concert enquiries: (07) 3735 6241 griffith.edu.au/music griffith.edu.au/queenslandconservatorium queenslandconservatorium.com.au
Griffith
Correct at time of publication.
