Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra: Concertos Festival

Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra

Festival

Paul Dean and Peter Luff Conductors

FRIDAY 27 MAY 2022, 6.30 PM AND 8 PM queenslandconservatorium.com.au

� Program 1 6.30 pm Performance Conducted by Paul Dean

David Normoyle

Memories of a Sunken Ship (World Premiere) Stefanie Smith, Conductor

Bohuslav Martinů

Concerto for Oboe & Small Orchestra, H.353 (mvts I & II) Shana Hoshino

Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Variations on a Rococo Theme, op.33, TH 57 (Fitzenhagen version) Mya Whatson

Antonín Dvořák

Romance in F-minor for Violin & Orchestra, B.39, op.11 Emilia Jarvela

Takashi Yoshimatsu

Cyber Bird—Saxophone Concerto (mvt I) Sean Thompson

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� Program 2 8 pm Performance Conducted by Peter Luff

Tanya Jones

A Scene of a Wilted Garden (World Premiere) Stefanie Smith, Conductor

Ludwig van Beethoven

Concerto No. 1 in C-major for Piano and Orchestra, op.15 (mvt III) Mai-Lien Olsson

Carl Nielsen

Concerto for Flute & Orchestra (mvt I) Ellinor Hillock

Antonín Dvořák

Concerto in B-minor for Violoncello & Orchestra, op.104, B.191 (mvt I) Daniel Shearer

Richard Strauss

Concerto No.1 in E-flat major for Horn & Orchestra, op.11, TrV 117 Prudence Russell

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� Program Notes Concerto 1 Conducted by Paul Dean

David Normoyle

Memories of a Sunken Ship Memories of a Sunken Ship is a tone poem depicting the ruminations of an old sailor, who years ago survived the sinking of a ship in a great storm. Despite this harrowing ordeal, the sailor now remembers the voyage with fondness, recalling the majesty of the vessel in its final journey from the river to the sea: rows of oars sweeping the calm, misty water; the first gust of wind catching the sails; the sight of the ocean ahead; the breaking of waves against the bow; the receding of the shore behind them; and at last, the valiant final stand against the great waves.

Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959)

Concerto for Oboe & Small Orchestra, H.353 (mvts I & II) (1955) Shana Hoshino A neoclassicist Czech composer, Martinu was a passionate and varied creator who published hundreds of pieces in his lifetime. At the time of writing this concerto, he had been in exile from his native Czechoslovakia for years after being blacklisted by Soviet ideologues. Despite this, the work evokes colourful memories of his native land. Expressive and lyrical, the first performance of this work was in Sydney in 1956, in celebration of the Olympic Games held in Melbourne that same year.

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Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)

Variations on a Rococo Theme, op.33, TH 57 (Fitzenhagen version) (1877) Mya Whatson In contrast to its elegance and exquisite melodic lines, the Rococo was created during one of the most challenging and emotionally fraught times in Tchaikovsky’s life. This was not assisted by the commissioning soloist’s determination to change, reorder and excise melodic lines as he wished!

The work evokes the late Baroque rococo style, with elaborate and refined ornamentation.

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)

Romance in F-minor for Violin & Orchestra, B.39, op.11 (1879) Emilia Jarvela Although first published in 1879, Dvořák’s Romance was first performed by violinist Josef Markus in 1877. This single-movement work would continue to be heard annually at Žofín Palace in Prague, performed by the Provisional Theatre Orchestra. The Romance in F minor is based on a previously written work, the second movement of Dvořák’s 5th String Quartet, Andante con moto quasi allegretto.

Takashi Yoshimatsu (b. 1953)

Cyber Bird—Saxophone Concerto (mvt I) (1994) Sean Thompson Yoshimatsu wrote Cyber Bird for Nobuya Sugawa, an internationally acclaimed saxophonist. The piece represents the journey of a bird through different colours, grief, and finally, the wind. Movement I, Bird in Colors, balances energetic and irregular rhythmic outbursts with colourful bluesy harmonies.

Throughout the concerto, Yoshimatsu employs a jazz trio, drawing the focus inward to the pianist, percussionist, and saxophonist, rather than the orchestra.

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Concerto 2 Conducted by Peter Luff

Tanya Jones

A Scene of a Wilted Garden (World Premiere) This is what we know of the Garden: its flowers wilted when the storm stole their roots and crowns. Vines raised their fingers to the sky, trees’ limbs sung their praises to the lightning and wind that conquered them. All green to grey, yet thorns and a flaming gate remained. Look, the paths have twisted and the wanderer stumbles as the storm falls upon them once again. How did this soul come by the Garden? What can they hope to learn? All was vanity under the now-gone Sun, and no vanity remains to be beheld in this poor, wilted scene.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)

Concerto No. 1 in C-major for Piano and Orchestra, op.15 (mvt III) (1801) Mai-Lien Olsson Originally dedicated to Princess Anna Louise Barbara Odescalchi, Beethoven’s first concerto demonstrates the influences of Haydn (his teacher) and Mozart.

Being one of his earlier works, this concerto follows typical conventions of the form, with the third movement being a seven-part rondo. Beethoven finished the first version of this concerto in 1795, likely performing it at his first public performance in the same year.

Carl Nielsen (1865–1931)

Concerto for Flute & Orchestra (mvt I) (1926) Ellinor Hillock With its highly detailed lines, this concerto nimbly leaps between demanding, subtle, yearning, and hysterical. The result is a compelling musical narrative that sees the soloist in dialogue—or sometimes battle—with varying orchestral members. Nielsen remarked that the premiere of this work was one of the ‘greatest experiences’ of his life.

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Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)

Concerto in B-minor for Violoncello & Orchestra, op.104, B.191 (mvt I) (1894) Daniel Shearer Dvořák’s early reticence to write for cello soloists stemmed from his belief that it was ‘insufficient’ as a solo instrument. Late in his career, after hearing other solo works for the instrument, he decided otherwise. This willingness to change his mind led to the exquisite Concerto in B minor, widely considered to be one of the most treasured works of the repertoire.

Richard Strauss (1864–1949)

Concerto No.1 in E-flat major for Horn & Orchestra, op.11, TrV 117 (1883) Prudence Russell Strauss was 18 when he wrote his first horn concerto. Having been raised by Franz Strauss, a leading hornist of the time, Richard was intimately familiar with the sounds of the valved F horn and natural horn. Strauss titled his concerto ‘Waldhornkonzert’, indicating that the work should be played on a valveless instrument—likely a humorous exchange between father and son as this is not realistically possible. Despite its major technical challenges, this concerto remains a staple in the horn repertoire.

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� Artists

Paul Dean

Conductor, Concert 1 Brisbane born and bred clarinetist Paul Dean is regarded as one of Australia’s foremost musicians in his multiple capacities as soloist, chamber musician, composer and artistic director. He currently holds positions as Head of Winds at Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, Co-Artistic Director of Ensemble Q and conductor of both the Queensland Youth Orchestra 2 and the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra. Paul was the Artistic Director of the Four Winds Festival and the Tutti Beijing International Youth Music Festival and was also the founder of the Southern Cross Soloists, the Bangalow Music Festival, the Coramba Chamber Music Festival and the Sunwater and Stanwell Winter Music School. He held the position of Composer in Residence in 2019 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, featuring the world premieres of his clarinet concerto and violin concerto with Jack Liebeck as soloist. His Concerto for Cello and Wind Quintet was selected by Musica Viva to be performed by Ensemble Q with Trish Dean as soloist on their national tour in 2021.

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Peter Luff

Conductor, Concert 2 Peter Luff is an Associate Professor in Horn and Brass studies at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. He holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from Adelaide University’s Elder Conservatorium and a Master of Music (Conducting) from Queensland Conservatorium. As a conductor, Peter has extensive experience in a diverse array of performance disciplines which include symphonic repertoire, chamber music and opera. Peter has conducted many orchestras and ensembles including the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Brass Ensemble, Bangalow Festival Orchestra, Brisbane Philharmonic, Brisbane Symphony Orchestra, and the Queensland Conservatorium Symphony and Opera Orchestras. During his time as a professional Horn player Peter has performed with orchestras and ensembles across Australia and Internationally and was formerly Associate Principal horn with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Stefanie Smith

Conductor, Memories of a Sunken Ship (Concert 1) and A Scene of a Wilted Garden (Concert 2) Stefanie Smith is a Freelance conductor and educator based in Brisbane where she works regularly with Queensland Symphony Orchestra undertaking a broad range of duties, Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra and Brisbane Symphony Orchestra as well as other ensembles across the state. Stefanie has acted as assistant conductor for the Opera Beatrice and Benedict and as a sessional academic at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University where she assists with conducting duties with the Symphony Orchestra and Wind Orchestra and teaches the undergraduate conducting courses. She is the founder and conductor of the ensemble Consorte Eclettica, which supports emerging local artists in South-East Queensland, premiering and performing chamber orchestra works in collaboration with other art forms. She is also the Young Conservatorium Ensemble Coordinator where she conducts the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, and Woodwind Ensemble and teaches Chamber Music.

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David Normoyle Composer

David Normoyle is a Brisbane-based composer and graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. Throughout his degree, he collaborated with a multitude of creatives, with projects spanning from choral works to operas to film scores and more, and he has won multiple awards for both his composing and directorial efforts. His most recent work for the web series Smile (Griffith Film School) earned him the Best Music award at the Independent Horror Movie Awards (2021). David is especially fond of film music, and he hopes to have a successful career composing both for the screen and for the concert hall.

Tanya Jones Composer

Tanya Jones is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University who majored in Composition under the guidance of Gerard Brophy.

She is currently undertaking her Master of Philosophy study, combining her Slovenian heritage with a love for storytelling in her musical works. She is an experienced and versatile composer and arranger, and has contributed to a range of different projects—from music for choreography, to partnerships with emerging filmmakers, to commissions from schools, soloists, and chamber ensembles. Tanya is currently specialising in community musicmaking by composing and arranging for local artists. Find out more at www.tanyajonesmusic.com

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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, Natalia Raspopova, Larry Rachleff and Elim Chan, to name a few.

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� Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra 2.1 Paul Dean, conductor Soloists Shana Hoshino, Oboe; Mya Whatson, Cello; Emilia Jarvela, Violin; Sean Thompson, Saxophone

Violoncello Ariana Dedecious* Ai Hasegawa Cameron Fuller Ella O’Neill Andrew Udal

Violin 1 Chae Eun Oh* Micha Konopka Daisy Elliott Jonah Spriggs Eden Annesley Julian Lachmund Madeline Crosby

Piccolo Braden Simm Sophie Schafer

Violin 2 Kevin Hsu* Rhys Williams Alisha Dunstan Chloe McClean Dylan Weder Siobhan Mewes Melissa Buddle

Flute Braden Simm* Sophie Schafer Bonnie Gibson Alto Flute Bonnie Gibson

Viola Kyle Brady* Katelyn Ninness Harrison Brown Reese Corner

Oboe Tina Gallo Liam Robinson

Contrabass Charlotte Scanlan* Rio Kawaguchi Cooper LeBroq

Trumpet Isabella Greeves* Cooper Williams Tennyson Hall

Cor Anglais Lian Robinson*

*Section leader 11

Trombone Will Muir Jonah Nakagawa-Morrison

French Horn Jessica Piva Matilda Monaghan Isabelle Raiz-Scanlon Preston Ellis Daniel Hill Almeida Alex Hogan

Tuba Daniel Kirakovski* Timpani Aidan Carey*

Clarinet Nathanael Duffy Kristina Newton Catherine Edwards Bass Clarinet Catherine Edwards Nathanael Duffy Bassoon Sam Battock Milly Yip

Percussion Jess Postle* Dara Williams Aidan Carey Willow Giles Steven Bryer* (Yoshimatsu) Piano Reuben Tsang*

Bass Trombone Glenn Schaffer*

*Section leader 12

� Soloists

Shana Hoshino, Oboe Brisbane based oboist Shana Hoshino has performed with the Australian Youth Orchestras, Ensemble Q, Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and is currently the Principal Oboist of the Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra and the 2022 Oboe Fellow with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Cairns, Far North Queensland, Shana is studying a Bachelor of Music at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. She was awarded the Nora Baird Scholarship for most outstanding entrance audition and regularly appears as a principal musician at the Conservatorium under the tutelage of Eve Newsome and Huw Jones. Shana was the winner of the 2021 Australasian Double Reed Society’s National Competition Open Section. She has participated in masterclasses with Diana Doherty, Maurice Bourgue and Jeff Crellin and the LA Philharmonic Wind Quintet. Shana is passionate about music and the power it has to bring people together.

Mya Whatson, Violoncello Mya Whatson began studying piano at age 4 and cello at age 8 under the tutelage of renowned pianist Angela Turner and esteemed cellist Mei-Lei Stocker. Since then, Mya has performed extensively as a soloist in both instruments. At age 16, Mya was invited to attend the Manhattan School of Music (New York City) Summer Program. At age 17, she was offered a scholarship to complete a double major in classical piano and cello at the University of Queensland. Mya is studying at the Queensland Conservatorium under György Déri, and if you look closely, you’ll see her lucky rubber duck, Fredrick, sitting snug in the scroll of her cello as she performs.

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Emilia Jarvela, Violin Brisbane based violinist Emilia Jarvela has performed extensively with many groups including the Australian Youth Orchestra, Queensland Youth Orchestras, Ensemble Q, Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and various chamber ensembles. Emilia had the honour of leading the Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra for the John Curro memorial concert in 2019. Emilia comes from a musical family and began learning violin and piano from her father at a young age. Her family heritage links her to a long line of ‘fiddlers’ and musicians in Finland. In addition to orchestral and solo playing, Emilia enjoys music making in other contexts, including teaching young students, playing in the ‘family folk band’, and playing for church worship services. Emilia is currently completing her final year of a Bachelor of Music in Performance under the instruction of prominent violinist and tutor, Associate Professor Michele Walsh.

Sean Thompson, Saxophone Sean Thompson is an avid woodwind instrumentalist based in Brisbane, who is currently honing his skills under the tutelage of Dr Martin Kay. He is a founding member of the Distressed Cats Collective, a saxophone quartet, who were semi-finalists in the 2019 Queensland International Chamber Music Competition and recently came 2nd place in the 2021 Ross Peters 4MBS chamber music competition. A passionate educator and performer, Sean recently went on tour as a part of the Festival of Bands with the Distressed Cats, where they directed masterclasses, tutorials and performed for students across the Central Highlands. Next year, Sean is looking forward to pursuing his studies internationally.

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� Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra 2.2 Peter Luff, conductor Soloists Mai-Lien Olsson, Piano; Elinor Hillock, Flute; Daniel Shearer, Cello; Prudence Russell, French Horn

Violoncello Emma Tudball* Benjamin Crosby William Bland Matthew Stuart-Street Ben Marshall

Violin 1 Kristelle Jaimes* David Tan You Jin Hong Edmund Mantelli Noah Coyne Noah Van den Berg Yuro Lee Haneulle Lovell

Contrabass Deakin Darby* Sophia Buchanan Adam Johnstone

Violin 2 Emily Ampt* Amira Ryan Kaia Scheidler Micah Kenzie Luke Hammer Alan Leslie Kezia Marvela

Flute Vittoria von Caemmerer* Aaryn Wong Oboe Ruby Cooper Joshua Cass Clarinet Lewis Blanchard Joshua Rosen

Viola Jeremy Egerton* Sebastien Masel Caitlin Annesley Rose Anne Breedt Ella Pysden

Bass Clarinet Hugo Anaya Partida* Bassoon Chris Buckley Hayden Mears

Piccolo Aaryn Wong* *Section leader 15

French Horn Lauren Owens Madeleine Aarons Emma Rolfe Hannah Waterfall Arabella Davies Patrick de Koster Alec Berg Jude Austen Kaupe

Trumpet Riley Nimmo* Xavier Bradford Matthew Nash

Trombone Tate Cassells* Sophie Ainsworth

Percussion Quinn Ramsey*

Trombone Brady Foxley-Connolly* Timpani Matthew Conway*

*Section leader 16

� Soloists

Mai-Lien Olsson, Piano Mai-Lien Olsson is one of the Conservatorium’s undergraduate piano students studying her fourth year under the tutelage of Natasha Vlassenko.

Starting at the age of 7, she has consistently achieved high results in various competitions around Brisbane and auditioned for the prestigious Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition. Additionally, Mai-Lien will independently host a concert showcasing her love for solo and collaborative works of composers such as Rachmaninov and Debussy. She will soon make her orchestral debut playing the third movement of Beethoven’s first concerto in C with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra for their concert, Young at Heart. Mai-Lien is the proud recipient of the Dorothy Ford Memorial Scholarship.

Prudence Russell, French Horn Prudence Russell is a passionate, aspiring French horn player based in Brisbane.

She is currently completing her fourth year as a Bachelor of Music candidate at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, under guidance from Peter Luff, Malcolm Stewart, and Ysolt Clark. She is an active musician at University, frequently performing with the QCGU Symphony Orchestra and QCGU horn and brass ensembles and is a founding member of her chamber ensemble, the Caccia Quartet. As an emerging artist, Prudence has taken opportunities to perform in community orchestras including the Queensland Youth orchestra and the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra. Most notably, she is a casual musician with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Alongside performing, Prudence enjoys teaching students in her private studio.

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Elinor Hillock, Flute Sir Samuel Griffith Scholarship recipient, Elinor Hillock is a Brisbane based flautist with wide-ranging musical interests, but a particular passion for bringing new compositions to life. Notable performances include appearing as the soloist for the premier performance of Image D’apocalypse, (2020, D. Schlapoff) for solo flute and orchestra with the Conservatorium Symphony, and the World Premier of Distances, by triple Grammy award winning flautist Tim Munro. She also was a finalist in the James Carson Flute prize, and continues to perform with orchestras throughout Brisbane including the Queensland Pops Orchestra, Queensland Conservatorium Symphony, Wind Symphony and Musical Orchestra, and Queensland Youth Symphony.

Outside of study, Elinor runs a growing private studio where she inspires younger musicians to achieve success and joy through music. In her spare time, Elinor exercises her creativity through drawing and crochet.

Daniel Shearer, Violoncello Daniel Shearer is a young artist with a love and passion for the cello. Since 2020 he has learnt from Hungarian cellist Gyorgy Deri at the Queensland Conservatorium, where he is in his fourth year of his Bachelor in Performance.

Daniel grew up performing for possums on his back deck but has since garnered a growing audience from festival appearances, recitals and competitions across Queensland. He has performed in masterclasses at the Juilliard School, taught by renowned cellists such as David Finckel, Ani Aznavoorian, Bion Tsang and Astrid Schween. As well as solo work, Daniel is a committed chamber musician having performed with faculty members of the Queensland Conservatorium. He has also played in a chamber master class with Sophie Rowell, concertmaster of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Daniel plays the ‘Widow Twankey’ cello on loan from Jenny Moore.

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� Special Thanks Special thanks to Mrs Silver Harris, the supporter of the Silver Harris and Jeff Peck Composition Prize. This prize has made the two new works that will premier tonight possible. To take part in the composition, and performance of a new work is an invaluable experience for our students.

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 at +61 (0)7 5552 7218 or email giving@griffith.edu.au

DONATE NOW

Queensland Conservatorium thanks our generous donors and supporters. We would like to acknowledge our instrument bank donors supporting the students in tonight’s performance.

Purchased with the support of the Jani Haenke Charitable Trust • Kevin Hsu, Violin 1 • Jonah Spriggs, Violin 2 • Mya Whatson, Cello • Milly Yip, Bassoon

Widow Twanky Cello on permanent loan by Jenny Moore • Daniel Shearer

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Queensland Conservatorium

Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University 140 Grey Street, South Bank 4101 Concert enquiries: +61 (7) 3735 6241

Director Professor Bernard Lanskey Deputy Director (Engagement) Associate Professor Peter Morris

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griffith.edu.au/music

Head of Performance Associate Professor Peter Luff

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Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, and pays respect to the Elders past, present and emerging.

Conservatorium Manager Stuart Jones Technical Manager Cameron Hipwell Front of House Operations Manager Michael Hibbard Operations Administrator Clare Wharton Ensembles Administrator Daniel Fossi Technical Officers Keith Clark, Amy Hauser, Len McPherson Venue Officer Alexander Penca

Correct at time of print.

CRICOS No. 00233E

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