Strike A Chord - 2021 Grand Final

L A D IN 1 N F 2 A 0 R 2 G

photo: Keith Saunders

COUSIN QUARTET

Winners of the Robert Salzer Prize 2020; champions of the inaugural Strike A Chord

It is my great pleasure and privilege to welcome you to the 2021 Finals of Strike A Chord, Musica Viva’s National Chamber Music Championship.

Twelve accomplished Finalist groups from all over Australia will perform live, where restrictions allow, for our expert jury of five of Australia’s finest chamber musicians and an audience of passionate chamber music lovers.

I can’t wait to soak up a day of inspiring music-making by our fantastic young musicians countrywide. Once again, with over a hundred ensembles entering Strike A Chord this year, we can expect an absolute aural treat from those selected to perform in the Final. The standard overall was again extremely high and our distinguished First Round jurors, Elyane Laussade and Blair Harris, carried out their very difficult task with thoughtful care. They have already awarded special prizes to groups who did particularly well in their specific categories in the First Round but did not progress to the Final. All groups who participated received feedback from the judges and a certificate to celebrate their participation. That underscores the guiding principle behind Strike A Chord – to encourage young musicians of any level to experience the challenge and the joy of playing chamber music with others. This year, we introduced a new Novice category for groups whose members haven’t been playing their instruments for long and fifteen intrepid groups seized the opportunity.

Chamber music is indeed for everyone at any stage of their musical journey!

It takes a village to bring each of these 100+ performances to life and I’m very grateful to all the dedicated parents, teachers and administrators who make music lessons happen, who help put groups together and who guide the musicians as they choose a piece to play and get to grips with honing their ensemble skills. But most of all, I congratulate the hundreds of young musicians who gave their time and energy to this noble pursuit so close to my heart. I’m sure that these early experiences will nurture a love of making and listening to chamber music for the rest of your lives.

I know I speak for all of my incredibly hardworking, motivated colleagues in the Musica Viva Australia Strike A Chord team when I say that you are why we do what we do.

3 ] WELCOME 5 ] GRAND FINAL SCHEDULE 2021 7 ] THE CHAMPIONSHIP 8 ] THE JURY 10 ] THE PRIZES

12 ] ♦ JPMS ENSEMBLE SPIRITO ♦ JAMES CAMPBELL STRING QUARTET

13 ] ♦ BARTHOLDY TRIO ♦ FOUR STRINGS

14 ] ♦ TRIO FINIFUGAL ♦ PICCOLO STRING QUARTET

15 ] ♦ SHELL-SHOCKED PERCUSSION QUARTET ♦ PIRULÍ STRING QUARTET

16 ] ♦ FALSE RELATIONS ♦ AMOGUS TRIO

17 ] ♦ THE CANBERRA REDS ♦ VDUB

20 ] ALL ENTRIES 2020 21 ] FIRST ROUND PRIZES 23 ] NOVICE SECTION 23 ] ABOUT MUSIVA VIVA 24 ] BEQUEST 25 ] PARTNERS + DONORS

Wilma Smith, Artistic Director Strike A Chord

24 ] COACHING PROGRAM 25 ] ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 3

Welcome to the second iteration of Strike A Chord, the national chamber music competition that shines a spotlight on the most outstanding secondary school musicians, and celebrates the achievements of students at all stages of their musical journeys.

Strike A Chord was launched in 2020 - a year in which so much performance activity was not possible. To be able to celebrate the energy, enthusiasm and versatility of so many young musicians was truly a bright spot in dark times.

Strike A Chord, like its internationally-recognised relative, the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, is a Victorian-based program with a much wider reach. This year finalists come together virtually from all over Australia to compete in the livestreamed final, and the Victorian Government is proud to support it.

We would not have been able to realise Wilma Smith’s compelling vision for a competition that would engage students around Australia with the joy of making chamber music if it were not for the support of Creative Victoria, and we have valued their flexibility and counsel.

I applaud the work that the Musica Viva Australia team, and their many collaborators, have done to ensure that the reach of this initiative is as wide as possible, and to be prepared to deliver it’s flexibly as needed. It’s particularly pleasing to see that the new Yamaha Novice Section, designed to encourage musicians in the early stages of their learning journey, has engaged so many regional students, from Mt Isa to Nhill.

I congratulate each and every one of the more than 400 young musicians, and their teachers, who have come through the bumpy ride of this past 18 months to take on the challenge and reward of making music together.

Thank you for persevering, and for sharing your talents.

Danny Pearson MP, Minister for Creative Industries, Victoria

This initiative has also brought together organisations and individuals who have shared Wilma’s vision and helped us to bring it to reality, and I thank them all. I acknowledge in particular our Strategic Partners, the Melbourne Recital Centre and Australian National Academy of Music, the visionary multiyear investment of Tom Breen which has made the national coaching program possible, and the generous support of Gandel Philanthropy, Yamaha Australia, the Robert Salzer Foundation, Marjorie Nicholas OAM and the Mercer Family Foundation.

Finally, I acknowledge the work of the Musica Viva Australia team, who launched Strike A Chord last year against the odds, and continue to evolve it as needed.

Strike A Chord exemplifies Musica Viva’s commitment to excellence, and is an ideal example of our determination to nurture the musical development of young Australians.

Hywel Sims, CEO Musica Viva Australia

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THE CHAMPIONSHIP Strike A Chord is an initiative developed by Musica Viva Australia for its 75th anniversary in 2020, with critical funding from Creative Victoria, and is presented in partnership with Melbourne Recital Centre and the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), and supported by a generous and collaborative group of organisations and supporters.

The brainchild of Musica Viva’s Artistic Director of Competitions, Wilma Smith, Strike A Chord was created to encourage the next generation of Australian musicians to experience the lifechanging possibilities of chamber music, giving students the opportunity to explore their potential and discover the joy in making music with friends, whatever their level of ability. Although the inaugural two years of Strike A Chord have not been what we’d originally planned, logistically speaking, the spirit of the music-making has shone through each and every entry received.

The Strike A Chord Teachers’ Conference is designed to build capacity in the teaching of chamber music at secondary school level.

Comprising panel discussions, interactive online workshops and open coaching sessions presented by 13 prominent musicians and teachers, the 2021 conference welcomes teachers at all career stages working with a wide range of students. This event is again fully online this year, happily increasing its easy accessibility to music teachers from metropolitan and regional areas all over Australia.

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown challenge after challenge to our prospective participants and our management team with lockdowns, cancellation of school co-curricular programs, border closures, and restrictions on the number of people permitted to gather. In light of this we have again transitioned to a virtual event in 2021, repeating the model that was devised in 2020 to meet the challenges that COVID-19 presented.

We hope that the seeds planted in the inaugural two years of Strike A Chord will take root, and help to create a connected community of people who are passionate about introducing the joy and challenge of chamber music to each new generation of young musicians.

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THE JURY Please note that all jurors have openly declared any teaching, tutoring or other involvement with finalist groups, and as such all groups will be judged impartially on the basis of their performance on the day.

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FIRST ROUND

[ BLAIR HARRIS Blair is a highly regarded solo cellist and chamber musician. He is a member of Southern Cross Soloists and Ensemble Offspring making his chamber music profile diverse with a national reach. Blair also holds a position at the Faculty of Music, Monash University as a lecturer in cello performance.

Blair has worked with numerous chamber ensembles including the Australian String Quartet, Streeton Trio and Syzygy Ensemble.

He has appeared as guest principal cello in both the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Blair plays a fine cello crafted by V.Gagliano, Naples, 1859.

[ ELYANE LAUSSADE A graduate of the Juilliard School in New York City, pianist Elyane Laussade has delighted audiences with her imaginative and strongly individual playing. She has performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and has been featured by ABC Classic FM and 3MBS in recordings and live broadcasts. As a soloist, Elyane has performed in Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore, China, Japan, South Africa, the USA and Europe.

Elyane’s most recent endeavour is the Mozart Project which will see her perform all 27 Mozart piano concertos with orchestras around Australia, in addition to a special series of intimate recitals at the Laussade Studio in Melbourne.

GRAND FINAL

[ CLAIRE EDWARDES From the set of Play School to the Sydney Opera House, Claire Edwardes is ‘the wonder woman of percussion’ (Seesaw Magazine).

Claire leaps between her role as Artistic Director of Ensemble Offspring and concerto performances with Australian, New Zealand and European orchestras. Add her genrespanning solo concerts, teaching at the Sydney Conservatorium, a broad spectrum of collaborations, premiering hundreds of new works, to passionately advocating for gender equity in music and you begin to appreciate her astonishing energy. Perhaps her most significant contribution, beyond her endless quest for excellence in performance, is in breaking down the barriers between art music and audiences, through bringing new music to unexpected places.

[ IAN MUNRO Born in Melbourne and educated at the VCA, Ian was taught the piano by Roy Shepherd.

While completing his studies in Vienna and London, Ian won a number of prizes in international competitions, leading to solo performances across Europe, the USA and Asia, and recordings for the BBC, Naxos, and ABC Classics. Ian returned to composing in 2000. His first major work Dreams (2002) was awarded Premier Grand Prix at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels.

Recent commissions include a flute concerto for the Melbourne and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras and a song cycle for soprano Sara MacLiver. Ian’s works may be found at the Australian Music Centre.

[ EUAN MURDOCH Euan Murdoch is CEO of Melbourne Recital Centre comprising two world-class performance spaces known for architectural innovation and acoustic perfection. He was Director of Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music and Chief Executive of Chamber Music New Zealand (2006-2014). As a cellist, teacher and chamber musician, he has worked throughout the world including as

a jury member for competitions at Wigmore Hall and St Martin-in-the-Fields. In August 2021 he will adjudicate the national finals of Strike a Chord and the NZ Chamber Music Contest. His aim is to bring music closer to people as an essential part of daily life.

[ DIMITY SHEPHARD Dimity Shepherd is one of Melbourne’s favourite mezzos. A four time Green Room Award winner, her career spans both traditional and contemporary opera, chamber music and concert repertoire. She has been sought after as a performer of new Australian works, most recently the acclaimed Lorelei (Victorian Opera and Opera Queensland) and as the soloist in Katy Abbott’s Return to Sender with the Flinders Quartet. Other recent engagements include Carmen in Opera Australia’s national tour, Pearl in Summer Of the Seventeenth Doll by Richard Mills (SOSA), The Queen and the Cat in Respighi’s Sleeping Beauty (VO), and Mrs Judd and Mrs Bonner in Richard Meale’s Voss (VO). Dimity has twice judged the Herald Sun Aria singing competition.

[ MICHELE WALSH A graduate of the University of Adelaide and winner of the ABC Instrumental Competition violinist Michele Walsh has appeared as soloist with orchestras in Australia and has performed around the world. Formerly Associate Concertmaster of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, she is currently Associate Professor in Violin and Head of Strings at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. Michele has a particular interest in fostering young musicians and working in regional areas. She is very committed to the work of the Australian Youth Orchestra, serving as a Board member and Chair of the Artistic committee. Michele was Director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music Winterschool and is Director of the Mount Buller Summer Chamber Music School.

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THE PRIZES

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PRIZES AWARDED AT THE GRAND FINAL FIRST PRIZE

Robert Salzer Prize | $5,000

AMOGUS TRIO

Generously supported by the Robert Salzer Foundation in Melbourne.

SECOND PRIZE

Paul Morawetz Prize | $4,000

JPMS ENSEMBLE SPIRITO

This prize is supported by the Morawetz Family in memory of Paul and his interest in nurturing young talent and a generation of concert artists.

THIRD PRIZE

Laura Brown Prize | $2,500

FALSE RELATIONS

The Laura Brown Prize is supported by Beth Brown and the late Tom Bruce AM in memory of Beth’s mother.

AUDIENCE PRIZE

Peter Druce Prize | $2,000

JPMS ENSEMBLE SPIRITO

This prize is supported by the family of the late Peter Druce, who was a Melbourne lawyer and Arts Patron with a particular interest in music.

Caring for tradition. Daring to be different.

• VISIT •

flindersquartet.com for FQ’s full calendar of events

PRIZES AWARDED AT ANY STAGE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP Melbourne Recital Centre Regional Prize

Sutherland Trio Mentorship Prize

Generously financially supported by Tom Breen.

A 12 month mentorship with the Sutherland Trio, awarded by the Jury in consultation with Sutherland Trio to a piano trio that shows commitment and potential to take their ensemble to the next level.

For a group that resides outside one of the major capital cities.

All-access pass to selected MRC concerts for one week (dates to be discussed and agreed upon with all parties), including travel and accommodation.

♦ Shearwater Trio, NSW

Gandel Australian Music Prize Generously supported by Gandel Philanthropy.

This prize is awarded for the best performance of an Australian work, which may include student compositions. In addition to receiving $2,000 cash, if the winner of this prize is not already in the final, the group will be invited to give a special performance at an appropriate time during the finals event. Travel to Melbourne will be subsidised where required.

♦ False Relations, NSW

Australian National Academy of Music Prize For a string quartet who the adjudicators believe would most benefit from a week-long coaching residency at ANAM (dates to be discussed and agreed upon with all parties).

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Travel and accommodation for four participants and one accompanying adult

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Coaching staff and program

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Rehearsal room

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Closed performance opportunity at end of week

♦ False Relations, NSW

Flinders Quartet Mentorship Prize A 12 month mentorship with the Flinders Quartet, awarded by the Jury in consultation with Flinders Quartet to a string quartet that shows commitment and potential to take their ensemble to the next level.

Note: If there is no suitable string quartet, other ensemble combinations will be considered.

The prize includes 8 x 1-hour coaching sessions, Unlimited access to any Sutherland Trio rehearsals, and a collaborative performance with Sutherland Trio to be held at Melbourne Digital Concert Hall (date to be discussed and agreed upon with all parties). Travel to Melbourne may be subsidised where required.

Bendigo Chamber Music Festival Prize Generously financially supported by Tom Breen.

Awarded by the Jury, in consultation with BCMF Artistic Administration, the winning group/s selected from any stage of the competition will be invited to give a 45min performance as part of the 2022 Bendigo Chamber Music Festival (travel and accommodation provided). In addition to the performance, the group/s will have opportunities to engage with professional artists in an educational context including participation in masterclasses and attendance at other Festival concerts.

3MBS Prize Awarded by the Jury to the top two groups from Victoria.

A live to air performance on 3MBS for the winning ensembles in one of their concert programs at a date suitable for both parties, including streaming + interview + social media. Ensembles will also receive a copy of their performance recording.

Galston Concert Prize Up to two ensembles will be chosen from Strike A Chord 2021 Finalist and/or Reserve Finalist Ensembles from the Greater Sydney Area, based on availability and in consultation with The Galston Concerts management. Performances will take place at the 2021 Galston Gala on November 21*. Winning ensembles will be offered a performance fee of $200 per player with a maximum fee payable of $1,000 per ensemble. *Should COVID-19 events and/or restrictions impact the Galston Concerts Gala in 2021, reasonable attempts will be made to reschedule the performances in 2022.

The prize includes 10 mentorship sessions with Flinders Quartet members; 2 sessions on group development, career planning and concert presentation; performance in a Flinders Quartet subscription concert, including travel to and accommodation in Melbourne if required; and the opportunity to observe the Flinders Quartet in rehearsal throughout the year. Mentoring/rehearsal sessions will take place remotely via online platform where necessary.

♦ Piccolo Quartet, NSW

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QLD

VIC

JPMS ENSEMBLE SPIRITO

JAMES CAMPBELL STRING QUARTET

John PSATHAS (b 1966)

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)

Kyoto (2011)

YULIANA CHEN percussion CHLOE CHRISTOFAN percussion LACHLAN TU percussion ABIGAIL LING percussion THEO HIDAJAT percussion

9’00

Brisbane State High School Y11 Brisbane State High School Y11 Brisbane Boys Grammar Y11 Brisbane State High School Y11

I Allegro con brio

LEON FEI violin LACHLAN CHEN violin NEIL WANG viola JUSTIN SHENG cello

4’40

Scotch College Y11 Scotch College Y11 Scotch College Y 9 Scotch College Y12

Mansfield State High School Y11

“Thrilling, exhilarating, captivating, highly entertaining” have been used to describe performances of members of J Percussion Music School Ensemble Spirito. As prize winning soloists and chamber musicians, current members Abi, Chloe, Lachlan, Theo and Yuliana have regularly performed around Brisbane and along the Australian east coast. JPMS Ensemble Spirito is looking forward to sharing with audiences one of the most virtuosic as well as sublime works in the percussion repertory, Kyoto by Greek-New Zealand composer John Psathas.

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String Quartet no 11 in F minor, Op 95 (1810)

Newly formed just this year, Leon (violin), Lachie (violin), Neil (viola) and Justin (cello) are extremely excited to explore the vast repertoire written for string quartet. Under the tutelage of Wilma Smith, they are currently working on the 8th String Quartet by Shostakovich, hoping to further cultivate teamwork and look deeper into the significance of the ideas woven between the notes.

Having only just scratched the surface of chamber music, the string quartet enthusiastically looks forward to the myriad of pieces and works that await them.

NSW

WA

BARTHOLDY TRIO Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)

Piano Trio no 1 in D minor, Op 49 (1839) I Molto allegro agitato

JUSTINE ZHANG violin VINCENT ZHU cello FIONA FENG piano

FOUR STRINGS 9’50

MLC School Y 8 Conservatorium High School Y 8 MLC School Y 9

The Bartholdy Trio is a piano trio of highly accomplished young musicians.

Fiona Feng won first prize at the Chopin in Warwel International Piano Competition, Poland, and first prize in the Golden Classical Music Awards in New York. Fiona studies with Natalia Ricci.

Justine Zhang had her first solo performance at the age of 8 at the Sydney Opera House and was a soloist at the School Spectacular in 2018 and 2019. Justine studies with Alice Waten.

Vincent Zhu studied with Xiaole Wu, and Thomas Tsai who is his present teacher. He was accepted into the AYO camp and ACO Academy programs in 2021.

Ignaz LACHNER (1807-1895)

Quartet in G for Four Violins, Op 107 (1895) III Allegro giocoso IV Finale

AARON OOI violin ALICIA SUN violin MIA HASLER violin PAULA KRAUSE violin

6’40

All Saints College Y 9 Penrhos College Y 6 Home School Y 8 All Saints College Y 8

Four Strings is a violin quartet formed at the 2020 WA Young Artists Chamber Music Program (WAYACHAMP).

After enjoying learning to collaborate in a chamber group, they continued playing together and won a prize at the 2020 WAYACOMP. All members play violin in the WA Youth Orchestra.

Aaron is also a jazz pianist and oboist; Alicia also plays the piano; Mia enjoys playing chamber music, and also plays cello; and Paula also plays flute and piano.

VIC

NSW

TRIO FINIFUGAL

PICCOLO STRING QUARTET

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)

Zwei Gesänge Op 91 (1884) II Geistliches Wiegenlied

5’45

String Quartet no 2 in A minor, Op 13 (1827) I Adagio - Allegro vivace

MIA-CHENEA ROBINSON voice

ISABELLA SUN violin

SEBASTIAN COYNE piano

JONAH SHI violin

NOAH LAWRENCE cello

HAYLEY LAU viola

Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School Y12 Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School Y12 Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School Y12

Out of a newfound resolve to make music after the extended lockdowns of 2020, and as a way for these three friends to celebrate their final year at school together, Mia, Seb and Noah formed Trio Finifugal.

Mia studies classical voice with Dermot Tutty. Noah studies with Josephine Vains, and Seb with Christopher Cartlidge. All three have extensive ensemble experience and are deeply passionate about music. Trio Finifugal look forward to sharing music with this wonderful community of young musicians.

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JACK THEAKSTON cello

8’30

Abbotsleigh School Y 9 Knox Grammar School Y 7 Wenona School Y 9 Hills Grammar School Y 9

Established in early 2019, the Piccolo String Quartet is under the mentorship of tutors from Arco Music Academy and members from Estivo Trio and Enigma Quartet.

All members of the Quartet are students from the Rising Stars Program of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Isabella, Jonah and Hayley study with Mr Fox Chan and Jack studies with Ms Susan Blake.

Not only are the members devoted chamber musicians but also accomplished soloists, scholarship recipients and prizewinners of local and international competitions such as the Sydney Eisteddfod and Melbourne International Piano and String Festival Competition.

QLD

SA

SHELL-SHOCKED PERCUSSION QUARTET

PIRULÍ STRING QUARTET

Dave HALL (b 1983)

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)

Escape Velocity (2008)

5’30

String Quartet no 2 in A minor, Op 13 (1827) I Adagio - Allegro vivace

NICHOLAS ROBINSON vibraphone HAYDEN RAYNER percussion NICHOLAS YANG marimba 1 DAVID CHIU marimba 2

Sheldon College Y12 Sheldon College Y11 Sheldon College Y11 Sheldon College Y 8

JASMINE MILTON violin HANEULLE LOVELL violin STERLING RIECK viola CALEB CHRISTIAN cello

7’40

Concordia College Adelaide Y12 Concordia College Adelaide Y12 Concordia College Adelaide Y11 Concordia College Adelaide Y11

Shell-Shocked are a dynamic Percussion Quartet from Sheldon College in Brisbane.

The Pirulí String Quartet was formed in 2017 under the direction of Martin Butler OAM.

Nicholas Robinson, is the eldest of the four current ensemble members and is the Percussion Captain at Sheldon College.

Nicholas Yang and Hayden Rayner are both heavily involved in the Arts program having both recently performed in the school productions of Les Miserables and Wicked. David Chiu started percussion at age 5 and completed his AMEB Grade 8 exams for Percussion and Drumkit by age 12.

Jasmine is mentored by Dr Elizabeth Layton and Haneulle learns from Wendy Heiligenberg. Sterling is currently mentored by Shirin Lim and learns viola with Martin Butler.

Caleb learns from Ewen Bramble.

All 4 members of Shell-Shocked have won National titles as both soloists and ensemble members.

The quartet won first prize in the 2018 and 2019 Adelaide Eisteddfods. They have been heavily involved with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra - Haneulle is the current concertmaster.

A hallmark feature of the quartet is their “string quartet catchup nights”, which involve movies, popcorn, board games, a sprinkle of practice, and questionable cooking recipes.

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NSW

QLD

FALSE RELATIONS

AMOGUS TRIO

Paul STANHOPE (b 1969)

Arno BABAJANYAN (1921-1983)

I have not your dreaming (2005)

GABRIEL DILLON voice ARCHIE TULK voice AUSTIN O’TOOLE voice LIAM GREEN voice

7’00

Conservatorium High School Y12 Conservatorium High School Y12 Conservatorium High School Y12

III Andante IV Allegro vivace

ANNA SUZUKI violin JEREMY SUN piano JOSHUA JONES cello

11’40

Home School Y10 Home School Y10 Brisbane State High School Y12

Conservatorium High School Y12

False Relations is a male vocal ensemble made up of four close friends. The group prides itself on its flexibility, with its ever-expanding repertoire encompassing music from Byrd to The Beach Boys. As well as performing professionally, False Relations has gained a substantial following on TikTok, and their videos have been viewed over two million times.

More recently, the group has been mentored by baritone David Greco, and all four boys are immensely grateful to David for his guidance and support. False Relations feels very fortunate to have been selected to perform at the Strike A Chord championship.

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Piano Trio in F-sharp minor (1952)

The Amogus Trio was formed in March 2021 and is coached by Anna Grinberg and Tim Li. Anna currently studies under Michele Walsh. She won the QSO Young Instrumentalist Prize in 2021 and has recorded the Sibelius Violin Concerto with QSO. Joshua studies cello with Howard Penny and Karol Kowalik.

Joshua was a Finalist in the QSO Young Instrumentalist Competition four times and performed the Dvorak concerto with QYS where he is Principal Cello.

Jeremy made his concerto debut at 11. He has won numerous international and national competitions, including in Italy, Germany, China and Portugal.

ACT

VIC

THE CANBERRA REDS

VDUB

François DOPPLER (1821-1883)

Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872-1958)

Andante et Rondo for Two Flutes and Piano, Op 25 (1874)

JAYDEN LOHE flute CARL VITOLOVICH flute LUCY GAO piano

8’35

Narrabundah College Y12 Canberra Grammar School Y11 Narrabundah College Y12

Phantasy Quintet (1912) I Prelude II Scherzo

OLIVIA SPYROU violin IAN CHIAO violin JAMIE MILES viola

Jayden is also a Wesley Organ Scholar. He is part of the ANU Open School chamber program and is Principal Flute in the Canberra Youth Orchestra. Jayden is a student of Teresa Rabe.

Carl discovered his love of the flute 5 years ago having played fife, clarinet and bass clarinet. He is also learning piano. Carl is a student of Teresa Rabe.

Lucy gained her LMusA in piano in 2019. Lucy has played in various ensembles in the ANU Open School chamber music program. Lucy is a student of Marie Cull.

Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School Y11 Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School Y12 Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School Y11

SEBASTIAN COYNE viola NOAH LAWRENCE cello

Jayden, Carl and Lucy started playing together in February 2021.

7’45

Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School Y12 Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School Y12

As individuals, the members of Vdub have performed with the Australian Youth Orchestra, Melbourne Youth Orchestra, The Orchestra Project, for VCE Top Acts, Pettman Chamber Academy (NZ), ACO Academy and Melbourne String Ensemble.

Two of the members, Jamie and Noah, were past winners of the Lockdown Legends Competition in 2020 as members of Eureka Quartet. They have set themselves a challenge to perform in the Strike A Chord competition from memory. Lead violinist Olivia Spyrou says, “I love the atmospheric journey of performing without music, and the artistic freedom it brings to the interpretation.” Vdub is tutored by Josephine Vains.

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AUSTA is pleased to support the

Strike a Chord National Chamber Music Championship AUSTA is an association of teachers, players and makers of bowed string instruments which promotes excellence in all aspects of performance, teaching, composing, conducting and string instrument making.

AUSTA inspires and supports the string community and facilitates communication at local, national and international levels.

www.austa.asn.au

Online & Digital

Melbourne’s Classical Music www.3mbs.org.au

A proud sponsor of Strike A Chord

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FIRST ROUND PRIZES Strike A Chord strives to celebrate the sincere and joyful accomplishments of secondary school chamber groups from all over Australia. As such, First Round Jurors – Elyane Laussade and Blair Harris – were delighted to present the following encouragement awards to groups that did not progress to the 2021 Grand Final. Congratulations to all.

AMEB Emerging Ensemble Encouragement Award

Woodwind | sponsored by Yamaha Music Australia

$1,000 worth of sheet music for a group that shows a need for additional resources, and does not progress to the Finals.

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♦ Bellissimo Flute Ensemble, QLD

Innovation Award For the ensemble who throws the most interesting light on what chamber music can be. For a group that does not progress to the Finals. $500 cash.

Brass | sponsored by Yamaha Music Australia

♦ Baroque Ensemble, SA

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Spirit of Chamber Music Award Generously provided by Elizabeth Sellars, in memory of John and Lesley Sellars. For a group who the jury feels in some way touches upon the essential character and/or spirituality of a work, and does not progress to the Finals. $200 cash

♦ MLC School Vocal Consort, NSW

At the discretion of the Artistic Director, one or more prizes may be awarded in each of the following categories, to groups that do not progress to the Finals:

Keyboard | sponsored by Yamaha Music Australia The Open School Piano Quartet, ACT ♦ MLC 40 Fingers, NSW ♦ Fraser Piano Trio, QLD ♦ Bradford Trio, VIC ♦ Triola Trio, VIC ♦

Percussion ♦ ♦

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The Dented Crooks, ACT Sydney Grammar School Double Reed Trio, NSW ♦ The King’s School Clarinet Quartet, NSW ♦ The Klezmer Trio, NSW ♦

JPMS Ensemble Ritmico, QLD JPMS Ensemble Vivo, QLD

St.George Brass Band Junior Quintet, NSW Darwin High School Brass Trio, NT ♦ Adelaide Trombone Quartet, SA ♦

Strings | sponsored by the Australian Strings Association Lam Quartet, NSW Tetivo Trio, NSW ♦ Von Einem String Quartet, NSW ♦ Dragon Brothers, NSW ♦ ♦

Mixed Ensemble ♦

The MLC School Trio, NSW

Vocal ♦ ♦

The ‘Illegal’ Choir, NSW MLC School Vocal Consort, NSW

Junior Finesse Strings, WA Year 6/7 String Quartet, NSW ♦ Scotch College Two Pianos Junior Ensemble, VIC ♦ 100 Strings, WA ♦ ♦

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ALL 2021 ENTRIES

Congratulations to all the ensembles that entered Strike A Chord and the Yamaha Novice Section.

You all achieved heroically! ♦

100 Strings

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Four Seasons String Quartet

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Abbotsleigh TEK Piano Trio

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Four Strings

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Adelaide Cello Quartet, Concordia College

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Fraser Piano Trio

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Genies

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Glenunga International High School String Quartet 1

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Adelaide Trombone Quartet

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Allegro String Quartet

♦ ♦

Amethyst String Quartet Amogus Trio

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PLC Armidale Advanced Chamber Ensemble

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PLC Armidale String Quartet

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PLC Sydney Senior String Quartet

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Quartet Dolce

Glenunga International High School String Quartet 2

♦ ♦

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Good Shepherd Quartet

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Roystead Quartet

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The Canberra Reds

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The Dented Crooks

♦

The Four Mozart-rella Sticks

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The Hamilton and Alexandra College Senior String Quartet

Quartet Yehudi

♦

The ‘Illegal’ Choir

RGS Saxophone Ensemble

♦

The J Triple ANU Open School Trio

♦

The King’s School Clarinet Quartet

♦

The Klezmer Trio

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The MLC School Trio

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The Open School Piano Quartet

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The Open School Piano Trio

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The Open School Three Musketeers

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Athena Quartet

♦

Balwyn High School String Quartet

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Holy Händel

♦

Sakura-Mei Trio

♦

Iolite String Quartet

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Sapphire String Quartet

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Baroque Ensemble

♦

Itet - Essendon Quartet

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♦

Bartholdy Trio

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Itet Bendigo Noble Quartet

Scotch College Oboe Guitar Sextet

♦

Be Natural

♦

♦

Bellissimo Flute Ensemble

James Campbell String Quartet, Scotch College

Blackburn High School Vocal Ensemble A

♦

JPMS Ensemble Ritmico

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JPMS Ensemble Spirito

Blackburn High School Vocal Ensemble B

♦

JPMS Ensemble Vivo

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Kingussie Quartet

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Korowa Anglican Girls’ School String Quartet 1

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Korowa Anglican Girls’ School String Quartet 2

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Lam Quartet

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Lazurite String Quartet

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Magnolia Trio

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Melbourne Grammar School String Quartet

♦ ♦ ♦

Bradford Trio

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Cairns State High School Percussion Octet

♦

Cairns State High School Piano Quartet

♦

Christian College Year 11 VCE Chamber Group

♦

Citipointe Chamber Strings

♦

Coasties Trio

♦

Da Capo String Quartet

♦

Darwin High School Brass Trio

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Darwin High School Saxophone Quartet

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Dragon Brothers

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Ensemble Fontegara

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Esplanade Trio

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False Relations

♦

Finesse Strings

♦

Flinders Christian Community College VCE TRIO

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MLC 40 Fingers

♦

MLC Bass Quintet

♦

Scotch College Oboe Quartet

♦

Scotch College Two Pianos Junior Ensemble

♦

Shearwater Trio

♦

Shell-Shocked Percussion Quartet, Sheldon College

♦

The Rubato Piano Trio

Spinifex Senior String Ensemble, Spinifex State College

♦

Tintern Grammar IB Trio

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Trinity College Clarinet Ensemble

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St Andrew’s Cathedral School Piano Quintet

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Trio Finifugal

St Mary MacKillop College Senior Wind Ensemble

♦

♦

Trio Mignon

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Trio Piccolo Triola Trio

♦

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St Patrick’s College String Quartet

♦ ♦

Turquoise Chamber Group

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St Peter’s College Chamber Group

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Vdub

♦

Vivace String Quartet

♦

Volar Quintet

♦

Von Einem String Quartet

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Wilderness School Piano Trio

♦

St Peter’s College Saxophone Sextet

MLC School Vocal Consort

♦

♦

Moriah College Percussion Ensemble

St George Brass Band Junior Quintet

♦

Staccato Piano Trio

♦

Winter Harps

♦

Nhill College Brass Quartet

♦

♦

♦

Nhill College Clari-Bass Trio

Sydney Grammar School Double Reed Trio

♦

Piccolo String Quartet

♦

Tetivo Trio

Year 6/7 String Quartet, Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney

Pirulí String Quartet, Concordia College

♦

The Allegretto String Quartet

♦

♦

The Blend

Year 9 Trio Spinifex State College

♦

♦

21

Where live music lives.

Melbourne Recital Centre celebrates past, present and future connections between artists and audiences

The Benaud Trio

Firebird Trio

Composer David John Lang's new work captures the drama of decisive moments in sport through music

Joyous French chamber music from the end of the La Belle Époque

Duo Eclettico Pianist Coady Green explores the musical vibrancy of birdsong

MELBOURNERECITAL.COM.AU

Let your support for local artists be heard, with a tax-deductible donation to the Melbourne Recital Centre’s Local Artist Appeal

Principal Government Partner

Musica Viva’s story began on 8 December 1945, with one concert featuring the music of Beethoven and Mozart at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In the 75 years since, our horizons have expanded far beyond Sydney, creating a fertile landscape of music right across Australia, becoming one of the world’s largest presenters of chamber music.

Our mission to enrich communities across Australia by making live chamber music accessible to everyone has never been more important. It’s also never been more challenging, than in this unpredictable time. Thankfully, through your generous donations to the Musica Viva Artists Fund, over the past year we’ve been able to innovate and deliver a new online series, Discover Musica Viva. Simultaneously, our team have worked diligently to develop Musica Viva In Schools Online, allowing us to continue deliver this accessible resource to teachers when lockdowns or distance prevent live performances.

We are proud of our history of uncovering new talent, developing the early careers of some of our best musicians and promoting our most acclaimed ensembles here and overseas. We continue to nurture the careers of young musicians, and this year, Strike A Chord, our National Chamber Music Championship, will build on the success of last year’s launch to give high school students from all over Australia the opportunity to experience the joy of making chamber music.

Through the support of many donors, we have commissioned hundreds of new compositions from Australian composers, and we play a leading role in supporting female composers through our Hildegard Project.

We have been bringing live music to schools for 40 years, and whole generations of Australian children have experienced our programs. We continue to delight and inspire close to 300,000 students each year, and we support their teachers with vital training and professional development.

We started as a chamber music organisation focused on just one ensemble but have developed as we grew to deliver our purpose: ‘to create and support a vibrant chamber music sector which is accessible to people of all backgrounds across Australia.’ As we return to full operating mode, Musica Viva will continue to showcase the finest chamber music making to audiences all around Australia, in capital cities, regional centres and remote communities.

PURPOSE

Musica Viva exists to create and support a vibrant chamber music sector which is accessible to people of all backgrounds across Australia.

VISION

An Australia where chamber music thrives and where all people of all ages, cultures and communities have access to and learn to appreciate the vital role of music in building a stronger and more creative world.

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[

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank the following people and organisations for their invaluable contribution to Strike A Chord 2021: ABC Classic

Christina Cook

Jaci Maddern

Liz McKenzie

Robert Harris

Clare Wharton

James de Rozario

Liz Woolnough

Rowena MacNeish

Adrian McEniery

Daniel Smith

James Grant

Lloyd Van’t Hoff

Russell Thomson

Adrian Newman

David Adelt

James Le Fevre

Luke Iredale

Sabrina Govic

Adrian Nye

Declan Postlethwaite

James Mountain

Madeleine Jevons

Samantha Mack

Alastair Campbell

Dorothea Josem

Jane Fyfield

Margaret Barrett

Sarah Thompson

Alexandra White

Elizabeth Campbell

Janet McKay

Marianne Edwards

Sascha Kelly

Andrea McKenzie

Elizabeth Dedman

Jeff Higgins

Mariese Shallard

Stefan Cassomenos

Andy Eisenberg

Elyane Laussade

Jen Ward

Mark Walton

Stephen Adams

Anna Kelly

Emily Kelly

Jenny Owen

Marshall McGuire

Tarien Lampen

Anne Frankenberg

Euan Murdoch

Joanna Drimatis

Mary Scicchitano

The AV1 Team

Annelise Maurer

Eunise Cheng

John Sharkey

Matthew Lorenzon

Tristan Selke

Annie Reid

Fiona Campbell

Jonathan Henderson

MLC School, Sydney

Vedran Drakulić OAM

April Erskine

Fiona Seers

Joseph Smith

Monica Curro

Virginia Read

Auvro Adhikari

Flora Wong

Joshua Healey

Monte Mumford

Vita Daley

Ben Anderson

Greg Taylor

Kate Mazoudier

Naomi Crellin

Wendy Avilov

Bernard Depasquale

Hannah Tungate

Katherine Kemp

Nathan Rippon

Wenhong Luo

Blair Harris

Harry Ward

Kylie King

Nick Bailey

William Ng

Brent Miller

Helen Ayres

Lamorna Nightingale

Nick Dinopoulos

Yuri Huijg

Carmel Morfuni

Helen Dwyer

Leah Phillips

Nicole Canham

Zoë Cobden-Jewitt

Caroline Davis

Helen Vorrath

Leigh Harrold

Peter Morris

Zoe Knighton

Celeste Moore

Howard Penny

Lerida Delbridge

Prue Stone

Chris Howlett

Iris Kennedy

Lilla Ito

Rob McWilliams

Christa Powell

Isobel Ferrier

Linda Bull

Robert Gibbs

audio recording teams

And of course, to all the students, teachers and parents who have participated in the second Strike A Chord. Thank you for your enthusiasm, dedication, and perseverance in this year of change and challenge.

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[

PARTNERS + DONORS Principal Partner

Individual Gifts

$20,000 - $49,000 Mercer Family Foundation Anonymous Strategic Partners

Novice Section Partner

Key Philanthropic Partners

Tom Breen – Founding Patron of the National Development Program Marjorie Nicholas OAM Patron of the Artistic Director

Presenting Partners

$10,000 - $19,999 The Druce Family The Morawetz Family $5,000 - $9,999 Aldridge Family Endowment Dr Di Bresciani OAM & Lino Bresciani OAM Michael & Frederique Katz Dr Craig Reynolds $500 - $4,999 Joanna Baevski Penny Beran Alastair & Sue Campbell Katherine Kemp Janet McDonald Myer Family Foundation Shelley & Euan Murdoch Margaret Oates Musica Viva SA Committee Musica Viva VIC Committee Musica Viva WA Committee $100 - $499 Carolyn Baker Liz Gee Elizabeth Sellars Lindsay Silbert

Venue Partners

National Partners Musica Viva is assisted by the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

Musica Viva is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

Musica Viva is a not-for-profit organisation endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient and registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

25

THEY’LL NEVER FORGET For over a century, Yamaha has blended a tradition of Japanese craftsmanship with innovations in modern materials and sound to create pianos of exceptional tone and breathtaking beauty.

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PO Box 1687 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012

www.musicaviva.com.au/strikeachord strikeachordau

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championship@musicaviva.com.au