MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF SINGLE REEDS

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Artists appearing at the MIFSR 2005

Floyd Williams (QLD, Australia) – Clarinet

Floyd Williams is Senior Lecturer in Clarinet at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music - Griffith University, Brisbane. He has recorded for Move Records, Custom Fidelity, Crystal Records, ABC Classics, Jade Records and Vox Australis. He has served as clarinet tutor at the National Music Camp (Australia) and the World Youth Orchestra (Malaysia) and his former students have occupied principal positions in several major symphony orchestras in Australia. Mr. Williams' principal teachers were Harold Wright, Robert McGinnis and Richard Waller.

Before coming to Australia, Floyd was Associate Professor of Clarinet at The University of New Mexico. He has performed as Principal Clarinettist with U.S. orchestras, including the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, the Mobile Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Santa Fe. He has appeared as soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of Santa Fe, the Queensland Philharmonic and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.  Festival appearances include the Darmstadt International Music Festival, and international clarinet congresses in the United States, Europe and China.

In recent years he has performed and taught in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Hanoi, Europe and the United States.  Recent teaching residencies include the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester) and Indiana University (USA). In October 2003, he presented a recital and master class as part of the Shanghai International Clarinet Festival, and was invited for a return visit in 2005.

Floyd is editor of Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Magazine, and was Conference Director for the 2002 Australasian Clarinet and Saxophone Conference.

 

Mitchell Leigh - Piano

Mitchell Leigh entered the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 1980, where he studied with Max Olding, completing a Diploma of Music in 1984. He furthered his musical education in Canada, studying in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia with Robert Silverman and completing a Bachelor of Music in 1988.

Since returning to Australia Mitchell has established a national reputation as an accompanist and chamber musician. He has appeared in recital with some of Australia's finest instrumentalists as well as with many touring artists. He has made numerous ABC broadcasts and has regularly performed at national and international chamber music events throughout Australia. In 2004 hetoured Australia with French oboist Jacques Tys. Mitchell is a staff member of
both the Queensland Conservatorium/Griffith University and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

Although his concentration has been mainly on accompaniment and chamber music, as soloist he was third prizewinner at the inaugural Australian Piano Award at Shepparton, Victoria, in 1992.

Mitchell has also composed a number of works, some of which have been performed and recorded.

 

Robert Burke (VIC, Australia) - Saxophone

Rob Burke is classically trained but his main focus has been in the Jazz and Rock fields of music. He has studied extensively with the likes of Dave Liebman, George Garzone and George Coleman in New York. He has performed and composed on over 100 CDs including Kate Ceberano (8 years) and Joe Camilleri and the Black Sorrows. With these acts Rob has toured extensively through Asia, Europe, USA and locally. Rob has released a two duet records with Tony Gould entitled Gateway and A Tin Roof for the Rain. Rob is also a member of a groove band called Dodge, which released a CD in 2000 with the title, Offline.   A new solo CD, Wide, was released in July 2003 through Jazzhead with the help of a Vic Arts grant.

Rob has composed music for film and television and is currently co-ordinator of Jazz/popular music at Monash University, lecturer/teacher of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at the VCA the VCASS and is a board member of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

Rob is recording a CD with 5 guitarist: Slava Gregorian, Doug deVries, Stephen Magnusson, Geoff Hughes and Peter Petrucci. This project will be performing at the Forum in Melbourne for the Melbourne Jazz Festival.

 

The Phoenix Ensemble (QSLD, Australia)

Comprising three of Australia’s most experienced chamber musicians, Andres Lorenz (violin), Martin Crook (clarinet) and Wendy Lorenz (piano), the Phoenix Ensemble is ensemble in residence at the University of Southern Queensland, where the members also lecture within the University’s Music Department.

The Ensemble is active within the country’s musical life and the group’s activities include regular broadcasts for ABC Classic FM, concerts in Queensland and interstate, and tours and guest residencies in Europe, Asia and America. They have also released commercial recordings both in Australia and overseas. The Ensemble’s large and diverse repertoire allows for great flexibility in programming, thanks to the wide range of music embraced by its various instrumental combinations. Still greater flexibility is offered by the addition of guest members from time to time. Programs frequently span several centuries, with masterpieces from the heartland of traditional chamber music rubbing with contemporary and more jazz inspired works.

In addition to their performing activities, the members are also committed to fostering the development of chamber music amongst the young. They are available for workshops and master classes and also run a biennial Winter Chamber Music School in Toowoomba for piano, strings and clarinet. The school is open to individuals and groups.

 

Deborah Rawson (N.Z.) - Saxophone

Deborah Rawson studied at Canterbury University and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In NZ she has established herself as a soloist, chamber music performer, recording artist and orchestral musician. She is the founder and leader of NZ’s premier sax quartet, Saxcess; tutors clarinet, chamber music and classical sax at the New Zealand School of Music; has been orchestral saxophone soloist and contract clarinettist with the NZSO since 1978 and is a founding member of both the Zelanian Ensemble and Tango Virtuosi.

The majority of works in the NZ saxophone repertoire have been written for, or commissioned by, Deborah, with the assistance of Creative NZ. She is currently working on a project to record previously unrecorded New Zealand concertos for clarinet and saxophone. Based in Wellington, Deborah pursues a national and international career having toured NZ numerous times, as well as in England, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, Australia and the USA.

Emma Sayers studied at Victoria University (with Judith Clark) and the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest (with Rita Wagner, Ferenc Rados and Péter Solymos). She is a busy chamber musician, accompanist, soloist, recording artist and teacher with a particular interest in music of the 20th and 21st Centuries. She also contributes to radio programmes on NZ’s classical music station, Concert FM. Emma is a member of NZ’s leading new music ensemble, Stroma; has given premieres of a number of NZ compositions; and has recorded works by Australasian composers for the Promethean Editions series Firestarters. She performs regularly with pianist Richard Mapp and the NZ Amici Ensemble. Recent performances include the NZ International Festival of the Arts; a nationwide tour for the Chamber Music NZ Celebrity Series; and concerts in Slovenia and the United Kingdom. Emma is lecturer in piano at Massey University/The New Zealand School of Music.

 

Andy Firth (NSW, Australia) – Clarinet and Saxophone

sponsored by Buffet Crampon clarinets & Keilworth saxophones

”Andy Firth is one of the finest clarinet and saxophone players in the world today. He leaves critics and fellow players gasping in awe of his ability to either dazzle with his blindingly fast, fluent technique or his soulful, beautiful tone”. He is also a gifted composer and a dedicated educator and clinician.

Andy has recently appeared as guest artist with theatre legend Anthony Warlow and Maestro Tommy Tycho conducting the Queensland Symphony Orchestra on the sell-out tour of “An evening with Anthony Warlow”, (August 2003).
Andy Firth received rave reviews for his performances of the Artie Shaw Concerto for Clarinet with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in September 2002 and was also a guest performer at the prestigious Australian Music Association Convention. He was a guest performer along with Diana Krall, Phil Nimmons and Ed Soph at Canada’s MusicFest in 1998 where he received standing ovations for his performances of Benny Goodman’s classic hit Sing, Sing, Sing. Andy Firth's reputation as arguably the most naturally gifted player since Benny Goodman was further enhanced by sensational performances in Germany, England, and the prestigious North Sea Festival in Holland. An exceptional talent, Andy is equally at ease playing Mozart as swinging like a veteran jazz musician. At the drop of a hat Andy is able to switch to almost any musical style or setting.
Andy has performed with such jazz and blues legends as B.B. King, Diana Krall, Wynton Marsalis, Lee Konitz, Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball Jazz Band, Andy Cooper, The North Texas Big Band, Bud Shank, Randy Brecker, James Moody, Maestro Tommy Tycho, Tommy Emmanuel, Bob Barnard, Don Burrows, Ricky May, Daryl Somers, Rolf Harris, John Foreman, George Golla, Julian Lee, Ed Wilson, and many others.  He has also performed with many of the major Australian symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles as a soloist.
Andy maintains a philosophy that compels him to contribute as much as possible to the education of future musicians. He holds a Bachelor of Music and a Diploma of Education and has recently been appointed to the staff of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, (Australia), where he is lecturing in clarinet, saxophone, improvisation and big band studies. Andy believes that music is a universal language and as such should have no barriers or limits - everyone should have the chance to enjoy the uniting qualities of music. As a guest artist at the international clarinet festival in July 1999 and 2000, Oklahoma, USA, Andy received standing ovations for his concert appearances.

US mouthpiece manufacturer Lomax Classic mouthpieces has honoured Andy with his own model of their famous clarinet mouthpiece, “The Andy Firth Jazz Model” was released at the International Clarinet Conference 2000 and has become one of the biggest selling models for the Lomax range. Andy Firth is proud to be the Australian clarinet & saxophone clinician and endorsee for Boosey & Hawkes and tours both in Australia and overseas giving master classes and concerts at schools and universities. Andy’s first two books in his series Play clarinet with Andy Firth was published and released in mid 2003 through Boosey & Hawkes publishing and is now sold throughout the world.

 

Phillip Miechel (VIC, Australia) - Clarinet Phillip Miechel studied clarinet at the Melbourne University Conservatorium from which he graduated with the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music. In 1963 he was the Commonwealth winner of the ABC Instrumental competition and in 1964 he was appointed Principal Clarinet with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. A Churchill Fellowship awarded in 1967 enabled him to pursue further studies in Germany, after which he returned to his position in the Orchestra. He has been active in performing as a soloist and as a chamber musician in Melbourne and throughout Australia. After 36 years as Principal Clarinet, he is now a part-time teacher at Melbourne and Monash Universities. He also was program coordinator for the woodwind classes at the Australian National Academy in February 2000. Since then, he has appeared regularly as soloist with the Australian Chamber Soloists and has given many recitals and masterclasses throughout Victoria.

 

MARK HOBSON (N.Z.) - Saxophone & Clarinet

Born and bred in New Zealand, Mark began his musical career under the watchful eye of his mother, Noeline Hobson. She was his first music teacher, and remains one of Christchurch's most prolific teachers. After deciding that the violin was not his instrument, Mark concentrated on the clarinet. During his high school career he also took up the saxophone. Mark moved swiftly into both the teaching and performing sides of the Christchurch music scene and has continued to teach and perform in both the classical and jazz genres for the last seventeen years.

He has made a practice of promoting new works for the instruments and in commissioning works. As a result he has performed new works written for him by a variety of New Zealand composers including concertos for soprano saxophone and orchestra, saxophone quartets, works for clarinet or saxophone and string quartet, and the sonata for soprano saxophone and piano Murphy's Law by Philip Norman being performed at MIFSR.
He is currently preparing for his 15th annual Mark Hobson and Friends concert in which he features the clarinet and the saxophone in both classical and jazz music, in works ranging from solos to large ensembles.

 

Klezmania

sponsored by Melbourne Brass'n'Woodwind                        

Klezmania is regarded as Australia's leading klezmer band and performs dynamic instrumentals and songs in Yiddish and English. They carry the audience along an emotional journey and break down language barriers through engaging explanations of the songs. With energy and passion they play everything from romantic ballads to whirling frenetic traditional dance tunes to foot tapping jazzy songs. Klezmania's broad repertoire moves from the diverse cultures of the "Old World" of Rumania, the Balkans, Turkey and the Ukraine, to the USA and Australia with their own spirited original music.

They not only reintroduced klezmer music into Jewish celebrations but established it as apopular art form to the general Australian public. They go to retirement homes and music archives to collect old unknown songs, transcribe the old masters from 78rpm recordings and compose their own songs and tunes. Enjoy the depth and colour of klezmer music and yiddish folk with Klezmania live or on recordings.

Klezmania are: Lionel Mrocki - clarinet, soprano sax, guitar, didgeridoo, vocals, David Krycer - double bass, guitar, vocals, harmonica and David Breytman - accordion.

Jason Xanthoudakis (NSW, Australia) – Saxophone

Jason studied saxophone at Melbourne University and the Victorian College of the Arts with Dr. Peter Clinch and Terry Noone, and is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium where he studied with Mark Walton and James Nightingale.  From December 1999, Jason studied in Europe for three months with Claude Delangle, Jean-Yves Fourmeau (Paris), Arno Bornkamp (Amsterdam) and Kyle Horch (London).  He has been awarded an A.Mus.A and L.Mus.A, both in 1998, and an Advanced Certificate (ABRSM), Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) and a Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (DipABRSM) - With Distinction, from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

He was awarded a Foundation for Youth Excellence Award from the Glen Eira City Council and won the 3MBS Performer of the Year Award (2000).  Jason has a busy performance schedule including performances with both the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, as well as frequent solo recitals in Sydney and Melbourne.  He has performed live broadcast recitals on 2MBS-FM (1999/2000/2001) and has recorded for ABC Classic FM.  In 2002 he performed the Ibert Concertino da Camera with the Melbourne Youth Orchestra and also won the Victorian College of the Arts Concerto Competition.

Jason is very active in the field of contemporary music and encourages composers to write music for saxophone.  Several composers have dedicated works to Jason and in 2002 he was invited to perform at the Australasian International Clarinet and Saxophone Conference, Brisbane where he performed a recital of contemporary saxophone works.

 

Matthew Styles (WA, Australia) - Saxophone

Matthew has built a local and international career as classical and jazz saxophonist studying at the Royal College of Music and teaching and performing in the UK, USA, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Matthew currently lectures at the University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University and specializes in the interpretation, pedagogy and performance of multi-genre or ‘cross-over’ works.  The Western Australian Symphony, Singapore Symphony and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestras also employ Matthew as their principal saxophonist.

He is a Yamaha Associated Artist, has a sponsorship from Ligaphone ligatures and products (Paris), was a featured artist at the 2002 Australasian Clarinet and Saxophone Conference in Brisbane and will be performing at the 2005 Melbourne International Festival of Single Reeds.   Matthew continues to build his local and international profile with on-going performances and masterclasses in Singapore and Malaysia and with Alliance Francaise through which he will be touring and performing with French master saxophonist Jean-Pierre Baraglioli in 2006.

In 2004 Matthew returned from a Churchill Fellowship where he spent 3 months studying in New York, as ‘Visiting Scholar’ at Indiana University Bloomington, working with Otis Murphy and Tom Walsh, and with Dr. Eugene Rousseau at the University of Minnesota.

 

Leanne Manning (HK, China) - Clarinet

Leanne was born and raised in Australia, where she completed a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours at the University of Queensland, and a Graduate Diploma in Performance at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, where she was the winner of the Conservatorium Woodwind Prize and the Yamaha Woodwind Prize, studying with Floyd Williams.

During this time she performed concertos in orchestras in Brisbane and other Australian states. After continuing studies in England with Andrew Marriner and in The Netherlands with Reinier Hogerheyde, Leanne attended Michigan State University, USA, as a scholarship student of Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, where she completed a Master of Music.  Following a summer as Principal Clarinet and soloist at the Rome Festival in Italy, she lived in Southern California, U.S.A., playing regularly in San Diego and Los Angeles with many chamber ensembles and orchestras, and including the Moscow Grigorovich Ballet.  She has performed with I Solisti del Los Angeles, with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestras and participated in studio recordings sponsored by Musicians International, Local 47.    Leanne currently lives in Hong Kong where she is Principal Clarinet of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra in China, a member of the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong,  the Island Clarinet Quartet, and free-lances as an extra player with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and other ensembles.  She regularly performs solo recitals and chamber music, having played for the Hong Kong Chamber Music Society, broadcast  for RTHK Radio 4 and performed at other venues.   In 2003 she won first prize in the Co-op Press Woodwind Recording Competition, which included a commercial CD release on Emeritus label and numerous public radio broadcasts across the USA.  She has contributed to the Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Magazine several times with reports on various overseas clarinet conferences.

 

David Thomas (VIC, Australia) - Clarinet

David Thomas is the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Clarinettist.  He studied at the University of Melbourne with Phillip Miechel, and the Vienna Conservatorium with Roger Salander.  David performed with the West Australian Symphony for two years as Associate Principal before joining the MSO in 2000. He has regularly appeared as concerto soloist with the MSO, in chamber music concerts with the Libra Ensemble of new music, the Southbank Players and the MSO Chamber Players (which series he co-ordinates), and has given premiere performances of works for clarinet such as Phillip Czaplowski’s Concerto (with the Pro Arte Orchestra, Melbourne) and Richard Mills’s Diary of Transformations (with the Goldner Quartet).  David teaches at the University of Melbourne and the Australian National Academy of Music.

 

Tim Wilson (VIC, Australia) - Saxophone

sponsored by Yamaha Tim is a Melbourne based saxophonist/woodwind instrumentalist who has performed, toured and recorded with a broad range of artists and ensembles including Ray Charles, Olivia Newton John, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Australian Show Band, Bennetts Lane Big Band, Tom Burlinson, Russell Morris, Jim Keays, Eugene Pao, Joe Longthorne, Darryl Cotton, Don Burrows, Los Cabrones, Blowfish, The Badloves and the Australian Pops Orchestra.

Tim has released two CDs to date as a leader/co-leader. The 'Tim Wilson Trio' debut CD was nominated for an ARIA in 2000, and the group was awarded a Contemporary Music Touring Grant to tour Australia in 2001. Tim's jazz/fusion project 'Logic?' released a debut CD in 2001, and the group has since supported international acts such as The Yellowjackets and the Dave Weckl Band.

Tim is also in demand as a studio musician and has played for the Logies, GMA, Hey, Hey, It's Saturday, and The Footy Show, and has recorded for Grundy Television, Mike Brady Productions, and Infogramme (Sony Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo).

Tim plays the Yamaha 82Z alto and 875 soprano Custom saxophones.

 

Bird's Apprentices (QLD, Australia)

Named after the great jazz saxophonist Charlie 'Bird' Parker, Bird's are a dynamic and enthusiastic group of young saxophonists from Ormiston College. Ms Danielle Logan originally formed this group to give her top saxophonist students a challenge and to extend their musical abilities.

A Valentine's Day concert at the the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital in 2003 had a profound effect on the members of the Bird's Apprentices. Overwhelmed by the plight of the seriously ill patients and their families, Bird's were moved to help the patients, to ease their time in hospital in some small way. Unanimously, they decided to raise funds to provide items that could entertain the patients whilst they were going through their long treatments in critical care, often in isolation. In consultation with the social workers in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and the Oncology Department, Bird's Apprentices planned to put together intertainment units that would be housed on portable multi-purpose trolleys that could be wheeled into the isolation rooms for the patients to enjoy. Over the past two years, whilst juggling their busy senior academic, cultural and sporting lives, the students and their teacher/conductor who are Bird's Apprentices, performed at various functions in their quest to raise funds to provide entertainment units for the seriously ill patients in the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital. Bird's Apprentices raised in excess of $4,500; in addition, individual members of the group also entered the solo sections of many competitions and all the prize money received by the group as a whole or individually, was added to the funds raised.

AEOLUS (New Zealand) - Saxophones

Aeolus as a saxophone quartet was formed in 2000.  In 2002 Aeolus was invited to perform in the Australasian Clarinet and Saxophone Conference in Brisbane where they performed the Australian premiere of New Zealand composer Philip Norman's A Short Suite and performed in a masterclass with Henri Bok.

In 2003, Aeolus was given a change of personnel and the group now consists of Mark Hobson still covering the soprano line, Angela Mote on alto, Stacy Price moving to her primary instrument, the tenor, and Helen Renaud on baritone. With these two new additions, an offshoot group developed, Aeolus Winds, a woodwind chamber group in which Mark, Angela and Helen play their original instruments, clarinet, flute and bassoon respectively.

Aeolus has been building a strong traditional repertoire of saxophone quartets as well as focusing on areas that are slightly more unusual. For instance, joining with Sierenes to work on octets with the intention of including one in their MIFSR program. Astor Piazolla tangos have been a strong focus, as has the use of multimedia works such as American composer Michael Torke's July, a piece that will be performed in the MIFSR program, with the help of an installation by the conceptual artist Anjie Connon.
After the success of the Christchurch performance of July, Aeolus is pursuing the possibility of a gallery exhibition featuring Anjie's work along with Aeolus music.

MARK HOBSON (see also earlier) Mark has made a practice of promoting new works for the instruments and in commissioning works. As a result he has performed new works written for him by a variety of New Zealand composers including concertos for soprano saxophone and orchestra, saxophone quartets, works for clarinet or saxophone and string quartet, and the sonata for soprano saxophone and piano Murphy's Law by Philip Norman being performed at MIFSR. He is currently preparing for his 15th annual Mark Hobson and Friends concert in which he features the clarinet and the saxophone in both classical and jazz music, in works ranging from solos to large ensembles.

Although Angela Mote remains a dedicated flute player, she took up the saxophone while training in flute at the Wellington Conservatorium of Music in New Zealand. Like Mark, Angela progressed through the Christchurch School of Instrumental Music, where she performed in the Christchurch Youth Orchestra with both Mark Hobson and Helen Renaud. After completing her Diploma in Wellington, she returned to Christchurch and trained as a secondary school teacher. Angela now teaches the flute, clarinet and saxophone through the Itinerant Music Scheme in Christchurch schools.

Stacey Price began her music career as a clarinet student of Mark Hobson. She quickly progressed to saxophone, and along with Mark, is one of the founding members of Aeolus. Although Stacey spent her tertiary years studying law rather than music, she has remained a dedicated and reliable player in many Christchurch ensembles. She performs regularly in a clarinet duo with Mark Hobson, as well as her role in Aeolus.

Helen Renaud also progressed through the Christchurch School of Instrumental Music. She completed her Bachelor of Music at Victoria University in Wellington and her Diploma in Executant Music from Wellington Conservatorium. Along with Angela, Helen then returned to Christchurch to train as a secondary school teacher. She currently teaches music at Burnside High School in Christchurch where she is acting head of the music department.

Anjie Connon's contribution to this MIFSR performance is as a conceptual artist providing background video to the playing of July by Torke. She gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Auckland and then trained in secondary school teaching. In addition to teaching at Papanui High School she does free-lance work, with many of her exhibitions including installations and live performance (dramatisation of an art installation).

Lyn Malakou accompanies Mark in Philip Norman's Murphy's Law. She grew up in Zimbabwe where she won the National Youth Soloists competition, then went on to graduate from Cape Town University. She has performed throughout South Africa, in Sydney, at the 2002 Christchurch International Jazz Festival, and more recently as a soloist in New Zealand and as accompanist with soloists on a variety of instruments.


SIERENES

Sierenes is a saxophone quartet which has been playing together for at least three years, under the tuition of Mark Hobson. The players have an amazing amount of musical performance behind them, and have melded into a well-knit group. Their success in last year's New Zealand Secondary Schools Chamber Music Contest has been followed by numerous requests to perform at a variety of functions, and the presentation of concerts.

Lauryn Williamson, soprano and alto saxophones, always wanted to be a jazz saxophonist until she was introduced to classical pieces for saxophone. She plans to continue her musical study in the future at Wellington Conservatorium.

Michal Williams, alto saxophone, passed grade 8 after 4 years of saxophone study. She intends to further her passion for classical repertoire for saxophone at the Wellington Conservatorium.

Charlotte Bradley, tenor saxophone, divides her time between music and the stage. She plans to further her saxophone development while studying English and Law at Canterbury University.

Rosanna Archer, baritone saxophone, played the flute for 6 years before changing to the saxophone. She is the only member still at school where she enjoys playing in the Burnside High School Big Band while continuing her saxophone studies.

 

Frank Celata (NSW, Australia) - Clarinet

Frank Celata graduated from the VCA in 1983 studying under Pamela Bloom and Philip Miechel. Following studies in Amsterdam and Siena he returned to Australia in 1991as Principal Clarinet with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra since 1993 and has performed as soloist, including performances of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, Bernstein's Prelude Fugue and Riffs, Krommer's Double Clarinet Concerto, and a concerto written especially written for him by prominent Australian composer Gordon Kerry. In 2003 and 2004 he performed as guest Principal Clarinet with the London Symphony Orchestra and has been invited again in 2005.

Frank is the founder of one of Sydney's leading chamber ensembles, the Sydney Soloists. They have performed on a number of occasions at the Sydney Festival, the Canberra International Chamber Music Festival and for a number of years have had a series at Government House, Sydney. Last year the ensemble also performed concerts in Shanghai. They have performed live national broadcasts for the ABC on many occasions and last year released the world premiere recording of Erwin Stein's arrangement of Mahler's 4th Symphony along with Schoenberg's arrangement of Songs of a Wayfarer with Baritone Jeffrey Black. He will be performing concerts with the ensemble this April in China. He has recently become a member of the newly formed Sydney Wind Quintet and is also a member of the Utzon Ensemble made up from the leading players from the Sydney Symphony, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

An active teacher, Frank has taught clarinet for over 22 years. He has taught at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music since 1994, has tutored several times for the Australian Youth Orchestra, National Music Camp and has held masterclasses at Trinity College, London and the Shanghai Conservatorium of Music. In 2000 he was invited to perform at the International Clarinet Conference in the USA. Later this year Frank will be teaching at the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne.

Frank has also performed as Principal Clarinet and Soloist with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, The Queensland Orchestra, The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, also joining them on their tour to China and St Petersburg and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. He recently performed as guest Principal Clarinet with the Australian Chamber Orchestra at the Huntington Festival.

 

Alan Vivian (ACT, Australia) - Clarinet

Alan Vivian commenced his studies in Sydney, Australia. He then won first prize in the National Young Performer's Competition at the Hochschule fur Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna, where he was a student of Professor Alfred Prinz, Solo Clarinet of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. His career since returning to Australia has made him one of the country's highest profile musicians.

He has held the long-term orchestral positions of Principal Clarinet with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Canberra Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as Guest Principal Clarinet with the BBC Symphony in London and with the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera.  As a chamber musician he has been a permanent member of the Australia Ensemble, performing throughout Europe, the USA, China and Australasia. He is currently a member of the Canberra Wind Soloists. As a concerto soloist and recitalist he has toured extensively performing in over twenty countries on five continents. He has recorded for the Sony, EMI, Polygram, ABC Classics and Revolve labels and is a featured artist in Pamela Weston's book Clarinet Virtuosi of Today. As a teacher, Alan Vivian has presented master classes throughout Australia and the world; most recently as a Visiting Artist at the Paris Conservatoire.  Former students are scattered throughout the globe, having been competition prize winners, recipients of international scholarships, and many occupy permanent positions in Australia's orchestras.

 

Victorian Chamber Musicians (VIC, Australia)

Rianne Wilschut, Lisa Anne Robinson (Merlyn Quaife), Paul Kopetz, Jeremy C. Martin

The Victorian Chamber Musicians were established in 2000 as a professional touring ensemble, performing well-known classical repertoire in regional venues such as churches and art centres in Melbourne and country Victoria. Their aim is to bring good music at an affordable price to an audience that may otherwise not be able to experience it live in mainstream concert halls, and to explore many wonderful suburban and regional venues that are not necessarily being used for live music performances to their full potential.

The year 2003 marked their first interstate tour of Brisbane and surrounds, the release of their debut CD “Going Places” and a full season of 22 concerts. In 2004 they undertook their first national tour (Queensland, NSW and WA) and continued their local Victorian concert series to critical acclaim. This year, 2005, they have been invited to perform at the first World Bass Clarinet Convention in Rotterdam and they will also continue their interstate touring. Together with their 6th consecutive concert series in Victoria their calendar of performances will extend to over 30. "We believe that our ongoing success can be attributed to the right blend of performance quality, programming, professionalism, entertainment, audience education and enthusiasm for chamber music."

The Victorian Chamber Musicians are:

Rianne Wilschut was born in Heerenveen, Holland.  At the age of 18 she decided to pursue a career in music and started studying clarinet at the Conservatorium of Music in Zwolle.  In 1994 Rianne moved to Rotterdam to obtain a postgraduate degree in Music Performance with the Flemish clarinettist Walter Boeykens followed by a higher Diploma in Chamber Music.  In 1997 she migrated to Australia.

During her short yet already distinguished career Rianne has won numerous awards and competitions including The Young Soloist Competition in Rotterdam. Since her arrival in Melbourne she has been in high demand as a freelance player, working with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the State Orchestra of Victoria, the Astra Chamber Music Society, Chamber Made Opera, the contemporary music ensemble Libra and Operalive. She has contributed to a number of CD recordings with a Naxos release of Stravinsky’s music as one of the most recent. She features on numerous scores of Australian produced films.

Paul Kopetz has been involved in music since the age of 6. He has completed studies in clarinet/bass clarinet and composition at the University of Melbourne (Bachelor of Music), the Victorian College of the Arts (Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance) and the Rotterdam Conservatorium, gaining his Uitvoerend Musicus on bass clarinet with honours.  Since 1995 Paul has developed a reputation as an active instrumentalist, arranger, conductor and educator.  In recent years his engagements have included appearances as the Principal Bass Clarinettist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, performances with the Astra Chamber Music Society, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the Geelong Chamber Orchestra as well as recording sessions for radio and film such as Babe, In a Savage Land, My Brother Jack and “Tempted.  He has also recorded for IMAX and the Naxos label.

Over the last 3 years Paul has toured regional Victoria with the MSO, completed seasons with Chamber Made Opera and collaborated with Doug de Vries on a recording of Brazilian music.  2005 brings a full season of over 30 concerts with the Victorian Chamber Musicians, and more studio recordings and freelance work with leading groups and orchestras in Victoria.

Merilyn Quaife. A performer of great versatility, the distinguished soprano Merlyn Quaife has performed opera, oratorio, lieder, chamber music and contemporary music to great acclaim throughout Australia, Europe and the U.S.A.  

She began voice studies at the University of Melbourne and in 1979 was awarded a DAAD Scholarship to pursue Post Graduate studies in Munich.
In 1994, Merlyn made her American debut at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, singing the title role in Gordon Kerry’s opera ‘Medea’ with Chamber Made Opera, which she also sang to great acclaim in the Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra seasons.  She has appeared with each of the State Opera Companies as well as with all the ABC orchestras, featuring in repertoire of every conceivable style from Handel to Ligeti.  She returns regularly to Europe to perform contemporary music which is one of her fortes.  She has also performed and recorded in Germany, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Spain and France.
In addition to her Move, Naxos, Tall Poppies and ABC Classics recordings, she has recorded Aria for John Edward by David Lumsdaine, which won her a Sounds Australian Award.
In 2004 she performed with the SSO under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy in the Sibelius Festival. She also toured with ‘Lippizaners with the Stars’, singing the treacherous Queen of the Night aria while riding a horse! Along with her busy performing career, Merlyn is Head of Voice at the University of Melbourne.

Jeremy C. Martin began piano lessons at the age of 5 and achieved his A.Mus.A. in 1991.  In 1996 he received a Bachelor of Music Performance degree, passing with first class honours.  In 1998 he gained a distinction in his Licentiate Piano Exam and in 2002 he completed his Masters of Music Performance at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Jeremy has won over 70 first prizes and scholarships throughout Australia including: The Bernstein Piano Scholarship, the Bill Burrell Memorial Scholarship and the National Alan McArthur Memorial Award.  He has performed as a soloist with Melbourne orchestras and in ensemble recitals around Australia. He is a recorded artist specialising in Australian contemporary music.

On top of a busy performance schedule as a chamber musician, Jeremy works as a conductor, repetiteur, accompanist and soloist at various recitals and concerts.  He is currently employed at Blackburn High as piano teacher, orchestral conductor and choral director.  Jeremy is also the Musical Director of the Victorian Girls’ Choir and the Victorian Boys’ Choir.

Fiona Burnett (VIC, Australia) – Soprano Saxophone

sponsored by Keilworth saxophones Born in Sydney, Australia in 1971, Fiona moved to Melbourne in 1992 to study at the Victorian College of the Arts. In 1997 she completed a Masters of Music Performance degree at the VCA obtaining First Class Honours in performance. She has also completed a Bachelor of Music Performance degree [1994] at the VCA and a Diploma of Education [1995] at La Trobe University.

Initially studying classical piano as a child, Fiona commenced her studies on the saxophone at age 13 and subsequently began studying the language of jazz improvisation. Her professional performing career commenced at age 14 when she performed in Earth, Wind, Fire & Water presented by the NSW Craft Council at the Sydney Domain in 1985. Fiona has been successfully leading ensembles since 1992 when she founded and co-led the all women jazz ensemble Morgana. She has also founded her own quartet [1997] and trio [1999]. She has performed at many of Australia’s leading arts and music festivals and received numerous arts grants from the Australia Council, Arts Victoria and Playing Australia for recording, CD release, touring and international study.

Internationally Fiona has performed at both festivals and jazz clubs in Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, USA, Canada, Germany and the UK as both a leader and sideman. Since 1999 Fiona has been composing and performing for a unique seven piece ensemble featuring her trio of bassist Ben Robertson and drummer David Jones and the Silo String Quartet.  She has composed two major works for this instrumentation which feature the soprano saxophone.  Both of these works were premiered at the Melbourne Women’s Jazz Festival, Soaring at Dawn [1999] and, [with the assistance of a New Work grant from the Australia Council], Four Corners of a Circle [2002].  Soaring at Dawn has recently been release on the new ABC Jazz label.

In 2002 Fiona performed and conducted educational workshops at the Australasian Clarinet and Saxophone Convention, performed in concert with her trio at the Sydney Opera House and attended the fall residency program at The Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada.

Fiona is endorsed by Keilwerth saxophones [Germany] as an International artist, performing on a Keilwerth SX 90 II Soprano Saxophone and Rico Plasticover Reeds # 3.5 and 4.

In March 2003 Fiona was appointed, by the Federal Arts Minister, for a three year term on the Music Board of the Australia Council.

Fiona continues to create, perform, compose and lead her own projects and has developed a national and international reputation for her individual and unique style.

 

Deborah de Graaff (NSW, Australia) – Clarinet

The 1983 national winner of the ABC's Instrumental and Vocal Competition, Deborah performed the Françaix Clarinet Concerto with leading orchestras around Australia, participated in International Congresses and competitions in Munich and London and in 1987 was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Scholarship.

She has recorded many times for the ABC and performed as chamber soloist with her mother, contralto Lauris Elms, Rita Hunter, Geoffrey Parsons, John Winter, and performed concertos at the Sydney Opera House with Richard Bonynge, Paul Dyer and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and The Sydney Mozart players. Chamber music performances have taken her throughout Australia and internationally to Vietnam and England.
Her recordings feature A Clarinet Collection and an all Australian CD, Ulpirra which are currently available on the Walsingham Classics label.  Brahms, The Complete Works for Clarinet has been released as a double CD set by ABC Classics.
She is a lecturer in Clarinet at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney University and in 2004 commenced a Masters towards a PhD through the Music Education Department, Sydney Conservatorium, Sydney University. Her research is on the efficiency of practice.

Leah Lock - Flute
Born in Indiana and growing up in Michigan, USA, Leah first studied flute with local wind specialist, Virginia Caro, then with Anne Fenlason of the Interlochen Arts Academy. While still in high school she performed at the prestigious Michigan Youth Arts Festival three years in a row, both with the orchestra and as a soloist. Leah attended Western Michigan University on a music scholarship, where she studied with Christine Smith, and played with both the University Symphony and Opera Orchestra. After moving to Australia in 1994, she completed both a bachelor’s degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and a Master of Arts in English Literature at Macquarie University. She studied flute with James Kortum and toured South Africa with the Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Wolfram Christ. Leah presently teaches private flute lessons at Knox Grammar School and Loreto Normanhurst, and teaches chamber music students at the Conservatorium High School. She has played with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra since 1996. In 2004 she presented a live studio broadcast for ABC FM and recorded with John Martin a new work composed by Anne Carr Boyd for ABC Radio National. She performs regularly with John Martin and Deborah de Graaff.

John Martin - Piano
John Martin returned to Australia from Britain in 1998 after studying accompaniment on an Australia Council Scholarship. He has since completed a three year contract for the Ensemble Studies Unit of Sydney Conservatorium and has a rapidly expanding concert diary.
John is a frequent performer on ABC Radio and in recital. He has worked with famous singers, past and current, including Yvonne Minton, Bernadette Cullen, Amanda Thane and Roslyn Dunbar; also instrumentalists such as Michael Scott, David Campbell, Harry Curby, Geoffrey Collins and William Primrose. His enormous repertoire extends to many other styles of music where he has worked with the likes of Peta Toppano, Angela Ayers , Buster Noble, Judy Small, Markeeta Littlewolf, Leo Schofield, Penny Hackforth-Jones and Reg Gorman.
Described as a natural and unique accompanist, John is unusual in that he is equally at home with jazz and improvisation as he is performing classical music.

John and Deborah have recorded and performed together for many years now in duo formation as Two of Hearts, and with Soprano Adele Johnston as Three of Hearts. More recently they have given recitals and recorded several times for the ABC in clarinet, flute, piano trio combination with Leah Lock.

 

Richard Haynes (QLD, Australia) - Clarinet

Richard performed in his debut as a soloist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra at the age of 17, and has presented works for clarinet and orchestra with the Tasmanian and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, The Queensland Orchestra and the Queensland Youth Symphony. He has given the Australian premiere performance of John Veale's Clarinet Concerto and the state premieres of Peter Rankine’s ‘Time and the Bell’ as well as premieres of many chamber and solo works.

Richard was named Symphony Australia’s Young Performer of the Year in 2003. Subsequently, he has performed and recorded with some of Australia’s greatest musicians, conductors and ensembles and won the APRA/AMC Classical Music award for ‘Best Performance of Australian Composition in 2003’. Richard is a member of Australia’s ELISION Ensemble, participating in recordings of music by Chris Dench and Brian Ferneyhough, and performances in Sydney and Melbourne. Richard has directed the new music ensemble, MERCURY since 2001, premiering new works by composer collective NovaSonus, and established works of the avant-garde. Since 2004, Richard has been engaged at the Australian National Academy of Music as a Visiting Young Artist, giving performances of music by Isang Yun, Liza Lim, Johannes Brahms, Olivier Messiaen and Theo Loevendie. He has travelled extensively in Europe participating in activities and competitions for performers passionate about contemporary music interpretation.

 

Robert Schubert (VIC, Australia) - Clarinet

Robert graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1979, having studied with Isobel Carter-Stockigt and then completing a Graduate Diploma of Music in 1981. From 1983 to 1984 he studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, Canada and with the National Arts Orchestra of Canada, Ottawa and then went on to study Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Other major influences have been the concepts of Arnold Jacobs and the Alexander Technique.

In 1988 Robert was appointed Principal Clarinet with the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, Japan, under Hiroyuki Iwaki.  During this period, he also performed as guest clarinet with the NHK Orchestra in Tokyo and the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra.  He held many teaching positions at a number of schools and regularly adjudicated and tutored for university and school orchestras.  He appeared frequently as soloist with Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa and in chamber music performances with the Ebony Ensemble, which he formed in 1993. Japanese composer Tetsuya Nishibe wrote a clarinet quintet for him in 1993, and a particular highlight of his international career has been participation in the Affinis Music Festival, an event held in Japan, which brings together professionals from around the world.  Robert has given recitals in Australia, Japan and the USA including many premiere performances of new works. He has recorded both standard and contemporary orchestral repertoire with the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa on the Deutsche Grammophon, Victor and Sony labels. In Melbourne Robert performs regularly with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria and has appeared at the Melbourne International Festival, The Australasian Clarinet & Saxophone Conference and in live broadcasts for the ABC.

Harrold Leigh - Piano

Pianist Leigh Harrold has emerged in recent years as "one of Adelaide's most exciting and accomplished musicians" (Raymond Chapman Smith) and was one of South Australia's busiest and most sought-after piano players before moving to Melbourne in 2003 to take up a full scholarship at the Australian National Academy of Music. In 2004 he was made the Academy Fellow - the first person in the institution's history to be chosen as such after just one year of study. As a soloist, Leigh has performed concertos with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and premiered works by Australian composers in Llewellyn Hall (Canberra). He has been broadcast on ABC-FM, 3MBS, 4MBS and 5MBS, and has had solo piano works written for him by Quentin Grant, David Kotlowy, Raymond Chapman Smith and John Polglase. As a chamber musician he has earnt an international reputation performing in Salzburg, London, New York and in collaboration with artists from around the world. In 2003 he performed as both soloist and chamber musician in the Weiner-Saal of The Mozarteum as part of the International Salzburg Summer Festival. Leigh has had success in several national competitions including national finalist in the 1999 ABC Young Performer Award, second prize in the 2001 Recitals Australia National Piano Scholarship and semi-finalist in the 2001 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition. He is the only person to win the Geoffrey Parsons Memorial Award for Associate Artists outright twice, and in 1999 was awarded the Elder Conservatorium's highest honour - the Beta Sigma Phi Classical Music Award.

Leigh holds a Masters Degree in Piano Performance from Adelaide University as well as two University medals - one for Music and one for Applied Science.

Andrew East (VIC, Australia) – Alexander Technique

Andrew East came from New Zealand to Melbourne in 1996 in order undergo the Alexander Technique Teacher trainingprogram.

On completion of the course in 1998 he made Melbourne his home, teaching clarinet and saxophone in private schools, establishing an Alexander Technique teaching practice and
performing in opera orchestras and the chamber group Khamaileon.

He has pursued post-graduate studies with a number of well-known Alexander Teachers, including Vivien Mackie (London),Pedro De Alcantara (Paris), Meredith Paige (Brisbane) and
Helen Mountfort (Melbourne).

Andrew now works with a regular clientele consisting ofmusicians, office workers, doctors, and children. He has a passionate and warm hearted commitment to learning, teaching
and performing.

 

Andrew Simon (HK, China) – Clarinet

sponsored by Buffet Crampon clarinets

Andrew Simon is the Principal Clarinet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.  His is also well known in Western Australia where his performance of Aaron Copland’s Clarinet Concerto with the WASO “brought the house down”, according to local press. American-born, Simon is a graduate of the Juillard Music School.  He is also a winner of the International Clarinet Society Competition and the National Arts Club Competition, New York.  Simon made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1988 after winning the Artists International Young Musicians’ Clarinet Award.

Now with a busy international career, Simon has appeared as a soloist and taught master classes in the USA, China, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and most recently, the Philippines.  He has toured sixteen Japanese cities under the sponsorship of Buffet-Crampon, and in 1992 became the first American-born artist ever to perform in North Korea.  Simon has also been Guest Principal with Mainly Mozart, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.  Most recently, Simon has recorded the Baermann Adagio with the Orchestra, conducted by David Atherton.  It has the distinction of being the first live clarinet performance recorded exclusively for the internet.  Andrew Simon’s visit to the Melbourne International Festival of Single Reeds is sponsored by Musicorp and Buffet-Crampon clarinets.

 

Katia Beaugeais (NSW, Australia) - Saxophone

Saxophonist Katia Beaugeais started classical training on the piano at the age of six and at thirteen started to learn the saxophone.  She successfully completed the Graduate Diploma in Performance on saxophone in 2001 at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she studied classical and contemporary repertoire with Mark Walton and Margery Smith. For this course, Katia was awarded the South Sydney Rotary Club Felix Switzer Memorial Scholarship and the Zelma Oakley Dinely Scholarship. She also holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and the AMusA and LMusA diplomas on saxophone.

In 2001 Katia performed a live recital on 2MBS-FM as part of the 2MBS-FM Young Performers Award. The following year, she was selected again to perform and made it into the finals which was broadcast live on radio. She has also recently played with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

In July 2003, Katia attended the Summer University for the Saxophone, in Gap, France. At this festival, she had lessons with a number of internationally acclaimed saxophonists, including: Arno Bornkamp from Amsterdam, and from France: Jean-Denis Michat, Vincent David, Damien Royannais, Fabrizio Mancuso, Yves Rambaud and Claude Delangle.  In previous years, she also had lessons in Paris with Jean-Yves Fourmeau, Guillaume Pernes and Jérome Laran. 

Apart from performing, composition is a major interest for Katia. In 1999 she composed the music for a short film called Midas which was selected to be screened at the Festival des Ecoles de Cinéma in Poitiers, France.  In 2000 and again in 2001 Katia was selected to perform her own compositions, From the Other Side and Reflections in the Dark  both for alto saxophone and vibraphone, and Partial Eclipse for soprano saxophone, at the Young Composers Salon as part of the 11th & 12th Sydney Spring International Festival of New Music in the Studio at the Sydney Opera House. They were later broadcast on ABC classic FM on the New Music Australia program.

In July 2002, Katia performed in a masterclass conducted by Claude Delangle, at the Australasian Clarinet and Saxophone Conference held at the Queensland Conservatorium.  In July 2004, Katia won 1st Prize in the Piano and Instrumental Concerto section and 2nd Prize in the Australiana Concerto section, in the North Queensland Concerto and Vocal Competition, Townsville.

This year, Katia will be undertaking a Masters degree in composition as well as teaching saxophone and clarinet in a number of schools in Sydney.

Katia has had several articles published in the Australian Clarinet and Saxophone magazine.

 

Kenneth Tse (HK, China) – Saxophone

sponsored by Yamaha Australia

Recognised as one of the leading young saxophonists in the world, Kenneth has been called a brilliant saxophonist by his former teacher, world-renowned  saxophonist and pedagogue, Eugene Rousseau. Tse made his debut at Carnegie Hall in 1996 to wide-ranging critical acclaim and has continued his virtuosic path since.

As a Yamaha and Vandoren Performing Artist Kenneth is sought after in the US and abroad. Recent event highlights include: clinic presentation at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic; featured soloist at the 13th Asia & Pacific Band Festival in Jeju, Korea; the first classical saxophone recital/masterclass tour in Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur; guest recital and masterclass at the 2004 Changchun International Clarinet and Saxophone Festival in China.  On his Japan debut tour, Tse gave five successful recitals including the Japanese premiere of David Maslanka's Sonata for Alto Saxophone.  Warmly received by the Japanese audiences, he was invited back for another recital the following year.

Tse is an active recording artist, and has released four commercial solo recordings on Crystal Records, Riax Records and Enharmonic Records.  An advocate for new music, Tse has had several works dedicated to him.  Tse has also premiered solo and chamber works by the famed Czech composer Jindrich Feld, whose music has become his specialty.

Kenneth Tse has received numerous awards and grants and is currently the Professor of Saxophone at the University of Iowa, has a degree from two other universities and has published in several music journals.

 

Alan Huckleberry – Piano

Alan Huckleberry, Assistant Professor of Piano (Piano pedagogy and chamber music), is an active solo pianist and chamber musician as well as a sought-after master class clinician and lecturer on piano pedagogy. He has performed both in recitals and as a soloist with orchestras in Germany, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Spain, France and the United States. He is also a prize-winner of numerous national and international piano competitions.

 A proponent of contemporary music, Huckleberry has worked extensively with many composers, and a collaboration with the German radio station WDR in Cologne led to a compact disc recording of American “crossover” music. Most recently Huckleberry was invited to perform at Criss Cross: Conversations about America’s Music, a musicology symposium.

As a chamber musician Huckleberry was the featured pianist at flautist Amy Porter’s (University of Michigan) summer workshop (2003), which included recitals with Alexa Still (University of Colorado) and Göran Marcussen (Sweden). For the past two summers he has been the faculty chamber music co-ordinator and faculty pianist for the University of Michigan’s All-State program at Interlochen, MI, which included, among others, recitals with renowned saxophonist Donald Sinta.

Huckleberry has expanded his interest in contemporary music into piano pedagogy which has led to his dissertation The Importance of Contemporary Music in Today’s Piano Pedagogy.  He has also lectured on this topic as well as on Composing for Kids.

Prior to his appointment at The University of Iowa, Huckleberry taught at the Cologne Conservatory (Germany), the University of Michigan and at Albion College (MI). For the past three summers he has taught at the University of Michigan’s All-State program at Interlochen as well as the Summer Arts Institute in Ann Arbor, MI.

Dr. Huckleberry holds degrees from the conservatories of Karlsruhe and Wuppertal (Germany), and from the University of Michigan (MM, DMA).

 

Continuum Sax (NSW, Australia)

In review: ‘This is a group that plays as one - a really beautiful, integrated sonority…’ – From Review of Continuum CD, 24 Hours Magazine (Oct 2002).

Continuum Sax is Sydney’s premier saxophone quartet. Formed in 1994, their concerts and performances include the 1999 Mardi Gras Festival, the Australasian Clarinet and Saxophone Conference (2002) and live broadcasts on ABC Classic FM.  Continuum Sax have a strong relationship with the Newcastle Conservatorium where they have recorded, given composition workshops and concerts. Their first CD, Continuum was released in 2001, featuring the pieces by Stuart Greenbaum,  Raffaele Marcellino, Matthew Hindson and Elena Firsova.  The disc also includes pieces written by Margery Smith and Martin Kay, which incorporate idiomatic techniques and improvisation. 

Continuum Sax are:

Margery Smith (NSW, Australia) – Clarinet and Saxophone

Margery Smith performs an eclectic mix of music, from classical to improvised genres. Past work has included Associate Principal Clarinet with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.  At present she is Lecturer in Clarinet and Saxophone at the University of Newcastle Faculty and Conservatorium of Music, where she is also currently studying for a PhD.  Her solo CD, Viva Sax was released in 2000 on Tall Poppies Records.

As a composer, Smith’s works include pieces for saxophone quartet, bass clarinet trio and saxophone and electronics.  These works take their inspiration from her improvisation practice and collaboration with artists in many genres, including  Michael Davison (didgeridoo).  Recently she has an on-going collaboration with Ros Dunlop, PACT Theatre and Brigid Burke in performances and workshops in Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne.  In 2003, Margery was selected to take part in the Symphony Australia Composer Development Program with Richard Mills and the State Orchestra of Victoria. This year Margery is the Composer in Residence for Sydney Youth Orchestra.

In review: ‘Smith…writes about sonority in her program note, and it's true that the timbres of Tundra are striking, but it's Smith's ear for harmony that I find most impressive.’ – From Review of Continuum CD, 24 Hours Magazine (Oct 2002).

 

James Nightingale (NSW, Australia) - Saxophone

James Nightingale pursues an active career in Sydney’s classical music scene, performing regularly with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestras.  James teaches saxophone at the Sydney Conservatorium and both public and private schools.  His solo CDRom, Drive  was released in 1999. 

In review: ‘James Nightingale performed Bo, a virtuosic piece for solo saxophone written for Nightingale by composer and saxophonist Barry Cockcroft. And it's moments like these that every concert-goer waits for: a compelling, exciting and beautiful performance that sends you home feeling enriched.  A master of circular breathing, harmonics and key slaps, Nightingale coaxed the most extraordinary noises from his instrument.’ – From review of Ensemble Aark, Sydney Morning Herald, 28/10/02.

Martin Kay is accomplished in both classical and improvised music.  He leads his jazz collective Concatenation, plays with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Jeff Ushers Jazz Unit, and is generally in demand as a creative artist and educator

Jarrod Whitbourn has been teaching and enthusing students in music; giving private tuition in saxophone, directing and tutoring in country music camps and conducting various conservatorium ensembles. Playing the baritone saxophone, Jarrod has performed in the SSO, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and in a number of distinguished saxophone quartets.

Michael Davison "Mick Didge"

Originally from Walcha on the NSW north coast, Michael has lived and played the didge in Newcastle for 20 years, where he gives community workshops for people of all backgrounds. As a performer Mick is interested working with musicians in many different contexts from the blues to western classical traditions. At present Mick is studying at the University of Newcastle working towards an MCA that looks at the role of the didge in different performance contexts (including western classical music tradition) through improvisation.  His work at the University of Newcastle includes an on-going collaboration with Margery Smith.

 

Michael Lichnovsky (U.S.) - Saxophone

Born in the US, Michael Lichnovsky grew up in Melbourne, Australia, where he studied Saxophone (B.Mus) and Conducting (M.Mus) at the Victorian College of the Arts. While there he performed with the Melbourne Symphony as well as freelancing with many of Melbourne’s professional music and theatre companies. He moved to the United States in 2003 to undertake a DMA at the University of Iowa, prior to which he taught saxophone and conducted the wind ensemble at the University of Melbourne. Michael also has experience conducting Orchestra Victoria, the Tasmanian Symphony and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra as Music Director for the Scared Weird Little Guys’ “SCORE!” production.

Michael is currently the teaching assistant to Professor Kenneth Tse at the University of Iowa, in addition to being an adjunct Faculty member at Iowa Wesleyan College and a casual saxophonist with the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra.

 

Glen Smith - Occupational Therapist

Glen Smith studied Clarinet in Melbourne for two years before studying with Peter Clinch and performing with the Canberra School of Music Big Band. Glen then studied at the Adelaide Conservatorium for three and half years before returning to Canberra to study with Alan Vivian for a further two years. Glen has taught, performed and repaired instruments for over 25 years. Glen is a qualified Occupational Therapist and is currently completing a degree in Ergonomics and getting his jazz chops up to scratch.

 

Lea Kewish - Occupational Therapist

Lea Kewish is a qualified accredited Occupational Therapist, Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, Clinical Hypnotherapist, teacher and trainer in Occupational Health and Safety. She has taught in secondary, tertiary and adult education for over 20 years. Lea lectures at La Trobe University Faculty of Health Sciences and teaches at CAE. Lea has long held an interest in music and performance and currently sings with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Society.

B.A., B.App. Sc (Occ.Ther); Post Grad Diploma. Health Sciences; Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner Dip. Sec. Tch (A.T.T.I.); Dip, Clin.Hypn. (NSW)

 

Barry Cockcroft (VIC, Australia) – Saxophone

Leading classical saxophonist and contemporary composer Barry continues to perform regularly across Australia and overseas.  In recent years Barry has performed as soloist in chamber music ensembles and orchestrally in the Canary Islands, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S. and Mexico, as well as in Australia.

He is a founding member of Ensemble Atmosphere, tours extensively with Perth pianist, Adam Pinto, and has performed as principal saxophone with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, the Australian Pops Orchestra and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

He studied saxophone in Melbourne with Peter Clinch and for two years in France with Jacques Net, Marie-Bernadette Charrier and Jean-Marie Londeix.  Barry is the only saxophonist to be awarded the Fellowship of Music, Australia, and was recipient of a Queen’s Trust Scholarship to study in France where he gained the coveted Medaille d’Or for classical saxophone performance.

A keen supporter of today’s music, Barry regularly performs pieces written for him by Australian composers and his own contemporary compositions are played in many countries.

Enthusiastic towards the development of younger saxophone player, Barry gives frequent masterclasses for teachers and students.  With pianist Adam Pinto, he has released 6 CDs of music for alto and tenor saxophones.

Barry is currently enjoying playing full-time and continues to compose, particularly for the saxophone.

 

Shannon Wagstaff (HK) - Clarinet

Shannon Wagstaff studied at The University of Melbourne under Ian Morgan and Frank Celata, and as a scholarship student at the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts, under Andrew Michael Simon. She has won the IBM Tertiary Scholarship, the Austral Salon Instrumental scholarship, and a study grant from the Ian Potter Foundation. Shannon has toured Europe with the Geminiani Orchestra, and the HK Academy Orchestra, and has performed the Debussy Premiere Rhapsody and concerti by Weber, Francaix and Mozart with orchestras in Hong Kong and Australia.

Shannon spent two years as the Associate Principal Clarinet in the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the Orchestra Internatzionale d’Italia, the Hong Kong Soloists, the City Chamber Orchestra of HK, the Macao Orchestra, has been Guest Principal with the Hong Kong Chamber Orchestra and SAR Philharmonic, and freelances regularly with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. She has been invited to perform at the 2005 International ClariFest in Tokyo.

 

Mark Walton (NSW, Australia) – Clarinet and Saxophone

Mark is a highly respected and popular figure in the Australian and New Zealand musical scene and widely acknowledged in many parts of the world as a leading clarinet and saxophone performer, inspiring teacher and charismatic musician. On 26 January 2005 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

He left his native New Zealand to study clarinet in New York and London and since 1985 Mark has been resident in Sydney and is now Chair of Performance, Outreach and Communications at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, having been Chair of Woodwind there for several years. He remains Lecturer in Clarinet and Saxophone.

Mark has established a groundbreaking instrumental music teaching system using video conferencing for young musicians in remote areas of Australia and has set up music programmes in many country areas.

Mark has written, compiled or edited for several different publishers over one hundred and fifty music publications, many of which have become standard woodwind teaching repertoire. He has recorded ten solo albums and his latest CD is High Spirits.

 

Peter Handsworth (VIC, Australia) - Clarinet

Peter Handsworth began his formal studies in clarinet with David Shephard at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide where he completed a first class honours degree in music performance in 1987. As a recipient of a QEII Silver Jubilee Trust Award and ABC Young Performers Award he undertook postgraduate studies with Professor Wolfgang Meyer at the renowned Hochschule für Musik in Karlsuhe, Germany. This begun a successful international performing career that has taken him to all parts of the world performing as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician. Recent international concerto performances include Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with the St Petersburg Soloists in 2003 and in 2004 a premiere of a dedicated concerto by Romanian composer Maia Ciabanu with the Romanian Radio Orchestra.

Peter Handsworth has been invited to perform and teach at numerous international music festivals including Lochenhaus, Schleswig Holstein and Weimar festivals. He has recorded widely including an EMI Classics recording Blues for Sabine with Sabine Meyer and Eddie Daniels and has performed regularly for radio broadcasts in Australia and Europe.

As clarinettist, Peter Handsworth is committed to the evolution of the instrument’s repertoire as evidenced by his numerous collaborations with both Australian and international composers. In collaboration with colleagues from Monash University’s School of Music, his playing features in a recent recording entitled Bridges that portrays a variety of chamber works from Australia, Romania and Korea. His next contemporary music project will culminate in a CD production featuring clarinet concerti from a variety of international composers including Ivan Jevtich (Serbia) and Jan Ferm (Sweden).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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