Following an extraordinary year for all, and seven months of not being able to play together, our best and brightest musicians at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (the Con) are finally able to perform for audiences.
“Following what can only be described as a turbulent year for our students and audiences, our musicians are delighted to be performing this live-stream event,” said Professor Anna Reid, Dean of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
For our teachers and musicians, these performances are vital to continuing the experience of performing and connecting with our audiences
The line-up includes:
John Lynch leading the Wind Symphony in an end-of-year celebration of live music making. The composers on this program represent diverse perspectives and have composed works with life-affirming energy.
Daryl Pratt leads the Modern Music Ensemble for his last time in a concert of Australian music. The ensemble will be accompanied by alumnus Owen Morris, principal trumpet with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, in a world premiere performance of Professor Matthew Hindson's new trumpet concerto.
Three ensembles led by James Kortum (flutes), Peter Smith (clarinets) and Michael Duke (saxophones) will be performed by student ensembles.
Led by Chief Conductor Roger Benedict, the Con’s String Orchestra will perform music from the turn of the twentieth century. They will also perform three original compositions arranged for strings by special guests Lebanese oud player, composer and UNESCO artist for peace Marcel Khalifé, and pianist-composer Rami Khalifé, in honour. In partnership with the Arab Theatre Studio and Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) in Beirut, this performance will raise funds for the Lebanese National Conservatory which was impacted by the catastrophic blast in Beirut on 4 August 2020.
A stunning program of French baroque music, including an Australian premiere of André Campra’s Suite du Ballet des Âges, with two JS Bach’s cantatas will be performed by period instrument musicians and the Con’s chamber choir, expertly directed by Dr Erin Helyard and Associate Professor Paul Stanhope.
Led by Chief Conductor Roger Benedict, the Con’s symphony orchestra looks forward to performing again for the first time since March this year. The final festival concert features two staples of orchestral repertoire – Stravinsky’s Jeu de Cartes (Card Game) and Beethoven’s joyful eighth symphony, in celebration of 250 years since his birth. The winner of last year’s percussion concerto competition – Ruari Campbell – performs André Jolivet’s explosive and exciting percussion concerto.
Please register for each free concert which will be available via the Conservatorium’s YouTube channel.