Australia Day Recitals 2012

St Stephen's Uniting Church
197 Macquarie St, Sydney
(opposite Parliament House)


Donations gratefully received

 

 


 

Please click here for map and directions


 

 

 

 

9.00am - 10.00am

St George, Sutherland Scottish Pipe Band
playing in Macquarie Street



The St George, Sutherland Scottish Pipe Band was formed in March 1946, paraded first in uniform in 1949 and achieved competition success in 1952. From its foundation in Hurstville the band moved to the Sutherland Shire in the 60's. Foremost a social band, St George enters band competitions when practical and performs regularly at district functions. The band maintains an active social agenda and their family friendly dances are a significant contribution to maintaining the Scottish culture and heritage.


 

11.00am - Organ Recital - Mark Quarmby

(Director of Music, St Stephen's)

 

Toccata - Gaston Bélier (1863 - 1938)

Voluntary in C No.1 - John Stanley (1712 - 1786)
[300th anniversary of birth]

Soliloquy No. 2 - Gordon Atkinson (1928 - )
[Australian composer]

Sweet Sixteenths - William Albright (1944 - 1998)

'Final' from Symphony No.1 in D - Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937)
[75th anniversary of death]

 

Mark Quarmby graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music majoring in organ under Norman Johnston.  He has given many recitals throughout Australia, Europe, North America, Asia and New Zealand. For over 20 years he was associated with the music of St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, playing for all their choral services, national live broadcasts and State occasions such as visits from Queen Elizabeth II, funerals of State governors and national memorial services. He has accompanied the Cathedral choir on several CDs and played for services with them in many of Britain’s most famous cathedrals including St Paul’s, London, Canterbury, Salisbury, Oxford, Winchester, Lichfield, Westminster Abbey and St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. His recital tours to Europe have taken him to Germany, Holland, Austria, Switzerland, France, and Italy where he has often included Australian organ music on his programs and lectured on the history of the organ in Australia. In 2009 he gave the opening recital of the American Guild of Organists Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, playing a whole program devoted to organ music written by Australian composers.  He was a tutor and recitalist for the Pipe Organ Encounter program held in Singapore in 2005. He served as the President of the Organ Music Society of Sydney for six years, and is currently a National Director of the Organ Historical Trust of Australia (as well as being the web master for these two organisations). Mark Quarmby teaches piano, organ and musicianship at St Patrick’s College, Strathfield and privately.  From August 2009 he was appointed as the Director of Music at St Stephen's, Macquarie Street.  During his spare time he has been researching and building a web site on the organs of Sydney which he has extended to cover organs throughout Australia.

 

 

 

12.00 noon - Nexas Saxophone Quartet

Michael Duke, Jay Byrnes, Nathan Henshaw and Andrew Smith

 

Prelude, Fugue et Variation Op. 18 - César Franck (1822 - 1890)

Quatuor - Pierre Max Dubois (1930 - 1995)

(i) Overture (ii) Deloroso (iii) Spirituoso (iv) Andante

Ceilidh - Gavin Whitlock

 

The Nexas Saxophone Quartet was formed in 2002 and since it's formation has been active in supporting new Australian music, providing young and established composers with an outlet for their compositions to be work-shopped and performed. In recognition of their work, in 2003 Nexas was awarded the Wal Hardwick Memorial Scholarship for excellence in chamber music by the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Association. Since their formation Nexas has performed a large variety of repertoire in multiple settings. The quartet has collaborated with theatre companies, premiered countless new works, performed internationally and received awards and grants in recognition of their pursuits. 2012 launches an exciting new era for the ensemble with Michael Duke (Chair of Saxophone at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music) joining Jay Byrnes, Nathan Henshaw and Andrew Smith. Their 2012 programme will look at exciting new collaborations, international performances and an exploration of new and interesting repertoire.

 

 

1.00pm - St Stephen's Brass Ensemble

 

Trumpet II - Brian McGuiness

Trombone - Ben Lovell-Greene

Trumpet I - Byron Westbury (leader)

French Horn - Radu Boros

Tuba - Joshua Jaworski

 

I got Rhythm - George Gershwin (1898 - 1937)

 

Fascinating Rhythm - George Gershwin (1898 - 1937)

 

Colchester Fantasy - Eric Ewazen (1954 - )

i) The Rose and Crown

iv) The Red Lion

 

Westside Story - Leonard Bernstein (1918 - 1990)

i) Maria

ii) I feel Pretty

iii) Somewhere

iv) America

 

The St Stephen's Brass Ensemble was formed in 2011 from members of the Five Cities Brass Quintet who regularly perform at St Stephen's for the services at Christmas, Easter and the annual HymnFest. Based in Sydney, they are an exciting and professional ensemble with an extensive repertoire and the ability and experience to perform in a wide range of musical events.

Performers in the Five Cities Brass Quintet have also performed with the Sydney Symphony, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, James Morrisson, the Australian Navy and Army Band, the Cat Empire, Broadway shows - Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast; the Ben Hur Stadium Spectacular, and Judy Bailey's Jazz Connection.

The members are also highly regarded educators, teaching music across Sydney as well as conducting and composing. This makes the Five Cities Brass a valuable and highly sort after ensemble for music festivals and tours where they can run instrumental master-classes, work with band programs and perform professional live concerts.

They are experienced wedding musicians, and specialize in outdoor celebrations, where their instruments are perfectly suited to those conditions. Brass has always featured in outdoor concerts with huge success.

They work with composers, premiering new music and working together as part of the musical creating process and they are currently working with a number of Australian composers on some exciting projects.

Five Cities Brass plays classical music and popular music, broadway tunes and jazz. They don't need speakers or power points, just a place to stand, and an atmosphere to create.

Their program today will give you a 'little taster' of their exciting style, and a sneak peak into the first full length concert in their 2012 series - to be held here at St Stephens on the 3rd of March.

Their aim is to bring professional musicians, and fantastic music to people who want to hear it. They like to play fun concerts with great music, and to encourage those who are making music themselves. Every musician needs encouragement and support, so as they support other music makers and uplift audiences- please support them!

What would it be like to live in a world without music? Not worth living in.

 

 

 

 

2.00pm - Organ Recital - David Tagg

(Assistant Organist, St Stephen's)

 

 

Prelude and Fugue in G Major BWV 541 - J S Bach (1685 - 1750)

'Summertime' from Porgy and Bess - George Gerswhin (1898 - 1937)

Processional March - Harold R. Nutt (fl. 1938 - 1962)

Waltzing Matilda (Organ Duet for Four Feet) - Robert Ampt (1949 - )

 

 

David Tagg started playing the organ at his family church, Killara Uniting. David attended Knox Grammar School where he started and continues to study with Peter Kneeshaw AM. David has had the opportunity to play at a number of venues including the Sydney Town Hall, St. Mary's Cathedral, Melbourne's St Paul's Cathedral and has given a number of recitals around Sydney.

Upon leaving school he was appointed Organ Scholar at St Stephen's Uniting Church, Sydney in 2009 and has held this position for two and a half years. In June 2011 he was appointed Assistant Organist at St Stephen's under the musical direction of Mark Quarmby. In 2011 he accompanied Stainer's 'The Crucifixion' with a massed choir in a Good Friday concert. For the past three years he has played at the Sydney Opera House's Open Day celebrations.

David completed a Bachelor of Design in Architecture degree at the University of Sydney in 2011.

 

 

 

 

3.00pm - Angus McPherson (flute) with
Szu Yu Chen (piano)

 

Sonatine for Flute and Piano - Henri Dutilleux (1916 - )

Mr Dick is Thinking in Terms of a Blues-Pattern - Gergely Ittzés (1969 - )

Lios na Gaoithe (for Solo Flute with Glissando Headjoint) - Ian Wilson (1964 - )

Fish are Jumping - Robert Dick (1950 - )

Salonstücke Op. 52 (Melodie and Schmetterling) - Joachim Andersen (1847 - 1909)

Sonata for Flute and Piano - Otar Taktakishvili (1924 - 1989)

 

Angus McPherson grew up in Sydney and began playing the flute in his primary school band at age 9. He has just completed a Master of Music (Performance), studying with Alexa Still at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Angus has performed with the Conservatorium's Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Modern Music Ensemble and has played in the orchestra pit for several chamber operas. He regularly performs in orchestras for various musical societies as well as with the Turramurra based Orchestra 143. He was a co-soloist with Orchestra 143 in May in 2011, performing Cimarosa's Concerto for Two Flutes.

Angus enjoys playing many styles of music but he is keenly interested in contemporary music and extended techniques for the flute. In 2011 he spent several months in New York where he conducted interviews with the contemporary flute expert Robert Dick about his invention; a sliding extension for the flute called the Glissando Headjoint. He has performed in international masterclasses for Robert Dick in Seattle, USA, and Gergely Ittzés in Győr, Hungary. In August 2011 he played flute, alto flute and piccolo in the International Opera Theater's production of the new opera, Decameron, in Citta della Pieve and Citta di Saluzzo, Italy. Angus has also performed in masterclasses in Sydney for many flutists including Alison Mitchel, Michael Cox and Emmanuel Pahud.

 

Pianist Szu Yu is currently studying at Sydney Conservatorium of Music as a postgraduate accompaniment student with a scholarship and is a student of famous pianists David Miller and Gerard Williams. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Taipei National University of the Arts with a major in piano performance. She also studied music education. She later earned her Masters degree in piano performance at the Peabody Conservatory of John Hopkins University in the United States. Szu Yu spent two years in the United States studying solo piano with Alexander Shtarkman and chamber music with Ellen Mack, Marian Hahn and Seth Knop. She was also an important part of Peabody Preconservatory and a Baltimore Music College accompanist.

Szu Yu won several prizes and scholarships in both piano, solo flute solo and chamber music competitions. In 2006, Szu Yu started her career as a solo pianist. She performed in Taiwan, Australia, the United States, France, German and Italy. Between 2007 and 2008 Szu Yu was involved with the Edan Joyful Choir as a pianist which toured the world with the support of the Taiwanese government. Recently she just won the Geoffrey Parsons Award and the Chen-Mollie Neale Memorial prize and played with cellists Georg Pedersen and Janis Laurs.

 www.angusmcphersonflute.com

 

 

 





 


Please click here for details of the St Stephen's organ



 

 


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