2 November

Stephen Lalor (mandolin)

with members of PLEKTRA:
Fiona Orenstein (mandolin), Christopher Keane (guitar) & Alex Burger (bass)

Trio - Canciello (1740-1790)
Allegro - Largo - Allegro

Sonatine in C Minor - Beethoven (1770-1827)

Sonatine in C Major - Beethoven (1770-1827)

Courante (Cello Suite No. 1) - J S Bach (1685-1750)

Timonya - trad. arr. S. Lalor (b.1962)

Adagio in Eb - Beethoven (1770-1827)

Lyuba - trad. arr. S. Lalor (b.1962)

Atherton Tableland Waltz - S. Lalor (b.1962)

Concerto in C - Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Allegro – Largo - Allegro

Stephen Lalor studied in Sydney and at the Tchaikovsky Conservatorium, Kiev. He is best known in Australia as a mandolinist – principal guest soloist with the Sydney Symphony, Australian Opera & a number of overseas orchestras. He also works with groups such as The Volatinsky Trio, playing in festivals around Australia, Europe. Most recently, Stephen and Plektra were invited to perform at the 2012 Classical Mandolin Society of America convention. As a composer he has written opera, ballet, music theatre, choral & instrumental music, with a particular focus on plectrum instruments.

Contact: slalor@cmcaustralia.com & Facebook

Plektra formed in 2010 for performances in Germany at the BDZ Eurofest. The group performs in Sydney and at international mandolin festivals. They perform classical mandolin repertoire (such as the pieces by Canciello, Beethoven & Vivaldi), plus music composed by their leader, Stephen Lalor. Their debut CD was released in October 2012.

Contact: plektraensemble@gmail.com & Facebook

9 November

Alianza Trio

Jay Byrnes - Saxophone
Carmen Nieves - Saxophone
Lindsay Gilroy - Piano

Piano Trio no.1 - Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918) arr. Jay Byrnes

Trio for Oboe, Basson and Piano - Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963)
(arr. Jay Byrnes)

Duo Concertante - Jean-Baptiste Singelée (1812 - 1875)

Por Una Cabeza - Carlos Gardel (1890 - 1935) arr. Alianza Trio

Alianza Ensemble was formed in 2010 by Carmen Nieves and Jay Byrnes as an outlet for chamber music performance of the saxophone. The concept of Alianza ensemble is a flexible number of musicians that join the core duo, all with an interest in performing beautiful music for an expanding audience. Alianza currently works in both quartet and trio versions on a regular basis with performances at the NSW Art Gallery, Mosman Art Gallery, St Stephens Uniting Church, Sydney as well as many private functions. Each of the members of Alianza trio performing today are accomplished performers with international experience, coming together to create a unique and exciting musical experience for both audience and artists. The trio regularly performs music not only written for 2 saxophone and piano, but also adapts music from other instruments that suit this combination very well. Alianza Ensembles is supported by the Saxophone Academy Sydney.

www.saxophoneacademysydney.com

16 November

Gedymin Grubba (organ) - POLAND

1. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Praeludium Es-major BWV 552

2. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
choral: Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein BWV 641

3. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Praeludium b-minor BWV 544

4. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Praeludium and Fuga G-major BWV 541

5. Jan Janca (1933)
Variations on the choral: Hilf, Herr meines Lebens

6. Flor Peeters (1903-1986)
Concert piece Op. 52a

Gedymin Grubba

Born on 17th July 1981 in Gdansk (Northern Poland)

Gedymin Grubba started his piano lessons with Halina Radomska in his hometown Gdansk-Zaspa (Poland) when he was 5 years old. Later he studied piano with Zofia Ralicka and clarinet with Dariusz Egielman in the Stanislaw Moniuszko Primary Music School in Sopot. He continued his musical education in the Fryderyk Chopin Secondary Music School in Gdansk in the organ class of Roman Perucki. He finished school with honours. In 2006 he graduated from the Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdansk, where he studied organ with Roman Perucki and composition with Eugeniusz Glowski.

He has attended numerous master classes in Poland and abroad, focusing mainly upon the interpretation of organ music and improvisation. These master classes were given by: prof. B.K. Bryndorf, prof. E. Doll, prof. F. Klinda, prof. J. Laukvik, prof. J.P. Lecaudey, prof. L. Lohmann, prof. D. Roth, prof. A. Schoof, prof. M. Strohhäcker, prof. J.C. Zehnder, prof. W. Zerer, dr S. Göttelmann, prof. J. Gembalski (master class in improvisation), prof. M. Sawa (one-year master class in improvisation) – total: 14 master classes.

Since he started his public performances, which was in 1996, he has already given over 500 concerts all over Poland, the greatest part of Europe and also in Asia (Singapore), Australia and New Zealand. He performs in over fifty (this year over seventy) concerts in different cities all over the world every year. He performs as a soloist, a chamber music player, a composer and a conductor. In 2010 he was the main adjudicator at the Young Organists' Competition in Sydney, Australia. In 2012 he was a member of the chapter at the Municipal Council Mayor Pelplin and for the years 2012 to 2017 he was elected president of the chapter on Ageing Tczew responsible for awarding prizes and distinctions in the field of cultural activity. Last year (2011) he celebrated the 15th anniversary of his artistic work. For the next few years he received invitations for concert tours throughout Europe, South Africa (Cape Town), South America (Brazil, Bolivia), North America (Canada, the USA), Asia (Japan, Hong Kong) and back to Australia and New Zealand (here also invited to make a CD recording). He is a winner of many organ and composition competitions.

In 1999 Gedymin Grubba initiated "The International Festival of Organ Music" in Pelplin Cathedral and until now he has been its director. The Festival is one of the most significant and prestigious cultural events of that kind in Europe. Thanks to the festival, the unique baroque organ (dating from the XVII century) of the cathedral have been reconstructed and was ready to use in 2003. Simultaneously in 1999, he initiated a series of Chamber Music Evenings in Koronowo. In 2009 Gedymin Grubba was rewarded for his cultural activity with the prestigious "Mestwin" award and in 2011 received a medal for his contribution to the City and Municipality Pelplin. He was also given three grants from the President of Gdansk.

Since 2003 he has been the Chairman of the Promotion of Art Gabriel Fauré Foundation in Gdansk, which organizes about forty different concerts in Poland every year, these are mainly concert series, including festivals in Pelplin, Koronowo and Naklo at Notec.

In 2008 Gedymin Grubba composed a monumental vocal-instrumental music piece "Sinfonia Jubilate". The composition was ordered by the Co-operative Savings and Credit Unions in Poland – F. Stefczyk's SKOK to celebrate its 15th anniversary. The music was combined with the lyrics written by John Paul II, S.H. Lubomirski and Z. Herbert. The piece was dedicated to His Excellency Cardinal Joseph Glemp in acknowledgement of his years of ministry to the Church, the Nation and Poland. The main World Premiere concert of "Sinfonia Jubilate" took place in Warsaw's Grand Theater-National Opera. The DVD with the piece was released in 150 000 units. The composition was repeatedly broadcast by the Polish Television and Polish Radio.

In 2011 he was asked to compose a special piece on the occasion of the beatification of John Paul II. The music piece was thought to be a tribute of young musicians from Gdansk to the Polish Pope. The composition "Santo Subito! Welcome home!" was recorded and it was broadcasted on the Polish Radio a few times. A CD and a full score of the piece were brought to the Vatican.

Since 1996 he has been a demonstrator of the world famous organ in the Cathedral in Oliwa. He is a member of the Polish Composers' Union Youth Circle. He has made several recordings for the Polish and European radio and TV (also as a conductor), as well as solo CD recordings (14 CDs and 1 DVD, next are planned for 2012 in New Zealand and 2013 in Spain). He took part in the recording of the CD "The Great Organ of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Gdansk Oliwa", which was nominated for the "Fryderyk 2006" award and in 2009 got the gold record award. It is worth noting also that the CD recorded by him on the organ in Pelplin Cathedral in 2008, is the first professionally released album at this place. However, the CD recorded on the organ of the Polish Army Cathedral in Warsaw in 2010, is the first album recorded after the reconstruction made of the instrument.

He allso gives lessons and organ-classes all over the world (Australia, Canada, Poland, Romania, Ukraine…).

Since 1988 he has been working as an organist in churches of Gdansk Diocese. He has also educated few young organists, who now take positions of organists in churches in Gdansk. Among the leading places in which he was an organist, it is worth mentioning the Cathedral in Oliwa or St Nicholas Church in Gdansk (one of the most famous organs in Poland). Gedymin Grubba is currently an organist of the God of Mercy Church in Gdansk-Morena.

The official website of the artist: www.gedymin.org

23 November

The Strelitzia Piano Trio

Lucy Warren (violin)
Eleanor Betts (violoncello)
Belinda McGlynn (pianoforte)

Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50 - P. Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893)

I. Pezzo Elegianco – Moderato Assai – Allegro Giusto

II. Adagio con Duolo e ben Sostenuto – Allegro Giusto

III. Tema con Variazioni:

Tema – Andante con moto
Variation I – L'istesso Tempo
Variation II – Piu Mosso
Variation III – Allegro Moderato
Variation IV – L'istesso Tempo
Variation V – L'istesso Tempo
Variation VI – Tempo di Valse
Variation VII – Allegro Moderato
Variation VIII – Andante Flebile, ma non tanto
Variation IX – Tempo di Mazurka
Variation X – Moderato
Variation Finale e Coda

The Strelitzia Trio is a rising star in the world of chamber music. Formed in 2008, these talented young musicians won the prestigious Sydney Eisteddfod Musica Viva Chamber Music Award in 2009, and have benefited from the guidance of some of Australia's most eminent musicians. The Trio perform repertoire ranging from the great classics, to rare gems and modern masterpieces.

30 November

David Tagg (Organ)

Assistant Organist, St Stephen's

Prelude and Fugue in D Major BWV 532 - J S Bach (1685 - 1750)

Chorale Prelude for Advent:

Nun, komm', der Heiden Heiland BWV 659 - J S Bach (1685 - 1750)
from The Eighteen Chorales

Rhapsody in D-flat Op. 17, No. 1 - Herbert Howells (1892 - 1983)

Menuetto - Impromptu - John Ireland (1879 - 1962)

Chorale Prelude for Christmas:

'In dulci jubilo' - Marcel Dupré (1886 - 1971)
from 79 Chorales Op.28

Prelude and Fugue in B Op. 7, No.1 - Marcel Dupré (1886 - 1971)

David Tagg commenced organ studies while at school and continues to study with Peter Kneeshaw AM. David has played recitals at a number of venues including the Sydney Town Hall, the Sydney Opera House, St Mary's Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne and other churches in Sydney.

Upon leaving school he became the Organ Scholar at St Stephen's Uniting Church in Macquarie Street and in June 2011 he was appointed Assistant Organist. In both 2011 and 2012 he accompanied Stainer's 'The Crucifixion' with a massed choir in a St Stephen's Good Friday concert and earlier this year accompanied the Sutherland Choral Society's performance of Handel's 'Messiah'. For the past three years he has also played at the Sydney Opera House's Open Day celebrations.

In 2011 David sat for the Associate Diploma from the Trinity College of Music, London, achieving a distinction in organ performance; he also completed his Bachelor of Design in Architecture degree at the University of Sydney. David was a finalist in the 2012 Sydney Organ Competition.