October 2019
St Stephen's Uniting Church
197 Macquarie St, Sydney
(opposite Parliament House)
Entry by note donation
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October 2019 St Stephen's Uniting Church 197 Macquarie St, Sydney (opposite Parliament House) Entry by note donation www.ssms.org.au |
4 OctoberAgus Sandjaya (pianoforte)
Prelude and Fugue in C sharp major BWV 848 - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Canzona Fluviala dan Canzona Serenata - Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951) Variationen über ein Thema von Robert Schumann Op.20 - Clara Schumann (1819-1896) Sonatina Op.100 - Nikolai Kapustin (1937- ) Ballade No.3 Op. 47 - Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)
Agus Sandjaya was born in Indonesia in 1987 and commenced his piano studies at age 6. Since then, he has participated in many piano competitions in Indonesia achieving excellent results and was the first-prize winner of the Yamaha Music Festival in Jakarta for the junior piano category in 2000. Agus completed his University of Sydney Foundation Program in 2006 and in the following year was accepted into the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He has actively performed in lunch break concerts, master classes, and open day recitals held by the Sydney Conservatorium of Music as soloist and chamber musician. In May 2010, he premiered a short contemporary work by Australian composer Mark Isaacs in Momentary Pleasures, 2010 International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) World New Music Days. He completed his Bachelor of Music Performance degree in 2010 with First Class Honours, undertaking study with Dr. Paul Rickard-Ford. In 2011, Agus was one of the semi finalists in Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition held in Brisbane, Australia. Agus is recently active in teaching and accompanying, and occasionally performing as a soloist.
11 OctoberRobb Dennis (tenor)
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Dr Robb Dennis is a voice professional and the Artistic Director of Aurora Choralis. He has a Doctorate of Musical Arts in vocal performance (Claremont Graduate University, California) and Robb has shared music in various ways. As an educator, he has taught on all education levels. A Senior Lecturer in voice and musicology, he relocated to Australia, joining the university sector in NSW. As a performer, Robb found his voice on the operatic stage. Following award-winning performances in the New York Metropolitan Opera auditions, he appeared as principal tenor with the Repertory Opera of Los Angeles, West Coast Opera Theatre, and more recently Australia's Opera Hunter. He has performed with the Oratorio Society of Utah in the Mormon Tabernacle, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and Riverside Master Chorale. Using his voice expertise in a collective setting, Robb found his affinity for choral conducting. Following on from conducting coaching with Helmut Rilling and Dale Warland, Robb developed his conducting style with critically acclaimed choirs. He has led ensembles, including high school, tertiary, and semi-professional groups, to win choral festivals, feature on televised programs, and tour internationally. He has conducted guest orchestras and choirs in the Sydney Opera House, and has prepared choirs for Maestro Carlo Ponti Jr and Maestro Jon Robertson. Robb's focus now is to create new opportunities for vocalists, musicians, and Australian composers.
Sandra Liu is a young soprano currently in her first year of the Masters of Music Studies (Opera Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the University of Sydney. She was awarded the Helen Myers Scholarship for singing by the University of Sydney and is a Soprano Scholar at St. Stephen's Uniting Church. Sandra is the winner of the Joan Carden Award 2019 with the Sydney University Graduate Choir and Orchestra. She has recently performed the roles of 'Micaëla' in Bizet's Carmen and 'Lisette' in Puccini's La Rondine at the Mediterranean Opera Studio. She performed the role of 'La Chauve-Souris' in Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and will be performing the role of 'Ramiro' in the upcoming production of Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera. She has been a soloist in concert with the Thüringer Symphoniker Orchester and played the role of 'Ida' in Lyric Opera Studio of Weimar's production of Die Fledermaus. Participation in vocal and lieder masterclasses at the Mozarteum, in Salzburg, Austria in their Summer Academy have also added important experience and insights. She has performed for Art Gallery NSW's National 2017: New Australian Art biennale as a part of a sculptural installation - futurist opera for Sydney Contemporary in 'A Sonorous Body' and 'A Metal Cry' by Justene Williams, in association with Carriageworks and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Sandra is also an Artist/Presenter for 'Get Arty', a program on Network Seven.
Mark Quarmby graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying organ under Norman Johnston and piano under Marjorie Hesse. He has given recitals throughout Australia, Europe, North America, Asia and New Zealand. For over 20 years he was the Assistant Organist of St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, playing the organ for national live broadcasts, visits of the Queen, funerals of State governors and national memorial services. In August 2009 he was appointed Director of Music at St Stephen's, Macquarie Street. In Europe he has played in the Cathedrals of St Paul's, London, Canterbury, Salisbury, Oxford, Winchester, Lichfield, Westminster Abbey and Notre-Dame, Paris, with recitals in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, and Holland. In 2009 he gave the opening recital of the American Guild of Organists Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. He has been the President of the Organ Music Society of Sydney, has served on the committee of the Royal School of Church Music (NSW) and is currently a National Director of the Organ Historical Trust of Australia and teaches piano, organ and musicianship at St Patrick's College, Strathfield, and privately.
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Bizet: Gypsy Song Carmen
Schubert: Danksagung an den Bach Die schöne Müllerin
Schubert: Frühlingstraum Winterreise
Bizet: Card trio Carmen
Sor: Variations on a theme by Mozart
Lehár: My lips are for kissing Giuditta
Bizet: Song of the cigarette girls Carmen
Rodrigo: De los alamos vengo, madre
Bizet: Seguidilla Carmen
Bizet: Habanera Carmen
As a soprano Wendy has maintained a successful international career in opera, oratorio, concert and recital work, and remains an active recitalist. She is an established singing teacher, currently tutoring at Open Academy USyd, the Australian Institute of Music and her own private studio. She is presently enrolled as a Doctoral student at USyd. Wendy is founder and director of Sydney Art Song Society Inc., producer and musical director of Opera Boot Camp Australia, curator of Cushion Concerts at CHIME and artistic director of Divas on Demand. She is a founding member with David Miller (piano) of Grevillea Ensemble renowned for their innovative programs.
Since beginning her musical studies, Olivia has explored both orchestral and vocal realms but has now landed herself in the world of singing. Olivia has performed as a clarinetist with orchestras at Parliament House, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, the Sutherland Shire Symphony Orchestra, for various operas and musicals, toured with the Symphony of Australia, and performed at The Art Gallery of NSW and St Andrews Cathedral. With her hands advancing before her age, Olivia lay her clarinet to rest and strolled into the land of big voices and even bigger 'hair.' Since then Olivia has sung with Sutherland Symphony Orchestra, competed in eisteddfodau, performed in the Australian Institute of Music's opera gala, sung with the UNSW Collegium Musicum Choir and is a regular performer with Divas on Demand.
Natalia was born in Russia and moved to Sydney in 2013. At the age of thirteen she was granted a place in a children's concert choir Cantilena and later became the choir soloist, performing in numerous concerts and touring in Russia and Europe. Natalia continued her studies in Valentina Levko's Center of Vocal Art and later at the Australian Institute of Music. Currently Natalia is studying towards her Postgraduate Research Degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Natalia is an active performer appearing in lunchtime concerts at St.Stephen's Uniting Church, in the Sutherland Shire Symphony Orchestra Christmas concert 2016, in recitals at Glebe Justice Center, Australian Hall and others. In 2017 Natalia will sing in the production of the opera "La Caduta De' Decemviri" by A. Scarlatti performing the role of Valeria.
Suzi Stengel is an Italian born, South African bred soprano who now calls Australia home. In South Africa she performed in many solo recitals with the Friends of Music and Not the Grahamstown Festival. She appeared regularly with the Baroque 2000 orchestra, the KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra and with the Early Music Ensemble. In Sydney she has been a regular performer at the St Andrews, the Art Gallery of NSW, and the St Stephens Lunch Time Concert Series. She recently performed with the Hourglass Ensemble at the Melbourne Recital Centre and at the Sydney Opera House. Over the years she has directed various choirs and vocal ensembles. Suzi is also the creative director of Artists Central and has recently completed the Masters of Music program at the Australian Institute of Music.
Please note that the recital will be performed on a Rodgers digital organ owing to major electrical works taking place in the church and the pipe organ unable to be used.
A graduate of Sydney Conservatorium, Heather has been organist and director of music at Scots Kirk Presbyterian in Mosman for the past thirteen years. She is also pianist with the Mirrabooka Singers, giving concerts in retirement villages and nursing homes. Heather was the organist at St Stephen's during the 1980s.
Every Christmas and Easter she plays for several performances of Handel's Messiah, both in Sydney and regional areas.
In addition to a private teaching studio in Sydney's Hills district, Heather teaches piano at Georges River Grammar School and is an examiner with the Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts. Until recently she was a chorister with the Sunday Evensong choir at Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney, and recently sang with the Mater Chorale in several UK cathedrals.