Mitchell Conservatorium Newsletter Term Four 2014

Newsletter Issue 4 2014

Mitchell Conservatorium Inc │ www.mitchellconservatorium.edu.au │ Lithgow Bathurst Lachlan

Contents

New Parkes Studios

Page 2

2015 Scholarship Winners

Page 6, 7

Student News

Page 8, 9

Upcoming events

Page 3, 10

2014 Diary Dates

6 October—Term Four starts

Public holiday, check with your teacher

about lessons

16 October—Bathurst Friends Meet-

Meeting 7pm MitCon

17 October—Blayney Scholarship

applications close, see website

13 December—Term Four ends

And at the risk of being overly poetic, proof this is the long-awaited blooming of a teach-ing facility in Parkes. And yes, the premises really are called “Rose House”. The house, with five great studio spaces and plenty of parking, will complement our Forbes office and studios complex, to greater serve the Lachlan division of our operations. Jan Facey, Operation Manager at Lachlan, has all the info for anyone wanting to find out more. Jan will be in touch with all our Parkes based stu-dents and staff members soon regarding commencement of teaching from this excit-new facility. And speaking of Lachlan, the new signage has been installed at our Forbes facility, and the damage to the front wall re-paired - thanks to Government Property NSW. Thanks also to all our Forbes teaching and learning community for your patience on this one!

Another great outcome of Spring finally arriv-ing is the soon to start repainting of the exte-rior of the Lithgow facility, funded through Annette’s great efforts of sourcing NSW Gov-ernment Community Building Partnership funding (again!). The weather is critical in these delicate matters (painting externally) and as the weather warms up, the job will commence! Annette (Milroy, that is) has had success with this particular funding source, and Mitchell Con has benefitted greatly.

Recent Scholarship auditions, right across the three divisions, were also a great success. Our judges, Phil Braithwaite, Ben Macpherson and Philippa Paige were most impressed, and any of you who auditioned will already have some terrific comments via your teachers.

Spring has Sprung!

Continued page 2

We had over 70 auditions this year, and some terrific results. We also had an oppor-tunity to dedicate our top scholarship in Bathurst to our late friend and colleague, Gareth Bullock. The Gareth Bullock Memori-al Scholarship will now be awarded each year to the highest award winner in Bathurst.

In terms of student experiences, Sydney Symphony Playerlink, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra/NSW Regional Conserv-atoriums project and the Opera Australia collaboration through BMEC all occurred during this last term. Wow! What a term. Still to come in the schedule this year are the London Symphony Orchestra/Regional Con-servatoriums project, the Richard Gill FREE Community Forum (page 5)and more stu-dent concerts than you poke a drum stick at.

Terrific recent performances from Jane Rut-Rutter, Simon Tedeschi and Yvonne Kenny, the Omega Ensemble (they’ll be back!) and Alturas warmed up the Winter temperatures - and we’re now looking forward to the won-derful Touchstones Song Cycle project with Andrew Robson’s quartet and the inaugural outing of the Mitchell Chamber Orchestra, conducted by the incredible Richard Gill, more details on page 10.

The year will come to a close with perfor-mances in Bathurst and Gulgong of the Mes-siah, a perennial favourite featuring our own Bathurst Chamber Orchestra (weren’t they fantastic on tour in Bathurst and Orange!) and our good friends, the Allegri Singers.

Graham Sattler

Georg Mertens in Concert Mitchell String Quartet recitals Touchstones Song Cycle with Andrew Robson & Richard Gill OAM



Planning for next year, with a greater emphasis on our wonderful resident professional artists is well underway, and core activities such as Schools Workshops and Rock School are firmly positioned as 2015 student priorities, and the return of the Inland Sea of Sound festival, with the Con playing a very prominent part along with BMEC and Musica Viva Countrywide.

And finally, a farewell…one of our fa-vourite teachers and performers, Lee Wilcox will be leaving us soon to return to the UK. Lee has been with us at our Bathurst division now for almost two years, and we will be sad to see him go. We do wish him all the best for the next few years of playing, teaching and stud-ying, and we hope to see him back in the Central West in a few years’ time. Any and all of Lee’s students will be notified as to their new teacher/s in due course

Enjoy Term Four, and thanks again for all the wonderful support you continue to give this important community music resource. Remember, if there’s any-thing you’d like to see us do differently, or better… drop us a line.

See you all at Reliance Credit Union Carols by Candlelight on Sunday 14 December in Machattie Park—it’s going to be a wonderful, inclusive community event.

2

Continued from page 1

Photos of the Mitchell Conservatorium’s new teaching studios in Parkes.


Mitchell Conservatorium Inc │ www.mitchellconservatorium.edu.au │ Lithgow Bathurst Lachlan 3

Songs Alive! Featuring seven of Australia’s finest young singers, singing the hits of Broadway, Opera, Operetta and Cabaret: Jessica Westcott - Soprano

Michelle Ryan – Soprano

Deepka Ratra - Soprano

Anna McDougall – Mezzo-Soprano

Joshua Oxley – Tenor

Joshua Rogers – Baritone

Alex Sefton - Baritone

Accompanied by Julia de Plater, of the

Sydney Conservatorium

The Rising Stars company have invited two

of our own Mitchell Conservatorium

students to perform alongside them at the

concert. Liam Auhl taught by Jon Lewis and

Julia Boag taught by Graham Sattler will

perform solo and ensemble works—come

along and support them!

7.30pm Friday 31 October

The Orchard Room

MITCHELL CONSERVATORIUM STUDENTS PERFORM AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

Four MitCon student musicians were selected to take up the opportunity of a lifetime to rehearse and perform along-side professional musicians from the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House recently. Bath-urst students Georgia Sonter cello and Kirsten Jones violin along with Calum Woodrow who studies percussion at MitCon in Lithgow and James McKay who studies clarinet and bassoon at the Lachlan division attended an intensive three days of workshops in Sydney culminating in performing from the orchestra pit in the Joan Sutherland Theatre. The mentoring project, specifically for regional student musicians, was developed and managed by the Association of Regional Conservatoriums of which the Mitchell Con is a member.



MITCHELL CON ON THE

SMALL SCREEN

Auditions are held annually before an invited adjudicator and are a great opportunity for student musicians to focus their practice and work towards a performance goal. Bursaries are also available to assist those families experiencing continual and genuine financial hardship and are awarded by the Department of Education and Training. Applications, references and a personal interview may be arranged confidentially through the office. The Bathurst Real Estate ad will highlight the range of community organisations that they support. MitCon students Leo Klonis, Ella and Lily Collins performed alongside Stacey in the ad and were fabulous, looking at all times like the next generation of scholarship winners.

Bathurst Real Estate Principal Stacey Whittaker and Southern Cross 10 Producer/Director Grant Taylor made a visit to the Mitchell Conservatorium recently to film a television ad for Bathurst Real Es-tate. Known for their keen support of a wide range of community ac-tivities Bathurst Real Estate proud-ly sponsor the Con's scholarship program which supports students who consistently show above aver-age musical talent or high potential and are looking to further their study at the Con.

Name Grade Instrument Result

Charlotte Cooper 1 Flute B

Anna Patmore 2 Flute B+

Kalinda Robinson 3 Flute A

George Butler 2 Flute B+

Sophie Faulkner 2 Saxophone B

Brianna Kirkness 6 Flute B

Hamish McIntyre 6 Flute B+

Emma McCarthy 6 Flute B+

Adrian Ma 3 Clarinet A

Courtney Powell 8 Flute A+

SUCCESS IN RECENT AMEB EXAMS

Congratulations

TEACHERS STUDIO CONCERTS

Con students aged 6 – 16, under tutorage of Micheile Houghton Blunt performed to an audience of more than 75 at the Parkes Services Club recently, display-ing their talents in piano, poetry and song. Students were commended for the year's achievements; col-lectively increasing the number of applicants at this year's Forbes Eisteddfod, completion of theoretical & practical AMEB exams and their ongoing efforts in performance in the community. Students had the great opportunity to hear from guest performer Bar-bara Bruce. Mrs Bruce, a student of the late Miriam Hyde, facilitator and mentor to numerous diploma students of the Lachlan region for 27years, delighted students with works from Rackmaninoff and Scott Joplin. Winner of the studio's House Cup Champion-ship were the Beat on it Beethoven's scoring 13,500 points for their collective efforts and Tully McCahon of Caragabal awarded Highest Achievement for her enormous efforts to her music studies.

Contributed by Micheile Houghton Blunt



Your Invitation…

Community Music: what is it and why does it matter? (it matters!)

Keynote speaker Richard Gill OAM

Passionate about music? Love your com-munity? Looking to develop a career in music? Want to meet the tall wiry, white haired dude from ABC TV's Spicks and Specks? Then this event is for you. Join your fellow music makers for a discussion and talk led by Richard Gill OAM. This is a unique opportunity to hear one of Austral-ia’s most admired conductors and musical educators as he delves into the inspiring topic of music for and in our community. Includes live music from local musicians.

2.00pm Sunday 12 October, BMEC 105 William Street Bathurst FREE, RSVP to BMEC Box Office 6333 6161

See Richard Gill in 'community forum' action here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeRus3NVbwE&feature=share

Richard Gill is one of Australia’s pre-eminent and most admired conductors specialising in opera, musical theatre and vocal and choral training and is internationally respected as a music educator. He is Music Director of Victorian Opera and Artistic Director of the Education Program for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He has been Artistic Director of Oz Opera, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, and the Adviser for the Musica Viva In Schools program. Richard has received numerous accolades, including an Order of Australia Medal, the Bernard Heinze Award, Honorary Doctorates from the Edith Cowan UWA and ACU, and the Australia Council’s Don Banks Award.

TEACHERS STUDIO CONCERTS

Elena Day-Hakkers’ students recently performed at the Seymour Centre in Bathurst for an enthusi-astic audience and also obtained the following Bathurst Eisteddfod results:

Nadia Day-Hakker — 1st piano classic repertoire for her age group

Xavier Haynes – 1st piano popular and 2nd piano classical repertoire for his age group

Zachary Haynes—Junior Piano Champion, 1st post 1900 piano open section, 3rd piano classic reper-toire in his age group and 4th piano classic reper-toire at the Sydney Eisteddfod

Keeran Rajkumar—3rd piano Baroque repertoire for his age group

Maggie Chan—2nd pre 1900 piano open section and 1st piano duet with her brother Raymond

Raymond Chan - 1st piano popular open section, 2nd piano post 1900 open section and 1st piano duet with his sister Maggie

Congratulations! 5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeRus3NVbwE&feature=share



2015 MITCHELL CONSERVATORIUM BATHURST SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

AWARDED TO INSTRUMENT TEACHER SPONSOR

Courtney Powell Flute Phil Braithwaite Gareth Bullock Memorial

Aidan McBurney Trombone Oliver Harris Thompson Enterprises

Hamish McIntyre Clarinet Bathurst Friends

Zari Newell Cello Georg Mertens Bathurst Friends

Elizabeth Talbot Clarinet Rosemarie Barnes Bathurst Spring Spectacular

Kirsten Jones Voice Jonathan Lewis Rotary Club of Bathurst

Baden Sinclair Voice Rotary Club of Bathurst Daybreak

Emma Russell Trumpet Bathurst Friends

Sarah Walls Violin Nicholas Newell Bathurst Friends

Emma McCarthy Flute Phil Braithwaite Bathurst Friends

Emelia Inwood Clarinet Rosemarie Barnes Bathurst Friends

George Sargent Voice Jonathan Lewis Bathurst Friends

Zachary Haynes Piano Elena Day-Hakker Piano Direction

Anthony Tran Piano Pam Roering Piano Direction

Melanie Lo Piano Pam Roering Piano Direction

Hannah McCarthy Violin Nicholas Newell ITP Bathurst

Bobbi Ralls Voice Michelle Griffin Bathurst Real Estate

Prudence Inwood Violin Fiona Thompson Lions Club of Bathurst

Jacob George Voice Julia Romano

Rotary Club of Bathurst East

Raine & Horne

Patrick Selmes Voice Jonathan Lewis Jonathan & Maureen Lewis

Louise Hill Voice Michelle Griffin Bathurst Friends

Maximilian Kendrick Voice Michelle Griffin Bathurst Friends

Elijah Kendrick Violin Nicholas Newell Bathurst Friends

Ava Pickup Piano Michelle Griffin Bathurst Friends

Ryley Davison Drums Lee Wilcox Bathurst Friends

Niamh McLean Violin Nicholas Newell Bathurst Friends

Bethany Carter Voice Michelle Griffin Rolf Stuebe Memorial

Xavier Haynes Piano Elena Day-Hakker Bathurst Friends Encouragement Award

Anna Patmore Piano Cindy Fox Bathurst Friends Encouragement Award

Congratulations



It was the first time that the adults have performed in a public competition, and only the second time they have

played together in public, but their mutual love of the recorder helped them quickly form an affinity essential for any

successful ensemble group. The group played two pieces by Telemann, Largo and Le Plaisir, impressing the judges

with their interpretation of the music and their solid rapport as an ensemble. The ensemble were delighted to be an-

nounced as the winners of the Open Recorder Ensemble. It has given them confidence as performers and musicians,

and they are now looking forward to rehearsing together for their next event. A big thank you from her students to

Anna; her direct, enthusiastic teaching style gives us all the confidence to master our instruments and play better than

we thought we could.

Contributed by Ingrid Pulley

Congratulations EISTEDDFOD SUCCESS Mitchell Conservatorium's commitment to excellence among its

students was highlighted recently at the Orange Eisteddfod on

21 August 2014 when Anna Ossig-Bonanno entered several of

her recorder students into the competition. Among them were

Anna's three adult recorder students – Ingrid Pulley, Carmel

Spark and Monique van Toor who formed an ensemble togeth-

er for the first time to compete in the Open Recorder Ensemble

section, with Joel Kimbel and Anna Ossig-Bonanno joining them

to make up a quintet.

AWARDED TO INSTRUMENT TEACHER SPONSOR

Callum Woodrow Xylophone Jamie Briton Mitchell Conservatorium

Adrian Ma Piano Annie Burbank Lithgow City Council

Patrick Woodrow Piano Annie Burbank Lithgow City Council

Silas Burbank Guitar Graeme Hunt Mitchell Conservatorium

Wei Qi Yin Cello Maureen Newell Memorial

Joshua Mason Violin Peter Avery Lithgow Friends

Marni Brown Piano Annie Burbank Lithgow Friends

Lisa Allan Voice Helen Williams Lithgow Friends

Eliza Kelly Violin Andrew Baker Mitchell Conservatorium

Charlie Umbers Piano Lyndal Isbester Barbara Bruce

Nicholas Toole Saxophone Justin Screen Uli Bracken

Hannah Blunt Piano Micheile Blunt Lachlan Friends

Matthias Kelly Viola Andrew Baker Lachlan Friends

7

2015 MITCHELL CONSERVATORIUM LITHGOW SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

2015 MITCHELL CONSERVATORIUM LACHLAN SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS



MITCON STUDENTS OUT

AND ABOUT

Aidan McBurney (3rd from left)

participating in Playerlink 2014

Gordon Richter (1st from left) participating in

Playerlink 2014

8

Thomas Press and Harrex

Upton practice for the

Orange Eisteddfod

NEW STRING LEARNING GROUP AT THE MITCHELL CONSERVATORIUM The Mitchell Conservatorium in Bathurst is on the way to introducing a new program for instrumental begin-ners - based on a very simple, enormously successful, but rarely introduced step-by-step process.

Children interested in cello and violin are welcome to contact the Mitchell Con to express an interest in tak-ing part. And this is how it works: during the first months students don't take their instruments home! This might sound a bit strange, but observations show that it is virtually impossible for a total beginner to keep in mind how to approach their instrument in the first lesson. Once at home beginners find their own way to play, and usually it takes to the late teens before a student will be capable to have enough body control to correct mistakes from early wrong habits that can occur. Contrary to this drawback, children could have the possibility to play freer than an adult. But this too is based on comfort on the instrument and doing things the right way. In the new program students will participate in a group lesson until the teacher is satisfied with their way of playing. At this stage the student can hire or buy an instrument, take private lessons and have a very good chance that their future learning is successful.

Sessions will be available, from Term four, for Cello and Violin beginner children. Sessions will be in small groups, 45 minutes in duration, at a cost of $13.75 per session. Sessions will be scheduled for Mondays at 3:30pm.

Please contact Nicholas Newell, Strings Coordinator, at [email protected] for more details.

Courtney Powell (1st from left) participating in

Playerlink 2014

mailto:[email protected]



Student News

Congratulations to Thomas Press and Harrex Upston 1st place 10 yrs and under Instrumental Duet and Jacob George, Thomas Press and Harrex Upston 2nd place in the 12 yrs and under Recorder Group at the Orange Eisteddfod.

Congratulations Bathurst Junior Re-

corder Ensemble for 1st place in the

Recorder Group Junior Primary and

Thomas Press and Harrex Upston

2nd place 12 years and under Re-

corder Duo, Gulgong Eisteddfod.

Mitchell Young Strings in Bathurst is looking for new members - lessons are 45 minutes per fortnight and cost $8.05 per session. Led by string teacher Fiona Thompson. To enrol or for more information call the office on 6331 6622.

Want to learn the ukulele? Join one of the ongoing ukulele ensembles lead by Jenelle Coady at the Lachlan division 6852 3766 or Michelle Griffin at the Bathurst division 6331 6622. Call us for session times and fee info.

Congratulations to Courtney Powell winner of the Open Classic Woodwind Solo, Gus Auguszczak Memorial Woodwind championship 14 yrs and over, 2nd Tom Bonic Open Flute Concerto, Most Promising Woodwind or Brass Player 13 to 20 Years, at the recent Bathurst Eisteddfod and A Plus Grade 8 AMEB Flute. Well done Courtney and a great recognition of your efforts!

Well done to all the MitCon students (and their teachers) selected for the Association of Regional Conservato-riums player opportunity with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House in November. We look forward to photos and feedback!

Date Change The 2014 Composition Competition will be calling for entries from Monday 1 December and closing in early 2015. The winning entry will be performed live on May 17 2015 at a combined concert at BMEC. Applica-tion forms will be available from reception or the MitCon website from late November. Entrants will be required to write music to select-ed lyrics as part of the “ What Bath-urst means to me…” poetry/lyrics competition run by Bathurst Library. Cost per entry: $20

Congratulations to the following MitCon Recorder students: Liam Kimbel 2nd 10 yrs and under, Liam Kimbel and Charlie Ciccocioppo Highly Commended, Joel Kimbel and Jake Ciccocioppo 1st Gulgong Ei-steddfod. Orange Eisteddfod results: Liam Kimbel Highly Commended open section Grade 1-3, 3rd 12yrs and under, Liam and Jennifer Kimbel 1st in the 14yrs and under Recorder Duo.

Anna Ossig-Bonanno’s Second Grade musicianship students all achieved excellent results in recent exams:

Liam Kimbel 94% Charlie Ciccocioppo 93% Kacey Fox 90% Maximillian Kendrick 90% Samuel Lloyd 90% Graison Barratt 87% Well done!

Spring Spectacular in October will play host to our MitCon ensembles. We look forward to making music in the sunshine again this year!

Current Scholarship students are required to assist at Mitcon events and concerts through out the year—if you are a scholarship holder and have not yet registered to assist please do so as soon as you can, we need assistance at the upcoming concerts in October and November.

Mitchell Conservatorium Musicians @ All Saints Cathedral Lunchtime Concerts Series for 2014 has again been a successful series of concerts for staff and students performers. Any ensemble or soloists who would like to book a performance slot for the 2015 season please speak with your Teacher. All Teachers can email Projects and Communications Man-ager Christine Sweeney with their requests. Concerts are on at 1pm on the first Wednesday of each month from February to November at All Saints Cathedral, Bathurst.

Email your news to :

christine.sweeney

@mitchellconservatorium.edu.au

Adult Recorder Ensemble sessions

are planned to start in Term Four,

please call 6331 6622 to enrol now.

Congratulations to Claudia Camp-

bell and Oscar Simeonidis 3rd place

in the Recorder Duet at the Orange

Eisteddfod.

Congratulations to Miranda Camp-

bell, Emily Press and Maximillian

Kendrick 2nd in the Recorder Trio in

the Orange Eisteddfod

9



2014 Mitchell Conservatorium Concert Series Mitchell Conservatorium Musicians @ All Saints Cathedral Lunchtime Concerts Series MitCon's Brass Boys ensemble, directed by Oliver Harris presents the best of brass compositions. Pull up a pew!

1.00pm Wednesday 1 October 2014

All Saint’s Cathedral

Church Street Bathurst

Tickets: FREE donations accepted to cover venue heating costs

Touchstones Song Cycle conducted by Richard Gill Commissioned by MitCon and composed by Andrew Robson, this song cycle was especially written for the Andrew Robson Trio and the Mitchell Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra. Celebrate local, live music at its best.

7.30pm Saturday 11 October Orange Regional Conservatorium, Hill Street Orange 7.30pm Sunday 12 October All Saints Cathedral, Church Street Bathurst 3.00pm Sunday 19 October Sydney Conservatorium Tickets: Adults $30, Concession $20, Family of four $80 MitCon & ORC school aged students FREE

Community Event Community Music – What is it and why does it mat-ter? Community forum lead by Richard Gill OAM. Come along to be entertained, informed and add your voice and all things community and music. Includes live music from local musicians and MC’d by ABC local radio personality Angela Owens.

2.00pm Sunday 12 October 2014

Bathurst Memorial entertainment Centre

FREE to all the community

Please RSVP to BMEC Box Office 6333 6161 For more information call 6331 6622

Rising Stars Featuring seven of Australia’s finest young singers, singing the hits of Broadway, Opera, Operetta and Cabaret. Includes guest performances from Bathurst’s own rising stars!

7.30pm Friday 31 October 2014 The Orchard Room Mitchell Conservatorium, Russell Street Bathurst Tickets: Adults $30, Concession $25, under 12 years FREE

Handel’s Messiah Allegri singers, conducted by William Moxey with the Bathurst Chamber Orchestra, The Willoughby Singers and Cudgegong Choir celebrate All Saints Day with a performance of Handel’s timeless Messiah.

3.00pm Sunday 2 November 2014

All Saint’s Cathedral Church Street Bathurst Tickets at the door: Adults $25, Concession $20 MitCon school aged students FREE

Georg Mertens – solo cello in concert With a program of his own original compositions and well known composers Dowland, DeFalla, Albenz and Villa-Lobos, Georg Mertens transports audiences with his exquisite cello playing and sublime performance.

3.00pm Sunday 16 November 2014 The Orchard Room Mitchell Conservatorium Russell Street Tickets: Adults $20, Concession/U3A $15, Children $10 School aged FREE

Mitchell String Quartet Andrew Baker violin, Nicholas Newell violin, Fiona Thompson viola and Sybbi Georgiou cello perform Hayden’s Fifths, Schubert’s Quartet-Satz and Dvorak’s American Quartet. Join us for an exciting night of chamber music.

7.30pm Saturday 29 November 2014 The Orchard Room Mitchell Conservatorium Russell Street Tickets: Adults $20, Concession/U3A $15, Children $10 MitCon school aged students FREE

Reliance Credit Union Carols by Candlelight Mitchell Conservatorium invites you to sing along to

Christmas favourites with the Bathurst City & RSL

Bands and the Allegri Singers. Special appearance by

Santa. Bring along the whole family!

Candles and merchandise will be for sale on the night.

Sunday 14 December 2014 6.00pm musical entertainment 7.00pm official welcome The Rotunda Machattie Park FREE

Mitchell Conservatorium Newsletter Term Four 2014

Documents

scholarship winners

continued page

forbes facility

student news page

lithgow facility

recent scholarship auditions

great success

ing facility