The Annual General Meeting

Followed by afternoon tea.

All are very welcome.

Affinity Quartet

At the 2023 Melbourne International String Quartet Competition Affinity Quartet was awarded the Audience Prize, the Robert Salzer String Quartet First Prize, and the Monash University Grand Prize; the first Australian group to win the competition in its 32 year history.  Enough said!

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Antoinette Halloran and Patrick Lawrence

One of Australia’s most accomplished and best-loved sopranos, Antoinette performs regularly with major opera companies and orchestras. Antoinette appears with accompanist Patrick Lawrence.

Michael Loftus-Hills is a Melbourne based violinist, pianist, violin teacher and Alexander Technique teacher who has worked primarily with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 1996 and teaches violin and the Alexander Technique at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and the Alexander Technique at the Australian National Academy of Music. From 2009-2012, Michael was the Head of Strings at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne. he is a teacher of all levels and has directed many workshops for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s “Outreach” program, its education arm, including as Artistic Director of the “Pizzicato Effect”; an El Sistema inspired program. he has managed and performed for the Musica Viva schools program with the string quartet “Strung Out” and was the consultant editor for the Seies 9 Violin syllabus for the AMEB. He is an AMEB examiner and adjudicates at competitions around Melbourne He tutors for the Australian Youth Orchestra, Border Music Camp in Albury, and is an orchestral mentor at Monash University. Many of his past students have gone on to win scholarships and professional playing jobs in Australia, New Zealand and England and have won chamber music awards including first prize at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition. He has started two chamber music series: one at Epsom House outside Hobart and another in. Tribeca, New York where he has given recitals with Amir Farid and performs on piano with MSO violinist Isin Cakmakcioglu. Their latest album is Souvenirs Nostalgiques (2022) is on Spotify. He also is the second violinist in the Eroica Quartet. Through his years with the MSO he has toured to Europe, China, Russia and America and on many round trips of Victoria. In 2017, a neck injury from playing lead him to three years of full-time study in the Alexander Technique and became accredited as a teacher and has attracted players and teachers of all instruments from around Australia. He also enjoys working with in all areas of mastery and also in helping people perform the more mundane movements of life more easily and without pain. He is currently applying it whilst trying to lower his golf handicap, with mixed results.

Jason Gillham

Jayson’s career from Dalby (QLD) to London is a fairytale. He now claims international status and is regarded as one of the finest young pianists. First time in Geelong, Jayson is renowned for Chopin and Romantic repertoire, he also delivers Bach to dazzle!

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Melbourne Chamber Orchestra

MCO have been with us from the start. Immaculate is a good word for this amazing orchestra who present concerts of exceptionally quality. They are truly a Melbourne treasure and leaders in the ensemble music world.

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Mark Kruger is a prizewinner in the Orleans International Piano Competition and his performances have been acclaimed around the world. His Spanish debut was hailed by El Pais as “brilliant both technically and musically… it was the revelation of a great artist”, his Purcell Room performance of the ‘Concord’ Sonata by Charles Ives for the Park Lane Group was described as “hugely impressive” in The Times, showing a “command of pianistic colour in everything from the clanging chords to the dusky musings”, whilst a performance of Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto in Melbourne was hailed by The Age as “masterful”.

Mark holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Melbourne where he performed Chopin’s 24 Etudes in a single recital.

He has appeared on television and radio in Europe, Canada, Asia and Australia. International festival appearances include the Saint Ricquer Festival in France, the Festival Ensems in Spain, the Melbourne International Festival, the Melbourne International Brass Festival, the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, and the Brisbane Biennial.

Location and time to be confirmed

Ensemble Liasion

Described by Limelight magazine as a ‘national treasure’, Ensemble Liaison is one of Australia’s leading internationally acclaimed ensembles. They are renowned for their captivating and engaging performances, appealing to all audiences.

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Beethoven Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano op.11

Bruch Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano op.83 (selections)

de Falla Siete Canciones populares Españolas (arr. Ensemble Liaison)

Piazzolla Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (arr. Ensemble Liaison)

Gershwin/Frolov Concert Fantasy on Themes from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess

Piano Masterclass with Elizabeth Mitchell

Time TBC

This recital has been cancelled

Richard Davis conductor
Stefan Cassomenos piano

Smetana
Ma Vlast: Vltava (Die Moldau)
Schumann
Piano concerto in A minor Op.54
Dvořák
Symphony No.9 in E minor Op.95 ‘From the New World’

From Bohemia’s woods and fields, down the mighty Vltava river, across Bavaria to Saxony. The GSO journeys through Europe with Richard Davis and soloist Stefan Cassomenos presenting lush melodies and stunning imagery.