Hello and welcome to our small and intimate AGM of 2007. Thank you once again to Diana and Peter for having us here tonight.
We began our 2006 musical year with our AGM, enhanced by a lovely performance by accompanists and soloists to launch the Young Accompanists Showcase, the soloists being those who kindly gave their time and expertise to perform with our young pianists/accompanists later in the year. Our thanks to soprano Jillian Chatterton, flautist Lisa Gill, violinist Bogdan Kazimerczak and baritone David Perry. Their associate artists that evening were Julie Sargent, Alex Hanysz and Jeffrey Kong. This short concert was dedicated to three well-known musical identities who had recently passed away- pianist and teacher Lance Dossor, soprano and teacher Rae Cocking, and Life Member and musical educator Elizabeth Angove.
Thank you to Marryatville High School for making their concert room available.
With the welcome help of funding from SA Youth Arts Board, we presented for the second year The Young Accompanists’ Showcase, which was held at Brighton Secondary School. This event as usual, consists of a master class, followed by a recital 2 or 3 weeks later. It brings young secondary school pianists and professional musicians together to work on certain chosen repertoire. Last year, with the help of Diana Weekes at the master class and the soloists Lisa, Jillian, David and Bogdan, it all came together at the final recital. Performing in a concert of a very high standard were the seven Young Accompanists -Warwick Ambrose, Mariam Grynchuk, Robin Parkin, Mark Stefanoff, Caitlin Thomas, Vivanna Wan & Alice Wharldall.
Thanks to Jeffrey Kong and Brighton High for their support, and Gina Macri, Julie Sargent and Leonie Hempton for organising this interesting and educational event.
The July Festival of Accompanists was our busy month, filled as it always is with concerts, recitals, master classes and the Geoffrey Parsons Award.
Our special Guest was outstanding Australian musician and accompanist David Miller who generously gave his time and words of wisdom, conducting 3 master classes, (one working with ANATS), giving a wonderful recital with mezzo soprano Elizabeth Campbell (with a glowing report by Elizabeth Silsbury), and finally judging the G.P.A Award which this year was won by Anthony Hunt. The senior Master Class was recorded by the ABC for material for a Radio National documentary on “The Accompanist” which can be heard next Saturday, March 24 at 5.05 pm and again at the same time on Friday March 30th. It’s great to have national airing for AGSA.
As well as these events, two concerts took place every Wednesday (one at noon and another at 1pm). These concerts included Primary School accompanists and their soloists (thank you to Monika for organising these), Young Accompanists Showcase pianists from secondary schools, Elder Conservatorium students, Award winner Leigh Harrold with flautist Alexandra Castle and 2005 Award winner Yuh T’Sun Wu together with violinist Imants Larsens and soprano Jillian Chatterton.
Thanks again to 5MBS for recording all concerts and a special thanks to Allans Music who sponsored the Miller/Campbell concert.
All lunch hour concerts were held in Pilgrim Church, which is such a lovely venue in which to perform.
The G.P.A. heats and final recital were held in Hartley Concert Room at the Elder Conservatorium. We were happy to welcome soprano Greta Bradman as the guest artist who performed with each candidate in the heats.
A delightful social event which I was very sad to miss was the Festival dinner in the Library at Ayers House. From all reports I gather it was a wonderful evening with much musical chat exchanged amongst the guests the majority of whom were pianists & singers.
Our final event was the major fundraiser- our yearly dinner, which was again held at Berenice and Maurice’s home. Thank you once more to both of you.This dinner, which is prepared and donated by all our committee members, together with the raffle, raised $1000. We end up partaking of a wonderfully varied menu and some lovely bottles of wine. Thank you Committee.
Not only does the Committee cook well, but it works well too; we work well together and in performing specific tasks which each member undertakes, sometimes year after year. Thank you all- Angela, Chris, Gina, Joan, Julie, Leonie, Mary, Monika, Vice President Berenice, Treasurer Peter, and Secretary Diana as well as Jenny who has been advising us on publicity.
Our website continues to improve and is being upgraded right now. The full Register is now posted on the website and our new web manager is working on upgrading entries on a continuous basis as new members join. The 2007/8 Register will be published in Term 2.
This has been my final year as President, and I have really enjoyed being part of a wonderful team. I know the incoming President will receive the same support.
Margie Ferrie
President.
March 2007
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