Adelaide: 25 June 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Each July, the Accompanists’ Guild of South Australia presents a program of events celebrating the art of the Accompanist. The Festival includes concerts, master-classes and Australia’s most significant prize for piano accompanying, The Geoffrey Parsons Award.
Guild Founder and Secretary, Diana Harris says, “This Festival continues to give Accompanists the recognition they deserve. For one week only they are top of the bill. Where else in the world would the pianist at the piano be named ahead of the singer or instrumentalist in front of the piano?”
This year, the major drawcard is the musician in residence, French pianist, Jean Paul Sévilla, piano soloist and chamber musician of acclaim, internationally recognized pedadgogue and the formative teacher of the internationally acclaimed soloist, Angela Hewitt.
Sévilla’s Residency includes: a Recital of César Franck & Ravel with Canadian compatriot and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster, Terence Tam, (Wednesday, 11 July at 1.10pm), two masterclasses (Mon7 at 7pm and Wed 11 at 4pm) and chairing the Jury for the Geoffrey Parsons Award (Thurs 12 at 7pm).
He will also perform a solo recital for Recitals Australia (Fri 13 at 6.30pm).
The Guild’s emphasis on education and professional development are in strong focus in the Festival with performances by Primary, Secondary and Tertiary student accompanists in the Wednesday lunch time concerts in Pilgrim Church (July 11 & 18). Secondary Students from the Young Accompanists’ Showcase will join their professional soloists on Tuesday 11 at 12.10 in the “curtain raiser” to the Sévilla/Tam recital.
The Geoffrey Parsons Award, with prizes worth $2,500, has become Australia’s much sought after prize for the Accompanist. The Guild is immensely pleased to acknowledge the impact this Award has had on the careers of some of our nation’s leading and emerging accompanists & ensemble pianists. The Parsons Award Final (Thurs 12 at 7.00pm) will highlight 3 accompanists. Each will perform a program including a set work with ASO violist, Cecily Satchell, plus repertoire of their own choice. The Award winner will receive $2000.
Click Here for list of events in the Festival of Accompanists
Click here to download thee AGSA Festival of Accompanists media release, including a detailed list of events and performers
For further information, recordings, pics & interviews, please contact: Christopher Wainwright, Publicist 0438 829 728, e-mail: cmwain@gmail.com
The Festival of Accompanists is supported by:
Recitals Australia, Alliance Française & The University of Adelaide
58 Gawler Place Adelaide SA 5000
ph (08) 8223 5533 Fax (08) 8224 0126