Category Archives: Media Release

2021 Geoffrey Parsons Award Conquers COVID Lockdown with Technology And a Victorian Musician Wins $7000 Prize! On Sunday 19 September in Adelaide, Melbourne musician Yasmin Rowe won the $7000 Geoffrey Parsons Award, the Accompanists’ Guild of South Australia’s national competition for piano accompanists.Judging panel Chairperson, acclaimed collaborative pianist Leigh Harrold, praised all the contestants on the high standard of their performances saying that it was absolutely inspiring –and indicative of the tenacity and resilience of a new generation of artists.  He also congratulated all finalists on their choice of works saying that they were “at the pinnacle” in terms of the complexity that this genre can offer.“But,” he said “there was one finalist in particular where all these elements were in near-perfect balance. This pianist was assertive and supportive, she allowed herself to be inspired by her partner, and in turn often inspired her partner. And yet, one wasn’t really aware…

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June 12-13, 2021 | The Piano-Cello DuoDaniel de Borah piano | Umberto Clerici cello Read more here: https://accompanist.org.au/2021-festival-of-collaborative-artists/

Lisa Moore & Sonya Lifschitz

For five days in June 2018 pianists young and old, professionals and students, will create untold excitement on multiple pianos – from two to 32 – uprights, grands and even professional toy pianos in private teaching studios, schools and public performance spaces, culminating with a Celebrity Recital in Elder Hall performed by acclaimed pianists LISA MOORE and SONYA LIFSCHITZ. When asked “Why Duo Pianos?” Guild Founder and Festival Convenor, Diana Harris responded: “I’ve known Lisa Moore’s work for years, in Australia and through the media reports on her jam-packed US and international activities. She’s a bundle of excitement, a huge performer and a tremendous teacher. When Lisa told me about the success of the 2016/17 US piano duo tours with the brilliant Sonya Lifschitz, and their projected 2018 Australian tour, my immediate reaction was … there’s our 2018 Festival focus!” For just three days – Friday June 15 to Sunday…

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Rarely is the art of choral accompaniment placed under the spotlight. Frequently, choral accompanying is wrongly considered to be at the bottom of the pecking order. The very nature of choral accompanying is where many accompanists quickly learn the art in a sink or swim environment. Speak to any accompanist and they’ll tell you how formative their choir accompanying experience has been in their career development. For the Accompanists’ Guild of South Australia’s 2017 Festival, techniques of choral accompaniment will be brought to the fore, under the leadership of distinguished choral conductor, Leonie Hempton, Director of Music at St Peter’s Cathedral and for many years music educator at the Special Interest Music School, Marryatville High School. The Festival will follow the Guild’s successful three stage model of Wednesday Pilgrim Church Lunch Hour Concerts, an all-day conference on Saturday, followed by a Sunday concert   highlighting the Festival Theme – for 2017…

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MEDIA RELEASE The Geoffrey Parsons $6,000 Award becomes a national competition … Download the full media release document

Download this Media Release here Accompanists’ Guild of SA Media Release Adelaide: Saturday 29 September 2012 for immediate release THE 2012 GEOFFREY PARSONS AWARD WINNER ANNOUNCED Earlier this evening (29 September), the Final of Australia’s most lucrative and prestigious award for the collaborative pianist the Accompanists’ Guild of SA’s 28th Geoffrey Parsons Award, took place in Adelaide at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, The University of Adelaide. In keeping with the Guild’s acknowledgement of the professional aspirations of their competitors, the cash-pool is a significant $6,000, made possible due to the generous support of The Royal Commonwealth Society. Geoffrey Parsons was an internationally acclaimed Australian accompanist particularly for singers. He regularly accompanied, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, Victoria de los Angeles, Dame Janet Baker, Olaf Bär, and Barbara Bonney, The three Finalists competed for a cash pool of $6,000. They were selected from auditions earlier this week which included a performance of prepared…

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Accompanists’ Guild of SA Media Release Adelaide: Tuesday 25 September 2012 for immediate release THE GEOFFREY PARSONS AWARD 2012 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED The Accompanists’ Guild of SA’s 28 year old competition, The Geoffrey Parsons Award, named in honour of Australia’s legendary vocal accompanist, is one of the major events of the 2012 Festival of Accompanists. In keeping with the Guild’s acknowledgement of the professional aspirations of their competitors, the cash-pool is a significant $6,000, supported by The Royal Commonwealth Society. On Monday and Tuesday, several pianists competed in the auditions. Three were selected to take part in the Final. All competitors performed works of their own choice with soloist/s of their own choice. They then completed a sight reading test before performing, without rehearsal, the set work. For this year’s Geoffrey Parsons Award, the set work for bass clarinet and piano is Scherzo Capriccioso by Austrian composer, Alfred Uhl. Each competitor…

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Accompanists’ Guild of South Australia Media Release ADELAIDE: 9 August 2012            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Accompanists Guild of SA celebrates the pianists with some stunning woodwind. For the first time in its history the Accompanists’ Guild of South Australia has focussed the entire year’s events on highlighting Piano with Wind. It culminates in the Accompanists’ Festival in September with a Week of Winds from September 24 to 30, 2012. The Guild’s 2012 Musician-in-residence is  Timothy Young who  is one of Australia’s most brilliant chamber music pianists and  an outstanding example of the qualities he expects of his students—- that they are versatile,  multi-faceted, creative, open minded and not bound by the limiting concept of what it means to be a concert pianist. For ten years Timothy has been a Resident Artist and Faculty member at the Australian National Academy of Music and is currently Co-ordinator of Piano. In a…

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Accompanists’ Guild of SA Inc Media Release Adelaide: Wednesday 20 July 2011 for immediate release THE GEOFFREY PARSONS AWARD 2011 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED The Accompanists’ Guild of SA’s 27 year old competition, The Geoffrey Parsons Award, named in honour of Australia’s legendary vocal accompanist, is the concluding event of the 2011 Festival of Accompanists. In keeping with the Guild’s acknowledgement of the professional aspirations of their competitors, the cash-pool is a significant $4,000. On Monday and Tuesday, several pianists competed in the auditions. Three were selected to take part in the Final. All competitors performed works of their own choice with soloist/s of their own choice. They then completed a sight reading test before performing, without rehearsal, the set work. For this year’s Geoffrey Parsons Award set work Adelaide composer and music critic, Stephen Whittington has composed Acid Test for bassoon and piano. His aim is to test the ensemble skills…

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Accompanists’ Festival July 18 to 23 includes TWO WORLD PREMIERES FEAR by Michael Kieran Harvey performed in Recital by Michael Kieran Harvey, Piano Natsuko Yoshimoto, Violin 7pm Friday 22 July 2011 ABC Studio 520, 85 North East Road, Collinswood Tickets: $30, $20, $15 Members, $10 students & groups of 10+ available at the door. and ACID TEST by Stephen Whittington Set Work for the 2011 Geoffrey Parsons Award performed by Mark Gaydon, Bassoon with the 3 Finalists 7pm Saturday 23 July 2011 Hartley Concert Room, Elder Conservatorium, Kintore Avenue, Adelaide Tickets at door $20, $15, $10 The Accompanists’ Guild is thrilled to present new works by Australian composers written especially for the 2011 Festival. The first of the two world premières to be performed during the Accompanists’ Festival and Conference is Fear composed and performed by pianist, Michael Kieran Harvey with ASO concertmaster, violinist, Natsuko Yoshimoto. Fear is dedicated to…

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THE ACCOMPANISTS’ GUILD OF SA 2011 FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE presents MICHAEL KIERAN HARVEY As Musician in Residence The Accompanists’ Guild of South Australia is delighted to welcome Australian international concert pianist, Michael Kieran Harvey, as the 2011 Musician in Residence for the 2011 Festival and Conference held between July 18 and 23. During the Festival and Conference, Michael will emphasise his experience in collaborative music making. He will perform two duo recitals, one with SA soprano, Teresa La Rocca and the other with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s concertmaster, violinist, Natsuko Yoshimoto. He will also present sessions at the Guild’s Conference, give a piano duet seminar and chair the Geoffrey Parsons Award Final. In addition to performing with Natsuko, Michael has composed a new work for their recital on July 22 The full Festival and Conference schedule is attached. Born in Sydney Michael Kieran Harvey is regarded as one of the…

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Please click on the respective links below to download: AGSA 2011 Festival Brochure AGSA Festival 2011 – Media Pack

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