AUSTA International Touring Artist 2024

Double Bass Workshop with Barry Green

Join Barry Green in an afternoon of working with his pathbreaking approach to music, creativity and teaching. The afternoon will included a massed Double Bass Orchestra, followed by an Advanced Masterclass/Workshop. There will also be opportunity for a Q & A with Barry.  Please bring your instruments!
Read about Barry Green HERE

Monday 5th August 2024

Location

Xavier College Senior School – Eldon Hogan Performing Arts Centre
135 Barkers Rd, Kew

Cost

• Massed Double Bass Orchestra only: $35
• Advanced Masterclass / Workshop only: $35
• BOTH Massed Orchestra and Masterclass: $50

Registration Now Open!

AUSTA International Touring Artist 2024

AUSTA Vic: An Afternoon with Barry Green

Sunday 4th August 2024
1.00pm – 4.00pm

Join Barry Green in an open session working with his pathbreaking approach to music, creativity and teaching in an informal presentation of his ideas.
The afternoon will also showcase Barry performing solo and teaching in a masterclass setting including a meet and greet Q & A with Barry.
Please bring your instruments if possible.

Don’t miss this fascinating and deeply engaging afternoon with one of the world’s foremost musicians and educators!

Refreshments will be provided!

Read about Barry Green HERE

Location

Ian Roach Hall, Scotch College
1 Morrison St
Hawthorn

Registration

• AUSTA Members: $25
• Non-members: $50
• Student: $15

AUSTA International Touring Artist 2024

Atelier Puglisi: Barry Green – Up Close and Personal Soirée

Saturday 3 August 2024
3.00pm – 5.30pm

Atelier Puglisi and AUSTA Vic are happy to host the legendary Barry Green, principal and solo bassist, teacher and author in the Instrument workshop environment.
Free entry, however RSVP essential with strictly limited places.
Refreshments provided in this casual opportunity to hear, see, and meet this passionate legend on his last leg of his Australian Tour.

Message or call Benedict Puglisi directly for information or to RSVP.
Please note, numbers are strictly limited.  

For other opportunities to see Barry Green, please visit the website here.

Location

Atelier Puglisi
40 Church Street
Hawthorn 

AUSTA International Touring Artist 2024

Barry Green: Melbourne Youth Orchestra and AUSTA Vic Q&A – Free for AUSTA Members to attend!

Saturday 3rd August 2024
1.00pm – 2.00pm

Join members of the Melbourne Youth Orchestra Organisation and AUSTA for a Question & Answer session.

AUSTA Members are invited to be part of the event.

(Instruments are not needed for this event).

Free event, bookings required

Read about Barry Green HERE

Location

Iwaki Auditorium
130 Southbank Blvd, Southbank

Registration

• AUSTA Members: Free – Bookings required

SATURDAY 14 & SUNDAY 15 SEPTEMBER – AUSTA Q Professional Weekend

Registration is now open!
https://www.trybooking.com/CROZB

Rob McWilliams
Ph.D., M.Mus., B.Mus.Ed.
Conducting Intensive Weekend

Whether you are an early career or highly experienced ensemble director, this workshop aims to build and strengthen your perspective on the craft of conducting and the art of ensemble direction. No ensemble director can afford to miss this invaluable event.

AMEB Viola Preliminary – Grade 4: A deep dive into the new syllabus

Come along to this Zoom workshop with Helen Tuckey and Janet Fernandes, two of the AMEB’s viola consultants for the new series 2 syllabus.
Helen will introduce the new viola Technical Work book, giving insights into the underlying framework of the book and many practical tips and hints on preparing students for examination.
Janet will discuss the levels of difficulty within each list from Preliminary to Grade 4 and give her rationale for the choice of each piece in the grade books.
Bring along your copies of the new books and your questions and join Helen and Janet for an afternoon of technical and musical exploration.

If you are a violinist, cellist or bassist who also teaches viola occasionally, this is a workshop for you. You will be welcomed into the alto clef team!

Questions in advance for either presenter may be submitted by completing the form below or by emailing admin@austa.asn.au

This webinar will be recorded and made available as an Encore Event for all ticket holders. Encore Event Date TBA. 

Date: Sunday Oct 27

ONLINE VIA ZOOM

Time:

• 2.00 – 4.00pm AEDT
• 11.00 – 1.00pm WA
• 1.00 – 3.00pm QLD
• 1.30 – 3.30pm SA
• 12.30 – 2.30pm NT

Registration: BOOK NOW!

Early bird pricing
(before October 7)
Members $20, Non-members $40

Standard pricing
(from October 7)
Members $30, Non-members $55

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Thanks to our friends at Zenith Music, all ticketholders will go into the draw to win a prize package which includes a signed copy of the AMEB Viola Technical Work Book! Learn more about the prize pack and Zenith Music below!

Zenith Music: Signed Viola prize pack

Helen Tuckey

Helen Tuckey is a viola player and member of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. In addition to Orchestral work, she participates in small ensemble work and is involved in community outreach and education. Besides WASO, she has worked in several other professional orchestras interstate and overseas.

Originally from Melbourne, Helen’s formative teachers include Andre Hadges and Paul O’Brien. This was followed by several years of study in New York at Manhattan School of Music with Lillian Fuchs.

Teaching has always played a significant role in Helen’s professional life. An enthusiastic private studio teacher, a number of her past students are now performers and teachers. As a player and teacher, she has been fortunate to be influenced by a broad range of performers and teachers, including Paul Rolland, William Primrose, Shinichi Suzuki, Sheila Nelson, Maxim Rysanov, Patricia Pollett, Robyn Brookfield, Barry Green, Mark O’Connor, Joanna May, Molly Gebrian, Atar Arad, Kurt Sassmannshaus, Martha Mooke and Molly Sharp. Helen has been involved in professional musical associations, serving on committees in various roles, including a period as National President for the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA). Recently she was honoured to receive a service award from the Australia and New Zealand Viola Society.

An experienced adjudicator and AMEB examiner, Helen was appointed as the Principal Consultant for the AMEB Viola syllabus review in 2023.

Janet Fernandes

Janet’s music education began in New Zealand where she learnt piano and clarinet before taking up the viola at the age of fourteen. She moved to Melbourne to continue her music education, studied the viola with Paul O’Brien and Marco van Pagee, and graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1980.

From 1982, Janet spent two years at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in the Netherlands studying the viola with Jurgen Kussmaul and chamber music with Anner Bijlsma. During this time, she attended violin pedagogy lectures with Qui van Woerdekom and worked as a freelance Baroque violist in the Netherlands, Germany and France.

As a professional violist, Janet had contract work with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria.

Membership of AUSTA has been important to Janet throughout her long teaching career. She was a committee member in Victoria for many years.  She has been a delegate at many AUSTA Conferences, attended an International Viola Congress (Wellington, 2000) and conferences organised by ASTA (Atlanta, 2012) and ESTA (Portugal, 2024).

As a teacher, Janet has worked for the Bendigo Musician/Teacher Pilot Project and taught at a number of leading independent schools in Melbourne including Wesley College, Presbyterian Ladies College and Scotch College. Now retired, she continues to teach at her home studio, and in 2023 was appointed as the Level One consultant for the AMEB series 2 viola syllabus.

Zenith Music

Zenith Music is a West Australian family owned business established in 1969 by Lionel Cranfield and, is still owned and run by the Cranfield Family today. Zenith stocks a huge range of quality musical instruments from beginner to professional level, instrument accessories, and is home to the largest selection of sheet music in the Southern Hemisphere. The people at Zenith Music are musicians who are knowledgeable and understand the needs and requirements when you are seeking your first, more advanced, or your dream instrument. Zenith has sought after specialist brands and instrument makers that have a high commitment to the tone, feel, quality and attention to detail of their instruments. Zenith aims to provide the best for musicians from those just starting out to professionals with decades of experience. As a major supporter of music in Western Australia, Zenith Music proudly supports music programmes in schools, universities, and other institutions as well as many other organisations. Being a longterm Western Australian owned family business, Zenith Music is committed to music and music education meaning you can trust Zenith. Visit Zenith Music today at 309 Stirling Hwy Claremont WA or alternatively phone on 9383 1422 or visit online at zenithmusic.com.au

AUSTA VIC 2025 Reading Afternoon & AGM

Get 2025 off to a musical start by reading through a collection of new music for string orchestra. Take part in our Annual General Meeting, enjoy refreshments and catch up with colleagues!

BOOKINGS NOW OPEN!!!

TO BOOK: CLICK HERE or go to https://www.trybooking.com/CYNEH  OR USE THE QR CODE BELOW.
We prefer bookings so that we can cater appropriately and plan for the correct number of people. You can pay on the day, but please book if you can.

Sunday 9 February 2025: 1 – 4:30pm

St Kevin’s College
Glendalough Campus: McMahon Music Building
75 Lansell Road
Toorak, VIC 3142

Cost: Members – $25, Non members – $45, Concession – $30

Chairs & stands provided but please bring a Keep Cup! 

PD certificates can be collected on the day upon registration.

The AUSTA VIC AGM will take place at 2.30pm just before afternoon tea.

Bring along any excess music you have and give it away on the day. Find that piano part you are missing, or track down that piece that you remember so well! Share with your colleagues and find that hidden gem!

We look forward to seeing you on the day!

Enquiries: Andrew Schellhorn 0449 766 632

AUSTA Q Reading Day Register Here

AUSTA Q’s hugely popular Reading Day in on again this February. We look forward to welcoming all AUSTA members and colleagues to this event, and is not to be missed by any ensemble directors. While the reading day will have a local focus a few of the best shortlisted pieces from the International reading day will be included. The short AGM will follow the reading day at 12pm. Then we invite you all to catch up with colleagues and friends over lunch kindly supplied by Music Fest.

AUSTA Victoria supports

2025 Cello Extravaganza!

In conjunction with Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, AUSTA is pleased to support the 2025 Cello Extravaganza!

Sunday,30th March 2025

9.45am – registration

10am – 12noon – Cello Extravaganza!

To participate, please fill in the form HERE.

VENUE:
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
Keilor East Campus
Corner of Keilor & Rachelle Roads
Keilor East VIC 3033

Enquiries: jamesderozario@hotmail.com

Bookings open till 14 March 2025

AUSTA Victoria presents

2025 String Performers Festival

We are very excited to be presenting our eleventh String Performers Festival, a welcoming, non-competitive performance opportunity for students. String students of all levels are welcome and all performers will receive written feedback and a medallion. Family and friends will make up the audience for each session.

Sunday,30th March 2025

9am – 12.30pm

There will be three sessions on the day to choose from.  A Festival Accompanist will be available for Preliminary – Grade 4 pieces on the day.

• • • • Session One:               9.00 – 10.00am   Festival Accompanist Available
      • Session Two:              10.00 – 11.00am  Festival Accompanist Available
      • Session Three:            11.00– 12.30pm  Festival Accompanist Available

Cost: $32.50 per performer / $17.50 per additional family performer.

Senior players are always welcome to perform at the Festival, however the day tends towards beginner and middle level players.

All performers are welcome to bring lots of family and friends to support them on the day. Performance numbers are limited, so book quickly!

VENUE:
Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School
Keilor East Campus
Corner of Keilor & Rachelle Roads
Keilor East VIC 3033

Enquiries: jamesderozario@hotmail.com

Bookings open 1st February 2025: CLICK HERE TO BOOK or use the QR Code below.

When: Sunday March 16: 11.30am to 5.30pm

Where: Richard Gill Auditorium, WAAPA

• Three exceptional masterclasses for violinists/violist of all playing levels
• Instructive, supportive feedback for students, parents and teachers
• Q and A with Brian for each session
• ** Free audience ticket for financial AUSTA members! (one ticket per session)
• *** Participants save $10 with early bird until 2nd March
• 11.30am to 1:00pm: Beginner to Grade 3 (Eight 10 min participant places)
• 1.30pm to 3:00pm: Grade 4 to Grade 7 (Five 15 min participant places)
• 3.30pm to 5.30pm: Grade 8+ (Five 20 min participant places)

Three exceptional masterclasses for violin/violists of all playing levels. Participants are invited to perform an excerpt or short work to receive constructive feedback from State Corinthian Conservatorium’s former Head of Strings Violinist, Violist Brian Finlayson. Brian will impart his wealth of teaching experience to students, teachers and audience alike. Each session will include a ‘Q and A’, with opportunity to ask further questions about violin/viola playing and teaching.

For more about Brian, click here to see his CV.

To join or renew your AUSTA membership, please click here.

Masterclass details and bookings here:https://www.trybooking.com/CYESN

AUSTA Q Mini-Conference 2025

When: Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th April 

Registration for the Mini-Conference is now open. Early bird registrations will be from 9th March until 16th March. The schedule will be released very shortly so keep an eye on the newsflashes and the event page for full details.

This years event promises to be packed full of interesting and pertinent sessions. Presenters this year to include Dr Anthony Young, David Peirce Physiotherapist, Loreta Fin AM, Raquel Bastos, Delegates Orchestra conducted by Warwick Adeney. This year a special session will be included for the presentation of a gift to AUSTA members in celebration of 50 Years of AUSTA.

Click the trybooking link below to get more information about the Mini-Conference Schedule and to register to come.

https://www.trybooking.com/CZWZX
The Full Schedule of all the Mini-Conference sessions is now available.

The austa NSW String Festival is an event designed to give young players the opportunity to perform in friendly, non-competitive and supportive environment. Participants are invited to play one piece either solo or with an accompanist to the best of their ability. Participants will play one by one in a small group with other players of a similar age and ability.

2025 Melbourne String Orchestra Festival

Eltham High School: Sunday 18th May 2025

12:15pm – Registration

1:00pm – Festival String Orchestra Rehearsal

2:30pm Afternoon Tea

3:00pm Festival Concert

4:00pm Finish

Festival Piece: DARK MATTER by Andrew Aronowicz

REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN!

Request a registration form at austavicpresident@outlook.com

Eltham High School

30 – 60 Withers Way

Eltham VIC 3095

Presented in collaboration with AUSTA WA, join celebrated artists and educators Shaun Lee-Chen, Suzie Wijsman and a host of string specialists for a fun day of performance, perfect for violin, viola and cello students from Grade 3 and up.

Book here   AUSTA Members can register as an observer for FREE!

Visit our website HERE to access your exclusive AUSTA Member code.

• Catering to a range of ages and skill levels.

Highlights of the day include: violin, viola, and cello masterclasses, technique workshops, a fun try-the-viola session, ensemble playing, teaching beginners, an introduction to Historically Informed Performance, instrument biomechanics, and more!

The day will culminate in a concert featuring all participants, followed by a BBQ—an opportunity to network, chat, and celebrate the day!

We have an exceptional line up of artists and presenters including:

• Shaun Lee-Chen (Violin) – UWA/Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
• Suzie Wijsman (Cello) – UWA
• Sophie Curtis (Cello) – WAYACHAMP/AMEB
• Laura Carr (Violin) – Stringosaurus
• Daemon Clarke (Violin)
• Kathy Potter (Viola)
• Stephanie Fraser (Cello) – AUSTA
• Marlene Romeo (Violin) – AUSTA/AMEB
• Louise Sandercock (Violin) – AUSTA

With more announced soon!

This event will help you refine your technique, explore new ideas, and play alongside fellow musicians in a welcoming and supportive environment.

There will be 3 streams on the day:

• EMERGING – AMEB Grade 3-5 (or equivalent)
• INTERMEDIATE – AMEB Grade 5-7 (or equivalent)
• ADVANCED – AMEB Grade 8+ (or equivalent)

PARENTS, TEACHERS and STRING ENTHUSIASTS are also welcome to attend!

Tickets are just $10 for Participants and $5 for Observers (includes BBQ)

AUSTA Members can register as an observer for FREE!

REGISTER NOW

Sunday 29th June 1:30pm or 3pm concert

The AUSTA SA String Showcase is a welcoming performance opportunity for any string player to share a solo piece and celebrate their musical progress in a supportive concert environment. Whether you’re preparing for an exam, refining your repertoire, or simply eager to perform, this is a fantastic chance to gain experience and connect with the string community. A piano will be available on the day, you’re welcome to bring an accompanist if you’d like to include one. We warmly invite students, teachers, families, and friends to join us for this relaxed and inspiring afternoon of music-making.

Book here

Sunday 29th June 10am – 12pm

Seymour College, Gilles Road Jane Hardy gate 6, Glen Osmond, with a free family concert from 12 – 12:30pm. This workshop is for primary and secondary string players from Preliminary to Grade 4 and is an opportunity for players to meet new friends while learning skills needed to successfully play in string ensembles. Music can be downloaded from the link on the booking confirmation. Play the music through with your teacher to confirm your group.

ALBINONI More than 1 year experience/Prelim
BACH Grade 1-2 AMEB
CORELLI Grade 3-4 AMEB

Book here

Sunday 15 June 2025

Led by Associate Principal Double Bass of WASO and passionate educator John Keene – Double Bass students and players of all ages and abilities are invited to join us for a fun and informative day of workshops, masterclasses and performance.

Saturday 14 June 1:00 – 5:00pm
Callaway Music Auditorium, UWA

TICKETS
$10 Participants
$5 Observers
All tickets include a BBQ
Concert: free

Find out more

Sunday 8th June 2pm – 4:30pm

If you are an adult and learning a bowed string instrument, join us for a fun afternoon in Rose Park, playing new string ensemble repertoire and catching up over afternoon tea. Music will be emailed to you before the workshop to bring along. Enjoy a fun and friendly session playing in a small group setting, perfect for adult string players of all levels. We’ll explore new repertoire together, build skills, and enjoy a social, supportive atmosphere. Come for the music and stay for the company!

Book here

A fun session of chamber music. Come alone or bring a few friends and we’ll organise the rest.

Whether you’ve never played chamber music before or you already have an established group, this workshop caters to all string players wanting to improve their chamber music skills.

​WAYACHAMP’s unique WAYAJAM model sees students of all levels and abilities working on their chamber music skills. Students of similar levels are formed into trios and quartets and work on:

• technical developments in tuning, rhythm, pulse, blend and balance

• musical developments in expression, style and interpretation

• personal developments including teamwork, active listening and confidence

​​The session culminates in a casual performance for participants’ families to celebrate what we have learnt.

WAYAJAM events involve sight-reading. Music is provided from the simplest level so that everyone can participate. If you’re up for a challenge, we have something for you too!​

​Open to Violin, viola, cello students who have been learning their instrument for at least one year. Ages 9 – 17

​Schedule

Introduction and group allocation

Rehearsal Session 1

Break

Rehearsal Session 2

Full rehearsal

Casual performance 

Cost $58 per student

https://www.wayachamp.com/wayajam

AUSTA Golden Jubilee National Conference 2025

SYDNEY 11 – 13 July 2025

Supporting teachers, advancing players,

inspiring artistry, building connection

Visit the Conference Webpage for full information.

• Saturday 5 July
• Doors open: 5:30pm
• ️Q&A with Brian: 6:00pm
• Social time from: 7:00pm

RSVP here