Join the Sartory String Quartet as they perform works by Beethoven and Schubert in an intimate concert.

Known as the second of the ‘Razumovsky’ quartets, the Op. 59 No. 2 in E minor was one of Beethoven’s middle period works. While it was not well received upon its premiere performance, it is now considered a staple in the professional string quartet’s repertoire. The second movement contains some of the most beautiful string quartet writing ever written (in our opinion!) Come and hear more about this wonderful work plus much more music on Sunday the 25th of June and please stay for a chat and refreshments afterwards!

Tickets are strictly limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Paul McDermott Violin Scholarship 2017

Entries are now open for the 2017 Paul McDermott Violin Scholarship. A prize of $1500 is awarded to a violinist  younger than 15 years on 1st July 2017 and resident of Victoria. The prize is to aid further study and a public performance at an AUSTA event.

Auditions will be held on Sunday 25th June 2017 at Scotch College Melbourne.

Enquiries & further details are available from Karina Di Sisto at paulmcdermottscholarship@gmail.com

Entries welcome at https://www.trybooking.com/263729 

(Entries open Mon 6th Mar and close Fri 9th June. Registration Fee $35.)

Applicants are required to play: One movement from any unaccompanied Bach Violin Sonata or Partita. 1st movement of a Mozart or Haydn Concerto with cadenza. A work of own choice (not a Concerto Movement).

The Story Behind the Scholarship

Young Victorian violinists are invited annually to apply for the scholarship that bears Paul McDermott’s name but few know the story behind the man and the scholarship.

The scholarship was created in 1980 by an anonymous local music lover and benefactor. Paul McDermott was chosen as the dedicatee for the scholarship as he was a much loved local violinist and conductor. He served as the chief conductor of the Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra from 1960 – 1973 and was founder and president of the Australian Musicians’ Guild.

The guild was established in 1971 and gave regular concerts including Music in the Round which became a fixture in the musical life of Melbourne from 1972 to 1985. It involved a whole weekend of music at an historic venue such as Werribee Mansion or the Abbotsford Convent. This also became the perfect event to showcase the talents of the annual recipient of the Paul McDermott scholarship where they had the chance to play alongside professional Australian chamber musicians and international guests. The Music in the Round concerts unfortunately came to an end when Paul McDermott died in 1985. Until that year he had continued to work tirelessly as both artistic director and a busy performer. The Australian Musicians’ Guild also folded in 1996 at which time the running of the scholarship was entrusted to AUSTA.

In recent years there have been two resurrections of Music in the Round, one by oboist Jeff Crellin at Monash University, and another for the 10 year anniversary of the Abbotsford Convent Foundation in 2014 directed by Chris Howlett. The legacy lives on with a prestigious award to add to any young violinist’s biography, a prize of $1500 to aid further study, and a public performance at an AUSTA event. Violinists that reside in Victoria and are younger than 15 years on July 1st 2017 are invited to apply for this year’s scholarship.

Bibliography: Cooke, Max. The Australian Musicians’ Guild [online]. Australian Journal of Music Education, No. 9, Oct 1971: 47-48.

AUSTA Victoria presents –

 2017 String Performers’ Festival                            

Bookings now open: www.trybooking.com/279028

We are very excited to be presenting our fifth 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 trophy.

NEW FOR 2017 – Introducing our “High School Beginners Session“. This session will be dedicated to older beginners and it will allow them to perform in a relaxed and supportive environment. We appreciate how hard it can be for older beginners to perform and hope that this session will make it a little easier!

Sunday, June 25

9am – 2pm

There will be five sessions on the day to choose from – make sure you choose the right one when booking your place!  A Festival Accompanist will be available for Preliminary – Grade 4 pieces on the day (sessions 1, 2, 3 and 5 only). 

Session One:     9.00 – 10.00am       Festival Accompanist Available

Session Two:     10.00 – 11.00am     Festival Accompanist Available

Session Three:  11.00– 12.00pm      Festival Accompanist Available

Session Four:     12.00 – 1.00pm      BYO Accomp or play on your own

Session Five:      1.00 – 2.00pm     NEW – High School Beginners – Accomp. available or play on your own

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

Bookings now open:  www.trybooking.com/279028

AUSTA Vic 2017 String Performers’ Festival

Scotch College Music School – Keith Humble Auditorium

1 Morrison Street

HAWTHORN VIC 3122

Cost: $20 per performer / $10 per additional family performer

Enquiries: austavicstringperformersfestival@gmail.com OR austavicpresident@outlook.com

AUSTA Q presents the Viola Day with Austa National President Helen Tuckey, Professor Patricia Pollett and Robert Harris.

Presentations will include discussion of the AMEB technical workbook for Viola, Masterclasses with presenters Helen Tuckey and Prof. Patricia Pollett and the Viola Cafe with Robert Harris and Helen Tuckey.

This event will be held at the University of Queensland School of Music (Building 51, Zelman Cowan Building)

RIGHT HAND: BOWING FUNDAMENTALS FOR TECHNIQUE, EXPRESSION & TONE

Download the Flyer

LEFT HAND: FUNDAMENTALS FOR NATURALNESS, ACCURACY & INTONATION

Download the Flyer

Are your students/kids wanting to play electric violin or cello with their friends in the July school holidays?
Learn and play electric violin/viola/cello, amps & FX!
for violin, viola, and cello
10am-3pm
10-14 July 2017
Theo’s Music 4 Southport St West Leederville 6007 WA

Three young virtuosi with countless solo prizes and achievements to their names: together, the music- making of the Sitkovetsky Trio is little short of miraculous. In their hands the piano trio becomes a miniature orchestra. Their 2017 program progresses from darkness to light, in trios by Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, Mendelssohn and Lachlan Skipworth.

Tuesday 11 July 7:30pm
Perth Concert Hall

PROGRAM
RACHMANINOFF Trio élégiaque no 1
SHOSTAKOVICH Piano Trio no 2, op 67
SKIPWORTH Piano Trio* MENDELSSOHN Piano Trio no 1, op 49

* Commissioned for Musica Viva Australia by Julian Burnside AO QC

PRE-CONCERT TALK
6.45pm, Corner Stage, Riverside, Terrace Level

CD SIGNING
Post-concert, Foyer

GET TICKETS! musicaviva.com.au/sitkovetsky (no booking fees) perthconcerthall.com.au | 9231 9999

Download the flyer

Viola Cafe

In conjunction with the Australia & New Zealand Viola Society (ANZ VS)

Sunday 16 July 2017:  2 – 5pm

Come along and meet your fellow viola teachers and players!  An opportunity to discuss teaching issues, technique and to explore the AMEB Viola Syllabus & its updates. Enjoy a wonderful afternoon making connections with Helen Tuckey (AUSTA National President), Robert Harris, Simon Oswell and Andrew Metaxis.

2pm – General Introduction

2.20pm – AMEB Viola Syllabus Update & Discussion

3.30pm – Afternoon tea (BYO) with a presentation by Andrew Metaxas on “Optimum”

4pm – “Cafe Viola” – general discussion

5pm – Farewell – maybe have dinner or a drink nearby and continue talking everything viola!!!

Location

Room 423 – Victorian College of the Arts

234 St. Kilda Road

SOUTHBANK VIC 3006

Cost / Bookings

$20

https://www.trybooking.com/294870

Contact Details

James deRozario – AUSTA VIC President: austavicpresident@outlook.com

Fresh from her studies in America with distinguished violin pedagogue Mauricio Fuks, talented Perth violinist Emily Leung is performing the much-loved Bruch Violin Concerto 1.

Also in the program are the Leonore 1 overture by Beethoven and the Scottish Symphony by Mendelssohn. 

Saturday 22 July 3pm at Perth Town Hall

Sunday 23 July 3pm at Fremantle Town Hall

No matter whether your child is a beginner or more advanced (and some will have just learnt to play open strings!) AUSTA Q String Festival (formerly Junior Strings Festival) offers them the opportunity to perform a solo accompanied by a professional accompanist in front of a small, supportive audience of family, friends and peers. They will receive a constructive, encouraging adjudication report from one of AUSTA’s many teachers and also a fabulous, shiny trophy to take home!

AUSTA ACT Cello Forum

To be lead by former SSO cellist and teacher:

Clare Brassil

Sunday 6^th August 1.00-4.30pm

Venue: Band Room, School of Music

During this forum we will discuss the essential fundamentals of cello playing

which collectively provide us with pain free playing comfort

and beautifully expressive sound production.

Our afternoon will be divided into 3 sessions:

Posture

Right Hand

Left Hand

Bring your instruments.

Cost:

AUSTA Members $50

Non members $65

Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/291793

Contact: louise.butler@optusnet.com.au

AUSTA ACT AGM

Saturday 12^th August 4.45pm

Venue: Radford College TB Millar Hall

Agenda

All positions declared vacant

Nominations and election for positions of:

President

Vice President

Minutes Secretary

Publicity Officer

Treasurer

Committee Members

Contact: Louise.Butler@optusnet.com.au

Bow technique and sound production are central to the art of violin playing. Expressive performance originates from the bow. The sounding interpretation of musical structure and the aesthetic features of a performance are dependent on a thoughtful use of the bow.

Nevertheless, much talk and analysis of the bow and bow technique occurs in purely mechanical terms without regard for an artistic use of the bow. This seminar explores some fundamental ideas about bowing and bow technique to promote efficient and effective foundations of sound production. We concentrate on simple and effective practice methods to develop performance.

Presented in Collaboration with AUSTA (NSW) – Free Admission

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/string-forum-some-thoughts-on-bowing-and-sound-tickets-32563476234

String players frequently lead a battle against their left hand, where paranoid preoccupation with intonation fuels insecurity and anxiety. The “burden of intonation” determines much of the psycho-physical attitudes to the left hand. Too often performers forget that once their sound is heard it is too late for them to intervene effectively (pace Flesch!).

Intervention in performance must occur before the sounding reality takes its revenge. So what is then the benefit of reactive and corrective learning and teaching methods? And what are effective ways to make peace with our left hands and work on a more organic and natural way of playing?

This sessions explores a comprehensive approach to the left hand, including outlining functional elements, psycho-physical factors and implications for practice and development. We will propose some concrete and simple ways to improve playing efficiently.

Presented in Collaboration with AUSTA (NSW) – Free Admission

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/string-forum-the-left-hand-is-your-friend-tickets-32563485261