October 2011

Welcome to the October issue of Encore –

the newsletter for Patrons and Friends of the

West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

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WASO TAKE ON KALGOORLIE! Over five days in September our wonderful EChO ensemble, with the help of presenter Lee Stanley and administration staff entertained and educated the community in Kalgoorlie. Those who attended our 20 Year Plus concert with Paul Daniel at Winthrop Hall earlier this year will remember some fond stories told of WASO’s previous trips to Kalgoorlie. This tour continues WASO’s long tradition of heading east!

The tour kicked off with a number of education concerts for hundreds of appreciative students from local schools at the Goldfield Arts Centre. On Tuesday night coloured shirts were swapped for formal wear at the Welcome to the Round cocktail function where the ensemble played two lovely sets under the stars at Hannan’s Club, while guests wined and dined. More school concerts on Wednesday followed a free community concert at the Arts Centre. The opening act for the concert was the Goldfields Brass Band, generously augmented by our EChO brass players with Robert Gladstones, a past guest conductor of the band, enthusiastically wielding the baton for two pieces. Feedback after the show was overwhelmingly positive with many audiences wanting to know how soon WASO will be back!

Thursday involved a trip out to Ora Banda, a historical pub 70kms from Kalgoorlie (also known as the middle of nowhere!) where EChO played two sets at the Ora Banda Open Day which also included “dunny quoits”, two-up, sky diving and a lot of red dirt. Two more school performances on Friday finished off the tour. Over the five days, students from St Mary’s Primary School, East Kalgoorlie Primary School, O’Connor Primary School, South Kalgoorlie Primary School and Kambalda West District High School (who travelled 60kms!) saw EChO in action. A very successful week all round which even included a front-page appearance on the Kalgoorlie Miner for Jane Kircher-Linder, Jay Harrison, Rob Gladstones and Hayley Rowntree!

WASO take immense pride in our community outreach projects, aiming to touch as many West Australian’s with the transformative power of music. Accordingly, the Private Giving team recently launched a new philanthropic program called “Reach Out” which channels philanthropic giving dollars towards our community and education activities. If you would like more information regarding this new program, please contact Alecia Benzie on 9326 0020 or benziea@waso.com.au.

SUPPORT THE WASO CHORUS TOUR TO HONG KONG

Your West Australian Symphony Orchestra Chorus is going to Hong Kong in November 2012! We are extremely proud our WASO Chorus has been invited to perform with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. Our Chorus is one of Australia’s best and has performed with a stellar line up of internationally renowned conductors, including Charles Dutoit, Vladimar Ashkenazy and, of course, our very own Principal Conductor Paul Daniel.

Did you know the Chorus is made up of a wonderful group of 180 passionate volunteers (with beautiful voices!) who dedicate a lot of their spare time to being a part of this Chorus? Led by our Marilyn Philips, one of Australia's leading choral directors, the Chorus regularly features in the WASO annual concert season, and has developed a reputation for excellence in music ranging from Baroque to contemporary. The tour to Hong Kong is a significant expense to WASO and we are seeking your support, through a raffle, to help raise funds for this important tour. Raffle tickets will be sold at the Programs & Information Desk at most performances in the Perth Concert Hall and from our Box Office (445 Hay St Perth) from 1 October to 26 November 2011.

Raffle tickets are $30 per ticket and prize winners will be drawn on Monday 28 November 2011.

The prizes are breathtaking:

Natalie Imbruglia wears Kailis pearls

First Prize: A Kailis Jewellery voucher valued at $7,500

Second Prize: A Renaissance tour package for two to enjoy a glorious weekend of opera and music (30 March – 1 April) valued at $2300. This package includes tickets to Opera Australia’s performance of La Traviata at Mrs Macquarie’s Point overlooking the stunning Sydney skyline as well as tickets to the Sydney Symphony’s gala concert of the year with Vladimir Ashkenazy (does not include flights).

Third Prize: High Tea for you and a guest at the Duxton Hotel with Principal Conductor Paul Daniel valued at $1,000

Help support the WASO Chorus tour by purchasing a raffle ticket next time you are at a WASO concert or visiting our Box Office.

For more details, please see our website www.waso.com.au

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MRS CAREY’S CONCERT – A LOVELY POSTSCRIPT For those who joined us back in May at the Windsor theatre in Nedlands to watch the lovely Australian music documentary “Mrs Carey’s Concert,” this may be an interesting postscript. Emily Sun, the reluctant star of the documentary was recently announced as a finalist in the prestigious ABC’s Young Performers award 2011. While she was not ultimately the winner, this achievement pays testament to the worthiness of all Mrs Carey’s hard work. If you are interested in watching Emily’s performance, the ABC Young Performers award is currently available for viewing on ABC’s iView service here: http://www.abc.net.au/iview/ in the “Arts and Culture” section.

Congratulations Emily!

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CELLIST ALBAN GERHADT CONDUCTS MASTERCLASS WITH STUDENTS

On Thursday 1st September, WASO was fortunate to have visiting German cellist Alban Gerhardt conduct a master class at the lovely Hale School Auditorium. Patrons who attended were also most fortunate to experience a ‘master’ at work. The evening was warmly hosted by WASO Executive Manager, Artistic Planning, Evan Kennea.

Three young cellists played and after each one Alban gave a critique to show positive ways to help their progress. First, we heard a movement of the Brahms Cello concerto played by Arianne Jacobs a Year 11 eleven pupil at St Mary’s School. Then Beren Scott from WAAPA played an excerpt from Rachmaninov and finally, Sophie Parkinson-

Stewart from UWA, played an excerpt from the Grieg Concerto. In each case during his comments, Alban played passages using the student’s own instrument saying how important it is to become familiar with the way their instrument sounds.

Alban Gerhardt made his concert debut with the Berlin Philharmonic and has performed with more than 170 orchestras worldwide and has a repertoire of some 60 concerti. He has a wonderful warm personality, a great sense of humour and above all an empathetic approach with the students. The cello produces deeply haunting and very rich music and the students would have gained from Alban’s patient demonstration of slightly different techniques to maximise this richness.

The bowing technique has changed greatly over the past 50 years or so and Alban, preferring the style of the older virtuosi such as Casals, hinted that modern teaching did not give enough attention to the bow on the strings. For example, the long drawn out notes that can be achieved from correct placement of the bow and how its very slow drawing across the strings gives a sustainable, even sound which can be lost if there is too much flourish with the bow. He also demonstrated the volume variations by bowing lower, closer to the bridge. He drew attention to the different ergonomics between the violinist’s bowing and that for the cellist and bass.

It was very engaging for the audience to listen to Alban’s discussions with each of the cellists in turn. He was in Perth to appear as guest artist the following two evenings playing Cello Concerto No 1 by Saint-Saens under visiting conductor, Asher Fisch.

Footnote: The Saint-Saens concerto was magnificent and Alban followed with the delightful Silent Woods by Dvorak. After interval at Friday’s concert, he was seen to quietly slip into the celli section to join them in the Franck Symphony in D minor. He must have enjoyed it so much that at the Saturday concert he also played Dvorak’s ‘Symphonic Variations’ with the orchestra. How fortunate are concert goers to have such ‘World Artists’ play with WASO.

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MEET THE SECOND VIOLINS SUNDAY 16TH OF OCTOBER 2011

Patrons and Friends President Robyn Glindemann welcomed 60 patrons, friends and guests to another event at the magnificent Llew Woodford function

centre at Penrhos College to “Meet the Second Violins” of the WASO. Also, welcomed were the Director of Music at Penrhos, Paul McCarty and four violin students from the college who Robyn introduced as future WASO players.

Principal 2nd Violin John Ford then introduced his team of violinists who had given up their Sunday afternoon for the event. He gave a pen-picture of each member emphasising the diversity of the group in their private lives. No diversity however in their strong team spirit with the WASO. Their outside interests include motorbike riding, car fanaticism, sailing, shooting, collecting kayaks and recent motherhood to mention just a few. Those present were Zac Rowntree, Sarah Blackman, Melanie Pearn, Louise Sandercock, Jane Serrangeli, Ellie Shalley and WASO newcomer (and former Penrhos student) Anna O’Hagan. Unable to play yet still coming along to support his team was David Yeh.

Firstly, a Penrhos violin trio of Ishtar Steggle, Gracie Edwards and Megan Ng played Etude, Nocturne and Scherzo-Capriccioso by German composer Ernst Spiess. John gave them some encouraging words praising them for their timing and rhythm. They were then invited along with another student Kate Stanbury (music captain) to join the eight WASO violinists for a rendition of Sonate by the Italian composer Giovanni Legrezni. Twelve violins sounded spectacular with this sublime 17th century baroque music, which was warmly received by the audience. The students acquitted

themselves remarkably well considering the work was new to them. Each of the four girls had been learning violin for between six and thirteen years and all displayed a high level of skill. A great credit to the school!

President Robyn then invited questions, which included ‘the distinction between the first and second violins in an orchestra’. John assured everyone that the instruments were identical telling how when he once showed his violin to somebody who remarked they had never seen a second violin! Members of the

team also discussed many interesting factors of orchestra dynamics and the different conductor’s preferences.

A final thanks was given to Penrhos for their wonderful hospitality and to Sarah, Alecia and Susan for their work in organising the day. The attendees then enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with each other and speak with the musicians. These events continue to be much appreciated with more being planned for 2012.

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THE 2012 WASO SEASON HAS LAUNCHED!

No doubt you have received news of WASO’s recent 2012 Season launch. The lovely new brochure is out and about and subscription renewals have well and truly begun. Among the highlights in 2012 are Vladimir Verbitsky’s 25th Anniversary Gala performance (replicating the repertoire from his very first performance with WASO), Beethoven’s famous 5th Symphony and WASO’s innaugral new music festival, Latitude.

Patrons and Friends may have been lucky enough to catch WASO ensembles “popping up” around the CBD

in late September, giving short performances to passersby by previewing some of the wonderful repertoire from next year’s season. WASO staff received some very warm feedback from those who were lucky enough to happen upon the Orchestra, and the musicians relished the opportunity to get out amongst the crowds.

If for some reason you have not received a copy of the 2012 WASO Season brochure, please call the WASO Box office on 9326 0000. We look forward to you joining us again in 2012, for another year of beautiful music. Let us know your favourites by emailing Amy at stokesa@waso.com.au !

WASO HAVE A BRAND NEW WEBSITE! Visited the WASO website lately? The team here have been working very hard behind the scenes during 2011 developing a new website and ticketing system. We are very proud of the results and invite you to visit us at www.waso.com.au and check it out!

One aspect that we’re particularly excited about is the new “Latest News” section in the Philanthropy section. Here we will be keeping you up to date with all things “Patrons and Friends”, including special events. The philanthropy area of the website is also an excellent resource for finding out more about our Patrons and Friends programs and about philanthropy more generally in the community.

As more and more people are beginning to connect with friends and loved ones via social media, WASO’s presence in this area is also growing. Connect with WASO via Facebook or Twitter, to always be up to date on the latest news from the office and the hall! Check us out at: https://www.facebook.com/WestAustralianSymphonyOrchestra or http://twitter.com/#!/_WASO_

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UPCOMING PATRONS AND FRIENDS EVENTS

TEA AND SYMPHONY – FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18TH 10AM

The last one for the year! On Friday November 18th, please join us at the Perth Concert Hall to watch the general rehearsal of “A Night In Vienna” conducted by our Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor Paul Daniel. Fans of Perth born Soprano Sara Macliver will no doubt jump at this chance to watch the Orchestra rehearse with her for what will no doubt be a sublime weekend of concerts. Do join us for the rehearsal, as well as refreshments with the Orchestra and guest musicians in the green room during the interval.

To book for Tea and Symphony, please call the WASO Box Office on 9326 0000. Tickets are $25 for Patrons and Friends and $30 for guests, which includes morning tea. Bookings close on the 7th of November, so get in quick! We look forward to seeing you there.

PATRONS AND FRIENDS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY AT THE PERTH CONCERT HALL

– THURSDAY 8TH DECEMBER FROM 4.30PM

From 4.30pm on Friday the 8th December, come and enjoy the rehearsal of our final concert of the year – the annual Symphony in the City. Conducted by Paul Daniel, the rehearsal will take place at the Perth Concert Hall. Guests are welcome to join any time between 4.30 and 6.00pm, when the Rehearsal when the rehearsal concludes and Paul Daniel and our WASO musicians join Patrons and Friends for a celebratory drink in the Wardle Room.

Scholarship winners, including Margie Blades, will also be joining us to tell us a little bit more about how they have used their 2011 Patrons & Friends Scholarship.

To book for the Christmas Party, please call the WASO Box Office on 9326 0000. Tickets are $40 for Patrons and Friends and $45 for guests, which includes entry into the rehearsal, beautiful Margaret River wines and delicious canapés.

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2012 PATRONS AND FRIENDS EVENTS We love our calendar of events for Patrons and Friends each year and our Meet the Section events and Tea & Symphony dates are treasured favourites. However, the Patrons and Friends committee is also looking to provide one or two different events in 2012 to bring you closer to your Orchestra.

We would welcome any comments or ideas on what you would like to see included. Please email your thoughts to Amy at stokesa@waso.com.au