Applications for Tait Music awards close Friday 27th March

Grant Applications for 2015

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Applicants must be:
o Australian citizens
o or domiciled in Australia
o and be under the age of 35
The completed official application form must be accompanied by the following:

Recording:
CD (DVD/VHS video in the case of dancers)
Photocopy of passport or other official document (proof of age, nationality/residence)
Curriculum Vitae (typewritten if possible)
Two written references from musicians/artists of standing

Please take the time to read the FAQ below.

Applications for Music must reach the Trust Office by the closing date of 27th March 2015 Music Application
Applications for Dance must reach the Trust Office by the closing date of 01 September 2015 Dance Appication

Share completed application with us via our Dropbox.com account info@taitmemorialtrust.org

If you would like notification that the application has been received please include the request with your application folder.

FAQ for Music Applications

To send your application online please share with us at info@taitmemorialtrust.org all of your relevant documents Dropbox folder. Please clearly label each file ie Biography, Track names, Photo etc. Please try and stick to standard formats for your recordings ie mp3 is preferable or provide links to Soundcloud or YouTube

In most cases the grant is paid directly to you in the UK or in the case of Ballet awards directly to the relevant institutions. We ask that Awardees submit a brief report to the Trustees at the end of the year.

As of 2013, with the creation of the new Tait Scholar award at the Royal College of Music, we do fund directly to the institution. For 2015 please do inform us on your application if you wish to also be considered for this award.

Please apply here

https://www.taitmemorialtrust.org/Apply

Ensemble Eroica Easter Concert

Young Australian Conductor, recent Solti Competition Finalist and Tait Winter Prom participant Toby Thatcher currently directs London-based group Ensemble Eroica. Their next programme takes place on Easter weekend, with music by Mozart and Strauss, and a guest solo appearance by Scottish Chamber Orchestra Principal Horn Alec Frank-Gemmill.

Toby Thatcher is carving out a name for himself as an up and coming young conductor in the London scene.We’re sure they would hugely appreciate your support.

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When: Saturday April 4th, 19:30
Where: The Warehouse 13 Theed Street London SE1 8ST (nearest tube, Waterloo)

Programme:

Mozart – Symphony No. 25 in G minor
Mozart – Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major, K. 417 (Soloist: Alec Frank-Gemmill – Natural Horn)
Strauss – Suite for 13 Winds in B-flat Major, Op. 4

Tickets will cost £10, £3 student discount.

Changing Feet – A musical exploration of changing pace

TAIT WINTER PROM

SUPPORTED BY THE COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA

ST JOHN’S SMITH SQUARE

TUESDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2014

FLUTE: Nicola Crowe

CONDUCTOR: Kelly Lovelady

ORCHESTRA: Tait Chamber Orchestra

Changing Feet is a commission from the Tait Memorial Trust, and is receiving its premiere on 9th December 2014.

For solo flute and chamber orchestra, Penkin describes it as:

“Changing Feet is about changing pace. Leaving the world’s most isolated city to live in one of the most industrious and compact environments requires a huge mental change. This piece tries to reflect not only the mentality of someone who grew up in Perth, but the experience of moving to London and ultimately returning home back to Australia. This work explores what one could miss of Perth, be it the silence, the space or the natural beauty…”

Premiere of a new composition that was commissioned by the Tait Trust, by Australian composer, Kevin Penkin (Tait Scholar 2013/14). Performed by the Tait Chamber Orchestra, Nicola Crowe, Flute (Tait Awardee 2013), plays Kevin Penkin’s latest work entitled, ‘Changing Feet’ with The Tait Chamber Orchestra at St John’s Smith Square, London. Tait Winter Prom supported by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Live performance Tuesday 9th December 2014.

Kevin Penkin (b. 1996)

Perth-born composer Kevin Penkin is truly an up-and-coming star in the contemporary music scene. Currently studying at the Royal College of Music, London, he is a current Tait Awardee, and his work has been featured in everything from video games to concert halls.
His entrepreneurial approach to composition is both refreshing and exciting, with his work commissioned by the Perth Symphony Orchestra and the Perth Chamber Orchestra. His UK Concert Debut was by the RCM Student Film Orchestra earlier this year.

Commonwealth Bank announced as new Principal Partner of the Tait Memorial Trust

The Tait Memorial Trust is delighted to announce its new partnership with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The Commonwealth Bank is a long-standing and passionate supporter and corporate partner of some of Australia’s leading arts organisations.
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Their partnerships with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Bangarra Dance Theatre and Opera Australia aim to make the arts more accessible to all Australians. This partnership with the Tait Memorial Trust is a further demonstration of the Bank’s commitment to enabling the progress of talented Australian artists, by supporting them as they pursue their careers in the United Kingdom.

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The Bank has a dedicated team in the United Kingdom whose focus is to support people who are relocating to Australia or to New Zealand. If you, or any of your network, are planning a move in the foreseeable future, please let us know and we would be pleased to put you in touch.

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On Tuesday, October 14th Tait Friends met at Australia House in the Downer Room. The evening was joint hosted by the Tait Trust and the office of the Victorian Agent General. Sadly the night before Mary, Lady Downer, the mother of the Australian High Commissioner, passed away. The Downer family were to have been our guests of honour. Lady Downer, the wife of Australia’s longest serving High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, was greatly loved and had very recently enjoyed a special lunch with many of her friends at Stoke Lodge. All of us at the Trust are deeply saddened at the loss of this great lady.
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The evening, with the blessing and support of the High Commissioner, went ahead with Geoffrey Conaghan, Victorian Agent General stepping in for The Hon Alexander Downer AC. Geoffrey gave an impassioned speech where he warmly acknowledged our new Principal Partner, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and then congratulated our sponsors and applauded our Friends for being so vital to the Trust’s success. We also wish to thank him for providing the delicious wines from the State of Victoria.For the Tait Memorial Trust this was already a significant evening.  We had invited our Friends to join us as we welcomed our two new Patrons, John Frost AM and Leanne Benjamin OBE. The agreement with the Commonwealth Bank came about a few weeks before the event plus the selection of Josephine Frick, to be the inaugural recipient of The Leanne Benjamin Awards, had only recently been decided. Josephine was presented with a cheque for £8,000 being  given to her to contribute towards her fees at The Royal Ballet School .We were entertained by three outstanding young Australian artists, Lauren Zolezzi, Gerard Schneider and Chad Vindin. Their performances truly were world class and gave us all further proof in the value of our support and the need to help these talented artists.

Winter Prom 2014 at St John's Smith Square

Tuesday, 9 December, 2014 – 19:30 at St John’s Smith Square

Book here

Join us as we showcase young Australian performing artists. The Tait Chamber Orchestra comprising Australian musicians in the UK, conducted by Kelly Lovelady, and Jayson Gillham, winner of the 2014 Montreal International Piano Competition will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 14 in E flat and Grainger’s Handel in the Strand.

Highlights also include soprano, Elena Xanthoudakis, singing Mozart’s concert aria Ch’io mi scordi di te? with Jayson Gillham and orchestra; Xenia Deviatkina-Loh will play Vaughan Williams’ beautiful The Lark Ascending; Yelian He and Adam Szabo will play Sollima’s exciting ‘duel’ for two cellos and string orchestra Violoncelles Vibrez!; and Australian composer and inaugural Tait Scholar, Kevin Penkin, premieres a piece for flute and orchestra entitled Changing Feet played by flautist, Nicola Crowe.

In honour of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of WW1, we are grateful that The MacMillan Estate has kindly allowed us to give a special performance of the Pie Jesu solo from Kenneth MacMillan’s ballet Requiem. Australian ballerina and new Tait Patron, Leanne Benjamin OBE, will teach the role to Sophie Moffatt, a student at The Royal Ballet School, accompanied by soprano, Marlena Devoe and pianist, Chad Vindin. Royal Ballet dancer, Calvin Richardson, will perform his own choreographic interpretation of The Dying Swan which he recently danced at the Royal Opera House accompanied by cellist, Adam Szabo and pianist, Chad Vindin.

The evening ends with the famous final scene from Act 1 of La Bohème sung by Jette Parker Young Artist soprano, Lauren Fagan, and tenor, Gerard Schneider, from the National Opera Studio.

www.taitmemorialtrust.org

ARTISTS
Kelly Lovelady conductor
Jayson Gillham piano
Elena Xanthoudakis soprano
Marlena Devoe soprano
Lauren Fagan soprano
Gerard Schneider tenor
Xenia Deviatkina-Loh violin
Adam Szabo cello
Yelian He cello
Nicola Crowe flute
Sophie Moffat dance
Calvin Richardson dance

PROGRAMME
Grainger. Handel in the Strand
Mozart. Piano Concerto No.14 in E flat, K 449
Vaughan Williams. The Lark Ascending
Mozart. Ch’io mi scordi di te? Non temer, amato bene. K 505
Kenneth MacMillan. Pie Jesu from his ballet Requiem
Saint-Saëns. The Dying Swan from Carnival of the Animals
Giovanni Sollima. Violoncelles Vibrez!
Penkin. Changing Feet (premiere)
Puccini. Che gelida manina…Si mi chiamano Mimi’ & ‘O soave fanciulla’ from La Boheme

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Nicola Crowe, Flute – The Tait Chamber Orchestra

Nicola Crowe was a Tait Awardee in 2009 as the recipient of the Commonwealth Bank Australia Award. This year she is the 2014/15 holder of the Sir Charles Mackerras Chair with the Southbank Sinfonia. This is a coveted and honoured position in the orchestra which is part sponsored by the Tait Memorial Trust.

Nicola will be playing 1st Flute in the Tait Chamber Orchestra and will be featured soloist in Kevin Penkin’s new work, Changing Feet, which has been specially commissioned by the Trust for our upcoming Winter Prom.at St John’s Smith Square on Tuesday 9th December at 7.30pm.

The biography below is from the Southbank Sinfonia website.

Nicola Crowe
Flute
Nicola graduated from the Royal College of Music in 2010 with a Master of Music with distinction, studying with Simon Channing and Jaime Martin. Her studies were generously supported by The Worshipful Company of Musicians, the Tait Memorial Trust and an Australian Bicentennial Scholarship. Prior to moving to London, she was awarded the Lenore Buckle Music Scholarship to study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with James Kortum.

During her time at the RCM, she was invited by the College to participate in the Castleton Festival in America, under the direction of Lorin Maazel and was also awarded the 2010 All Flutes Plus Prize in the RCM Senior Woodwind Competition and the June Emerson Launchpad Prize with her wind quintet.

Since graduating, she has joined the Band of the Royal Yeomanry as their principal flautist and played with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra of the English National Ballet and with the Macao Orchestra.

As a soloist, she has performed recitals at St John’s Smith Square, St George’s Bloomsbury Church and as part of the New London Orchestra’s Young Performers Concert Series at the Foundling Museum. Whilst in Australia, she performed concertos with the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra, SBS Radio and Television Youth Orchestra and the Sydney Conservatorium Modern Music Ensemble.

Nicola is a member of the Dr K Sextet, a contemporary music ensemble passionate about playing and promoting new music. The sextet has commissioned works by young composers living and working in the UK and abroad. The group were artists at the 2013 Cheltenham Music Festival Composer Academy and were invited to attend the Harare International Festival of the Arts in Zimbabwe in 2012. They have also organised their own Dr K Music Festival, have recorded works for various composers and events and have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

In her spare time Nicola loves to teach her many enthusiastic young students, explore London and plan holidays to sunny and warm destinations!

Did you know? Nicola is running the 2014 Oxford Half Marathon as part of a team of 25 Southbank Sinfonia musicians and staff. Find out more >

Quickfire Questions
What or who inspired you to become a professional musician?
After learning the flute for about 3 months, I announced to my family that I wanted to be a famous flautist like James Galway with not just one, but numerous golden flutes to choose from. I also thought I could combine my successful musical career with being an astronaut.

Watching my first teacher perform with an orchestra was really inspiring and she helped foster a deep love of music and desire for learning.

What is your earliest musical memory?
Trying out different instruments in our early years music class at my regional conservatorium in Wollongong, and hating the feeling of the violin strings on my fingers. When the flute came along however, I could make a sound on my first go (not as easy as it sounds!) and I told my mother there and then that that was the instrument I wanted to play.

Nicola’s place in Southbank Sinfonia is generously supported by the Sir Charles Mackerras Chair.

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Marlena Devoe, soprano, winner of the 2014 Bel Canto Award to sing at the Tait Winter Prom

The second half of the Tait Winter Prom, Tuesday 9th December, starts with Samoan, Marlena Devoe, soprano, winner of the 2014 Bel Canto Awards singing the ‘Pie Jesu‘ from Faure’s ‘Requiem

Marlena Devoe, Soprano
Marlena Devoe, Soprano

Sophie Moffatt, dancer, will perform Kenneth MacMillan’s choreographic interpretation of this solo. Sophie recently performed for The Trust at The Leanne Benjaimin Awards at The Royal Ballet School. She ended the evening with the solo from Giselle, coached by Leanne Benjamin OBE.

Sophie Moffatt, dancer
Sophie Moffatt, dancer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sophie will be coached by Australian prima ballerina and Tait Patron, Leanne Benjamin OBE. This video recording is of Leanne performing this piece at the Royal Opera House.

Chad Vindin, piano
Chad Vindin, piano

Chad Vindin will accompany on the piano. We are thrilled that The MacMillan Estate have kindly allowed us to perform this piece

Calvin Richardson performs, The Dying Swan at the XE Jaguar launch, London

Following his performance at the Royal Opera House in July, Calvin Richardson was invited to re-choreograph his Dying Swan and perform at the launch of the new Jaguar XE on Monday evening 8th September at Earls Court.

Calvin, who recently joined The Royal Ballet, is to dance his choreography of The Dying Swan at the Tait Winter Prom at St John’s Smith Square on Tuesday 9th December at 7.30pm. Another ballet highlight is a performance of the Pie Jesu solo from Kenneth MacMillan’s ballet, Requiem. Leanne Benjamin OBE is to coach Sophie Moffatt and prepare her for this beautiful piece for our 2014 Winter Prom

The Tait Memorial Trust is pleased to be assisting these fine young Australian artists in 2014

In 2014 Tait Awards have increased by 27% from 2013/14. This increase has largely been due to the excellent response to our new Friends scheme and the increased level of donations from our generous supporters. The names of our Friends and our major donors can be found here

With our new ‘Adopt a Performer’ scheme we have two scholarships of £5,000 per annum over three years. The aim of this scheme is to offer continuity of funding to the artists over the term of their academic studies and to link a donor directly with an awardee.

Kevin Penkin, Tait Scholar
Kevin Penkin, Tait Scholar

Last year Kevin Penkin, composer, was the inaugural ‘Tait Scholar’ supported by the Baring family. This year he continues his studies at The Royal College of Music. We are delighted that Kevin has agreed to accept our commission for a new piece of music for flute and orchestra entitled, Changing Feet, to be premiered at our Winter Prom 9th December 2014. Tait Awardee, Nicola Crowe is to play the flute solo.

Waynne Kwon, cello, Higgins Family scholar
Waynne Kwon, cello, Higgins Family scholar

Waynne Kwon, cello is the inaugural recipient of the Higgins family scholarship. Waynne is about to commence his undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Though our Partner organisations we are supporting Gerard Schneider, tenor Royal Over-Seas League; Panayiota Kalatzis, soprano and winner of the 2014 Australian International Opera Awards is the recipient of the Frank and Viola Tait Award and we continue our support of the Sir Charles Mackerras Chair at the Southbank Sinfonia. This years recipient is Nicola Crowe, flute.

Gerard Schneider, tenor
Gerard Schneider, tenor

Panayiota Kalatzis, soprano
Panayiota Kalatzis, soprano

This year we are supporting 4 singers, 3 cellists, 2 accompanists, 3 composers, 1 viola, 1 flute and for the first time we are supporting a Trio, The Darian Trio which is based in Vienna.

We have a fund of £8,000 to support The Leanne Benjamin Awards for 2014/15  This fund was the result of The Leanne Benjamin Awards launch at The Royal Ballet School and a generous donation from Lady Roberttson. These awards will be announced later this year.

Nicola Crowe - Sir Charles Mackerras Chair
Nicola Crowe, flute

Adam Szabo
Adam Szabo, cello

Sam Sakker
Sam Sakker, tenor

Chad Vindin
Chad Vindin, piano

Peter Wilson
Peter Wilson, composer

2011 IFAC Australian Singing Competition Semi-Finals
Joanna Norman, soprano

Lisa Bucknell
Lisa Bucknell, soprano

Luke Styles
Luke Styles, composer

Adopt a Performer – £5,000 per annum over three years

Kevin Penkin, composition
Royal College of Music
http://www.kpenkmusic.com/
Tait Scholar

Wayne Kwonn, Cello
Royal Northern College of Music
Higgins Family Award

Lisa Bucknell, Viola
Royal College of Music

Michael Whalley & Karen Goldie Morrison Award

General Awards

Gerard Schneider, tenor
Australian musician showing the most promise
http://www.gerardschneider.com/
Royal Over-Seas League Prize

Sam Sakker, tenor
http://www.samuelsakker.com/
Baring Amis Award

Joanna Norman Soprano
Royal Northern College of Music
The Googie Withers Award

Chad Vindin, Accompanist

Home

Private advanced language lessons

Alison Frilingos, Cello
Darian Trio http://www.dariantrio.com/en/
Chamber Music Masterclass Manchester, 2015

Adam Szabo, Cello

Private lessons
Thornton Foundation

Sabina Im, Piano
London Master Classes

Peter Wilson, Composer/ Piano,
Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Nicola Crowe, Flute
Southbank Sinfonia
Sir Charles Mackerras Chair

Panayiota Kalatzis, Soprano
Australian International Opera Awards
Frank and Viola Tait Award

Luke Styles, Composer
http://www.lukestyles.com/
Julian Baring Award

James Ioelu, Baritone
Tait Memorial Trust Award
Bel Canto Awards
Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation

James Ioelu, Baritone
James Ioelu, Baritone

 

Ballet – The Leanne Benjamin Awards at The Royal Ballet School
https://www.taitmemorialtrust.org/leannebenjaminawards
tbc £8,000

https://www.taitmemorialtrust.org/Awards2014

The beginning – The Leanne Benjamin Awards

Thursday 12th June 2014 will go down as one of most successful and enjoyable events The Tait Memorial Trust has ever mounted in our 22 year history. The Royal Ballet School have been so generous by helping us to create such an inspiring evening.

Leanne Benjamin OBE with Isla Baring OAM, Chairman of The Tait Memorial Trust
Leanne Benjamin OBE with Isla Baring OAM, Chairman of The Tait Memorial Trust

 

Pictured below are three young Australian dancers; Kiely Groenewegan, Sophie Moffatt and Grace Robinson who sum up what we are trying to achieve. We want to help them achieve their dreams.

Kiely Groenewegan, Sophie Moffatt and Grace Robinson after The Leanne Benjamin Awards
Kiely Groenewegan, Sophie Moffatt and Grace Robinson after The Leanne Benjamin Awards

Their performances were superb in front of an audience including Lady Sainsbury, Sir Peter Wright, David Norman, Tony Dyson, Ken Smith (Queensland Agent General) and Richard Bonynge. Mark Annear’s masterclass was fascinating, the solo performances by Connor Barlow (Tait Awardee at the English National Ballet School), Kiely Groenewegan and the pas de deux with Grace Robinson and Harry Churches was sublime. Leanne Benjamin coached Sophie Moffatt on the Giselle, Act 1, Variation Pas de Six. The audience was enthralled…to see the work that goes into creating the magic we see at the theatre. The work is intense and incredibly disciplined. Such an honour to witness the process and to see the final result in the performances was a joy.

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Isla Baring OAM, Chairman of The Tait Memorial Trust with Australian dancer, Sophie Moffatt

This is the beginning of a new scholarship fund for young Australian dancers studying at The Royal Ballet School. If you wish to join us please email James at james@taitmemorialtrust.org

Leanne Benjamin in The Royal Ballet's Manon ©ROH Johan Persson, 2011
Leanne Benjamin in The Royal Ballet’s Manon ©ROH Johan Persson, 2011