Winter Prom 2013 – A night to remember

A selection of photos from our Tait Winter Prom 2013. We all enjoyed a glittering reception thanks to the Wolf Blass sparkling wine from Treasury Wine Estates and the delicious canapes from Jane Sutherland catering. As ever it was lovely to greet our riends and supporters to this annual Tait tradition

All in all it was a lovely night. 

The concert was created by and dedicated to the memory of John Amis. The three Ave Maria’s by Bach-Gounod, Schubert and Verdi was the central theme. The playing of the Bach Prelude by Primavera Shima was a delight and a gentle lead into the various versions of the prayer sung by Valda and John’s old friend, Rosemary Forbes-Butler

We were blessed to have Travis Baker playing the Handel Organ Concerto in D Minor with Musique Cordiale. Not hard to see why it was one of Handel’s favourite compositions.

John Amis. A portrait by June Mendoza
John Amis. A portrait by June Mendoza

All in all the evening was a triumph. Thank you John

Photography by Anne Purkiss

Elena Xanthoudakis, Soprano – Recording of Bel Canto arias with Richard Bonynge

Elena Xanthoudakis, Tait Memorial Trust Prize winner at the Performing Australian Music Competition 2008 this year has been busy in New York City covering in Le Comte Ory and Rigoletto for the Metropolitan Opera as well as performing in Concert with the Melbourne Symphony amongst other engagements. This year, she was fortunate to record a solo Orchestral Disc with Maestro Richard Bonynge with the Support of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust and the Tait Memorial Trust. The CD of Bel Canto arias will be released next March 2014 on Signum records. Elena is also looking forward to performing Gilda in Rigoletto for Opera Queensland in the the new year along with recitals at the Melbourne Recital Centre with TrioKROMA.Image

Kevin Penkin, Inaugural Tait Scholar at the Royal College of Music

On Friday November 1st Isla Baring and Executive Director, James Hancock were invited to meet with the inaugural Tait Scholar, 21 year old Western Australian composer, Kevin Penkin at the Royal College of Music. Kevin began his studies at the RCM in September and has already impressed his teachers with his dedication and talent.

Tait Scholar, Kevin Penkin with Tait Memorial Trust Chairman, Isla Baring OAM
Tait Scholar, Kevin Penkin with Tait Memorial Trust Chairman, Isla Baring OAM

You can listen to samples of Kevin’s work here

B i o g r a p h y​​

Kevin Penkin is a British-Australian composer who composes for video games, film and the concert stage. He is starting a Masters Degree in Composition at the Royal College of Music in September, for which he has received a Scholarship from Tait Memorial Trust and is the inaugural Tait Scholar. Kevin is also supported by a Clifton Parker Award. He has also been awarded the Doctor Harold Schenberg music prize in music composition from the UWA School of Music.

Kevin debuted at the age of 18, collaborating on a Japanese video game with legendary Final Fantasy Series composer Nobuo Uematsu. The collaboration proved to be so successful, Kevin has now been in involved with Uematsu on 4 different video game projects. In 2011, Kevin wrote music for his first Indie Game “Defenders Quest”, which went on to earn over $500,000 in gross revenue.

Recently, it was announced that Kevin is part of a new JRPG Kickstarter, codenamed “Project Phoenix”, along with composers Nobuo Uematsu and Tomoki Miyoshi. The Kickstarter campaign achieved its goal of $100,000 in only 9 hours and is, even now, continues to be crowd funded.

In January 2013, Kevin was nominated for the Annual Game Music Awards held by Square Enix Music Online under the “Outstanding Achievement: Newcomer” category for his work on his debut project “Jyuzaengi Engetsu Sangokuden”.

As a composer of concert music, Penkin has been commissioned to write works for the Perth Symphony Orchestra, Perth Chamber Orchestra and the new music group Decibel. His work “Looking for Serenity” was premiered at the inaugural concert of the Perth Chamber Orchestra in the GPO building in April 2013.

Website of Kevin Penkin

A golden night for singing

Last night two Tait awardees; Lauren Fagan, Soprano 2013 and Lauren Zolezzi, Soprano 2012 sang the lead roles in the Guildhall School of Music & Drama double bill at the Silk Street Theatre, The Barbican.

1830339
Lauren Fagan, Soprano singing the Countess, The Marriage of Figaro 2012

Lauren Fagan appeared first in Debussy’s l’enfant prodigue. Her singing was of the highest standard, ravishing tone and an impeccable technique. Her performance as the despairing Mother was full of pathos…lovely. Lauren displayed a maturity of performance not often seen in student productions. We look forward to hearing her sing again in a TMT concert in 2014. Read more about Lauren here

Lauren Zolezzi stole the show in the second opera performed last night, Donizetti’s, Francesca di Foix. Glittering top notes, easy production and a stage presence that was simply divine. Earlier in the year Lauren sang in the first concert of the Trust series at the Foundling Museum, London and gave this interview

All in all it was a golden night for the Trust. Thrilling for us at the Tait Memorial Trust to see Lauren Fagan and Lauren Zolezzi performing to such a high standard in one of the most prestigious music schools in the world.

We are very grateful for the steadfast and loyal; support we receive from our many donors. Last night was their triumph.

Lauren Zolezzi, Soprano
Lauren Zolezzi, Soprano
Initially stepping onto the stage as a young ballerina, Australian born soprano Lauren Zolezzi has now moved into the world of opera and is at the outset of an exciting career.

In September 2012, Lauren took up her scholarship on the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London under the tutelage of Susan Waters. Before that, Lauren completed her Master of Arts (Preparatory Opera) with Distinction and scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Her musical training alongside previous ballet training as well as her study of the Italian language, has led to a well-rounded performer who manages to capture the attention of audiences internationally.

Lauren has been most successful in many singing competitions and scholarships, having won over one hundred awards and scholarships over the years. Recently she won the National Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Scholarship in Australia. Lauren also placed first in Sydney Eisteddfod open age Oratorio and Russian Song sections as well as the Lieder and Oratorio Sections (21-25 yrs).  She placed 3rd in both the Female Voices and the Operatic Aria Sections. Other scholarships and prizes include The Sainsbury Award at the Royal Academy of Music and The Marion Macaulay Bequest Scholarship for overseas study from the University of Sydney.

Lauren is an extremely busy performer both in the UK and Australia. Roles include Armida Rinaldo, Drusilla L’Incoronazione di Poppea, Despina Cosi’ fan tutte and Journalist 1 The Last King of Scotland, The Princess L’enfant et les sortilèges, Norina Don Pasquale, Sophie Der Rosenkavalier, Jano Jenufa, Melisande Pelleas et Melisande and Barbarina The Little Green Swallow (Dove) in Guildhall Opera Scenes.  She also performed the role of Barbarina Le Nozze di Figaro (GSMD) in February 2013 and covered the role of Susanna as well as receiving a solo recital of artsong at the Foundling Museum in London.

Before arriving in the UK she sang as soloist for the Australian ‘Opera and Arts Support Group’ soiree in Sydney Australia. During the 2008 World Youth Day celebrations, she sang to great acclaim as the featured soloist at the Evening Vigil liturgy with Pope Benedict XVI, held at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney. She was also featured soprano in a concert of excerpts from The Messiah at St Mary’s Cathedral in December 2008. Lauren was invited by the Honorary John Aquilina to perform at the National European Day ball held at Government House in 2008 to an audience of foreign representatives.

Lauren’s past featured operatic roles have included Naiad Ariadne auf Naxos and Ellen Lakme’ (Academy Opera Scenes). She also played the title role of Carmen in ‘Carmen – The Musical’ at the State Theatre and a member of the chorus for Dead Man Walking – The Opera at the Lyric Theatre in 2007. She partook in all of the Mid-Summer Operas held at the Conservatorium of Music from 2005-2008, in all of which she featured as a soloist performing roles such as Virtu’ L’Incoronazione di Poppea and Papagena Die Zauberflöte.

Lauren’s continued development is generously supported by the Tait Memorial Trust, the Opera and Arts Support Group Australia, The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers, the Worshipful Company of Barbers and the Australian Government through the Australian Council of the Arts, it’s Arts Funding and Advisory Body.

Annual Tait Winter Prom 2013

This year the prizes include:

5512

1. Long weekend stay (Thursday to Monday between December ’13 – May ’14 subject to availability) in The Fiougiere, a charming country house in Provence, France near the village of Correns. The house sleeps six, has a swimming pool, plenty of small ‘basins’ to paddle in and a river running through the property, great for walks and picnics etc…

2. Two Grand Tier tickets for Friday 20th December 7.30pm show. Backstage tour included in the prize.

3. Joan Sutherland Les Huguenots 1981 water colour and Goaucha .. signed Stillwell 72′ x 52′

Tickets are £20 and can be purchased online before the concert. Tickets will allocated sequentially from online purchase details. The draw will be made at the Tait Winter Prom, Holy Trinity, Sloane Square. Tuesday November 26 between 7.30pm – 9.30pm. Tickets can be purchased on the night.

Unknown
Winter Prom Raffle 2013

Raffle tickets can be purchased on the night or online here

Thomas Rann, Cello to play with the Australia Quartet 31st October, Sydney Opera House

Australia Quartet celebrates Halloween with Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht (‘Transfigured Night’), Schumann’s beloved Piano Quartet and Australian composer, Elena Kats-Chernin’s irresistible work, ‘Scherzino’. Tait Awardee, Thomas Rann was recently in London….wonderful artist

Australia Quartet
Australia Quartet

Description

Australia Quartet celebrates Halloween 2013 with a one-night-only concert on Thursday 31 October at Sydney Opera House. Transfigured Night, Schoenberg’s gothic masterpiece anchors a remarkable program which includes a world premiere and performance by internationally renowned Australian composer, Elena Kats-Cherni

Tamara-Anna Cislowska, piano

Veronique Serret, violin

James Wannan, viola

Thomas Rann, cello

Thomas Rann – Tait Awardee 2003

Thomas Rann, Cello
Thomas Rann, Cello

“an extraordinary talent with wonderful musical temperament and control of the instrument.”

In Martinu’s Variations on a theme of Rossini, this finely gifted young cellist’s qualities came to the fore – he demonstrated such superb musicianship throughout the programme that one eagerly looks foward to hearing Thomas Rann many times in the future.”

Thomas Rann is increasingly recognised as the most exciting young cellist to have emerged from Australia in recent years.

In 2008, Thomas Rann gives his Wigmore Hall recital debut with pianist Wu Qian, made his debut with the Queensland Orchestra under Vladimir Verbitsky (Tchaikovsky Pezzo Capriccioso and Andante Cantabile) and will give a recital for the inaugural Adelaide International Cello Festival. He will also make his Cadogan Hall debut performing Strauss Don Quixote with the London Phoenix Orchestra and his US recital debut in New York City.

Born in Adelaide, Thomas Rann commenced his cello studies at the age of nine under the tuition of Ruth Saffir and Niall Brown (University of Adelaide). In 2000, Thomas Rann entered the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, as the only pupil of distinguished English cellist Raphael Wallfisch.   He is now based in London.

Throughout his studies in the United Kingdom, Thomas Rann has performed at venues including Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St James’ Piccadilly, Australia House, St James’ Palace and Westminster Abbey. He has appeared at  the Festivals of Courchevel, Schleswig-Holstein, Radolfzell, Brighton (UK), London Festival of Jewish Culture, and Verbier (Switzerland). Thomas Rann’s concerto appearances include performances with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Preston Symphony Orchestra,  Australian National Academy of Music Orchestra, London Phoenix Orchestra and the Melbourne Sinfonia.

Winner of the prestigious Muriel Taylor Scholarship for Cellists (London, 2004) – previous laureates include Steven Isserlis, Raphael Wallfisch and Alexander Baillie – Thomas Rann undertook a two-year mentorship in Sydney in 2004 with Professor Uzi Wiesel. Highlights of the 2004/2005 season included recitals at the French and Finnish Embassies in Canberra and a performance at the Institut Franco-Japonais in Tokyo, Japan, for television broadcast in Japan, the USA and Russia. He also peformed at the Kronberg International Cello Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, won the Australian National Academy of Music’s Concerto Competition and was featured as a “rising star” soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for ABC Classic FM’s Young Australia program.

In 2006, Thomas Rann made his widely acclaimed debut with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra as soloist in the ‘Symphony Under the Stars’ outdoor concert before an audience of 30,000. During the same year, Thomas Rann was awarded the E.V. Llewellyn Memorial Scholarship for String Players  and a Senior Award following the Hattori Foundation Final in London. He was also selected as a finalist for the 2006 Music Council of Australia Freedman Fellowship. Other highlights of 2006 included a recital with Sydney International Piano Competition prize-winner Evgeny Ukhanov for ABC Classic FM’s “Rising Stars” programme, broadcast throughout Australia; his Musica Viva debut at a special function held in Sydney ; and a performance at the International Cello Seminar in Israel.

Thomas Rann has appeared as soloist with the Camden Chamber Orchestra and City of London Chamber Orchestra and has continued his regular recital partnerships with pianists Wu Qian and Leslie Howard. Other highlights included appearances for the Tait Memorial Trust at the Royal Overseas League, chamber music and solo performances at the Verbier Festival (Switzerland) and at the London School of Economics Shaw Library Series.

Thomas Rann has been the recipient of generous support from the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, E.V. Llewellyn Memorial Scholarship, the Australia Council for the Arts, the Hattori Foundation for exceptionally talented soloists (London), PPCA Foundation and the Tait Memorial Trust. He has also benefited greatly from the guidance of artists such as Gavriel Lipkind, Karine Georgian, Bernard Greenhouse, Frans Helmerson, Heinrich Schiff, Ralph Kirshbaum, Gary Hoffman, Steven Isserlis and Ivry Gitlis. He is grateful for the use of a fine 18th Century Italian cello owned by the late R.A.G. Holmes AM.

The biography belowis courtesy of Robert Gilder & Co.

Cello

Thomas Rann

“an extraordinary talent with wonderful musical temperament and control of the instrument.”

In Martinu’s Variations on a theme of Rossini, this finely gifted young cellist’s qualities came to the fore – he demonstrated such superb musicianship throughout the programme that one eagerly looks foward to hearing Thomas Rann many times in the future.”

Thomas Rann is increasingly recognised as the most exciting young cellist to have emerged from Australia in recent years.

In 2008, Thomas Rann gives his Wigmore Hall recital debut with pianist Wu Qian, made his debut with the Queensland Orchestra under Vladimir Verbitsky (Tchaikovsky Pezzo Capriccioso and Andante Cantabile) and will give a recital for the inaugural Adelaide International Cello Festival. He will also make his Cadogan Hall debut performing Strauss Don Quixote with the London Phoenix Orchestra and his US recital debut in New York City.

Born in Adelaide, Thomas Rann commenced his cello studies at the age of nine under the tuition of Ruth Saffir and Niall Brown (University of Adelaide). In 2000, Thomas Rann entered the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, as the only pupil of distinguished English cellist Raphael Wallfisch.   He is now based in London.

Throughout his studies in the United Kingdom, Thomas Rann has performed at venues including Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St James’ Piccadilly, Australia House, St James’ Palace and Westminster Abbey. He has appeared at  the Festivals of Courchevel, Schleswig-Holstein, Radolfzell, Brighton (UK), London Festival of Jewish Culture, and Verbier (Switzerland). Thomas Rann’s concerto appearances include performances with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Preston Symphony Orchestra,  Australian National Academy of Music Orchestra, London Phoenix Orchestra and the Melbourne Sinfonia.

Winner of the prestigious Muriel Taylor Scholarship for Cellists (London, 2004) – previous laureates include Steven Isserlis, Raphael Wallfisch and Alexander Baillie – Thomas Rann undertook a two-year mentorship in Sydney in 2004 with Professor Uzi Wiesel. Highlights of the 2004/2005 season included recitals at the French and Finnish Embassies in Canberra and a performance at the Institut Franco-Japonais in Tokyo, Japan, for television broadcast in Japan, the USA and Russia. He also peformed at the Kronberg International Cello Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, won the Australian National Academy of Music’s Concerto Competition and was featured as a “rising star” soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for ABC Classic FM’s Young Australia program.

In 2006, Thomas Rann made his widely acclaimed debut with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra as soloist in the ‘Symphony Under the Stars’ outdoor concert before an audience of 30,000. During the same year, Thomas Rann was awarded the E.V. Llewellyn Memorial Scholarship for String Players  and a Senior Award following the Hattori Foundation Final in London. He was also selected as a finalist for the 2006 Music Council of Australia Freedman Fellowship. Other highlights of 2006 included a recital with Sydney International Piano Competition prize-winner Evgeny Ukhanov for ABC Classic FM’s “Rising Stars” programme, broadcast throughout Australia; his Musica Viva debut at a special function held in Sydney ; and a performance at the International Cello Seminar in Israel.

Thomas Rann has appeared as soloist with the Camden Chamber Orchestra and City of London Chamber Orchestra and has continued his regular recital partnerships with pianists Wu Qian and Leslie Howard. Other highlights included appearances for the Tait Memorial Trust at the Royal Overseas League, chamber music and solo performances at the Verbier Festival (Switzerland) and at the London School of Economics Shaw Library Series.

Thomas Rann has been the recipient of generous support from the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, E.V. Llewellyn Memorial Scholarship, the Australia Council for the Arts, the Hattori Foundation for exceptionally talented soloists (London), PPCA Foundation and the Tait Memorial Trust. He has also benefited greatly from the guidance of artists such as Gavriel Lipkind, Karine Georgian, Bernard Greenhouse, Frans Helmerson, Heinrich Schiff, Ralph Kirshbaum, Gary Hoffman, Steven Isserlis and Ivry Gitlis. He is grateful for the use of a fine 18th Century Italian cello owned by the late R.A.G. Holmes AM.

Robert Gilder & Co.
91 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3PS
United Kingdom
Robert Gilder
Managing Director
e: rgilder@robert-gilder.com
p: +44 (0)20 7580 7758
f: +44 (0)20 7580 7739
Robert Gilder & Co.
91 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3PS
United Kingdom
Robert Gilder
Managing Director
e: rgilder@robert-gilder.com
p: +44 (0)20 7580 7758
f: +44 (0)20 7580 7739

Hoang Phan wins ABC Young Performer of the Year

The Young Performer of the Year for 2013 is Melbourne pianist Hoang Pham. The Tait Memorial Trust are delighted that Tait Awardees, Hoang and Stefan did so well in this prestigious competition. Congratulations to you both.

Stefan Cassomenos, Andrew Kawai and Hoang Pham all performed concertos in tonight’s grand final from the Melbourne Town Hall, accompanied by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

r1042449_12027059

For the concerto round Hoang performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1.

“I love Tchaikovsky and throughout competition I chose music I love,” he said shortly after performing.

“It’s always a thrill to play in with a symphony orchestra, especially in your home town.”

Hoang says he suffers from “extreme nerves” before performing but he accepts that it’s part of the job.

“It’s gotten easier over the years but not that much easier,” he laughs.

In his acceptance speech Hoang recounted first entering YPA in 2004 and not making the first round. His teacher told him that “time tells the truth about each musician,” and so he persisted.

He also thanked his girlfriend, former YPA winner and member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Ji Won Kim.

Pianist Stefan Cassomenos performed Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No 3.

“I feel very much at home playing concertos with orchestras,” he said after his performance.

“It’s really great music, the way it’s written for orchestra and piano,” says Stefan. “Not all concertos are like that,” he laughs, continuing to explain. “Some are written for piano as the central feature with the orchestra in the background.”

Catch up on any performances you missed via the competitor bio pages

Young Performers Awards 2013 Prizes

Best Recital Prize ($5000) – Andrew Kawai

Best Chamber Music Performance Prize ($5000) – Hoang Pham.

Best Performance of an Australian Work Prize ($5000) – Grace Clifford

Concerto Finalist Prize ($7500) – Andrew Kawai, Stefan Cassomenos

Young Performer of the Year ($25k) goes to Hoang Pham

undefined
Pianist Hoang Pham, Young Performer of the Year, 2013. Photo by Lucas Dawson

Written by ABC Classic FM

http://www.abc.net.au/classic/content/2013/10/12/3867867.htm

Connor Barlow – 3rd Year, English National Ballet School

The Tait Memorial Trust are delighted to support Connor Barlow for the 3rd year of his studies at the English National Ballet School. We support two other dancers in 2013, Calvin Richardson and Sophie Moffatt both at the Royal Ballet School.

Connor Barlow started dancing at a local Sydney School at age six; taking classes in all forms of dance. His teachers encouraged him to view dance as a challenging and athletic activity, as well as a performing art.

Connor Barlow, Ballet
Connor Barlow, Ballet

 

Connor attended The McDonald College of Performing Arts and began his classical ballet training under the guidance of Ms Josephine Jason and Mr Alan Cross in 2007. Later he joined the Australian International Ballet Academy and the Premier State Ballet, where he performed the lead role of ‘Basilio’ in their 2010 Production of Don Quixote.

In March 2011 Connor travelled to Europe to audition for several prestigious ballet schools and was accepted into the 3 Year ‘Diploma of Professional Dance’ at the English National Ballet School (ENBS), in London.

Since September 2011 Connor has been tutored by a number of renowned international ballet tutors under the direction of Samira Saidi. Some of the most significant tutors that has Connor has worked with include, Chris Wright, Ivan Dinev, Cynthia Harvey, Yohei Sasaki, David Wall and Alain Dubreuil.

With the English National Ballet School, Connor performed the lead in Kenneth MacMillan’s ‘Soiree Musicales’ and in Frederick Ashton’s Les Rendezvous and several original works by Nuno Campos and Stina Quagebeur.

In June 2013 Connor travelled to Fiori in Italy to represent the ENBS at the Dance Gala at the historic Treatro Alessandro Bonci in Cesena, performing the ‘Grand Pas Classique’.

When he is not dancing, Connor loves to surf with this Dad at Cronulla Beach in Sydney or read a good book.

Connor’s aim is to become a professional ballet dancer and / or choreographer, with a leading international ballet company.

We, at the Tait Memorial Trust, wish Connor well and hope the support that we have provided these past three years will make the journey to a professional career that much more easier.

Connor’s award is kindly provided by the Thornton foundation.