Folk Music Masterclass
The GMTA is excited to announce that Cathy and Catie will be conducting this Workshop for students with focus being on playing folk music.
Cathy & Catie are a Geelong-based mother–daughter string duo with extensive experience in both classical and Celtic folk music. Cathy Blake is an accomplished violinist, violist, and educator with over 40 years of teaching and performing experience, including long-standing involvement in music camps, orchestras, and folk festivals across Australia. Catie Alison (Martin) is an award-winning cellist and singer-songwriter who has toured internationally, released original music, and performed widely across folk and contemporary settings.
In this workshop, participants will explore Irish, Scottish, and selected American folk music, developing melody, harmony, rhythm, and ensemble skills. Tunes will be taught by ear, with supporting sheet music provided, and the class is suitable for a wide range of instruments including violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, Irish whistle, Celtic drum, harp, accordion, and mandolin
Historically informed performance (HIP) masterclass
The GMTA is excited to announce that Shane Lestideau will be conducting this Workshop for students with focus being on playing Baroque, Classical & Romantic compositions. Further information regarding the format of this workshop to follow.
DATE & VENUE TO BE CONFIRMED String Masterclass with Josephine Vains
The GMTA is delighted that Josephine Vains has accepted an invitation to facilitate the String Masterclass. The Masterclass will be opened up to string players who have reached 5th Grade level and up.
A little about Josephine:
Josephine Vains is an Australian cellist, chamber musician and educator, with a performance career encompassing modern and historical cello. An adventurous spirit has taken her to some far-flung concert venues - from a 1000-year-old cave in the heart of China to mountain-top Bach in the French Alps. These days she performs throughout Australia and beyond with Firebird Trio, Accademia Arcadia, Elysium Ensemble, Ensemble Old & New, Gryphon Baryton Trio, Imaginista Quartet, Melbourne Baroque Orchestra and CellOZ. A regular collaborator with living composers, she has recorded on modern and period instruments for Resonus Classics, DRS2 (Switzerland), ABC Classics, Tall Poppies and HUSH. Josephine relishes working with the cello and chamber music students as staff at Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne. A passion for string pedagogy has led to her presenting classes and lectures for AUSTA and VMTA, as well as ongoing work as a senior cello examiner with the AMEB and consultant for the new AMEB Cello Syllabus.
www.josephinevains.com
Piano Masterclass 1 & 2
The GMTA is delighted to present two piano masterclasses to be run consecutively.
Teresa Lavers will facilitate a session for levels 3rd, 4th or 5th grade level of performance.
Sonya Mason will conduct a class for pianists who have reached 6th grade and above.
Please watch this space for further information.
Jazz Workshop
The GMTA is excited to announce that Ari Farrar will be conducting this Workshop for students with focus being on introduction to improvisation.
“ Hailing from Shepparton, Victoria, Ari fell in love with music through his high school music program and local brass band. He moved to Melbourne to pursue his musical studies and upon graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2002, has worked as a professional trumpet player and vocalist with a range of orchestras, ensembles and bands, both nationally and internationally. Highlights have included The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Dancing with the Stars Orchestra, Australia’s Got Talent, The TV Logie Awards, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, The Cat Empire, Human Nature and Tex Perkins. In 2006, Ari completed his postgraduate studies in education at The University of Melbourne, and in 2015, graduated from their Master of Music programme. " (Ref: https://www.gsmc.org.au/copy-of-about)
Piano Masterclass with Libby Mitchell
The GMTA is delighted that Elizabeth Mitchell will be conducting this Masterclass for students
who have reached 3rd, 4th or 5th grade level of performance.
Elizabeth Mitchell gained Bachelor of Music and Master of Music
degrees from the University of Melbourne and holds a PhD from the
same university. In Australia, and during four years of overseas study,
she gained extensive experience as a piano soloist and chamber
musician, but has focussed on teaching since her return to Australia.
For over two decades she was a member of the full-time staff of the
Victorian College of the Arts and then the University of Melbourne,
teaching piano at undergraduate and graduate levels, and coordinating
academic programs.
Elizabeth gives frequent masterclasses and workshops for various
organisations, and adjudicates throughout Australia. She is an AMEB
Federal Examiner in both practical and written subjects and is a Life
Member and Past President of the Victorian Music Teachers’ Association.
Piano Masterclass with Regina Thomae
Regina studied Instrumental Music Education with Piano as a Major in Hannover, Germany.
In 1996 she moved to Australia and completed a Masters in Music Performance at the University of Melbourne with Ronald Farren-Price.
In 2017, Regina took further studies with Daphne Proietto and the ‘Keys of Life’ foundation; she has a growing interest in teaching piano to students with a neurodivergence.
Regina performs regularly as a chamber musician, playing piano or singing in choirs.
She is a founding member of The Kammermusik Collective, a collaboration of musicians with a love for chamber music who perform in the area on a regular basis.
Regina is currently Head of Keyboard at Christian College Geelong and has a passion for developing the love of playing music in young people.
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting
Followed by afternoon tea.
All are very welcome.
Geelong Chamber Music Society
Affinity Quartet
At the 2023 Melbourne International String Quartet Competition Affinity Quartet was awarded the Audience Prize, the Robert Salzer String Quartet First Prize, and the Monash University Grand Prize; the first Australian group to win the competition in its 32 year history. Enough said!
Geelong Chamber Music Society
Antoinette Halloran and Patrick Lawrence
One of Australia’s most accomplished and best-loved sopranos, Antoinette performs regularly with major opera companies and orchestras. Antoinette appears with accompanist Patrick Lawrence.
String Workshop # 1
Michael Loftus-Hills is a Melbourne based violinist, pianist, violin teacher and Alexander Technique teacher who has worked primarily with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 1996 and teaches violin and the Alexander Technique at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and the Alexander Technique at the Australian National Academy of Music. From 2009-2012, Michael was the Head of Strings at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne. he is a teacher of all levels and has directed many workshops for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s “Outreach” program, its education arm, including as Artistic Director of the “Pizzicato Effect”; an El Sistema inspired program. he has managed and performed for the Musica Viva schools program with the string quartet “Strung Out” and was the consultant editor for the Seies 9 Violin syllabus for the AMEB. He is an AMEB examiner and adjudicates at competitions around Melbourne He tutors for the Australian Youth Orchestra, Border Music Camp in Albury, and is an orchestral mentor at Monash University. Many of his past students have gone on to win scholarships and professional playing jobs in Australia, New Zealand and England and have won chamber music awards including first prize at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition. He has started two chamber music series: one at Epsom House outside Hobart and another in. Tribeca, New York where he has given recitals with Amir Farid and performs on piano with MSO violinist Isin Cakmakcioglu. Their latest album is Souvenirs Nostalgiques (2022) is on Spotify. He also is the second violinist in the Eroica Quartet. Through his years with the MSO he has toured to Europe, China, Russia and America and on many round trips of Victoria. In 2017, a neck injury from playing lead him to three years of full-time study in the Alexander Technique and became accredited as a teacher and has attracted players and teachers of all instruments from around Australia. He also enjoys working with in all areas of mastery and also in helping people perform the more mundane movements of life more easily and without pain. He is currently applying it whilst trying to lower his golf handicap, with mixed results.
Geelong Chamber Music Society
Jason Gillham
Jayson’s career from Dalby (QLD) to London is a fairytale. He now claims international status and is regarded as one of the finest young pianists. First time in Geelong, Jayson is renowned for Chopin and Romantic repertoire, he also delivers Bach to dazzle!
Geelong Chamber Music Society
Melbourne Chamber Orchestra
MCO have been with us from the start. Immaculate is a good word for this amazing orchestra who present concerts of exceptionally quality. They are truly a Melbourne treasure and leaders in the ensemble music world.
Piano Masterclass # 1
Mark Kruger is a prizewinner in the Orleans International Piano Competition and his performances have been acclaimed around the world. His Spanish debut was hailed by El Pais as “brilliant both technically and musically… it was the revelation of a great artist”, his Purcell Room performance of the ‘Concord’ Sonata by Charles Ives for the Park Lane Group was described as “hugely impressive” in The Times, showing a “command of pianistic colour in everything from the clanging chords to the dusky musings”, whilst a performance of Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto in Melbourne was hailed by The Age as “masterful”.
Mark holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Melbourne where he performed Chopin’s 24 Etudes in a single recital.
He has appeared on television and radio in Europe, Canada, Asia and Australia. International festival appearances include the Saint Ricquer Festival in France, the Festival Ensems in Spain, the Melbourne International Festival, the Melbourne International Brass Festival, the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, and the Brisbane Biennial.
Geelong Chamber Music Society
Ensemble Liasion
Described by Limelight magazine as a ‘national treasure’, Ensemble Liaison is one of Australia’s leading internationally acclaimed ensembles. They are renowned for their captivating and engaging performances, appealing to all audiences.
Beethoven Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano op.11
Bruch Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano op.83 (selections)
de Falla Siete Canciones populares Españolas (arr. Ensemble Liaison)
Piazzolla Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (arr. Ensemble Liaison)
Gershwin/Frolov Concert Fantasy on Themes from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess