With the support of the Cooma-Monaro Arts & Cultural Activities Committee and South East Arts, we were successful at gaining funding for the project from Regional Arts NSW, through their Country Arts Support Program.

We have already received some wonderful expressions of interest from various individuals and groups interested in participating in the concert, and now we are inviting more.

Please contact the coordinating team…

• ·         If you would like to be part of the musical performance;
• ·         If you have any appropriate stories to share (war memories and stories from all around the world);
• ·         If you may be willing and able to lend appropriate imagery – paintings, photographs, uniforms for the event; or
• ·         If you would like to be involved in any other way!

Prospective performers, please send some details about yourselves:

• ·         The name of your group and your contact details
• ·         What kind of group it is – instrumental, vocal, both
• ·         How long you have been performing
• ·         Number of group members and their age range
• ·         What kinds of instruments you play, and the level of proficiency
• ·         Anything from your repertoire or collection which might be suitable for this concert
• ·         Any performance highlights, such as recordings
• ·         Anything else you think that might be helpful

A meeting of interested participants is planned for 19 May in Cooma – the time and venue will be confirmed.

Email us at coomaremembrance@hotmail.com OR write to Snowy Monaro Arts Council, PO Box 1260, Cooma, 2630 on or before Friday 11 May.

Experience the splendor and majesty of one of the greatest works written by George Frideric Handel.

(You don’t need to sing you can just come to listen and enjoy)

Soloists Elizabeth Shearer, Bronwyn Douglas, Robert Shearer and Joshua Burke will be accompanied by a chorus of local singers and chamber orchestra conducted by Rodney Clancy.

A limited number of Audience Tickets are now available at The Fabric Salon, 42 Vale Street, Cooma.

• $25 Adults
• $20 Concessions
• $15 SMAC Members
• $5 Children

Any tickets that might be left over will be sold at the door.

For Phone Bookings call 6452 3480

Sing Your Own Handel’s Messiah, Concert Details:

• When: Saturday 12 November 2011 Rehearsals from 9.00 am, Evening Performance 7.00 pm
• Where: St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, Commissioner Street, Cooma

The Soloist:
Elizabeth Shearer

Elizabeth Shearer has been studying voice for 9 years both privately and through the Queensland Conservatorium. She is currently undertaking her third year of a Bachelor of Music degree (Majoring in voice) under the direction of the acclaimed Professor Jan Delpratt.

Elizabeth has recently had roles in the Queensland Conservatoriums Production of two of Puccini’s one-act operas; Gianni Schicchi & Suor Angelica. She has also performed in the university’s production of Purcell’s Fairy Queen (2011), Massenet’s Cendrillon (2010), Handel’s Saul (2009), and the Val Machin Opera Scenes (2009, 2010). She has been a featured soloist at Albert St Uniting Church, soloist in the MTAQ highlights Queen St Mall (2010) and QPSR Carols On The Rails (2007).

She has performed as a member of chorus in Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, Mahler’s Second Symphony, Faure’s Requiem and Mozart’s Mass in C minor with the Brisbane Chorale and in an excerpt of Puccini’s Turandot as part of the Encounters Music Festival (2010).

Joshua Burke

Joshua Burke is a 3rd year student at the ANU’s School of Music and is studying under Rohan Thatcher. He is currently a scholar at the Wesley Uniting Church in Forest, ACT. As a student of the School of Music he has participated in the productions of Dido and Aeneas and the world premiere of Grimm and the Blue Crown Owl.
Joshua discovered his passion for singing when he got involved with his high schools A’Capella group and Barbershop Quartet. He wishes to continue his study of singing into the future

Robert Shearer

Robert Shearer is a gifted tenor and singing teacher. He commenced his studies in 1999, and has undergone extensive vocal training and music studies in some of Australia’s leading tertiary music institutions.
Robert received a Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, studying there with Adele Nesbit. Since then he has completed a Master of Music in Voice and Opera at the ANU School of Music under the tutelage of Stephen Bennett, during which time he was a Wesley Scholar. He is currently a student of heldentenor Glenn Winslade.
Robert has a great affinity with English art song and 20th century classical music, especially the works of Britten, Le Gallienne and Rubbra.
In 2009 he furthered his studies in correct vocal production by participating in Neil Semer’s Australian Vocal workshop; this workshop also helped to give him a wider view of the performance of vocal music.
In addition to singing, Robert has been composing since 2005 with a number of orchestral and vocal works to his name.

Proudly Presented by Snowy Monaro Arts Council

Adrian Reichenback tumbled on this old newspaper article yesterday. It shows Peter de Jager playing the piano at 7 years of age. His smiling face is reflected in the polished front of the piano. A nice little flash back in history don’t you think?

Well a now 21 year old Peter de Jager, a concert pianist and winner of the 2011 International Chopin Competition is coming to perform in his home town of Cooma on Sunday 6th November.

Sometimes dreams come true. Amazing, you couldn’t make this stuff up!

For more information about Peter de Jagers Cooma concert click here.

*When Peter de Jager was 7 we all called him PJ.

The Messiah - 12th November

Extra Messiah rehearsals with Leslie Spencer for the all singers (SATB) in the chorus are planned for:

Monday 31 October at 7.00 pm at the Old Cooma Railway Station (in Band Room)

Monday 7 November at 7.00 pm at St Pauls Anglican Church Hall, (behind the church in Commissioner Street)

Free of charge – All welcome.

Leslie has also been doing some more rehearsals for the individual parts. Please contact her for details. Mobile: 0428 907 510

For more information on Sing your Own Handel’s Messiah click here.

Map of Cooma CBD (Click to enlarge)

Peter de Jager performing at the International Chopin Piano Competition 2011

SNOWY MONARO ARTS COUNCIL INC.
MEDIA RELEASE

Peter de Jager Returns to the Home of his Childhood, Cooma

Accomplished pianist Peter de Jager is nearing the end of his second year of a Bachelor of Music at the University of Melbourne, majoring in composition. In August this year, aged only 21, Peter beat other Australian and international competitors to take out the top prize in the International Chopin Piano Competition.

And, not only did he win First Prize, but he was also awarded the People’s Choice Prize, the awards for Best Performance of the E Minor Concerto and Best Performance of a Chopin Nocturne or Etude, the Best Performance of a Mazurka and Best Performance of the Roger Smalley Variations.

Fifteen years ago Peter and his family were residents of Cooma, where Peterand his sister attended Cooma North Primary School. His mother Helen taught piano through Cooma School of Music.

Peter de Jager wins Chopin Piano Competition 2011 (from Canberra Times)

“It was obvious from a very early age that Peter was a gifted child with a remarkable musical talent,” said Allan Spencer of the School of Music, “He was totally in love with the piano.”

In 1997 the de Jager family moved away from Monaro. In Melbourne, Peter continued his study of the piano and achieved his Licentiate of Music at the age of just 11. The Licentiate is considered the highest diploma awarded by the Australian Music Examinations Board, and is rarely achieved by anybody aged below adulthood, often taking many years of study.

Snowy Monaro Arts Council is very proud to welcome Peter’s return to Cooma, when he gives a recital on Sunday 6 November at 3:00pm, at St Paul’s Anglican Parish Hall. Tickets for the performance are available from The Fabric Salon and also at the door prior to 3:00pm.

Map of Cooma CBD (click to enlarge)

Cooma Concert Details:

• When: Sunday 6 November 2011 at 3.00 pm
• Where: St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, Commissioner Street, Cooma
• Tickets: Adults $25, Concessions $20, Arts Council Members $15, School Students $5
• Pre-concert Ticket Sales available at the Fabric Salon, Vale St Cooma

This concert is presented by the Snowy Monaro Arts Council.

This year’s Young@Art was a great success. Young local musicians produced a wonderful concert of which they should be very proud. The Snowy Mountains Arts Council presented this concert. The SMAC have recently purchased a brand new Kaiwai grand piano and the new piano was another “star of the show”. This was the first ever performance for the new piano. This really is a wonderful instrument and an enormous addition to the vibrant music culture of this region.

Here’s an overview of the performances:

• Snowy Mountains Ensemble: T Susato – Danserye
• Louisa Wall, piano: A Khatchaturian – Etude
• Caitlin Ventura, flute: General John Reid – Sonata for Flute & Piano (Accompanist, Matthew Ventura, Piano)
• Cooma District Band Juniors: Rachel Stevenson, clarinet, Louisa Wall, clarinet, Emma Stevenson, trumpet, Tim Wall, trombone, Jared Sopnieski, trombone : O Hammerstein – Edelweiss & J Compello – Clarinet Capers.
• Lucy Wiles, piano: D Cimaroso – Sonata
• Magdalene Tugwell, clarinet: G Faure – Sicilienne (Accompanist, Judith Marriott, Piano)
• Dara Smith, classical guitar: P Houghton – Black Rose
• Miranda Evans, piano: M Mier – Steamboat Rag
• Magdalene Tugwell, clarinet and Lucy Wiles, flute: A Dvorak – Humoresque (Accompanist, Judith Marriott, Piano)
• Monaro High School Year 10 Music Class: Eagle Eyed Cherry – Save Tonight (Conductor Sarah Wall)
• Nicholas Tugwell, baritone saxophone: N H Long – Undercurrent Theme and Variations (Accompanist, Judith Marriott, Piano)
• Lucy Wiles, flute: C Debussy – Le Petit Negre (Accompanist, Judith Marriott, Piano)
• Kai Bakker, piano: M Reger- Fast zu Keck
• Alisha Brady, voice & guitar: T Reznor – Hurt
• Emma Ventura, violin: J F Mazas – Duet No 16 Allegro Risoluto (Accompanist, Jarka Sekker, violin)
• Niko Bakker, piano: F Chopin – Mazurka Op 67 No 4
• Matthew Ventura, flute: C Chaminade – Concertino for Flute and Piano (Accompanist, Glenyss Allen)

The Compere for Young@Art was Simon Allen.

Matthew Ventura

The Snowy Mountains Ensemble are:

Tina Rooney, Caitlyn Ventura, Tamara John-Natley, Bridie Mackay, Matthew Ventura, Maai Johnson, Molly Barrett,

Sarah Ventura, Roslyn Carroll, Peter Hickling, Emma Ventura, Maggie Shatrov, Bradley Ventura and Happi Human;

playing Violin, Viola, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet and Bassoon

The Open Day for playing the new SMAC piano will be Sunday 11^th September.  The piano will be available between 2.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m.  No bookings; first come, first served.

Open Day at St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, Commissioner Street, Cooma

Come and play the piano, or come and listen to others play it.  Enjoy a very informal afternoon.  No cost.

There will be a mix of items, from solos and duets through to ensembles, including the 14-member-strong Snowy Mountains Ensemble. The performers will play piano, woodwind, brass and string, and more, with pieces ranging from classical to ragtime to contemporary.

The annual Arts Council’s Young @ Art project provides an opportunity for talented young people from the Cooma-Monaro area to gain experience playing for a discerning audience.

This year, the pianists and accompanists will have the honour of playing the Arts Council’s brand new grand piano, installed atthe venue, St Paul’s Anglican Parish Hall only weeks ago.

Tickets to Young @ Art 2011 are available at The Fabric Salon, Cooma as well as at the door from 7:00pm on the day of the concert.

• When: Wednesday 3 August 2011 at 7.30pm
• Where: St Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, Commissioner Street, Cooma