newsletter

Number 15 March 2016

Songs in English Saturday 12 March at 7:30pm

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From ASP President Dr Harry Cohen

Dear members and friends

Welcome to our 2016 recital series and first newsletter for the year.

We’re very much looking forward to our opening recital on 12 March starting at 7:30pm. It will be a celebration

of songs in English, for many years the poor relation in recitals and so often neglected in favour of French

mélodie, or German lieder. Booking details for this, and other forthcoming recitals are on page 3.

We are delighted once again to be at the beautiful Church of the Resurrection in Swanbourne for most of our

recitals this year, but as you will notice, we are also venturing a little further afield, to St Paul’s Church,

Mirrabooka in September, and the Government House Ballroom in May, for a special Sunday afternoon recital

featuring the WAAPA Classical Voice students. This is an exciting new collaboration and we wish to thank Music

Director and WAAPA’s Head of Classical Vocal Studies Patricia Price for making it possible.

Following the large interest in the 2015 Evelyn and Ralph Thompson Memorial Scholarship, which attracted a

record number of applications, we have decided to maintain it as an open competition. We would also like to

maintain an attractive prize pool, which offers real benefits to aspiring young artists. In order to do this, and

ensure the Scholarship remains on a secure financial footing, we are seeking ways to encourage more public -

and hopefully corporate - financial support . All donations, no matter how small, would be warmly appreciated.

And if you think you can assist at a corporate level, please contact us. More information is on page 6.

There are many on whom we depend for their generous support and assistance, but I wish to thank especially

Father Nick Freeland and the Anglican Parish of Swanbourne - Mt Claremont for the use of their wonderful

venue and facilities; Eddy Eau and the team at Square18.com for the

design and maintenance of our website; Sheng Shen of Mozart’s

Patisserie who has kindly offered again to supply pastries for the post-

recital suppers; Ali Biddiscombe, of Aligator Media, for her enthusiasm

and advice; and Nigel Penfold, for the auditing of our accounts.

I look forward to seeing you on 12 March for another wonderful year of

music.

Dr Harry Cohen AM

President

2016 recital series

Please note these important dates—and venues—in your diaries. 7:30pm Saturday 12 March Church of the Resurrection, Swanbourne 3:00pm Sunday 29 May Government House Ballroom, Perth 7:30pm Saturday 23 July Church of the Resurrection, Swanbourne 3:00pm Sunday 11 September John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School, Mirrabooka 7:30pm Saturday 8 October Church of the Resurrection, Swanbourne

Evelyn and Ralph Thompson Memorial Scholarship 7:00pm Saturday 22 October Church of the Resurrection, Swanbourne

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Carly’s Christmas

“I think that the art of a recital really shows what a singer can do... Each song is a little scene in itself, and you

can do so much more with your voice in a recital. You don't have the orchestra, and you don't have the

distraction of the stage and all that, so you can take those pictures with your voice. It requires more subtle use

of the voice, both in dynamics and in expression, and then colours.”

Mattiwilda Dobbs 1925-2015 (Humphreys, Garry. "Mattiwilda Dobbs: Pioneering Soprano Whose 1950s Appearances Helped Break Opera's Colour Barrier." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 2015. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.)

Carly Power, Art Song Perth committee member and winner of the Evelyn and Ralph Thompson Memorial

Scholarship 2015, spent the Christmas season in London after traveling to the UK for Masters auditions. Carly

auditioned for a place at the University of York as well as the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London

and received offers from both schools. She will be heading back to Europe in April for more auditions before

making her decision. Carly plans to study a Masters of Music in Historical Performance specializing in Baroque

singing. The scholarship Carly received from Art Song Perth last year assisted greatly in funding flights and

accommodation for this trip.

The audition process was both fun and nerve wracking. My first audition was in York and I was very kindly

hosted by Robert Hollingworth, one of the Professors I was auditioning for. He invited me to stay with his

family. I managed to repay him by helping his nine year old daughter with her trumpet practice! While in York

I got to sit in on some classes at the University, went to a choral concert and watched the Baroque Ensemble

rehearse. It was a wonderful and welcoming place but definitely cold.

As well as auditioning I got to visit friends and family. I stayed in Cambridge, where my sister is currently

studying and went to Evensong at Kings College – words cannot express how incredible the music was! I also

tried my hand at punting and managed to stay dry.

I caught up with lots of Perth singers in London and had a jolly Christmas hosted by Daniel Mullaney with

many well known ex WAAPA faces there. We had a lot of fun caroling in the lounge room and attempting to

play carols with hand bells.

I also went to Germany to practice my language skills and visited lots of Christmas markets where I indulged in

Glühwein – after the auditions were over of course! It was a

wonderful and successful trip. Now that I am home I am

preparing for the forthcoming recital on 12 March.

Carly Power

The art of a recital

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7:30pm Saturday 12 March Songs in English

Dedicated to songs in English, in all their rich variety of mood and expression. From Maynard and Purcell to Britten and Walton, to Ives and Heggie, we’ll bring you songs from the bawdy to the beautiful, from reflective to romantic, with many moods and musical stories for your musical pleasure.

Featuring sopranos Emma Pettemerides and Carly Power, baritone Kristin Bowtell, with Marilyn Phillips, piano, Makoto Harris Takao, viola da gamba, and Aidan Deasy, lute.

Venue: Church of the Resurrection

Tickets: ASP member $25 | Full $35 | Concession $30 | Full-time student $20

Bookings: http://www.trybooking.com/IGNM

7:30pm Saturday 23 July

A Walk to the Field of Stars Distinguished Melbourne soprano—and a patron of Art Song

Perth—Merlyn Quaife takes us on a pilgrimage in words and

song as she shares her experience of walking the Camino de

Santiago in 2006.

Venue: Church of the Resurrection

Tickets: ASP member $25 | Full $35 | Concession $30 | Full-time student $20

Bookings: http://www.trybooking.com/KJRO

3:00pm Sunday 29 May

An Autumn Afternoon of Song An afternoon of beautiful music in the Government House Ball-

room, featuring art song and vocal ensembles from opera and

oratorio. In this collaboration between Art Song Perth and

WAAPA, classical voice students, accompanied by piano, will

explore the rich diversity of the vocal repertoire.

Venue: Government House Ballroom

Tickets: ASP member $40| Full $50 | Concession $45 | Full-time student $35

Bookings: http://www.trybooking.com/JVXJ

Coming recitals

Concessions Please note that to be eligible for concession price, you must hold one of the following: Pensioner Concession Card; Totally and Permanently Inca-

pacitated Pensioner Card; War Widow or Veterans’ Affairs Card; Health Care Card (does not include Commonwealth Seniors Health Card). Seniors

Card holders are not eligible.

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Our venues

Church of the Resurrection, Swanbourne Consecrated originally in 1928 as St Oswald's, an English Victorian style Church with a jarrah wood extension serving as a chancel, the Church was devastated by fire in 2004, leaving it entirely gutted, with little surviving but the three original ornate brick walls - propped up by huge metal pillars as the church languished for seven years. But as two parishes came together in community engagement and resource - the former St Oswald's parish and that of St Michael and All Angels, Mount Claremont - a new vision was born.

In June 2011 the new Church of the Resurrection was consecrated by Archbishop Roger. A building that stunningly combines the old and the new, the traditional and the contemporary, this is a place flooded in light, with a simple, yet inspiring contemporary interior. Local artists, craftsmen and woodworkers were employed to design and create the feature pieces of the Church, including the stunning suspended tabernacle, two beautiful altars - one of Italian glass and the other in Rosso Levanto marble; a compelling processional cross; and some beautiful walnut wooden pieces (including the lectern and the presider's chairs). Part of the vision for the new Church - now also comprising a modern Community Centre with state of the art facilities - was that it would become a centre for musical excellence. With its soaring spaces and wonderful acoustics, it has been a draw for Perth's musical scene.

St Paul’s Church, Mirrabooka John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School, Western Australia's largest independent school, shares its chapel with the Anglican Parish of St. Paul's, Mirrabooka. Commissioned in May 1999, this landmark structure in Perth's northern suburbs combines clean, modern lines with warmth and resonance. Its reverberation has made it attractive to many of WA’s top musicians, who perform there with increasing regularity. Singers, in particular, enjoy its resonant features. The school's Department of Music regularly hosts Sunday afternoon recitals, which are as much a showcase of the Chapel's acoustic properties as they are of the artist's talent.

Government House Ballroom, Perth The present Government House is the second to be built on the site and was completed in 1864 to designs by Richard R Jewell. The Ballroom, designed and built under the supervision of the Government Architect John M Grainger in 1899, is a large proportioned space in the Classic Revival style, somewhat different from the Gothic Revival style of Government House itself. A Supper Room of the same dimensions as the Ballroom is located downstairs. The Ballroom has been the scene of many grand occasions such as receptions, balls for visiting Royalty, and investitures by the Queen and Governors. It is on the State Register of Heritage Places.

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The purpose of the fund

The purpose of the fund is to support the continuing

education of young and emerging artists in the field

of art song.

All donations to the fund will contribute to the

Evelyn and Ralph Thompson Memorial Scholarship,

an annual scholarship awarded to a singer or

accompanist showing outstanding potential for

further study in Australia or overseas.

More details about the Scholarship are available at

http://www.artsongperth.org.au/scholarship.html

Evelyn and Ralph Thompson

Evelyn Thompson was a dedicated organist, choir

director, accompanist and teacher of piano and

singing. She and her husband Ralph worked tirelessly

for the promotion and training of young musicians.

The annual scholarship is dedicated to their

memory.

Payment options:

EFT

Account name: ERTM Scholarship Fund

BSB: 302-162

Account number: 0888337

Please write your name in the transaction

description.

Cheque

Cheques should be made payable to the “ERTM

Scholarship Fund”

Cash

Cash donations may be made at any recital.

Tax deductibility

The Lieder Society of WA Inc. (trading as Art Song

Perth) is endorsed by the Australian Tax Office as a

deductible gift recipient. It is registered with the

Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission.

Donations above $2 are tax deductible. Receipts will

be provided for all donations over this amount.

All donations will be recorded on a register, and

donations of $50 or more acknowledged in recital

programmes. Donors may also, of course, elect to

remain anonymous.

Evelyn and Ralph Thompson Memorial Scholarship Fund

Mr Mrs Ms Other (please specify)

First name

Surname

Address

Suburb Postcode

Telephone

Mobile

Email

I wish to donate $..............

All donations of $50 or more are acknowledged in Art

Song Perth’s recital programmes unless you tick the

box below.

I wish to keep my donation anonymous.

Please complete this form, and post to:

Secretary

Art Song Perth

PO Box 73

North Fremantle

WA 6159

If donating by EFT, either complete the print form, or

use the online form at

http://www.artsongperth.org.au/donate.html

Evelyn and Ralph Thompson Memorial Scholarship Fund

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Soprano Elena Perroni, who performed for Art Song Perth with Aldo Di Toro and Sitevani Talei in 2010, is well on the way to achieving her ambition to become an established opera singer and live her dream of performing in major opera houses around the world. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Music from WAAPA in 2011, she has completed a Master of Music at the Manhattan School of Music (2013) and is currently enrolled at Curtis institute of Music, Philadelphia, completing a Master of Music in Opera. Curtis is renowned for being the most selective higher learning institution in the US. All pupils attend on full scholarship and admission is extremely competitive, granted only to the number of students necessary to fill a single orchestra and opera company - 150 to 170 students. Elena is the first Australian to be accepted into the Opera Department. Forthcoming engagements include her debut with Opera Philadelphia with Lawrence Brownlee in Charlie Parker's Yardbird; Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) at Curtis; Gilda (Rigoletto) at Chautauqua Institute; and Shéhérazade (Shéhérazade) with Curtis on tour. Past roles at Curtis include Manon (Manon); Anne Trulove (The Rakes Progress); Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi); Adina (L'elisir d'amore); and Najade (Ariadne auf Naxos).

Elena Perroni in Philadelphia

L-R: Bonnie de la Hunty, Madeleine Joyce, James Rhoads, Marilyn Phillips. London, November 2015.

Perth RAM students with a longtime past RAM student

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ART SONG PERTH Postal: PO Box 73 North Fremantle WA 6159 | Telephone: 9339 8781 Email: secretary.artsongperth@gmail.com | http://www.artsongperth.org.au Join us on facebook.com/artsongperth | Follow us on Twitter @ArtSongPerth

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Please join us!

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2016

Notice is hereby given that the twenty-fifth Annual General Meeting of the Lieder Society of WA Inc.

(trading as Art Song Perth) will take place on Saturday, 19 March 2016, at 2:00pm in the coffee

lounge at King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, on the ground floor, near the Main Entrance.

Positions open for election are President, Vice-president, and three committee positions.

Nominations for these positions should be sent in writing, signed by the Nominator and the Nominee

(signifying their willingness to stand for election) no later than Wednesday 16 March 2016, to the

address below.

A reminder that membership subscriptions for 2016 are now due.

By becoming a member, you assist in the promotion and performance of art song. Membership fees help

support our annual recital series, as well as the Evelyn and Ralph Thompson Memorial Scholarship.

Member benefits include:

Tickets to recitals at concession prices (members pay $25 compared with $35 for non-members)

Priority booking for special events

To become a member print the membership application form available online at http://

www.artsongperth.org.au/membership.html and forward with payment to:

The Secretary

Art Song Perth

PO Box 73

North Fremantle WA 6159

Or complete the online form at http://www.artsongperth.org.au/membership.html . No postage required!

Membership fees Single $30 | Double $50 | Concession $15

Please note that to be eligible for concession price, you must hold one of the following cards:

Pensioner Concession Card;

Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Pensioner Card;

War Widow or Veterans’ Affairs Card;

Health Care Card (does not include Commonwealth Seniors Health Card).

Seniors Card holders are not eligible for concession prices.

Please enclose a photocopy of the applicable concession card with your membership application form.