BURYANDRISE
Featuring:
The Consortium Premiere of Catherine Likhuta’s Bury and Rise - a tribute to the Ukranian spirit
Karel Husa, Concerto for Alto Saxophone (Isaac Reed, Saxophone) ... and other inspirational works for Wind Orchestra
Friday, 4 October, 7:30pm Queensland Conservatorium Theatre
Program
Aubrey Fanfare
Jack Stamp
Concerto for Alto Saxophone
Karel Husa
Isaac Reed, Saxophone
Barnum and Bailey’s Fractured Favorite
Karl King (Interval)
Presentation of Conservatorium Medals
Prof Bernard Lanskey
Always
Julie Giroux
Dr Jason Noble, Guest Conductor
Bury and Rise
Catherine Likhuta
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work.
We pay respect to the Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Conservatorium Wind Orchestra
The Queensland Conservatorium Wind Orchestra has enjoyed a long history of exciting and definitive performances, as one of Australia’s premier wind, brass and percussion ensembles. Under the baton of Professor Peter Morris, the ensemble continues to evolve within the everchanging trajectory of this relatively new art form. This ensemble continually strives to set the benchmark for performance across the nation presenting a vast scope of repertoire from time honoured masterworks to contemporary works from across the globe and innovative new commissions from local Australian composers.
This ensemble’s focus extends far beyond the walls of the QCGU, enriching and supporting the local community of composers, conductors, educators and school students. This development of new repertoire and focus on professional development for all who participate in this evolving art form continues to be an exciting pedagogical focus of the Queensland Conservatorium Wind Orchestra.
Program Notes
Aubrey Fanfare Jack Stamp is dedicated to the memory of Fisher Aubrey Tull (19341994) and is a celebration of his music and his wonderful gifts to the band world. His musical style ranges from neoclassical to the more experimental. His music is diverse, exhibiting rhythmically vibrant melodies, sonorities reminiscent of Bartok and Hindemith.
Concerto for Alto Saxophone Karel Husa
Karel Husa’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Concert Band is regarded as one of the great wind concertos of the 20th century. It is an atonal composition with an unusual and complex rhythmic language. This concerto features the rhythmic freedom and exploration of timbre found in many of the composer's works. Husa's non-traditional tonality and style of interplay between solo and accompaniment yields a unique musical conversation for the performers. The alto saxophone solo showcases an exceptional performer's range, articulation, technique, and lyricism. The accompanying ensemble parts call for finesse and require expert musicianship.
BarnumandBailey’sFracturedFavorite KarlKing King composed this march in 1913 and dedicated it to Barnum and Bailey's (Ringling Brothers) Circus - 'The Greatest Show on Earth'. King was twenty-two at the time and had just been accepted as a new euphonium player for the band. This arrangement was done by Thomas Leslie, known for his very entertaining bands at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. (We may have added a bit more tonight!)
Always Julie Giroux
Always was composed and completed in January, 2019, in memory of Janet Brown Noble (1944-2017), a devoted mother, wife, teacher, professor, and "Mama to all," who left this earth on Friday, July 21, 2017, after a courageous 20year battle with breast cancer. The work is dedicated to all those affected by cancer. The composer, the commissioning conductor, and several members of their respective families have been touched by cancer. In fact, Jason Noble, during the process of commissioning the work, was faced with a diagnosis of metastatic thyroid cancer in October, 2018 -his second battle with cancer.
Of the work, composer Julie Giroux says:
I wanted to create a work that fits a "slow" and reflective feel, but that only feels slow in the beginning and end. It is the metaphysical and cross dimension and connection we always have with those we love deeply. A loved one may be physically gone from this earth -- but we constantly feel them in our lives. And they with us, across time and space. We are connected forever, and we are never truly apart. Our journey with each other is forever.
Bury and Rise Catherine Likhuta
In February 2022, the world was shocked by Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine. My 60-year-old disabled mother lived in Kyiv at the time and did not survive the attack on the city. Later, I was approached by Dallas Winds with a commission request for a piece which would celebrate the stoic heroism of the Ukrainian resistance. I quickly realized that my brain has repressed many or most traumatic memories of these past few months. The start of the full-scale war and many of the subsequent developments felt absolutely surreal. Perhaps, it is only through music that I can express what I need to say about these events. There are no words to describe how important this commission is to me.
The piece features the key elements of Ukrainian folk music and its gutsy, almost tribal, yet wonderfully optimistic spirit. The capabilities of wind band fit perfectly with Ukrainian musical traditions -- from the band’s angular rhythms to its brilliant runs on woodwinds going up against heroic brass and colourful percussion.
The title of the piece, Bury and Rise, is a loose translation of a line from the iconic poem Zapovit (“Testament”, 1861) by Taras Shevchenko, arguably the most important artist for the Ukrainian identity. Shevchenko asks to bury him when he passes and then rise to defend the homeland. That is exactly what Ukrainians have done. Bury and Rise will be an ambitious project celebrating their spirit, their never-ending optimism against all odds, and -- as a news reporter recently put it -- their stamina as the fastest renewable energy source.
- Program Note by composer
Conservatorium Wind Orchestra
Concert Master
Liberty Prentice
Piccolo
Nathan Smith
Flute
Keisha Neale*
Laura Skorzewski
Thomas Mallet
Corina Palafox
Adeline Cassidy
Oboe
Liam Robinson*
Liam Bourke
Cor Anglais
Tina Gallo
Bassoon
Georgina Sinclair*
Marin Thompson
Patrick Martin
Val Yip
Contrabassoon
Layni Cameron
E-flat Clarinet
Annabelle Freeman
Clarinet
Liberty Prentice*
Bianca Cassiano
Angel Stevens
Gabrielle Thompson
Hinata Nishimura
Thom Fletcher
Hinata Nishimura
Thom Fletcher
Alto Clarinet
Jethro Caitens
Bass Clarinet
Jaye Lamb
Contrabass Clarinet
Hamish Cassidy
Soprano Saxophone
Rory Kelly*
Alto Saxophone
Nina Lane
Rory Kelly
Isaac Bell
Angus Bryer
Tenor Saxophone
Ella Bowmer
Abbygail Holmes
Baritone Saxophone
Emily Booij
Ryan Taylor
Bass Saxophone
Claire Challender
French Horn
Titan Sclavenitis*
Declan Mcgillicuddy
Craig King
Zachary Hayes
Trumpet
Brandon Ivers*
Mikaela Gonzalez
Rachel Redlich
Sophie Donohue
Megan Barber
Matthew Brown
Melissa Davies
Trombone
Matthew Redman*
Tristan Pofand
Joshua Sephton
Euphonium
Liam Reed*
Shonnae Mcintyre
Jacob Carter
Tuba
Drew Ferguson
Timpani
Andrew Udal
Percussion
Jaymee Homeming*
Sana Rane
Holly Tate
Thomas Quelhurst
Isaac Sim
Ewan Perkins
Piano
Carina Weder
Michael Anthrak
Harp
Ariel Chang
String Bass
Rylan Baird
Artists
Professor Peter Morris
Conductor
Peter Morris is a Professor in Conducting and Head of Ensembles and Production at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in Brisbane. He leads the orchestral conducting program and is a resident conductor of the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Musical Theatre pit orchestras and other interesting ensemble projects that arise.
Complementing his academic work, Peter is active professionally as a conductor for large-scale cultural projects, recording sessions for local film and TV and cross-genre events. Peter often works with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Southern Cross Symphony for contemporary projects, featuring collaborations with film, electronic music and new technologies. He’s been enjoying conducting large touring events and touring shows such as the national tour of Russell Morris: The Real Thing, Kate Ceberano’s My Life is a Symphony, the Beatles’ tribute All You Need is Love, and films such as The Man From Snowy River and Back to the Future in concert.
Peter is an advocate for commissioning new works and reimagining musical structures and has an enthusiasm for exploring exciting collaborations to create performances that matter.
Isaac Reed Saxophone
Isaac Reed is a passionate saxophonist and current Bachelor of Music (Honours) candidate under the supervision of Tim Munro and Dr. Martin Kay at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.
A Sir Samuel Griffith Scholarship recipient, Isaac was selected to perform at the prestigious 19th World Saxophone Congress in Gran Canaria, Spain, where he showcased a program of emerging and established Australian composers. He recently travelled to Gap, France to attend the Université Européenne de Saxophone and study under internationally distinguished saxophonists such as Claude Delangle and Nicolas Arsenijevic.
Performing with warmth, sincerity, and flair, he has appeared alongside renowned chamber group Ensemble Q, held principal positions in the Queensland Youth Symphony and multiple Queensland Conservatorium Ensembles, and won first prize at the 2023 Queensland Clarinet and Saxophone State Competition. In the future,
Isaac hopes to continue his studies abroad and further nurture his love for contemporary and improvised music.
Dr
Jason Noble
Guest Conductor
Dr. Jason Noble (he/him/his) currently serves as Associate Professor of Music at Lehman College, The City University of New York (CUNY), where he teaches graduate conducting, creative teaching strategies for Master of Arts (M.A.T.) students seeking New York State P12 music certification, and graduate and undergraduate music methods, materials, research, and analysis.
He concurrently serves in part-time adjunct roles at Columbia University (conductor, wind ensemble), New York University, and the Manhattan School of Music. His research interests include instrumental music education, neurodivergence in music education, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in music education, LGBTQIA+ studies in music education, and philosophies of music education.
A frequent invited conductor and speaker, he has conducted full-length concerts 21 times at Carnegie Hall and at many of the finest concert halls across the world on six continents, from Sydney, Australia, to Vienna, Austria, to Beijing, China. He holds degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University (Ed.D.C.T., College Teaching of Music Education), where he was the recipient of the Florence K. Geffen Endowed Fellowship, New York University (M.A., Music Education) and the Frost School of Music, University of Miami (B.M., Music Education, cum laude).
Catherine Likhuta Composer
Catherine Likhuta is a Ukrainian-Australian composer, pianist and recording artist. Her music exhibits high emotional charge, programmatic nature, rhythmic complexity and Ukrainian folk elements. Catherine’s pieces have been played extensively around the world, including highly prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Glyndebourne Opera House, Meyerson Center, numerous International Horn Symposiums and World Saxophone Congresses, as well as many festivals and conferences.
Her works have been commissioned and performed by prominent symphony orchestras and wind bands (such as Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Winds, The Ohio State University Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra of the National Radio of Ukraine), chamber ensembles (such as Atlantic Brass Quintet, Ensemble Q, ICE, Lyrebird Brass, NU CORNO and U.S. Army Field Band Horns) and soloists (including former presidents of the North American Saxophone Alliance Griffin Campbell and the International Horn Society Andrew Pelletier).
Catherine has held residencies at Tyalgum Music Festival, North Carolina NewMusic Initiative, University of Missouri Kansas City, University of Georgia, The Ohio State University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Cornell University, Syracuse University and other institutions. She is a two-time winner of the International Horn Society Composition Contest (virtuoso division) and a recipient of several awards, including University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award. Her music can be heard on Albany, Cala, Common Tone, Equilibrium, Mark and Summit Records.
QLD Conservatorium
Director
Professor Bernard Lanskey
Deputy Director (Learning and Teaching)
Associate Professor
Donna Weston
Deputy Director (Research)
Dr Alexis Kallio
Head of Ensembles & Orchestral Conducting
Professor Peter Morris
Professor of Opera and Orchestral Studies
Professor Johannes Fritzsch
Head of Strings
Associate Professor Michele
Walsh
Head of Woodwinds
Associate Professor
Tim Munro
Head of Brass
Associate Professor
Peter Luff
Head of Percussion
Rebecca Lloyd-Jones
Head of Composition
Dr Gerardo Dirie
Conservatorium Manager
Stuart Jones
Technical Team Leader
Cameron Hipwell
Front of House
Operations Manager
Michael Hibbard
Executive Officer (Engagement)
Dr Natalie Lewandowski-Cox
Program Coordinator (Ensembles) & Orchestra
Manager
Daniel Fossi
Operations Administrator
Clare Wharton
Technical Officers
Keith Clark
Amy Hauser
Len McPherson
Dylan Smith
Tobias Trstenjak
Venue Officers
Grace Royle
Joshua White
Joseph Gale-Grant
Administration Officer
Liz Tyson-Doneley
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
140 Grey Street, South Bank 4101 Concert enquiries: (07) 3735 6241 griffith.edu.au/music griffith.edu.au/queenslandconservatorium queenslandconser vatorium.com.au
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Archival footage shown is Public Domain and royalty-free All information correct at time of publication.
