John Curro Celebration Directors: Monica & Sarah Curro Adagio and Fugue, K546 in C minor
Mozart
Sinfonia No.6 in E-flat Major i. Allegro ii. Menuetto – Trio 1 – Trio 2 iii. Prestissimo
Mendelssohn
Serenade in E minor for String Orchestra, Op.20 i. Allegro piacevole ii. Larghetto iii. Allegretto
Elgar
Concerto for Two Violins and Strings - Final movement
Mills
Intermezzo for Cavalleria Rusticana Performers
Violin 1 Harry Egerton Robert Smith Scarlett Gallery Jordan Hall Liam Freisberg Emilia Jarvela Chae Eun Oh Violin 2 Sola Hughes James Tudball Georgina Chan Georgina Brindley Kevin Hsu Theonie Wang Miriam Niessl
Mascagni
Viola Daniel You Jeremy Egerton Julian Duthoit Sarah Hooton Sebastien Masel Harrison Brown Cello Francesca Masel Daniel Shearer Cindy Masterman Mya Whatson William Bland Double Bass Amelia Cherry Ethan May
JOHN CURRO MBE, AM, DUniv, had a long association with the Queensland Conservatorium. As a teacher, he was on staff for nearly half a century commencing around 1970, including 15 years as fulltime lecturer commencing in 1975. As Senior Lecturer during the 1980s he also held the position of Chair of Strings for several years. He continued teaching as a sessional lecturer until his final days, leaving a legacy of hundreds of past students including many who have enjoyed major career successes. As he had commenced as a violinist, but was later primarily a violist, he had particular insights into each instrument’s distinctive qualities and what is expected of viola students. In support of the latter objective, he personally instigated the John Curro Viola Prize in 1997. Soon after the Conservatorium opened in South Brisbane in 1957, John was performing there regularly in chamber music recitals presented there by external organisations such as Musica da Camera. His full-time appointment coincided with the campus move to Gardens Point, where he also presented many solo recitals including some accompanied by his wife Carmel. His lifelong involvement with chamber music both as performer and coach provided a clear role model for both colleagues and students. John Curro’s leadership of community orchestras, in particular the QYO, provided an additional platform for mentoring many school and tertiary age students. Within the Conservatorium, he directed numerous occasional ensembles throughout the 1960s, but his leadership of its Chamber Orchestra commencing in 1975 was particularly noteworthy. Such was the level of student interest that a second chamber orchestra had to be formed in the early 1980s. From this time Curro also directed the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, including much challenging repertoire and also works by student composers. He had a special interest in conducting opera, directing numerous Opera School productions across two decades up until 1998. Throughout his long association with the Conservatorium, John Curro was involved as instrumentalist or conductor in many official events including graduations, gala concerts, festivals and commemorations. In recognition of his service to the institution, the honorary title of Doctor of the University was conferred by Griffith University in 2004. As a trained architect, for which his graduation thesis was a proposal for a Conservatorium building, Curro had a keen sense of how acoustic design affects musical performance. His multifaceted nature was also evident in the various ways he contributed to the Queensland Conservatorium as teacher, string player and conductor.
This concert marks the start of a campaign to fund the continuation of the John Curro Viola Prize. To donate, please go to:
https://app.secure.griffith.edu.au/donations/info.php and select to support John Curro Viola Prize or follow the below QR code