Symphonic Winds 2023 Program

Conservatorium Wind Orchestra

SYMPHONIC WINDS

Friday 6 October, 7:30pm

Conservatorium Theatre

Stefanie Smith, Conductor

Program

Short Ride in a Fast Machine

by John Adams, arranged by Richard Saucedo

Sunlight by Sebastian Allan

WORLD PREMIERE

Four Grainger Songs arranged by Erika Svanoe

Soprano: Kira Dooner

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE

Sounds of a Rising Sun by Inge Dekker

Guest Conductor: Craig Kennedy

WORLD PREMIERE

Bin Chicken (The Ibis) by Emma Olsen

WORLD PREMIERE

Concerto for 4 horns and orchestra by Heinrich

Hübler arranged by Susan and Trevor Denyer

Horns: Jude Austin-Kaupe, Emma Rolfe, Alec Berg, Hannah Waterfall

Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein: A Modern Promethean Tango by Erika Svanoe*

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE

Program Notes

Short Ride in a Fast Machine

by John Adams, arranged by Richard Saucedo

Opening with a burst of barely contained exuberance is an insistent woodblock pounding out continuous quarter notes amid a whirling torrent of sound. The second of two fanfares composed in 1986, the other being Tromba Lontan or Distant Trumpet, Short Ride in a Fast Machine has quickly become one of Adams’ most oft-performed works. A brilliant example of musical minimalism, the piece draws the audience in with a hypnotic, repetitive rhythm and subtly swerves through a complex series of harmonic shifts and instrumental colour variations.

Adams’ soaring trumpet fanfare is a moment of ecstasy, before we feel the rest of the orchestra running the gauntlet through that rhythmic tunnel amid the mad rush of energy leading the composition, re-joining the full-throttle race to the end. About the title: ‘You know how it is when someone asks you to ride in a terrific sports car, and then you wish you hadn’t?’

Sunlight by Sebastian Allan

Student work |

World premiere

Sunlight depicts its namesake, enveloping the listener in its warmth. Sunlight is structured to illustrate the cyclical nature of the sun rising and setting, where each sunrise is a new chance for hope rising from the darkness. As such, a main theme is hope and renewal, revealed through the cycle of the sun. When the sun begins to rise again, several instruments have coinciding solos—clarinet, oboe, glockenspiel—with an echo in the flute, marking the beginning of a new cycle.

Sebastian Allan is a new composer in the Western Art Music tradition, having started composing during High School with his main influences being movie and video game soundtracks. He specialises in orchestral pieces and larger ensembles, most recently developing compositions for both wind and string orchestras. Sebastian has several works that have been performed including a piece titled Neoclassics, performed by Topology and Distance was performed by Joe Murphy. Sebastian is a local composer from Brisbane and is currently studying at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QCGU). He is an active member of Brisbane Brass Band 2 playing baritone horn.

Four Grainger Songs arranged by

Australian premiere

1. Early One Morning

2. Died for Love

3. The Two Ravens

4. British Waterside

Erika Svanoe

An arrangement for chamber ensemble and soprano voice. This arrangement was produced as an independent creative project during graduate study at Oklahoma State University.

Dr Erika Svanoe is a conductor, composer, and educator based near Minneapolis. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the Ohio State University, a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Oklahoma State University, and a Biomedical Engineering degree from the University of WisconsinEau Claire. Her first major work, The Haunted Carousel, won the 2014 NBA Young Band Composition Contest. Her other works have been featured at the Midwest Clinic, the American Bandmasters Association National Conference, the Boston New Music Festival, Wisconsin Public Radio and performed by The President's Own United States Marine Band. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her husband, designer and graphic novelist Erik Evensen.

Sounds of a Rising Sun by

Inge Dekker

Student work | World premiere

Sounds of a Rising Sun was inspired by positions of the sun during a sunrise. The piece is divided into four sections, each portraying an idea associated with sunrise. The work begins with a Morning Fanfare, introducing the joyful start to a new day. Woodwind instruments elicit a mellow timbre that paints the picture of a soft sunrise Behind the Clouds. This tranquil atmosphere slowly builds in intensity, as the sun gradually peaking above these clouds. When the sun is Above the Clouds triumphant brass, mirror the joyous opening. Desert Sun depicts the scurrying of desert animals under a burning sun. Sounds of a Rising Sun, received a Special Mention Award in the Australian Women’s Wind Band competition 2023.

Inge Dekker is a third-year composition student at the QCGU. Her musical journey started at an early age, always singing in school choirs, participating in musicals and playing the French horn. Currently, Inge plays horn in Brisbane Symphony Orchestra and is a member of Birralee Voices. Through these experiences, she fell in love with the way composers could tell stories through music, inspiring her to create choral music and programmatic orchestral works.

Bin Chicken (The Ibis)

by Emma Olsen

Student work | World premiere

Everybody knows the Ibis, one of the best adapted native birds for the urban environment. Some people rudely refer to them as ‘bin chickens’ because of their pesky behaviour hanging around bins, tables and picnic sites. But here in Southbank, Brisbane’s bin chicken capital, we are proud of our adaptable, feathered friends! Originally composed for beginner band, Bin Chicken (The Ibis) is just a bit of fun for everyone. This version features the French horns, in honour of their department mascot, the humble bin chicken.

Emma Olsen composed and performed her first piano piece when she was 10. However, it was playing trombone in her primary school band that ignited her passion for ensembles. At the age of 15 her first orchestral composition was performed at a regional music camp. It was these memories of musical collaboration and community that inspired her to return to music. Now studying composition at the QCGU, she recently won the 2023 Australian Women’s Wind Band Competition Award for Advancing Band Category and had a beginner band piece accepted for publication with Brolga Music.

Concerto for 4 horns and orchestra by Heinrich Hübler arranged by Susan and Trevor Denyer

Carl Heinrich Hübler was hornist in the Dresden Royal Court Orchestra. In October 1849 he was engaged in a private performance in the apartment of Johann Rudolph Lewy in Dresden of Robert Schumann's Konzertstück for four Horns and Orchestra (op. 86) with the composer in attendance. This event inspired Hübler so much that he composed his own Konzertstück for four horns and orchestra in 1856, it was later transcribed for wind orchestra by Susan and Trevor Denyer.

Hübler’s concert piece, like Schumann’s, is in three contrasting movements, Allegro Maestoso, Andante and Vivace. He gives the horns complex harmonies and revels in the possibility of faster chromatic passages. The slow movement commences with a lyrical theme, modulating into a minor key to provide a little romantic sturm und drang before relaxing back into the lyrical first theme. The final movement allows the horns to return to their joyful hunting horn origins, even calling for hand stopping during a slower passage where the solo first horn is joined by the other three. The first three chords return to conclude the piece.

Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein: A Modern Promethean Tango by

Erika Svanoe

Australian premiere

Imagine a scenario where the young author meets her own creation, the monster brought to life whom we colloquially refer to as Frankenstein. They meet, circling each other in a dance reflective of a tango. Mary is initially curious and sympathetic, while the creature pleads for compassion. In the moment when the two come together, Mary’s sympathy is overwhelmed by horror and she begins to panic, while the creature becomes furious with her rejection. With the final notes, we are left asking ourselves—who is the real monster?

Commissioned by Andrew Boysen Jr and the University of New Hampshire Wind Symphony.

Artists

Stefanie Smith Conductor

Stefanie works regularly with Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Brisbane Philharmonic and Brisbane Symphony Orchestras. Stefanie has been a semi-finalist in the Concurso Internacional de Dirección “Vila de Bétera” in Spain, and recently conducted at the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland in Glasgow. At QCGU Stefanie teaches the undergraduate conducting courses and regularly conducts the Wind Orchestra. At Young Conservatorium, Stefanie conducts the Symphony Orchestra and Wind Orchestra, where she aims to program new and diverse repertoire, work with young composers to develop pieces for bands and orchestras of all levels and has an interest in the multi-arts performance medium. Her passion for conducting has led to a Doctor of Musical Arts at QCGU, researching ‘Pathways to the Podium’ through examining the careers of emerging Australian conductors, in the hope that it will assist aspiring Australian conductors to forge a career on the world stage.

Craig Kennedy Guest conductor

Craig is the Head of Cocurricular Music at St Rita’s College where he leads and coordinates the staff and students in the College’s growing music program. Since 2020, he has been Co-Director of the Young Conservatorium Philharmonia Orchestra and he is currently completing his Master of Music Studies in Orchestral Conducting with Professor Peter Morris at QCGU. Craig is a regular conductor of school ensembles and has been engaged as a clinician and conductor at music camps in Brisbane and Sydney and as a guest conductor in the Open Conservatorium’s State Honours Ensemble Program.

Kira Dooner Soprano

Kira is a passionate operatic soprano currently completing a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice Performance at QCGU with Professor Lisa Gasteen AO. Kira is the recipient of many awards including the Wagner Society in Queensland Encouragement award (2022), Linda Edith Allen award (2022), Blanche and Hugh Campbell Award (2021) and Nora Baird Bursary (2020). She was selected as a 2022 Young Artist for the Lisa Gasteen National Opera Program where she performed the principal role of Barbara in Der Häusliche Krieg. She looks forward to joining the program again in 2023. Kira is also excited to be an artist with Voxalis Opera this year. At QCGU she has sung the roles of The Princess and Diana in Underworld, Celia in Iolanthe, Peaseblossom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mrs Buchanen in Street Scene and Chorus in Dido and Aeneas.

Jude Austin-Kaupe Horn

Jude grew up in Sydney, playing the trumpet from age eight and then picking up the French horn when he was 14. After a couple of years of deliberating between the two, he decided that nothing compared to the beautiful sound of the French horn. Jude is now in his second year of studies under Peter Luff and Ysolt Clark at QCGU. He has gained valuable experience playing with the Camerata Chamber Orchestra, Australian Youth Orchestra and touring to Montreal with Qhorns. Moving forward, Jude plans to continue his studies in Europe, start auditioning for orchestras and watch cute cat videos in his spare time.

Emma Rolfe Horn

Emma was chosen to play the horn at nine years of age as a part of their primary school band program in Beijing and hasn’t looked back since. After moving to Australia, they performed with the Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Australian Youth Orchestra, Ensemble Q orchestra, and numerous community orchestras in both Melbourne and Brisbane. Now in second year at the QCGU studying with Peter Luff and Ysolt Clark, Emma is a part of Qhorns, recent winners of the International Horn Society’s University Horn Ensemble competition in Montreal. In the future Emma hopes to travel, study abroad in Europe and perform professionally with orchestras. When not playing the horn, Emma is probably getting a new tattoo.

Alec Berg Horn

Born in Sydney, Alec started playing the horn by pure chance when he was nine years old. Since then, he has not wanted to do anything else. Currently in his second year of studies at QCGU, he was a member of the Australian Youth Orchestra for the 2023 National Music Camp, and the Autumn and Winter seasons in Perth and Sydney. He travelled to Montreal with QHorns in July, winning the University Ensemble competition. He recently became a casual player with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and toured with them to Cairns in September. After completing his degree, Alec dreams of playing in an orchestra somewhere in Europe. When he’s not practicing, you can usually find him asleep on his sofa.

Hannah Waterfall Horn

Hannah started playing the horn at the age of nine and instantly fell in love, even though it wasn’t her first choice. Although the horn community in Toowoomba is small, she continued finding opportunities to play wherever she could. She became a member of the Toowoomba Concert Orchestra at the age of 14 and completed many State and Australian Honours Ensemble Programs as well as Young Conservatorium programs. Hannah is now in her second year of study at QCGU, under the tutelage of Peter Luff and Ysolt Clark. She recently travelled to Montreal with QHorns and regularly plays with community orchestras around Brisbane. After graduating, Hannah hopes to travel and experience the many cultures, lifestyles and music from around the world. When she’s not playing the horn, Hannah is usually covered in flour or paint from baking or doing something crafty.

Alec, Jude, Emma, and Hannah want to thank Peter Luff and Ysolt Clark for their continual guidance, mentorship, and support.

Queensland 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 Associate Professor Peter Morris, the ensemble continues to evolve within the ever-changing 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.

Orchestra List

Piccolo

Bonnie Gibson*

Flute 1

Aaryn Wong*

Neve Randall

Keisha Neale

Flute 2

Nathan Smith*

Christian Smith

Oboe

Liam Robinson*

Jade Wolter

E-flat Clarinet

Liberty Prentice*

Clarinet 1

Hinata Nishimura*

Hamish Cassidy

Clarinet 2

Amy Kubler*

Hugo Anaya Partida

Angel Stevens

Clarinet 3

Jan Rybka*

Bianca Cassiano

Alto Clarinet

Bianca Cassiano*

Bass Clarinet

Angus Hall*

Bassoon

Mairin Thompson*

Jake Busby

Horn

Jessica Piva*

Hannah McLellan

Lachlan Smith

Rhiannon Hurn

Trumpet 1

Nicholas Jones *

Ethan Kircher

Trumpet 2

Megan Barber*

Tennyson Hall

Orchestra List

Trumpet 3

Rachel Redlich*

Mikaela Gonzalez

Trombone 1

Hannah Thomson*

Trombone 2

Lauren Porteous*

Bass Trombone

Ethan Parfoot*

Euphonium

Jacob Carter*

Tuba

Ryan Collier*

Harriet Dummett

Timpani

Connor Dinneen*

Percussion

Jaymee Homeming*

Brayden Jealous

Caitlin Hermann

Andrew Udal

Mikaela Thomsen

Quinn Ramsey

Soprano/Alto Saxophone 1

Isaac Reed*

Alto Saxophone 2

Rory Kelly*

Tenor Saxophone

Ryan Park*

Baritone Saxophone

Abbygail Holmes*

Bass Saxophone

Emily Booij*

Contrabass

Alyssa Deacon*

*Principal player

Special thanks

Special thanks to Queensland Conservatorium supporters and donors.

Philanthropy plays a vital role at Queensland Conservatorium. Only through your support can our students experience valuable learning opportunities through productions such as this one. To invest in the future of music and performance in Queensland, contact us on (07) 5552 7218 or email giving@griffith.edu.au.

Queensland Conservatorium thanks our generous donors and supporters. We would like to acknowledge our instrument bank donors supporting the students in tonight’s performance.

Make a donation

Conservatorium staff

Director

Professor Bernard Lanskey

Deputy Director (Engagement)

Professor Peter Morris

Deputy Director (Learning and Teaching)

Associate Professor

Donna Weston

Deputy Director (Research)

Dr Alexis Kallio

Head of Strings

Michele Walsh

Head of Woodwinds

Associate Prof Paul Dean

Head of Brass

Associate Prof Peter Luff

Head of Percussion

Rebecca Lloyd-Jones

Conservatorium Manager

Stuart Jones

Technical Team Leader

Cameron Hipwell

Front of House

Operations Manager

Michael Hibbard

Executive Officer (Engagement)

Dr Natalie Lewandowski-Cox

Ensembles

Program Coordinator

Daniel Fossi

Operations Administrator

Clare Wharton

Technical Officers

Keith Clark, Amy Hauser, Len McPherson

Venue Officers

Grace Royle, Joshua White

Administration Officer

Liz Tyson-Doneley