EMERGING CONCERT ARTISTS AT MUSIC AND TEA AT WOLLONGONG ART GALLERY

Our ECAs are highly dedicated and passionate. Their freedom to curate without boundaries encourages innovative programming, including creating new compositions. Audiences are surprised and delighted by the outstanding levels, often virtuosic, and the depth and range of musicianship. Access to artistic excellence and innovative programming is particularly appreciated in regional communities. Our program offers an environment where sharing the joy of music is the emphasis, bringing to life the appreciation the broader community has for their music. Being paid provides an essential validation for their work - the concerts contribute to a progression path and nurture the possibility of a music career.

We respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country, Elders past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

PROGRAM

Prelude Emma Huang and Alexander Yau

Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 Op.26 Mvt. 1 Vorspiel: Allegro Moderato in G minor

Songs & Dances of the Bohemian & Viennese

Debussy Sonata for violin and piano in G minor L. 140

Prokofiev Five Melodies Op. 35

Ravel: Tzigane

Bach: Sonata for solo violin in C major no. 3 (I Adagio II Fugue) (15)

Schubert: Fantasie for violin and piano D. 934 25

MEET THE ARTISTS

Jimmy Park, an emerging young Canberra violinist, is pursuing his master's degree in violin under the renowned Pr. Ole Bohn at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Commencing his violin journey at the age of 5 under the tutelage of Koen Rens in Brussels, Belgium, Jimmy's journey with the violin began in the Suzuki Method. Relocating to Canberra, he studied with Rowan Harvey-Martin, receiving the 3rd Prize in the Animato International Violin Competition and becoming the youngest member of the 2014 Australian Youth Orchestra.

Jimmy then continued his music studies in the prestigious pre-university "Rising Stars" program at the Sydney Conservatorium under Pr. Bohn as a scholarship recipient. In 2015, he won the First Prize at the National Youth Concerto Competition, the Australian Composition Prize at the Kendall National Violin Competition, and the Most Promising Player Award at the Gisborne International Music Competition.

Jimmy's recent achievements include Fourth Prize in the 2023 Kendall National Violin Competition, First Prize at the 2022 Princess Galyani Vadhana International Ensemble Competition with the Elan Trio, and securing the 2nd Prize in the 2021 Whitworth-Roach ANU Classical Music Performance Competition. Notably, he advanced to the semi-finals of the prestigious 2023 Lipinski International Violin Competition. Having worked with renowned

violinists and pedagogues in masterclasses with Leon Spierer, Raine Sonne, Gregor Sigl, Sylvia Rosenberg, and others, Jimmy is a featured artist in the Oslo City Museum Concert series. His passion for chamber music resonates in recent performances, including renditions of the Schubert and Bruch Octets with members of the Metropolitan Opera and Cincinnati Orchestras in Brazil and an arrangement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 in Norway alongside members of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra.

An eminent pianist, Alexander Yau has developed himself as a versatile and serious musician, incorporating his many musical talents as a chamber musician, vocalist, clarinetist, conductor, composer, and music arranger. Pianist Balazs Szokolay writes, "His artistic taste is good enough not to make any kind of "show" even in the most brilliant parts of great masterworks."

A multiple-prize winner of many international competitions, he has appeared with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Queensland Symphony Orchestra, performing the first three piano concertos of Rachmaninov and the mighty Brahms Concerto no.2. He has been invited to perform in the Canberra International Music Festival, Government House, Polish the Embassy of Australia, Phoenix Central Park and City Recital Hall in Sydney, as well as international unique venues such as Grieg's home Troldhaugen in Norway, Villa Mosconi Bertani on the outskirts of Verona, Alice Tully Hall, Shanghai Expo, Google Headquarters in San Francisco, Alice Tully Hall and Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Lincoln Centre where he gave the US Premiere of Grete von Zieritz's Piano Sonata (1928) at the FOCUS festival last year.

Alex has been accepted to the Pehlivanian Professional Opera Academy, held in Slovenia from July 23rd to August 15th. He will work with Maestro Pehlivanian on Puccini's La Boheme and the Slovenia Festival Orchestra, conducting a tour of 10 concerts.

Attending this academy would be a life-changing experience and a starting point for Alex to develop a career overseas as a conductor. Therefore, he would be immensely grateful if you would consider donating any amount to fund his expenses to attend this academy in the European summer (including academy fee, housing and airfare). For more information and or to donate, please visit the Australian Cultural Fund

Emma Huang is a 17-year-old violinist from Wollongong. She loves sharing emotions and stories through her music. Starting her violin journey at the age of 4, Emma has been fortunate to learn under the guidance of several talented teachers, such as Sarah Hindson and Kyle Little. Her acceptance into the Sydney Conservatorium Rising Stars' Premier Program has allowed her to study under the renowned pedagogue Janet Davies, further enriching her musical journey.

Emma is grateful for the performance opportunities provided by her course and others, including the Riverina Summer School, Canberra Strings Festival, and Wollongong Eisteddfod. She has also performed in masterclasses for Dr Susan Collins, Barbara Jane Gilby, and Janusz Wawrowski.

In addition to solo performances, Emma enjoys collaborating with fellow musicians in ensembles. She has held concertmaster positions in the Sydney Youth Orchestra’s Strings Program, WollCon’s Powell Orchestra, the Riverina Strings Summer School’s Pini Orchestra and the Smiths Hill High School String Orchestra.

Emma values the efforts of all involved in bringing concerts such as this to life. She warmly invites you to share her passion for bringing music to life.

EMERGING CONCERT ARTIST SERIES - A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE AND PARTNERSHIP

This series is presented through a partnership between Wollongong Art Gallery and Inspire Music Australia. We sincerely appreciate the support that the Wollongong Art Gallery offers this program.

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