The St James' Lunchtime Concert on Wednesday the 9th of October at 1:15pm is Russian Cello and Piano works presented by Hikaru Fuminashi - Cello and Agus Sandjaya - Piano. Tickets are $10.

Programme:

Cello Sonata No.2, Op.81 - Nicolai Myaskovsky (1881-1950)

Vocalise Op.34 No.14 (arranged for cello and piano) - Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)

Pezzo Capriccioso Op.62 - Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Hikaru Fuminashi began his studies on the cello when he was eight, at the Sydney Conservatorium’s Open Academy with Rosalind Graham, continuing his studies till moving to the Conservatorium High School and attending the Conservatorium’s Rising Stars program, studying under Susan Blake. Winning the Conservatorium High School’s Concerto Competition, playing Shostakovich’s 1st Cello Concerto, lead him to perform the piece with the Penrith Symphony Orchestra at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in the same year. Receiving the Corina D Mayer String Scholarship at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music studying under Julian Smiles, he lead the cello section for the Conservatorium’s Symphony Orchestra. Hikaru then moved on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he studied with Hannah Roberts as a recipient of the Jellis Bequest Scholarship, and was a finalist of the Barbirolli Prize for Cello. During his studies at the RNCM he also performed with the Ormskirk Music Society playing the Dvorak Cello Concerto. He currently performs on a casual basis with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Having always had an interest in architecture he is currently studying Architecture at UNSW.

Agus Sandjaya is a highly sought after pianist respected for his insightful and finely crafted approach to music interpretation. He is also a fully dedicated collaborative musician with a vast repertoire and is highly committed to his fellow musicians. He commenced his study at Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2007 and has actively performed in lunch break concerts, master classes, and open day recitals as soloist and chamber musician. In May 2010, he premiered a short contemporary work by Australian composer Mark Isaacs in Momentary Pleasures, 2010 International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) World New Music Days. He completed his Bachelor of Music Performance degree in 2010 with First Class Honours, undertaking study with Lyall Duke and Dr. Paul Rickard-Ford. In 2011, Agus was one of the semi-finalists in the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition held in Brisbane, Australia. After completing his study, Agus has enjoyed a successful career as soloist, chamber musician and collaborative pianist in both Australia and abroad. He was invited to perform at the Gisborne Music Festival in 2012 and 2013. In 2016 he was the 2nd prize winner of the Sydney Eisteddfod for String Sonata (any age) section. In 2019 he was invited to hold a recital at The Grand Signature Piano showroom in Jakarta and masterclasses at music schools and universities in Indonesia. In the same year he was featured as an accompanist at Sydney Flash Mob Choir Series at City Recital Hall with Richard Gill as a conductor. Lastly, Agus is a highly sought after accompanist for AMEB, ABRSM and Trinity College London exams, music scholarship auditions and HSC exams. He has helped students achieve outstanding results.