Lunchtime Concert - Veronica Vella and Aaron Erdstein

The St James' Lunchtime Concert on Wednesday the 20th of November at 1:15pm is presented by St James' Choral Scholars Veronica Vella - Soprano and Aaron Erdstein - Baritone. Tickets are $10.

Programme:

Performed by Veronica Vella - Soprano

La pastorella delle alpi - Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)

5 mélodies populaires grecques - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

I. Chanson de la mariée

II. Là-bas, vers l’église

V. Tout gai!

Die Nacht - Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

Elfenlied - Hugo Wolf (1860-1903)

Some World Far from Ours - Sally Whitwell (b.1974)

Love’s Philosophy - Roger Quilter (1877-1953)

Performed by Aaron Erdstein - Baritone

Lungi dal caro bene - Guiseppe Sarti (1729-1802)

Quel sguardo sdegnetto - Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

Songs of Travel - Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

III. The Roadside Fire

VI. The Infinite Shining Heavens

Don Quichotte à Dulcinée - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Veronica Vella is a third-year Bachelor of Music (Classical Voice) student at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying under Christina Wilson. Her performance experience spans opera, oratorio, and choral repertoire, including roles in The Fairy Queen (Purcell), Don Giovanni (Mozart), and Hansel und Gretel (Humperdinck). She has also appeared as a soloist in Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit. Currently a Soprano Choral Scholar at St James’ King Street, Veronica has also held scholarships at St Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church St Laurence. Passionate about both solo and ensemble singing, she has performed extensively as a soloist and chorister with various Conservatorium ensembles and recently toured Europe with the Sydney Conservatorium Chamber Choir. Later this year, she will tour internationally with St Paul’s College Choir. In 2024, Veronica received multiple accolades at the Sydney and Wollongong Eisteddfods, including first place in Lieder and high placements across Italian, French, oratorio, and opera categories. She has also collaborated with Trackdown Studios, Sydney Cantata Project and Cantillation.

Baritone Aaron Erdstein is currently in his third year of a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying classical voice with Russell Harcourt. Aaron’s passion for live performances started at an early age. Through the music programs at Knox Grammar School, Aaron was a member of various vocal and was Head Chorister in 2020-2021. Aaron is also proficient in Violin and the Bagpipes. He was Concertmaster of the Knox Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra and Chamber Strings in 2021 and the Pipe Major of Knox Grammar School’s Pipes and Drums Band in 2020-2021.  Aaron's current engagements include being a member of the Australian Brandenburg Choir, touring Melbourne and Sydney. He is also the Tenor Choral Scholarship holder in the Choir of St. James’, King St as well as a member of the St Paul’s College Chapel Choir who are to tour England and France at the end of 2024, singing in institutions including Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral. In the 2024 Sydney Eisteddfod, he performed in various 21-26 years sections and placed first in Italian Song, second in the Art Song and Male Voices sections, third in Oratorio section and Highly Commended in Lieder. Moreover, in the 2024 Hawkesbury Eisteddfod, he placed first in the Open Age, Open Age Classical and 18 and over Lieder events, as well as Second Place in the 18 and over Aria event. In 2024, he performed as Archangel Raphael in Haydn’s ‘The Creation’ (Sydney Conservatorium of Music) as well as being awarded his AMusA in Classical Singing from the AMEB in October. Furthermore, in 2023 he performed as Leporello and Masetto in Mozart's Don Giovanni and as Valens (cover) in Handel’s Theodora, both of which with Concordia Ensemble. He also sung the role, ‘Mr Waa’ in a Conservatorium concert of Deborah Cheetham Fraillon's Parrwang Lifts the Sky. He too has performed the Tenor solo in Stainer’s Crucifixion and Tenor solo in Maunder’s Olivet to Calvary.