AWO educational programme – sharing their expertise
Officials at Sydney airport may well be puzzled at the number of musical instruments arriving into the city as The Australian World Orchestra (AWO) gathers for their performances this month. (Check out our post on The Australian World Orchestra http://soundslikesydney.com.au/shows/the-world-on-sydneys-stage-the-australian-world-orchestra-comes-to-town/2020.html)
Over ninety musicians who trained and/or work in Australia, representing around 45 elite international ensembles will join forces to present this momentous event.
The musicians collectively hold a vast repository of skills and In an important initiative the AWO is conducting several initiatives to ensure that younger Sydney musicians benefit from their expertise.
Kicking off the educational events are the Open ‘General’ Rehearsals(musicspeak for a final run through) for AWO’s first and second concerts. These are scheduled for Friday 26 August from 11am-2pm, and Saturday 27 August 10:30am-1:30pm, at the Sydney Opera House. Tickets $20-$25 with discounts for students Year 9 and above.
Then there’s the Children’s Matinee Concert at 2 pm on Sunday 28th August at the Sydney Opera House. This is an unmissable opportunity for aspiring musicians to meet the players and see their instruments first hand as well as to observe how an orchestra works together. Didgeridoo expert William Barton will be on hand to perform what is one of the world’s oldest instruments. You can sing along with an arrangement of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, and one budding young conductor will be selected from the audience to try out their skills on stage.Tickets range from $20-$85
To book for these two events visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com.au or phone (02) 9250 7777
On Monday 29th August, the musicians will be running The Parramatta Project,spending the day at the Riverside Theatres in Parramatta, working directly with WSSSCB (Western Sydney State Schools Concert Band) whose 75 students from more than 20 schools in Western Sydney will participate in workshops and rehearsals with AWO players,
At the end of the day they will showcase what they have learnt in the After School Concert at 4.30, which is open to the public. On the programme are excerpts from Holst’s St Paul’s Suite, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, Mackerras’ Pineapple Poll, and a new work from AWO’s Education Manager, David Montgomery entitled Hocket in the Pocket. Tickets range from $10-$35
To book visit www.riversideparramatta ro call 8839 3399
For those already on a musical career path, four musicians have been selected from the Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO)to work with mentors from the AWO and perform alongside them throughout the concert season. Amongst them are percussionist Sophia Ang, cellist Àdàm Szabo, violist Matthew Lang, and violinist Liisa Pallandi.
Opportunities like these are surely vital in demystifying classical music, in inspiring young people and making this art form accessible to as many people as possible. Who knows what talent might be uncovered!
