Drill Hall
239 A'Beckett St
Melbourne, Victoria 3000
ABN 55 980 662 321
239 A'Beckett St
Melbourne, Victoria 3000
ABN 55 980 662 321
Originally from Sydney, Mylinda relocated to Melbourne to study at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) where she was awarded a Bachelor of Music (Performance). In 2005, Mylinda was the recipient of the Mabel Kent Estate Singing Scholarship and the Murray Ormond Vagg Singing Scholarship. During her time at VCA Mylinda studied and performed many concert roles/concert excerpts including Marschallin in Der Rosenkavelier, Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Liu in Turandot, Lady Billows in Albert Herring, Helena in Midsummer Night's Dream and Mother in Amahl & the Night Visitors.
Mylinda has created and performed various 'one woman' shows as part of the 'An afternoon with' series at Melbourne's Chapel off Chapel. Mylinda featured regularly as a guest artist with the SBS TV & Radio Choir & Orchestra (99-01) and has given recitals as part of the RMIT's Young Artist Program.
In 2005 Mylinda made her full stage debut with SLAMS Production Company as Fantine in Les Miserables. It was for this role that Mylinda was nominated for and awarded (respectively) the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Award and Lyrebird Music Theatre Awards Committee 'Lyrebird Award' for Best Supporting Female in a Musical. Currently under the tutelage of Anna Connolly, Mylinda is looking to continue her studies overseas with the ultimate goal of performing career at the highest of Operatic levels both here in Australia and Internationally.
Peter Bandy
Principal Guest Conductor
Australian Peter Bandy has earned himself a reputation as a conductor of considerable experience with successful performances in such diverse genres as Choral, Orchestral, Opera and Ballet Music. Alongside his performing talents are years spent learning his craft as Music Director, Music Arranger, Chorus Master and Orchestra Manager.
Peter Bandy studied at the University of Western Australia and in 1976 won a professional conducting audition with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. In 1979 he received a grant from the Western Australian Arts Council enabling him to study conducting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London with Vilem Tausky.
Conductor Peter Bandy controlled these forces ... encouraging the Melbourne Youth Orchestra to match the singing in aggressiveness and stamina. The outcome was a reading of great appeal ...
Orff Carmina Burana, The Age 2002
Peter Bandy has held important positions in Australia, conducting Orchestral and Choral Music, Opera and Ballet. He has now directed most major professional symphony orchestras in Australia and New Zealand.
In 1976 Peter Bandy formed the 150 voice Perth Oratorio Choir which performed most of the major oratorios with professional symphony orchestras, including highly acclaimed engagements for the ABC of The Messiah, Alexander Nevsky, Gloria (Poulenc) and Stabat Mater (Rossini). He was Music Director of this choir for 10 years and his association with them continues.
Since 1987 Peter Bandy has undertaken engagements as Chorus Master with the Australian Opera and in 1989, made his debut as a conductor with that company. Prior to this he was Music Director of the West Australian Gilbert and Sullivan Society for 7 years.
The conductor ... contrived to draw the best out of the choral forces, achieving a response rate as prompt and willing as any conductor could want.
Verdi Requiem, The Age 2000
As Associate and Resident Conductor of the Australian Ballet from 1987 he has conducted most ballets in the company's repertoire. In 1992 he toured with the company to New Zealand, conducting the Auckland Philharmonia in performances of Romeo and Juliet. He has also conducted for the Royal New Zealand, West Australian and Queensland Ballet Companies.
Peter has worked with a diversity of artists such as James Galway, Dame Joan Sutherland, Richard Bonynge, Rolf Harris and Peter Schikele [PDQ Bach]. In 1994-95, he again visited New Zealand conducting concerts with the Auckland Philharmonia and the Christchurch Symphony plus seasons with the Royal New Zealand Ballet involving the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
From 1996-98, Peter was Music Director of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Society and also at Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School. He was appointed Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Melbourne Youth Orchestra in 1993 and has directed his young players through successful performances of Mahler's 1st and 2nd Symphonies, Carmina Burana, Verdi's Requiem, Holst's Planets Suite, Pictures At An Exhibition (Moussorgsky/Ravel) and The Rite Of Spring. His association with this orchestra continues.
Jonathan Bradley
One of Australia's finest accompanists, Jonathan Bradley began playing the piano at the age of ten, achieving A+ for eigth grade piano at 13 and winning the Frances Osborne award. While a scholarship holder at Camberwell Grammar School, he gained his A. Mus. A., also performing Rachmaninov's Second Concerto and the Rimsky-Korsakov Concerto.
Jonathan completed a Bachelor of Music Performance at the Victorian College of the Arts, studying with Alexander Semetsky. There he performed the Concerto Number One by Medtner with the V.C.A. Symphony Orchestra. He also gave a Rachmaninov recital for the Melbourne International Festival. Studies followed at the Moscow Conservatorium under Alexei Nasedkin, and while there, Jonathan gave a recital of Scriabin's late piano music at the museum-home of the composer.
In 1999, as an Honours Student at Monash University, he won the Mazda Prize for his performance of Liszt's transcription of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. He has recently completed his Masters Degree in Musical Performance at Monash, winning the Joan Earle Prize for excellence in Piano Studies.
Jonathan has been a regular performer in Melbourne and country Victoria, including solo recitals and guest soloist with a number of orchestras. In 1996, he performed Mozart's Concerto No. 17 in G (K.453) with the Loughlin Chamber Orchestra, and in 1998 he was soloist in Brahms' D Minor Concerto with the Melbourne Youth Orchestra. He appeared again with the MYO in 2000, as soloist in Beethoven's Third Concerto.
Jonathan toured Vietnam and Malaysia in 1999 with the New Monash Orchestra, performing Saint-Saens' Second Piano Concerto to great acclaim. In 2000 he toured Singapore and Malaysia with Monash faculty members, performing in a number of chamber ensembles. Jonathan performed the Bach Piano Concerto No.7 and Mozart's Piano Concerto No.12 in A Major with the Australian Classical Players and conductor Andrew Wailes as a part of the Music Glenelg 'Take Note' Festival. In 2001 he toured New Zealand, accompanying the Australian Children's Choir and presenting several solo performances.
In demand as a freelance accompanist, Jonathan is Principal Accompanist for the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and the Australian Children's Choir. In 2001, Jonathan was one of tweo Primelife Young Artists for Independent Classics and in 2001 also took up the position of Senior Organ Scholar at Trinity College, University of Melbourne. He has regularly presented recitals for Independent Classics.
Jonathan balances his busy performing career with various teaching responsibilities. At the end of this year he will accompany the Australian Children's Choir on a concert tour of Europe and the United Kingdom and will also tour to the UK with the Choir of Trinity College.
Ron Murray is an Aboriginal Wamba Wamba tribesman from the Swan Hill area in Victoria where the tribal totem is Wiran, the redtail black cockatoo. He is widely regarded as one of Australia's leading indigenous craftsmen and exponents of the didjeridu.
Ron is a renowned Boomerang and Didjeridu craftsman and still makes returning boomerangs the same way as his grandfather taught him to from Red Gum Tree roots. His commissions include a Didjeridu commissioned by the Victoria Police for the famous Mohamed Ali, former world boxing champion, and other items for celebrities including American composer Philip Glass, Australian athlete Cathy Freeman, American supermodel Naomi Campbell, the Harlem Dance Company and US soul band Jungle Funk. As an artist, he has exhibited in the National Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Art Awards in Canberra (1997) and has gained a reputation for the excellence of his craftsmanship which incorporates many of the totems important to the Victorian River Tribes which include the long neck turtle, the brown snake, platypus and the Murray Cod.
As a performer, Ron has made many solo appearances, which include many important events around Australia. He greeted Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second with his didjeridu playing when she arrived in Australia in the year 2000, and in May 2001 Ron performed in the world premiere of Philip Glass's work for two Didjeridus, Organ and Speaker entitled Voices with Mark Atkin, Calvin Bowman and Joy Murphy-Wandin to officially launch the newly refurbished Melbourne Town Hall Organ. In July 2001 he travelled to New York to perform the US premiere at the Lincoln Centre Festival of Performing Arts. He performed at the ceremony to mark 150 years of the Victoria Police at Parliament House, and was also a feature artist at the opening of Federation Square in Melbourne. He also recorded the CD Bujilarka for the Centenary of Federation.
Ron also regularly appears as a part of the duo "Kinja' with his wife Sarah, who is of Irish descent. Ron plays the didjeridu and Sarah plays the celtic fiddle, bringing together the Aboriginal and Celtic cultures, another step towards reconciliation. The duo has performed at the Castlemaine State Festival, Moomba, the St Kilda Festival, Daylesford Peace festival, and various concerts including the Ulumbara concert for Reconciliation, and the Re-igniting Community East Gippsland Concert as well as many corporate events. The duo has recently release the CD My Home, distributed by Black Market Music.
William Barton www.didgesphere.com
Didjeridu Soloist
At 22 years of age, William Barton is well on his way towards being recognised as Australia's, and perhaps the world's leading player of the didjeridu and a pioneer in the wider perception of his cultural traditions.
Born in Mount Isa, William Barton grew up in a family where many forms of indigenous music were prevalent. From his eighth birthday, he was taught the didjeridu by his uncle, an elder from the Waanyi tribe of North West Queensland. His mother is an accomplished singer and both his father and elder brother were fine amateur guitarists. At the age of eleven, he became the leading didjeridu player at traditional funerals and other ceremonies. Also a direct descendant from the Kalkadunga tribe of the Mt Isa region, he became involved in dance and began to instruct others in aspects of his traditional culture.
Having attended a number of regional festivals and conferences, he came to see his ultimate goal as a professional musician in the world of concert music. In 1998, he moved to Brisbane and, with the assistance of sponsorship from BHP-Billiton, he made his first steps into this new world of concert halls, orchestras, festivals and composers.
In July 2001, he appeared at the Townsville International Festival of Chamber Music, performing in Peter Sculthorpe's From Ubirr: String Quartet No.12 with the Goldner String Quartet. That appearance launched an extraordinary association between the young man and Australia's most revered senior composer. Sculthorpe has now included didjeridu parts in several of his notable orchestral pieces. These were first presented by the Queensland Orchestra and their chief conductor Michael Christie in Brisbane in August 2002 and a month later in Tokyo. This association led to William's designation in 2003 as TQO's first artist-in-residence, the first appointment of an indigenous musician with an Australian symphony orchestra.
With Christie and TQO, William Barton recorded several Sculthorpe works in 2003. The same year William recorded with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with Maestro James Judd, with a performance of Earth Cry at the 20th Anniversary of the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, New Zealand. Maestro Christie invited Barton to appear at his Summer Music Festival in Boulder, Colorado, in July 2003. Barton also presented a new creation of his own in Mackay, as part of the Queensland Biennial Festival of Music. New works for string quartet, symphony and didjeridu are also projected in the next few years.
William Barton has already appeared at most festivals in Australia, and, since 1996, has amassed an impressive roster of international appearances, from Edmonton to Honolulu, from Los Angeles to Vienna, from Spain to Japan. In July 2002, he extended his range of international reference with appearances as a member of the Cathedral Band, the creation of New York-based composer William Duckworth at the inaugural Mini Max Festival at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Playing alongside legendary trombonist and didjeridu player Stuart Dempster from Seattle, William Barton has achieved another first in Australian music, performing with some of the world's leading classical improvisers of the Internet age.
Through such collaborations and projects, William Barton aims to present the virtuosic potential of his instrument and richness of his Australian culture to audiences throughout the world. He hopes they will see this music, not just as an illustration of some exotic antiquity, but as a living, dynamic process, requiring considerable technique, stamina and study, equal to that of any conventional classically trained professional musician.
In October and December 2003 William performed with Finnish musician, Satu Sopanen-Helisalo combining the didjeridu with the kantele followed by a performance with the Australian Chamber Orchestra at the Huntington Festival (Mudgee NSW). The journey will continue for William in 2004/05 with performances and guest appearances in Europe, America and Australia presenting the work of a number of Australian composers and also presenting his own original work for the didjeridu.
Gordon Kerry www.users.bigpond.com/gkerry
Composer - Australia Council funded commission
Based in northeastern Victoria, Australia, Gordon Kerry is a freelance composer and writer. Kerry studied composition with Barry Conyngham at the University of Melbourne. He has held awards and fellowships from the Australia Council, Peggy Glanville-Hicks Trust and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for his services to Australian society through music. Kerry's orchestral music, including several symphonic pieces and concertos for cello, viola, clarinet and trumpet have been commissioned and performed by most Australian symphony orchestras through the Symphony Australia network.
He has composed numerous chamber works, many for Musica Viva Australia ' such as the Sonata da camera for the Australia Ensemble and Harmonie for the Canberra Wind Soloists. His opera Medea, to a libretto by Justin Macdonnell, has been produced by Chamber Made Opera in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Washington, and by the Berliner Kammeroper in Berlin, Beeskow and D'sseldorf. Other works are available on Tall Poppies and Vox Australis labels, and the Southern Cross Soloists will shortly release his cantata, Breathtaking. In 2003, the Ulster Orchestra premiered Upon Empty Air (a BBC commission) at the Sonorities festival and the West Australian Symphony premiered This Insubstantial Pageant under Matthias Bamert. The latter recently won the APRA-Australian Music Centre Award for Orchestral Work of the Year. The Bangalow Etudes, commissioned by Virginia Farley, were premeired by pianist Kevin Power at the Bangalow Festival.
Works premiered in 2002 include his Clarinet Concerto for Francesco Celata and the Sydney Symphony under Mark Elder, Kindled Skies for soprano Merlyn Quaife and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra under Howard Shelley, A Kind of Radiant Darkness (a setting of poems by Peter Steele commissioned by Greg Roger for the Southern Cross Soloists) and Cold Pastoral for the Bangalow Festival.
Marco van Pagee
Conductor VCA Symphony Orchestra
Marco van Pagee was born in Middelburg, The Netherlands, where he studied violin with Davina van Wely and viola with Jurgen Kussmaul at the Royal Conservatorium in Den Haag. Marco was principal violist with the Netherlands Radio Orchestra and the Elizabethan Theatre Trust Orchestra. He has recorded for radio and given recitals and solo concerts both in Australia and overseas. Marco is a founding member of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (the former Rantos Collegium), Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition as well as the more recently established National Chamber Music Competition. He is, coordinator of chamber music at the Australian National Academy of Music and was the founder and musical director of the Geminiani Chamber Orchestra during its years of existence. He currently Head of Orchestral Studies, Orchestral Co-ordinator and teacher of viola and chamber music tutor at the Victorian College of the Arts. In 2003, Marco received the National Award for his distinguished contribution to music from the Australian Strings Association.
Ron Murray