SCMS CONCERTS 2021

BEN BURTON & ANNA STEPHENS
February 21 2021 Wolumla Hall NSW
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Anna Stephens graduated in 2017 from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with first-class honours and a University medal for academic excellence. She studied with Shelli Hulcombe at the Conservatorium, and with Susan Waters at London’s prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama while on a 6-month study exchange. In 2018, Anna moved to Sydney to make her debut with Opera Australia singing the roles of Pamina, Papagena, and the Queen of the Night in the 2018 Schools Tour production of The Magic Flute. Also in 2018, she won the Fine Music 102.5 Young Virtuoso Award state final and played the role of Naiad in the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School’s production of Ariadne auf Naxos, under the baton of Simone Young

Benjamin Burton is a talented young pianist with a passion for accompanying vocal and instrumental performances. In 2014 Ben did an internship with Opera Australia, and travelled on full scholarship to Munich, Germany as repetiteur for the Bel Canto Summer Program. In his role as accompanist, Ben has performed all over the country, and in 2017 performed with Voci Stupende, was a guest artist with Grevillea Ensemble, and work as accompanist and vocal coach at the Australian Institute of Music.Ben was also awarded 2nd Best Pianist performing with Zoe Drummond in the 2016 MIETTA Art Song Competition. 2016 saw Ben giving recitals with Susannah Lawergren, Hannah Fraser and Andrew O'Connor of The Song Company, performing as first pianist in Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, for Moorambilla Voices with the World Orchestra, and for Carols at the Concourse with

Willoughby Symphony.

INVENTI ENSEMBLE
May 9 2021 Wolumla Hall NSW

Inventi Ensemble have established themselves as a leading force in Australian chamber music. Award winning performances in Australia’s leading concert halls and at festivals around the country have led to an enthusiastic following of their innovative programming and outstanding performance style.

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Inventi performances can range from a duo or trio, through to a chamber orchestra of 20 players. They are one of the most prolific chamber ensembles in Australia, with over 40 concerts planned in their 2020 season. Inventi is an exciting voice in Australian music.  

Inventi are renowned for their impressive arrangements of large-scale orchestral works for chamber ensemble. They have done this in collaboration with Melbourne’s Glynn Davies for epic works such as Bach’s Art of Fugue, Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Holst’s Planets Suite. 

Passionate about music reaching as many people as possible, Inventi have created interactive, dynamic children’s shows of Carnival of the Animals, Scheherazade, Peter and the Wolf and Holst’s Planets Suite. They also engage with musicians of all ages and abilities in their community music performances, and workshops including side by side’ projects, improvisation and composition.  

Leaders in promoting new repertoire, Inventi have commissioned numerous works that have gained worldwide recognition - international festival performances and competition winning works. Inventi’s debut recording Inventi Ensemble I was released in 2016 to great acclaim and they will be releasing their next album soon. 

AFFINITY STRING QUARTET
July 4 2021 Wolumla Hall NSW
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Affinity Quartet represents the next generation of Australia’s chamber music stars. The Quartet developed its craft in Europe to critical acclaim. It brings to Australia an inspired approach to music-making, matched by its adventurous spirit as a string quartet for and of today.

The Quartet explores the rich diversity of string quartet repertoire to bring classical music to wider audiences. Described by Classic Melbourne as ‘one of the most exciting young ensembles to make their mark’, the quartet has given Australian premieres of works by Janácek, Haas, Britten and Panufnik, and world premieres by Jack Symonds (AU) and Matt Laing (AU). In 2016 an International Tour included Prussia Cove International Musicians Seminar (U.K.), Southbank Centre’s Yehudi Menuhin Festival (U.K.) and concerts in Berlin with Brett Dean.