Roger Benedict
violist - conductor

Fellowship

   Sydney Symphony Fellowship 2008

   A special invitation
  Sunday 23 November, 3pm

We are delighted to promote a unique concert on 23 November at Sydney Conservatorium’s Verbrugghen Hall. Not only will this performance celebrate the achievements of the 2008 Fellowship ensemble, and showcase their skills and talents, it will welcome back many Fellowship alumni as they join the 2008 ensemble on stage.

Sunday 23 November
3pm
Verbrugghen Hall
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Preconcert talk 2.15pm, presented by Roger Benedict in the hall

LIGETI   Bagatelles for wind quintet
RICHARD STRAUSS Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings
ROGER SMALLEY Toccata, specially written for the 2008 Fellowship ensemble
MOZART Symphony No.40 in G minor K550

Conducted by Roger Benedict

Featuring the 2008 Sydney Symphony Fellowship ensemble, Fellowship alumni
and Sydney Symphony musicians.

Written especially for the 2008 Fellowship ensemble, acclaimed Australian composer, Roger Smalley’s Toccata will highlight their individual strengths, reflective of the collaborative process of developing this new composition.

Scored for 23 strings, the music of Strauss’ Metamorphosen is a profoundly beautiful  lament composed as World War II slowly ground to its end. This virtuosic and powerful work will be a highlight of the performance, showcasing the brightest young string players in Australia. 2008 Fellow, cellist Patrick Suthers, speaks of his expectations for this collaboration: Performing big-name string repertoire with such experienced players is a rare and valuable opportunity. As for the chance to play alongside such musicians as the Fellowship alumni in a chamber context, I feel immensely privileged. I'll have to be on top of my game, but I am anticipating having a great time and learning a lot from them. It'll be great to have the same side-by-side style of mentoring as we've had on the main stage.

2008 Flute Fellow, Kate Lawson reflects on this significant event: I’m looking forward to ending the year with a bang, but I can’t believe how fast it has come around. Playing alongside the past fellows will be great, but more importantly I think it will be a testament to the invaluable contribution of the fellowship program, and to the hard work of the people who make it all happen to see all the generation’ of fellows side by side. I can’t tell you what encouragement it gives me to know that such a great group of musicians truly believes in you and is willing to invest in such a practical way in our development.

The Sydney Symphony Fellowship Program has gone from strength to strength since its founding in 2001. It has already created a substantial community of brilliant young musicians who have contributed so much to the Sydney Symphony and the wider Australian music scene. To celebrate their achievements, and all the people who have helped the program become so successful, I wanted to get as many of the fellows on stage together as possible for a unique concert. Playing works by Mozart and Strauss, this crack-hot orchestra of Australia’s most outstanding young professionals promises to deliver a most memorable performance! There will also be a chance for the 2008 fellows to shine on their own in the sparkling Bagatelles by Ligeti and a specially commissioned work by Roger Smalley. I hope that you will be able to join us for this special event.

- Roger Benedict, Principal Viola, Artistic Director Sydney Symphony Academy

Roger Benedict is Artistic Director of the Sydney Symphony Fellowship Program. From its inception in 2001 the Sydney Symphony Fellowship Program has grown into the leading training program of its kind in Australasia and is rapidly gaining international recognition. A Fellowship with the Sydney Symphony provides access to the nation's best orchestral mentors, established conductors, masterclasses with the finest international artists and the benefit of a thorough approach to the final stages of training for musicians of the future.

Through an intensive one-year fellowship integrating chamber music, mentored orchestral playing and specially designed workshops, the program aims to offer a vital stepping stone from study to work, and prepare musicians as thoroughly as possible for their future careers.  As opportunities in the profession become more competitive and less predictable, Fellows are encouraged to show adaptability, initiative and resourcefulness as well as being able to perform the widest possible repertoire at the highest possible level.

Fellowship Event Highlights

A Fellowship with the Sydney Symphony provides:
• a stipend of $14,000 per annum;
• an opportunity to work with Roger Benedict, Artistic Director of the Fellowship Program, visiting soloists and members of the Sydney Symphony on chamber music repertoire – previous masterclasses have been given by artists including Steven Isserlis, Viviane Hagner, Cho-Liang Lin, Midori and Ola Rudner.
• invitations to perform with the Orchestra in a number of major public performances throughout the year (paid separately at award level remuneration); and
• opportunities to become acquainted with operations and marketing programs associated with orchestras and the cultural sector generally.
• Leading roles in the Sydney Sinfonia, the Sydney Symphony’s mentoring orchestra.

For more information please contact : Bernie Heard, Education Coordinator, Sydney Symphony, phone 02 8215 4652, toll free 1800 789 709, fax 02 8215 4645 or email education@sydneysymphony.com

Applications are open to Australian residents and Australian and New Zealand citizens only.

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