New Piano Sonata

On May 9 2012 the distinguished Australian pianist Bernadette Harvey gave the brilliant premiere performance of Ross Edwards’ new Piano Sonata at a special concert in the Sydney Conservatorium’s Verbrugghen Hall. The Sonata, composed especially for Bernadette, was commissioned by Sydney University as part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Conservatorium.

The score of the Sonata is now available from The Australian Music Centre – Email: info@australianmusiccentre.com.au – Phone +61 2 9247 4677 – and the work has been recorded for future release by Tall Poppies Records.

Immediately after her concert performance Bernadette recorded the work for Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgn-of7cTxE

Ross Edwards with Bernadette Harvey

“Bernadette Harvey demonstrated once again that she is one of Australia’s most enterprising and resourceful pianists. Gifted with a rare physical control of the instrument and intellectual and interpretative qualities to match, she took the audience on a journey across rarely encountered musical territory. I particularly admired the skill Harvey essayed with Ross Edwards’ Piano Sonata (2011). Whether in the elated, joyful measures of the first movement, the gently lulling, melancholy moments of the slow movement or the intricate, idiosyncratic finale, Harvey sounded at her authoritative best.” (Neville Cohn, The West Australian).

Ross Edwards Concert at the Sydney Con on May 9

One of Australia’s most celebrated composers, Ross Edwards is the Sydney Conservatorium’s International Marquee Composer for 2012. On Wednesday May 9 at 6pm, there will be a special retrospective concert of his work in Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium, Macquarie Street, Sydney. Music composed over a period of 32 years will be presented by some of Sydney’s leading performers and Ross will be onstage to introduce each work. This unique event, of both musical and historical significance, promises to be a highlight of the year’s musical activities at the Con.

Some of the works will be familiar, others less so. Ross’ new Piano Sonata, especially commissioned by the Con for this occasion, will be given its world premiere by Bernadette Harvey. Selections from his most recently completed composition, Five Senses, a song cycle to poems of Judith Wright, will be previewed by Jenny Duck-Chong, Bernadette Harvey and Claire Edwardes. Claire will also be performing some of Ross’ music for marimba, some of which was written especially for her.

Tickets: $20, Concession: $15, Friends of the Con: $15, Students: $10

Tickets may be purchased on the night, or booked in advance through the City Recital Hall website:
http://www.cityrecitalhall.com/events/id/1255/Special-Event-Ross-Edwards-101/

New Guitar Recordings

Ross has been sent recently released guitar albums containing some of his shorter works for guitar.

He’s happy to endorse two excellent new interpretations of his guitar solo Blackwattle Caprices by the German guitarist Stefan Barcsay and the American, Philip Hemmo.

And from The Australian Guitar Duo – Rupert Boyd and Jacob Cordover, scintillating performances of Djanaba and Emily’s Song, with more Australian music by Philip Houghton and Nigel Westlake.

APRA | AMCOS Art Music Awards 2012

Two works by Ross Edwards are finalists in the 2012 APRA | AMCOS Art Music Awards. The Art Music Awards are the only event that specifically acknowledges the achievements of Australia’s outstanding talent in the fields of contemporary art music, jazz and experimental music, with awards covering the best compositions, performances and achievements across 10 national categories.

Australian Chamber Orchestra performs Veni Creator Spiritus

This month the Australian Chamber Orchestra will perform Ross’ timeless work for strings Veni Creator Spiritus in their second national concert tour for 2012. The concerts will also feature acclaimed vocal group The Hilliard Ensemble.

Generations: Zubin Kanga in Recital

Piano virtuoso Zubin Kanga returns to Sydney to perform works by some of Australia’s most significant composers. Celebrating six generations of Australian music, ‘Generations’ features recently commissioned works written for Zubin by Elliott Gyger, Daniel Rojas and Nicholas Vines, all featuring new and innovative techniques and sounds from the piano.

Bach in the Dark: Rachel Scott and Genevieve Lang in Recital

Renowned Australian harpist Genevieve Lang will perform Ross’s beautiful work for solo harp The Harp and the Moon, in a concert with Rachel Scott – who will perform cello works that span the globe, including works by Bach and Mendelssohn, Villa-Lobos, Arvo Pärt and Australia’s Raffaele Marcellino.

The concert will be held Friday, 18 November 2011 at 7pm at the Prince Henry Centre – 2 Coast Hospital Road, Little Bay, NSW. Adults: $16.20 | Children: $11.60 | Concession: $11.60

Tickets can be purchased online or by phone on 1300 306 776.

First recording of Sacred Kingfisher Psalms Released

First recording of Ross’s Sacred Kingfisher Psalms has just been released by Da Capo Records (Denmark) on the CD A Bridge of Dreams.

Brighton to Bondi

On Friday 16 September the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs will be performing Australian choral works including Ross’s Mountain Chant: Three Sacred Choruses, as well as works by Grainger, Sculthorpe, Stanhope, Marcellino, Weymark and Stephen Adams.

Friday, 16 September 2011, 7pm. Sydney Town Hall.

Further information for this event is available online at the event’s website or by phone on (02) 9251 3115

CD Release: Maninyas

US label Canary Classics has released a new recording of Ross’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra Maninyas, with Adele Anthony as soloist. This wonderful CD has just been released in Australia and Ross is extremely happy with both the performance and presentation and recommends it most highly. It is paired with the Sibelius Violin Concerto – which Adele Anthony once played to win the ABC’s Instrumental and Vocal Competition at only 13. The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Arvo Volmer.

Flash – New CD from Claire Edwardes

Watch out for Flash, a scintillating new CD of marimba miniatures by virtuoso percussionist Claire Edwardes on Tall Poppies. From Bach arrangements to some exciting new Australian marimba repertoire. Ross is really happy about Claire’s brilliant performance of the first of his Marimba Dances.

Available through Buywell, the Australian Music Centre and for digital download on the iTunes Store.

Blackwattle Caprices Now Available Again

The score of Ross Edwards’ popular guitar solo Blackwattle Caprices, which has been temporarily out of print, is now available from The Australian Music Centre – Email: Australian Music Centre. Phone +61 2 9247 4677. Fax: +61 2 9241 2873. Quick delivery to anywhere in the world.

Goldner Quartet to perform String Quartet No. 2 in London

Also in the City of London Festival, on 8 July 2011 at 7.30 pm, St. Bartholemew-the-Great, Cloth Fair, London, the Goldner String Quartet will perform Ross’ String Quartet No. 2 “Shekina Fantasy”.

John Williams to perform Arafura Dances in London

John Williams will be soloist with the English Chamber Orchestra in Ross’ Guitar Concerto “Arafura Dances” at the Opening Concert of the City of London Festival on 27 June 2011, in the Guildhall Old Library.

Liam Viney Piano Recital

At 6:30pm on Thursday 9 June 2011, in the Alistair Mackerras Theatre of Sydney Grammar School (Ross’s old school) the solo pianist, collaborative musician and teacher Liam Viney will give a recital of contemporary Australian piano works, including Ross Edwards’s Kumari.

New music resource kit: Dance with Nature – the chamber music of Ross Edwards

The Australian Music Centre’s new music resource kit, Dance with Nature – the chamber music of Ross Edwards by Philip Cooney is now available for purchase.

Award for Excellence in Music Education

The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre has won the 2011 APRA and AMC National Award for Excellence in Music Education for its 2010 Composer-in-Focus program on Ross Edwards.

Ross would like to congratulate everyone concerned with this most successful event: Valda Silvy, Director of the Arts Centre and of the education program; Claire Edwardes and Ensemble Offspring for their meticulously prepared performances, and Dr. Philip Cooney, whose valuable kit with detailed, insightful notes on the music and an interview with the composer will be available from the Australian Music Centre (contact Philippa Horn).

Amy Dickson to premiere Bird Spirit Dreaming on saxophone in Canberra

On Wednesday 4 May & Thursday 5 May 2011 the internationally acclaimed saxophonist Amy Dickson will give the world premiere of the saxophone version of Ross’ Bird Spirit Dreaming, originally composed for oboe and Diana Doherty, who has played it all over the world with outstanding success.

First recording of Sacred Kingfisher Psalms On The Way

First recording of Ross’ Sacred Kingfisher Psalms (2010) will be released by Da Capo Records (Denmark) in September 2011 on  the CD A Bridge of Dreams.

New Maninyas Recording On The Way

Adele Anthony has made a superb new recording of Ross’ Violin Concerto Maninyas which will be paired with the Sibelius Violin Concerto on a forthcoming release from the U.S. label Canary Classics. The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Arvo Volmer.