Over the last few issues of the Champion Post you have read about various aspects of the Orange Symphony Orchestra’s visit to Parkes this Sunday afternoon, including the fact that there will be two fine soloists playing with the orchestra.
People who play a string instrument will be pleased to know that both soloists are string players, one playing the violin and the other the viola.
The spelling of these two instruments is very similar and for good reason, they are very much alike.
Both are held under the chin but the difference is that the viola is slightly smaller and has strings that are tuned five notes lower.
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TWO OUTSTANDING SOLOISTS
On Sunday afternoon Samuel Gaffney will be the solo violinist.
He will play the Summer Movement from the famous Four Seasons by the early period baroque composer, Antonio Vivaldi.
Samuel started playing the violin at the age of six and has now been playing for nearly 11 years.
What makes a six-year old want to play the violin?
Usually it is his mother, but in Samuel’s case, it was the experience of hearing beautiful music that gave him the desire to produce such beauty himself.
Samuel has consistently pursued this goal over the years, always striving to play better.
His first teacher, Lucette Tolhurst, was a great inspiration and encouragement to him.
He enjoyed the sense of belonging to her group of students.
She encouraged performance and he became confident to not only perform on stage, but also on the street, in the backyard and at nursing homes.
Philipa Page from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is now Samuel’s teacher and has helped him considerably to expand his music skills and interests.
Amy Stevens commenced her studies at the age of four on violin and switched to the viola at 21.
She is a member of the Australian Youth Orchestra, Sydney Sinfonia and several chamber music groups in Sydney.
In 2008, Amy was invited to the prestigious International Musician’s Seminar at Prussia Cove.
Later this year she will perform in Sydney with the Bourbaki ensemble playing some of the repertoire from the seminar.
Amy now studies with Roger Benedict at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she will graduate this year.
She hopes to further her studies abroad in 2009.
This Sunday afternoon Amy will play a piece titled Kol Nidrei by the German Composer Max Bruch.
Based on Jewish themes and originally scored for solo cello and orchestra it is such a beautiful piece of music transcriptions have been made for playing on the violin or viola.
It is the viola arrangement to be heard on Sunday.
The major item after interval is Sibelius’s 1st Symphony, a powerful and exciting piece of music that will be a fitting climax to this annual visit to Parkes by the Orange Symphony Orchestra..
The concert is at the Little Theatre and commences at 2pm.
Prices range from $25 to $15 and you can be sure of a seat by phoning 6862 6667 and collecting your tickets at the door from 1.30pm on Sunday.