Located in the magnificent hilltop grounds of Gleniffer Brae, overlooking the Botanic Garden & the c
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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the entire WollCon Team! 🥳
Thanks for your support throughout 2023.
We'll leave you with this sample of our Christmas Gala Performance in Wollongong Town Hall. Thank you to everyone in the WollCon Community who made this event so special.
📷 Brad Chilby
This year's concerto competition was an absolute delight, with audience members commenting on the exceptional standard of playing.
Congratulations to Annabel Wouters on flute, awarded winner in 2023. Thanks also to Melissa Barnard who adjudicated for us.
Congratulations to WollCon teacher Des Cannings, a recipient of the ABC Jazz Composer Commissioning Fund.
He plans to write a collection of short compositions inspired by his feelings, experiences and reactions to the 2023 Indigenous Voice Referendum.
"For me, as an Indigenous person, [the referendum] marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life, one in which I felt comfortable sharing the unique aspects of my story with others." — DC
ABC Classic and ABC Jazz announce 16 new commissions that reflect the diversity of the Australian musical landscape.
WollCon will be starting a new singing group in 2024, especially for people living with dementia and their care partners.
Irrespective of singing ability, participants will be welcome to join, purely for the joy of singing together and connecting with others. WollCon Music Therapists who will be managing the group, hope to create a fun community for people of all ages.
Expressions of Interest are currently being accepted.
Each Friday morning - Free tea/coffee & biscuits included. https://wollcon.com.au/2023/11/16/new-singing-group-for-people-living-with-dementia/
There's a new music class at WollCon for 2024.
Called 'Fun Fantails', these family music classes will be an hour of free play for preschoolers curated by new children's music teacher Amelia Scarf. Amelia is enthusiastic about helping children explore sound and music at their own pace. Designed to create curiosity, extend interests and build a love of learning, the sessions will be scheduled for Monday and Tuesday mornings, and we are pleased to announce that for those families already enrolled in another ChiME class, there will be a 25% discount for the Fun Fantails music classes.
This will be a family class so siblings are welcome to be part of the fun. If you are interested in these sessions (starting 2024) please email us: [email protected]
Family Friendly afternoon Christmas concert for Wollongong
The concert will promises to put the audience in the Christmas mood.
Choir teacher Kate Whitworth is starting a new senior choir for children in high school (Years 7 to 9). If you would like your child to be part of this wonderful WollCon singing opportunity, to develop vocal skills, sight singing, and to sing beautiful repertoire, register your interest by emailing us at [email protected] A short audition will be required and performances will be held throughout the year. Rehearsals will be every Tuesday at 5pm at WollCon.
Who went along to our Four Hands & Beyond concert last Friday night at WollCon? Here is a snippet of the amazing talent that was on show. Our Head of Piano Brad Baker with student Andrew, playing Debussy's Petit Suite. 🎶👏
Congratulations to Nick Russoniello - Saxophonist - amazing musician and composer...
artist feature is brilliant, young pianist Freyja Garbett. You can catch Freyja and her "Music from the Waves" concert, ft. Sandy Evans and Phil Slater December 2nd at the Music Lounge. Get your tickets now!
https://merrigong.com.au/shows/music-from-the-waves-ft-sandy-evans/
Our Ausmusic Month artist in focus on Upbeat this weekend takes us to Wollongong! We'll be discovering the brilliant, young pianist Freyja Garbett.
Want to experience a 'night devine' without having to stay out past sunset? ⭐
O Holy Night is one of our favourites from the Christmas music repertoire – sung beautifully here by WollCon vocal teacher and Opera Australia singer, Kirsten Jones.
Join us in Wollongong Town Hall for this celebration of Christmas music from 2pm on Saturday 9 December.
🎟️ https://merrigong.com.au/shows/a-christmas-gala-performance/
Always great to have some WollCon Jazz combos at the Innovation Campus Markets!
THE VAMPIRES WIN ARIA AWARD FOR BEST JAZZ ALBUM…..
Described as a new generation of creative jazz talent from Australia, The Vampires is one of our favourite WollCon success stories with two core band members alumni of the Wollongong Conservatorium, and a strong connection to the area.
Their recently released 7th album ‘Nightjar’ – a collaboration with Chris Abrahams on keys – wins an ARIA for best jazz album 2023!
CONGRATULATIONS to The Vampires👏 and Chris Abrahams The Necks !
Read More: https://wollcon.com.au/2023/11/14/alumni-profile-alex-masso-and-the-vampires/
CONGRATULATIONS The Vampires featuring Chris Abrahams on winning the 2023 ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album for Nightjar!
👏 The Vampires
👏 Earshift Music
We are soooo looking forward to this! Do you have your free ticket?
Excitement builds as RYO NSW reunites for our final project of the year! Join us for an unforgettable week, culminating in performances on November 22 in Wollongong and November 25 in Sydney. The Sydney concert features a unique collaboration, with musicians from the Australian World Orchestra joining forces with RYO NSW. Secure your tickets and find all the details for this extraordinary musical event now https://answrc.org/regional-youth-orchestra
We hope you can make it to our afternoon (2pm) Christmas Gala concert. With a Full Choir, Children’s Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, Organ and special guest artists featuring ‘Sydney’s premiere vocalist’ Dan Barnett with vocalist Trish Delaney-Brown and soprano Kirsten Jones. There will also be a chance to join in the singing!
https://wollcon.com.au/event/a-christmas-gala-performance/
WollCon Children’s choir were at Shell Cove Warrigal Care yesterday (6th Nov) for a midmorning performance for the wonderful residents.
Under the guidance of Kate Whitworth and accompanied by Lisa Baraldi, the children performed songs, and several of the choir students also played instruments for the entertainment of the residents. Thanks Kate for sending through this photo!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s the MaxMantis Clan!
Three Superheroes united under the banner of the praying mantis, continuously defending their wild-west style world against villains.
Sounds absurd?….. It is absurd!
Behind the three heroes Jeff Mantis, Rex Mantis, and Bob Mantis are the three Swiss jazz musicians Lukas Gernet, Rafael Jerjen and Samuel Büttiker.
Three unique high-calibre musicians, that through their performance of musical themes, jingles and free improvisation tell the ongoing stories surrounding the MaxMantis Clan.
“Think Marvel meets DC meets Jazz.”
Coming to "The Music Lounge" November 9th!
Tickets selling fast!
https://merrigong.com.au/shows/maxmantis/
Celebrating the achievements of one of our amazing flute students at WollCon – Annabel.
Annabel received her A.Mus.A with DISTINCTION in flute performance in the latest round of AMEB exams 👏
In the September holidays she played in the Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) Young Symphonist program for 2023 👏
Annabel is 15 years old, and she has auditioned successfully for the AYO Young Symphonist program for 2024.
Only 3 flute players from the whole of Australia age 17 and under were accepted (Annabel is one of them!) 👏👏👏
Congratulations Annabel! Your dedication to your music is inspiring 🎶
"I grew up in Wollongong about one and a half hours south of Sydney, just a short stroll from the popular North Beach where I spent much of my youth. I started out as a clarinet player learning at Wollongong Conservatorium of Music until after persistent encouragement from my teacher I (finally) picked up the bassoon in year 9, and it became my dominant instrument into my senior years of high school." - Read the music journey of Nick Zengoski.
|| Today we are featuring Able Seaman Musician Nick Zengoski, Bassoonist and Mathematics enthusiast. Nick has only been with RAN Band Sydney for a short time but as you will discover, he has packed a lot into his journey so far!
Scroll down to find out all about Nick's Navy story 👀 📖 ⬇️:
"I am Able Seaman Musician Nick Zengoski, a fresh bassoon player with the RAN Band Sydney since the end of 2022.
I grew up in Wollongong about one and a half hours south of Sydney, just a short stroll from the popular North Beach where I spent much of my youth. I started out as a clarinet player learning at Wollongong Conservatorium of Music until after persistent encouragement from my teacher I (finally) picked up the bassoon in year 9, and it became my dominant instrument into my senior years of high school.
My path into music was not a straight one, after finishing high school in 2014 I started studying a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies/Advanced Mathematics at the University of New South Wales. It didn’t feel right for me to stop playing the bassoon, so I kept up my lessons and got orchestra experience playing as principal bassoon in the University of NSW Orchestra, while keeping up clarinet with the Bluescope Youth Orchestra at Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.
Some personal highlights were my first full symphony orchestra experience in workshops with the visiting London Symphony Orchestra, and two international tours to Europe with the Bluescope Orchestra, where in 2016 I was fortunate to perform as a featured bassoon soloist. With all these rich musical experiences, the encouragement and support of mentors and much internal monologue, I finally decided to dispel all the “what-if” questions in my mind and left UNSW after 2 years to study the bassoon full-time.
I graduated Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney in 2020 with a BMus (Performance), some highlights being playing principal bassoon on the Wind Symphony’s international tour to Spain and taking our long-standing wind quintet on a regional tour of northern NSW in 2019.
I built up a teaching circuit and worked as a bassoon/woodwind specialist tutor privately and at schools across Sydney including Trinity Grammar School, Sydney, The Scots College and St Clare's College Waverley, while keeping my part-time accounting job. I also performed regularly on bassoon with orchestras around Sydney and various woodwinds in community theatre productions.
Now I work as a bassoonist in the Band Sydney Wind Band and Woodwind Trio, proudly crash the cymbals in Parade Band and moonlight with the occasional hit-out on saxophone in the Big Band.
Driven by the COVID pandemic and the need to produce high-quality recordings to keep music relevant, I also took an interest in audio engineering and now do occasional recording/videography work and have joined the Navy Band sound team. I also learned how to drive a truck.🚛 Best job ever, right!? 🎉
Outside of work I love all sorts of training, I just completed my 2nd 80km ultramarathon and am looking forward to more running events, and my downtime is usually spent playing video games with a cup of tea. ☕
I am on the committee of the Modést Orchestra and enjoy organising and performing in their concerts (come see Swan Lake in November). The Modést Orchestra presents: Swan Lake
I’m still a keen chamber musician and have run a chamber ensemble in Sydney since 2018, holding public concerts with a flexible instrumentation which lets us showcase the highlights and unappreciated gems of the chamber music repertoire."
To find out more about joining the RAN Band, check out:
www.navy.gov.au/join-ran-band
Last Call for BSYO auditions!
Don’t miss your chance to ‘find your tribe’ and be among peers with the same love and appreciation of music.
Young musicians interested in joining the BlueScope Youth Orchestra (BSYO) are invited to audition for 2024.
We are particularly encouraging applications from woodwind players (Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon and French Horn) to further strengthen the orchestra.
Auditions: Friday 24th November after 5pm at WollCon.
https://wollcon.com.au/2023/09/21/auditions-open-for-bluescope-youth-orchestra/
Body & Soul: Steel City Strings with WollCon alumnus Nick Russoniello - Saxophonist and Composer, presenting a world premiere Concerto for Saxophone and String Orchestra.
Steel City Strings presents a program inspired by the upcoming exhibition at the Shoalhaven Regional Art Gallery. 'Death Love Art' explores how people mourn and remember those we love and how artists respond to the devastation of death.
- 2pm Sun 12 Nov Burrawang,
- 7.30pm Sat 18 Nov Wollongong,
- 2pm Sun 19 Nov Nowra.
Another outstanding WollCon Jazz Series gig this afternoon! The Shannon Barnett Quartet played a beautiful set of original music after the WollCon Jazz Combo absolutely floored the audience with a professional level support set. Big thanks to the Goethe-Institut for supporting this tour and the Wollongong City Libraries for presenting this show at Thirroul Library.
Here's a little bit of from last Saturday in Wollongong. WollCon ChiME teacher Anamaría Gómez, arranged the Colombian song “Duérme Negríto” for our Junior String orchestra which performed at the Church on the Mall - under the expert direction of Adrian Davis, and with Ethan Ireland.
https://wollcon.com.au/2023/10/10/wollcon-in-the-mix/
It's time to think about which Christmas concerts to lock in, and we'd love for you to come to our family-friendly Christmas extravaganza at the Town Hall.
With a full choir, full orchestra and ‘Sydney’s premiere vocalist’ Dan Barnett, our own Trish Delaney-Brown & soprano Kirsten Jones, experience a joyful afternoon celebrating the Christmas season. Starting at 2pm on Saturday 9th December - we'd love to see you there.
Children Under 5 years are FREE ENTRY
Student 5-18 years – $10
Concession / Pensioners – $25
Adult – $35
SAVE THE DATE for a spectacular Christmas Gala performance, Saturday 9 December, 2pm🎄✨
The roof of the Wollongong Town Hall will be raised in this family-friendly Christmas extravaganza of Christmas carol favourites, brought to you by the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music🤩
Tickets now on sale for $10-35, with children under 5 years FREE.
Learn more here - https://whatsoninwollongong.com.au/events/a-christmas-gala-performance/
In association with Wollongong Libraries - we are bringing a FREE Jazz Quartet concert to Thirroul Library Sunday 29th October. Introducing the Shannon Barnett Quartet. Bookings are essential.🎷🎺
Come and hear the fusion of Australian humour and German precision when the Shannon Barnett Quartet play at Thirroul Library on Sunday 29 October from 2 – 4pm. In collaboration with Wollongong Conservatorium of Music, this free event showcases the music of Australian trombonist and composer Shannon Barnett, who currently lives and works in Germany. The Quartet is rounded out by Stefan Karl Schmid, David Helm, and Fabian Arends.
Book your spot today: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wollongong-city-libraries-and-wollcon-present-the-shannon-barnett-quartet-tickets-694594750597
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, as well as the Goethe Institut.
WollCon is proud to be part of this wonderful Festival - Culture Mix.
Our Llwellyn Orchestra has been learning folk tune arrangements especially for the day to be performed at the Church on the Mall. There are also interactive ‘Jam n Bread’ workshops coordinated by Music Therapist and Guitar Teacher Ann Lehmann-Kuit at the Music Lounge.
More at: https://wollcon.com.au/2023/10/10/wollcon-in-the-mix/
Who went along to Sing and Sip at the The Waterfront Tavern?
It's Community Choir at its best!
Thanks to Kate for filling in for Trish at the last minute.
Next Sing & Sip session is November 8th. We look forward to seeing you there.
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1096736
“In a head-bopping nod to the obvious, The Vampires play vamps. Yet, these are no ordinary vamps. Written and improvised melodies are beautiful and flawless, and the harmonies between the three voices (woodwinds, brass, bass) ring with pitch-perfect sonority. There is a sublime pacing to each of the tunes here, with strategic shifts in texture, tonality, tonality, rhythm or intensity twisting the narrative of each hypnotic groove into an ever unfolding and irresistible arc.”
**** Gary Fukushima, Downbeat
✨ The Vampires - Nightjar featuring Chris Abrahams
📅 The Music Lounge, Wollongong Townhall
📍 Fri 20 Oct
🎟 Details: https://merrigong.com.au/shows/the-vampires-nightjar-featuring-chris-abrahams/
The Vampires
Attention WollCon students, it’s time for our Concerto Competition.
Our final Public Performance Day for the year (10th December) will showcase the musical achievements of advanced students at our annual Concerto Competition, as they compete for $1000 in prize money.
Participants will perform one movement of a concerto or piece for solo instrument and orchestra, assessed by a guest adjudicator and the winner announced on the day.
The public is welcome and encouraged to attend this free event. No prebooking to be part of the audience is required, however students must seek approval from their WollCon music teacher before registering for the Concerto Competition (which closes 27th November).
https://wollcon.com.au/2023/10/16/concerto-competition-2023/
Part of our Jazz Series line-up for the year: MaxMantis is performing in Wollongong’s "The Music Lounge"
The Music Lounge & The Wollongong Conservatorium of Music presents MaxMantis! Three unique, high-calibre Swiss Jazz musicians that morph the disciplines of free and structured jazz into their own breed of music that is flexible and free, yet unified and purely unique. 💫
✨ MaxMantis
🗓 Thu 9 Nov
📍The Music Lounge, Wollongong Town Hall
🎟 Tickets from $25
https://merrigong.com.au/shows/maxmantis/
Wollongong Conservatorium of Music MaxMantis
Wonderful to see our double page spread on WollCon's Junior Strings Program in this issue of AUSTA - Stringendo.
Congratulations Adrian Davis. 🎻👏
Time for a 🍵 and a read - Stringendo has just arrived!
Have you read yours yet?
The theme for this latest edition of Stringendo is "Australia's Tertiary Music Institutions".
Haven't received yours? Your membership may have lapsed 🫢
Head to https://www.austa.asn.au/login to check your membership status!
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Wollongong, NSW
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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the entire WollCon Team! 🥳 Thanks for your support throughout 2023. We'll leave you with this sample of our Christmas Gala Performance in Wollongong Town Hall. Thank you to everyone in the WollCon Community who made this event so special. 📷 Brad Chilby
Christmas is nearly here. We look forward to welcoming you to our Christmas Gala Performance today at 2pm.
Who went along to our Four Hands & Beyond concert last Friday night at WollCon? Here is a snippet of the amazing talent that was on show. Our Head of Piano Brad Baker with student Andrew, playing Debussy’s Petit Suite. image001.pngimage002.png #grandpiano #pianolovers #pianoduet #pianoduo #classicalmusic #livemusic #freeconcert #musiceducation #piano #conservatorium #regionalconservatorium #pianolessons #childrensmusic
Who went along to our Four Hands & Beyond concert last Friday night at WollCon? Here is a snippet of the amazing talent that was on show. Our Head of Piano Brad Baker with student Andrew, playing Debussy's Petit Suite. 🎶👏
Want to experience a 'night devine' without having to stay out past sunset? ⭐ O Holy Night is one of our favourites from the Christmas music repertoire – sung beautifully here by WollCon vocal teacher and Opera Australia singer, Kirsten Jones. Join us in Wollongong Town Hall for this celebration of Christmas music from 2pm on Saturday 9 December. 🎟️ https://merrigong.com.au/shows/a-christmas-gala-performance/
Christmas is coming to Wollongong Town Hall
Love Christmas music?
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s the MaxMantis Clan! Three Superheroes united under the banner of the praying mantis, continuously defending their wild-west style world against villains. Sounds absurd?….. It is absurd! Behind the three heroes Jeff Mantis, Rex Mantis, and Bob Mantis are the three Swiss jazz musicians Lukas Gernet, Rafael Jerjen and Samuel Büttiker. #makingjazzsexyagain Three unique high-calibre musicians, that through their performance of musical themes, jingles and free improvisation tell the ongoing stories surrounding the MaxMantis Clan. “Think Marvel meets DC meets Jazz.” Coming to "The Music Lounge" November 9th! Tickets selling fast! https://merrigong.com.au/shows/maxmantis/
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s the MaxMantis Clan! Three Superheroes united under the banner of the praying mantis, continuously defending their wild-west style world against villains. Sounds absurd?….. It is absurd! Behind the three heroes Jeff Mantis, Rex Mantis, and Bob Mantis are the three Swiss jazz musicians Lukas Gernet, Rafael Jerjen and Samuel Büttiker. Three unique high-calibre musicians, that through their performance of musical themes, jingles and free improvisation tell the ongoing stories surrounding the MaxMantis Clan. “Think Marvel meets DC meets Jazz.” #makingjazzsexyagain coming to @themusicloungewollongong November 9th! Tickets selling fast!
Our ConChords choir warm up of ‘Let the River Run’ for the Rotary Kiama choir festival last Sunday. No piano in dressing room means Michael brings out his Melodica 😆👏 priceless! We love this Trish and the gang. Hope everyone enjoyed the Festival of Choirs last Sunday.
Evoking the Sentimental … that’s a wrap. Thank you WollCon’s Jack Mao , Brad Baker and Erin Mascord.
We caught Brad Baker and Jack Mao rehearsing some Schubert today, for this Sunday's concert 'EVOKING THE SENTIMENTAL' starting from 2pm at the Town Hall. There will also be some wonderful piano improvisation by Jack, and selected poetry recited by Erin Mascord. A great way to spend the afternoon. Have you booked your ticket? https://wollcon.com.au/event/evoking-the-sentimental/
Concert this Sunday! Here's Erin Mascord presenting an excerpt from Judith Wright’s “Old House” while Brad Baker plays music by Rachel Grimes.
Tickets for this concert “Evoking the Sentimental” are selling fast. With the audience seated on stage with the performers - pianists Jack Mao and Brad Baker and with poetry by Erin Mascord - there’s limited seating. Go to our link in bio for what’s on.
A bit of Wollcon jazz orchestra on the lawn 👏🏻
Chris Fields Afro Indian jazz collective begins in auditorium…
Nick Hains Septet on in the lawn now! 👏🏻
Orchestra room quartet
Casa Pyc Quintet in the theatre
One of WollCon’s jazz bands begins in room 1…
Coming on 1 October 🎶
We are thrilled to be a 2023 Finalist with The Cram Foundation (Business Partnership category) for the Community Industry Group’s “Community Service Awards.” Our collaborative Music Therapy program was launched during #worldmusictherapy week earlier this year and sees WollCon music therapists Bertie and Harry work with CRAM residents to explore and unleash their musical creativity. This video is of Cram client Amber during one of her #musictherapy sessions with Bertie. Amber really looks forward to the weekly music sessions. Winners of the Community Service Awards will be announced next Friday 22nd September. Stay tuned! #WorldMusicTherapyWeek #MusicTherapist #WorldMusicTherapyWeek2023 #registeredmusictherapist #bertiemcmahon #emotionalwellbeing #communityindustrygroup
Chris Fields and his WollCon percussion team bringing a bit groove at the CHiME Transition Concert this weekend. 🥁
Snippet of the Rehearsal for the String Spectacular 2023
Guest conductor Stephen Chin workshopping with all the string players.
What's happening Dicey Riley's Hotel Friday n
Crown Street
