Presidents’ Message

Friends, I can’t believe I am already writing to invite you to our Annual Christmas Concert at the Austrian Club! Where has the year gone? I’ve just returned from two weeks in Germany, Austria & Italy. A very good friend and colleague from my days at the Karlsruhe Opera was celebrating his sixtieth birthday last month. Last year I promised him I would be there to celebrate and we had a lot of fun. I also caught up with a lot of friends I haven’t seen for many years. Then on to Salzburg and more friends. I enjoyed a couple of beautiful days, including sitting outside ‘Schnitzel Paradies’ having a wonderful meal in a little village further up in the mountains, before the weather changed and it was cold and wet. Then on the train to Tuscany where friends again took care of me in that very beautiful and incredibly historic part of the world. A wonderful time. Our last concert at the Whitehorse Centre wasn’t the success I had hoped for as far as audience numbers were concerned. The Saturday evening attracted a small but very enthusiastic audience and as a result the Committee has decided not to repeat the exercise next year. Those of you who attended the concerts I think would agree that it was an enjoyable time. Having the orchestra allows us to present a very different concert to those at the Austrian Club. There are however some issues such as the over amplification of the orchestra and singers that need to be resolved if we decide to use the Victorian Concert Orchestra in the Whitehorse Centre again next year. I know many members will be saddened to hear of the unexpected death of Vic Dhar last month. Vic and Angela Dhar have been very generous hosts of the Society on a number of occasions at their beautiful property ‘Upper Ngumby’ in Yarra Glen. It was always a pleasure to be able to enjoy lovely music, take in the beautiful view and sample the excellent wines of which Vic was so proud. He always went out of his way to make sure everyone who came felt very welcome. To Angela and her family we extend our deepest sympathies and our thanks to Vic for beingsuch a wonderful supporter of the Robert Stolz Viennese Music Society. All the very best Ian Lowe – President

From the Editor’s Desk Welcome to the third Newsletter for 2007. In this issue we have included a very interesting article by Joy Lee, Head of ‘Young Academy’ ANAM whom our Society actively supports together with a BIOG of Jessie Gu, Flautist who won the 2007 Robert Stolz Viennese Music Society. ’Gold Award’. There is also a report by Albert Whitelaw of our recent concerts “Tales From Vienna Woods” held last August at the Whitehorse Centre in Nunawading. Our next concert “Christmas in Vienna” will be held on Sunday 25th November 2007 at the Austrian Club and will feature well known artists, instrumentalists and the Gay Wightman Ballet ensemble. A flyer giving full details will posted to you along with this newsletter Until next time Kindest regards, Alan Wren Editor Email:alanwren1@bigpond.com

“Tales From Vienna Woods” The Robert Stolz Viennese Music Society presented their August 2007 concert "Tales from the Vienna Woods" at the Whitehorse Centre, Nunawading. As last year's concert was sold out, the committee decided this year to present the programme on the Saturday night as well as our usual Sunday afternoon. The Saturday performance was not as well attended as anticipated but the Sunday concert was close to a full house. The Victorian Concert Orchestra was conducted by Joannes Roose and played items by Johann Strauss, Anton Dvorak and Robert Stolz. Soloists were soprano Jane O'Toole, baritone Ian Cousins and tenor Raymond Khong. They presented a selection of songs from operettas by Lehár, Strauss, Kálmán and Stolz. The special guest artist for these performances was the young and very talented violinist, Danny Gu who played Beethoven's Romance in "G" and Fritz Kreisler's Capprice Viennois. Our President, Ian Lowe compèred the programme in his usual very entertaining manner. Australian National Academy of Music—Young Academy On behalf of all Young Academy Musicians I would like to thank the Robert Stolz Viennese Music Society for their interest in us, their continued support in so many ways, financially, concert opportunities and enormous encouragement. In 2006 the 3 prize winners were: 14 year old violinist Richard Lipohar awarded gold prize 12 year old violinist Kana Ohashi, violinist awarded silver prize 14 year old violinist Anne-Marie Johnson awarded bonze prize In 2007 the 3 prize winners were: 16 year old flautist Jessie Gu awarded gold prize 16 year old violinist Xenia Deviatkina-Lohawarded joint silver prize 15 year old pianist Maxwell Foster awarded joint silver prize We were absolutely thrilled that the President of the Robert Stolz Viennese Music Society, Roger Prochazka, presented the awards on both occasions. He gave a most significant speech before the presentations were handed out before the 2.00pm Sunday concert. Launched in 2005, ANAM’s Young Academy was formed to encourage and guide school-age musicians who aim for the highest level of performance. The program offers a course of specialist teaching as well as concerts, rehearsals (with piano), master classes and music development seminars, taking place on Sunday afternoons. As Head of the Young Academy, I am very proud to be active in the direction and development of talented young musicians. To introduce them to higher levels of instrumental excellence, foster a serious learning attitude and create an atmosphere which encourages a higher level of achievement, is indeed of great worth. Observing the growth of young talents, helping them perform with confidence and maturity, as well as playing for the pure joy of making music, gives me immense pleasure. These young people are our future professional musicians and audience members and they will undoubtedly play a significant role in Australian cultural life. Not only do our students enjoy a wonderful environment of learning, they also have fun and their level of playing and enthusiasm is raised simply by being together, listening, talking and observing. I sincerely believe that Australia’s finest young musicians deserve and require: expert guidance; specialised teaching and care; and  interaction with their peers; As in all major music institutions in the world, the Australian National Academy of Music acknowledges the necessity of identifying and developing talent at a young age, accordingly ANAM introduced Young Academy to nurture the talent of young Australians. In 2006, six Young Academy students finished school, and all 6 have gone on to study music. Three in the National Academy’s Advanced Performance Program, and the other three are studying for music degrees in Adelaide, Melbourne and Overseas. Joy Lee Head of Young Academy   Australian National Academy of Music

Jessie Gu Flute 2007 gold award Robert Stoltz Viennese Music Society Born into a musical family in Dublin, Ireland 1991, Jessie Gu began studying both violin and piano at the age of four and commenced her formal flute studies at age eight. In 1997 she began studying at Melbourne Girls Grammar School whilst a Music Scholarship recipient. At age 14, Jessie was possibly the youngest flautist to have already won all five sections of the prestigious Leslie Barklamb Scholarship in four consecutive years, as well as being awarded the “Most Promising Performer” in 2002 across all age groups. In 2005, Jessie was offered a scholarship to study at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) and won both the Open and Concerto sections of the 2005 Inaugural Temby Australia Flute Competition. She was also a prize winner in the 2004 and 2006 Hephzibah Menuhin Memorial Award. Jessie Gu has been broadcast several times on ABC and 3MBS Classic FM for the “Young Australians” ,“Rising Stars” and “Live at the Convent” programs and interviewed on the “Limelight” magazine and “The Age” newspaper. Her teachers have included Annette Sloan and Alan Hardy. Jessie has received Masterclasses from Emmanuel Pahud, Wissam Boustany, Paul Edmund-Davies, Emily Beynon, Yossi Arnheim, Uwe Grodd, Jeffrey Collins, John Wion and Elizabeth Koch. In 2006, Jessie was invited to perform with David Ward from the Royal College of Music in London, celebrating Mozart’s 250th Anniversary at the Ian Roach Hall. She was also invited by the Robert Stolz Viennese Musical Society of Melbourne as a guest soloist. At 15 years old, Jessie Gu was selected to participate in the 2006 Inaugural Beijing Nicolet International Flute Competition for under 32 yrs of age. Jessie currently studies with ANAM Head of Woodwinds pedagogue Margaret Crawford at the Australian National Academy of Music.