Evensong: Claire Howard Race

evensong

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2014 | 7 PM | WAHROONGA SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH | AVONDALE.EDU.AU/EVENTS

FEATURING: A PERFORMANCE OF BEETHOVEN’S CHORAL FANTASIA WITH AVONDALE SINGERS AND AVONDALE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA.

Avondale Conservatorium Alan and Yvonne Thrift Perpetual Shield for Musical ExcellenceThis prize, established in 1999, honours the work of Alan and the late Yvonne Thrift who devoted their working lives to the development of music at Avondale College of Higher Education. Alan served as head of music from 1957 to 1990; Yvonne taught piano and voice for 20 years.

Avondale Conservatorium David Clark Harmony and Composition PrizeThis prize, established in 2013, is awarded in honour of David Clark who made a significant contribution to the music program at Avondale College of Higher Education from 1969, first as a music lecturer and later as head of music until his retirement in 2005. David’s legacy: to instil a love of learning and a desire for excellence while keeping a sense of humour.

Avondale Conservatorium George Greer Memorial Academic Excellence PrizeThis prize, established in 2013, is awarded in memory of George Greer, a much loved and respected head of music from 1947 to 1952. His dedication to the music program saw it expand rapidly. Under George’s influence, the Avondale Sym-phonic Choir was established and gained national recognition for choral excellence.

Avondale Conservatorium Noel Clapham Memorial PrizeThis prize, established in 1999 as a scholarship, is in memory of Dr Noel Clapham, head of the Music Department from 1952 to 1957. Noel supported the development of music at Avondale through a balanced program and oversaw the first onsite vocal recording as director of the Avondale Symphonic Choir.

Academic Prizes

Graceful, charming and sweet is the soundOf our life’s harmonies,and from a sense of beauty ariseFlowers which eternally bloom.Peace and joy advance in perfect concord,like the changing play of the waves.All that was harsh and hostile,has turned into sublime delight. 

When music’s enchantment reigns,speaking of the sacred word,Magnificence takes form,The night and the tempest turns to light:Outer peace and inner blissReign o’er the fortunate ones.All art in the spring’s sunLets light flow from both. 

Greatness, once it has pierced the heart,Then blooms anew in all its beauty.Once one’s being has taken flight,A choir of spirits resounds in response.Accept then, you beautiful souls,Joyously the gifts of high art.When love and strength are united,God’s grace is bestowed upon Man.

Background and lyrics: Choral Fantasia

Claire Howard Race is a lec-turer at the Conservatorium of Music at Avondale College of Higher Education. She received First Class Honours and the University Medal from The Conservatorium at The University of Newcastle before continuing studies in postgraduate piano accompaniment at the Canberra School of Music and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, where she received the Broadwood Junior Piano Accompanist Fellow-

ship. A Master of Music in Performance and Research with Distinction from the Royal Academy of Music followed.

Claire is pianist for the Sirius Chamber Ensemble and has performed at festivals including the Amersham Festival of Music and the Henley Festival (London, England), the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival (Scotland), the International Festival of the Interpretation of Spanish Song (Granada, Spain), the Paisley Festival (Glasgow, Scotland) and the Ruhr Klassische Musik Festival (Marl, Germany). She has also accompanied the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, The Little Opera Company, The Esterhazy Singers and the Australian Girls’ Choir.

Biography: Claire Howard Race

The premiere performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia came as the finale to a concert on De-cember 22, 1808, which also included a concert aria, two movements from Mass in C Major and Piano Concerto No. 4. Beethoven wanted a finale that would unite in a single piece the musical elements—piano solo, orchestra and

chorus—highlighted during the concert.

Choral Fantasia begins with a long piano solo that Bee-thoven himself performed, in an improvisational style, at the premiere. The orchestra then joins, creating a concer-to-like effect. The chorus joins for the finale.

Opening remarks Ben Milis Recipient (2011) Avondale Conservatorium Alan and Yvonne Thrift Perpetual Shield for Musical Excellence

Avondale Wind Ensemble “Sonata Pian’ e Forte,” Giovanni Gabrieli Avondale Wind Ensemble “Deep River,” Traditional African American Ossie Jellyman “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” Traditional American Director Avondale String Orchestra Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV297, Avondale String Orchestra “Winter,” Dr Sohyun Eastham Antonio Vivaldi Director 1. Allegro non molto 2. Largo 3. Allegro

Avondale String Orchestra and Avondale Singers Vesperae Solennes de Confessor, K339, Kimberley Jones (soprano) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Avondale String Orchestra 5. “Laudate Dominum” Avondale Singers Aleta King Director

Offering Emily Thomas Recipient (2013) Avondale Conservatorium Alan and Yvonne Thrift Perpetual Shield for Musical Excellence The Evensong offering supports an Avondale Conservatorium student scholarship and the following academic prizes: Avondale Conservatorium David Clark Harmony and Composition Prize Avondale Conservatorium George Greer Memorial Academic Excellence Prize Avondale Conservatorium Noel Clapham Memorial Prize

Offertory Piano Sonata Op. 13 No. 8, Kent Sharp (piano) Ludwig Van Beethoven Recipient (2013) 2. “Adagio Cantabile” Avondale Conservatorium George Greer Memorial Academic Excellence Prize

Avondale Guitar Ensemble “The Foggy Foggy Dew,” Traditional Celtic Avondale Guitar Ensemble “Danse de’ Lutins” and Terry Latham “Enchantant de Vieux Airs,” Érik Marchelie Director Intermission

Finale Fantasy for Piano, Choir and Orchestra Claire Howard Race (piano) in C minor, Op. 80, Avondale Chamber Orchestra Ludwig Van Beethoven Avondale Singers Aleta King Director

Closing remarks Ben Milis

Program

Graduation Gala Concert

master works

FEATURING: AVONDALE CONSERVATORIUM GRADUANDS, HIGH DISTINCTION RECITAL AND PRIZE-WINNING STUDENTSSATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 | 7 PM | AVONDALE COLLEGESEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH | AVONDALE.EDU.AU/EVENTS