Bass-baritone, Paull-Anthony Keightley, one of our 2013 Awardees, completed his studies at Manhattan School of Music and then returned to Perth to take up a Young Artists position at West Australian Opera. He has recently been named the winner of the Opera Foundation for Young Australians Deutsche Oper Berlin Award, and will take up a 12 month contract in Berlin in August this year. In 2017 he was awarded the Royal Over-Seas League Arts scholarship in the finals of the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition, which will enable him to travel to the UK to present recitals and take voice lessons and coaching. CLICK for video
Victoria Wong wins the 25th Gyarfas Violin Competition
It is good to be able to start 2018 by congratulating one of our recent awardees, Victoria Wong, who has won first prize in the 25th Gyarfas Violin Competition, and was featured in the prize winners concert at the Joseph-Joachim Concert Hall in Berlin in December. Victoria, who is from Darlinghurst, NSW, is studying for a BMus at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, Berlin.
The Australian Charity Art Auction, 28.02.17
Many thanks to Michael Whalley, Karen Goldie-Morrison and all who helped to make the Australian Charity Art Auction such a wonderful success. More than 60 Australian artworks were auctioned by a Christie’s auctioneer at Australia House in aid of a number of much loved UK-based charities with Australian connections, including the AMF. We are most grateful to Michael Whalley for this generous and inspiring initiative, and to all who donated artworks for the auction. Several AMF musicians performed in a short concert to showcase the wonderful Australian talent being supported by the auction. AMF Alumna, soprano Lauren Fagan and current Awardees, pianist James Guan and mezzo-soprano Jade Moffat were accompanied by AMF Trustee, Linnhe Robertson.
Photo shows Linnhe Robertson, Jade Moffat and Lauren Fagan
2017 AMF Awardees Announced
Following the Finals at Wigmore Hall on 4th October, the AMF is delighted to announce the names of the new Awardees:
Samantha Clarke, soprano, Perth - Opera Artist Diploma, GSMD
Connor D’Netto, composer, Queensland - Masters, RCM
Matan Franco, composer, Melbourne - Masters in Film Scoring, Pulse College, Dublin
Phoebe Gardner, violin, Sydney - BMus, Juilliard
Oscar Jiang, piano, Carlton - BMus, Juilliard (current awardee)
Waynne Kwon, cello, Sydney - BMusHONS, RNCM (current awardee)
Victoria Wong, violin, Darlinghurst - BMus, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, Berlin
Edith Yam, organ, Sydney - Masters, Conservatory of Amsterdam
Eilidh Young, snare drum, Gosford NSW - BMus, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
None of this would be possible without the generosity of our prize donors, particularly Mrs Nora Goodridge in Sydney, and the Portland House Foundation, to whom we are most grateful.
Many thanks also, to the distinguished panel of judges for devoting their time and expertise to this difficult task. Guest judges this year included Australian musicians Leslie Howard (international pianist and recording artist), mezzo-soprano Caitlin Hulcup (Wiener Staatsoper, ROH London, WNO) and violinist Jennifer Nickson (Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden).
Samantha Crawford Wins NSW Wagner Society Award
The New South Wales Wagner Society have granted an Emerging Wagner Singers award to AMF Alumna, soprano Samantha Crawford. This will help provide German coaching and audition support, all valuable steps in helping Samantha to prepare for Wagner roles such as Eva and Elsa.
Samantha will be appearing at St. Botolph's Church Hall on 5th October, in a concert for the Wagner Society, London, featuring works by Strauss and Wagner, and talk about her experiences at the Bayreuther Festspiele.
Photo shows Samantha at the Bayreuth Wagner Festival this summer
Pianist James Guan awarded Greta Parkinson Prize from RAM
Many congratulations to current awardee, pianist James Guan, who has been awarded the Greta Parkinson Prize by the Royal Academy of Music. This is one of the Academy’s discretionary prizes, awarded for a combination of good work, conduct, and general achievement throughout the academic year.
Born in Sydney, James studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Primary School, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music High School, and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under Paul Rickard-Ford. He has recently completed his Masters degree at the Royal Academy of Music under Ian Fountain with the support of the Australian Music Foundation.
His prizes include 4th in the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition and the Kerikeri International Piano Competition; the Most Outstanding Recitalist in the Emerging Artists Series, and 3rd in the International Competition Piana del Cavaliere and the Clamo International Piano Competition. He was also the recipient of the Best Australian Award at the Sydney International Piano Competition and Winner of the Great Romantics Competition in Melbourne.
Video of James playing at the Finals of the Jaques Samuel Competition at Wigmore Hall
Samantha Crawford wins Gold Medal at Berliner International Music Competition
Congratulations to AMF alumna, soprano Samantha Crawford, who has won a Gold Medal with Honours at the inaugural Berliner International Music Competition.
Judges included Denis O'Neill, Teresa Berganza, Ryland Davies, Javier Camarena, Carlos Álvarez and Gabriele Fontana.
Photo credit: Jeremy Hosking
Soprano Lauren Fagan makes her WNO debut as Musetta in La Bohème
AMF alumna, soprano Lauren Fagan recently made her debut with Welsh National Opera, as Musetta in La Bohème. Lauren comes from Sydney and studied at the GSMD and on the Jette Parker Young Artists' Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. In June, she will sing the role of Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Opera Holland Park.
Photos © Robert Workman, Lauren Fagan as Musetta
Emily Sun and Waynne Kwon win prizes at the Bromsgrove International Competition
Many congratulations to AMF Alumna, violinist Emily Sun, and current AMF Awardee, cellist Waynne Kwon, who have both won prizes at the Bromsgrove International Musicians Competition. They were selected from 108 competitors to play in the Finals on 8 April 2017, where Emily was awarded First Prize and Waynne was awarded a Finalists Prize. The AMF is proud to be supporting such talented young musicians and wishes them both continued success in their studies.
PHOTO shows: (Black Row, left to right) Dominic Degavino, Hannah Roberts, Edmond Fivet, Hayley Parkes; (front row, left to right) Wyn Chan, Emily Sun, Waynne Kwon and Andrew Zolinsky
AMF Awards 2017
The application process for the 2017 AMF Awards will open on Monday 10 April and close at midnight on Monday 8 May. The First Round will be judged via online application forms and video files. Finalists will be invited to appear live at the Wigmore Hall, London, on Wednesday, 4 October. Any finalists not able to appear, including composers, conductors, and repetiteurs, will be judged on their original or new video files.
Further information can be found on the Apply for an Award page, where a pdf sample application form can be downloaded for candidates to familiarise themselves with the requirements prior to the auditions window opening.
Justin Sun wins Woodwind Prize at ROSL
Many congratulations to bassoonist Justin Sun, who has won the Royal Overseas League Sussex Prize for Woodwind. Justin is the current holder of the AMF Nora Goodridge Emerging Artist Award and is studying for a Masters in Performance at the RCM.
Emily Sun plays Double Violin Concerto with Maxim Vengerov at Buckingham Palace
Congratulations to AMF awardee Emily Sun, who was selected by violin virtuoso Maxim Vengerov to play alongside him in the Bach Double Violin Concerto at Buckingham Palace last week, accompanied by the RCM Symphony Orchestra. The event was hosted by HRH the Prince of Wales, Patron of both the RCM and the AMF. Emily was proud to be able to tell him that she was playing on an Australian instrument made by Arthur E Smith in 1946. Photos: © Paul Burns Photography. Emily and her accompanist Jennifer Hughes will also be appearing in a recital at Wigmore Hall this week.
Emily Sun plays at National Gallery
The AMF were recently invited to provide young musicians for a special event at the National Gallery on 27 January, entitled 'Australia Late', in celebration of Australia Day and the current exhibition of 'Australia's Impressionists'.
AMF awardee, violinist Emily Sun, appeared in recital with her pianist Jennifer Hughes and played a programme of Schubert, Fritz Kreisler and Richard Strauss to a large and appreciative audience. They were the first musicians to use the beautiful new Blüthner piano, which was recently donated to the gallery.
Emily and Jennifer will also be appearing at Wigmore Hall on 13 February, where they will be playing the R. Strauss Violin Sonata in E flat major, Opus 18.
Jesse Flowers purchases new instrument with AMF Guy Parsons Award
The AMF Guy Parsons Award has enabled recipient Jesse Flowers to purchase a new instrument by world-renowned guitar luthier Antonius Müller, one of the leading exponents of the ‘Double-top’ guitar design. He is well known for producing instruments with plenty of volume and fullness, without compromising their range of tone colour and beauty of sound. Since the guitar is a very intimate and quiet instrument, it is vital to have a guitar that can carry right to the back of a concert hall.
Originally from Sydney, Jesse completed his Bachelor of Music at the Australian National University in Canberra in November 2014. Since then, he has been studying with Tilman Hoppstock at the Akademie für Tonkunst Darmstadt, Germany, where he has won several competitions and will be taking part in the ‘National Concerts for Young Artists of Germany’ 2017/18 season.
In March Jesse will give a solo recital in Sundsvall, Sweden and a concert in Mannheim, Germany with cellist Wolfgang Boettcher, who was 15 years principal cellist with the Berliner Philarmoniker (and also Jesse's great uncle).
Samantha Crawford wins Wagner Prize
Many congratulations to AMF Alumna, soprano Samantha Crawford, who has won two prizes at the 2016 Wagner Society Singing Competition: the First Prize awarded by Sir John Tomlinson and the President's Prize from Dame Gwyneth Jones. She has also been awarded a place on the Bayreuth scholarship programme from the Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation, which will allow her to spend a week in Bayreuth as a scholar, attending Wagner operas and masterclasses.
AMF 2016 Awardees announced
Following the Finals of the AMF Awards on 6 October at Wigmore Hall, London, the Chairman and Trustees are delighted to announce that nine young musicians have been chosen as recipients of scholarships this year, With many thanks to our distinguished panel of judges: Piers Lane, piano; Benjamin Hughes, cello; John Anderson, oboe; Professor Raymond Holden (RAM), Linnhe Robertson (GSMD), Professor Peter Tregear (Chair AMF Australia) and non-voting Chairman of the Panel, Yvonne Kenny AM (Chair AMF UK).
The AMF 2016 Awardees
Justin Sun (Canberra) - bassoon - age 22 - MMus RCM - AMF Nora Goodridge Emerging Artist Award
Jesse Flowers (Sydney) - guitar - age 22 - Künstlerische Aufbaustudium, Darmstadt - AMF Guy Parsons Award
Daniel Mullaney (Perth) - tenor - age 25 - Advanced Certificate, Opera, GSMD - AMF Nora Goodridge Developing Artist Award
Jade Moffat (Brisbane) - mezzo soprano - age 27 - MMus, GSMD Opera Course - AMF Nora Goodridge Developing Artist Award
James Guan (Sydney) - piano - age 25 - MMus, RAM - AMF Award
Shanie Klas (Melbourne) - percussion - age 24 - Masters, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA - AMF Award
Waynne Kwon (Sydney) - cello - age 20 - BMus Hons, RNCM - AMF Award
Oscar Jiang (Victoria) - piano - age 18 - BMus, Juilliard, USA - AMF Award
James Yan (Illawarra, NSW) - composer - age 22 - MMus RCM - AMF UK Trustees Award
2015 Awardees perform at Sunday in the Apartment
AMF Awardees Emily Sun (violin) and Andrey Lebedev (guitar) performed together as a duo at Sunday in the Apartment on 11 September, at the Rah Rah Room, Piccadilly. Their programme included:
Claude Debussy: Clair de Lune from Suite Bergamasque, arranged by Andrey Lebedev
Manuel de Falla: Canciones Populares Españolas, 1. El Paño moruno, 2. Il Jota
Photo credit: Peter Livingstone Photography
There was also an appearance by AMF Alumnus, singer Russell Harcourt.
Sunday in the Apartment, run by Australian Business, is a showcase of Australian talent, based in London, and is a light-hearted afternoon entertainment, part chat-show, part cabaret. The next show will be on 27 November. More information:
http://www.sundayintheapartment.com/
Emily Sun and Yvonne Kenny at the ROSL Grand Final
AMF Chairman Yvonne Kenny, pictured with AMF Awardee, violinist Emily Sun, who won the Gold Medal at the 2016 Royal Overseas League Grand Final at Cadogan Hall on 1 June.
Lauren Fagan to appear in Last Night of the Proms
All best wishes, to current AMF Awardee, soprano Lauren Fagan, who will be appearing as a soloist in Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music at the Last Night of the Proms on 10 September.
AMF Welcomes new Trustee, Dr Margaret Mayston AM
The AMF welcomes a new Trustee, Dr Margaret Mayston AM, who is a leading researcher, therapist and lecturer in the field of neurosciences.
She was named the 2010 Australian Woman of the Year in the UK, for her ongoing work helping children and families deal with Cerebral Palsy.
Dr Mayston was recognised in the Australia Day honours in 2009 and is a recipient of the prestigious Schafter Award in Physiology.
The AMF is very grateful for Dr Mayston's support and looks forward to working with her on future projects to assist more talented young Australian musicians in their studies overseas.