Australian Showcase 2023

IAN LUCAS

Date: Thursday, 6 July, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM
Repertoire:

Stanley Myers/Ian Lucas:
Cavatina

Sergey Prokofiev:
from Romeo and Juliet Op.75
No.10 Romeo and Juliet Before Parting

“My mother Joan was my first and most enthusiastic teacher, introducing me to music before I could walk and seating me at the piano when I was four.

Her love of the classical repertoire was infectious, however sadly for me piano technique was not a natural gift, nothing pianistically came easily, and despite being a diligent student until I was 18 years compared to others, I had made modest progress, so I closed the lid of my piano and studied aviation.

Whilst I flew airplanes the piano lid remained shut for 32 years.

However, my mother’s, love of music and insistence on disciplined practice was a true and lasting gift, after a career in aviation ranging from The Out-Back Mail Man based in Alice Springs to a career in the Qantas Group I still draw enough energy to practice from her memory.

I had turned fifty when my wife Lee felt it was time for me to find the time to play again, so I began my gradual “Return To Music“ with a little daily practice.”

TERRENCE XIE

Date: Thursday, 6 July, 2023
Time: 2:30 PM
Repertoire:

Franz Liszt:
from Grandes études de Paganini S.141
No.3 La Campanella

My name is Terrence Xie. I am 13 years old,currently I’m studying at the St Andrews Cathedral School. I have studied piano for over eight years. I love playing piano because of the wide range of notes that are available to be played, the technique required to play the different pieces, and the ability to be able to pour my own emotion into the music. Piano is an instrument filled with colour and powerful raw energy.

LEO LIU

Date: Thursday, 6 July, 2023
Time: 5:20 PM
Repertoire:

Carl Vine:
from Piano Sonata No.1
I.

Haoqing Leo Liu, 16 years old, has been the recipient of several awards including first prize in the 2022 Steinway Youth Piano Competition, Bernstein National Piano Competition, PolMusicA Polish Music Competition, the Musical Society of Victoria MSV 18 Years Nehama Patkin Memorial Award, and laureate of the 2023 Bach Competition, Melbourne Recital Centre. In 2022 Leo achieved his AMEB LMusA with Distinction and was a Melbourne Conservatorium Young Artist Academy scholarship recipient where he performed as a soloist with an orchestra. In 2023 he made his first public appearance on the ‘live to air’ program on 3MBS radio. Leo studies Piano with Glenn Riddle and Harpsichord with David Macfarlane at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Melbourne.

ALICIA ELSOM

Date: Thursday, 6 July, 2023
Time: 8:30 PM
Repertoire:

Maurice Ravel:
from Miroirs M.43
No.5 La vallée des cloches

Born in China, Alicia started learning piano at the age of 7. After three years of learning piano, she has been awarded the highest piano examination of the Central Conservatory of Music School of Piano Grading Test level 10 certificate. She then pursues her piano study in Australia. In 2014, she has accepted into the Young Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University at the age of 13. Soon she started competing in piano competitions from the age of 15, winning multiple prizes including the second and third prizes in Queensland Piano Competition from 2017 to 2019, 3^rd prize in Brisbane Youth International Music Festival, 1^st prize in King’s Peak International Music Competition, 2^nd prize in European Music Category Charleston Competition, Orbetello Piano Competition and the Ruby C Cooling prize. Between the year of 2019 and 2020, she has been awarded Australian Music Examination Board’s AMusA (Association Music Award) and LMusA (Licentiate Music Award) diploma certificates both for piano performance respectively. Alicia has given numerous recitals in China and Australia and received masterclasses from renowned pianists Mark Griffiths and Alexander Gadjiev. She has studied piano with Russian tutelages Oleg Stepanov, Natasha Vlasenko and Igor Machlak and Australian pianist Glenn Riddle. She is also a recipient in major scholarships during her studies at university. Alicia is now studying her third year at Sydney Conservatorium of Music with Professor Stephanie McCallum.

BEN FU

Date: Friday, 7 July, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM
Repertoire:

Maurice Ravel:
from Gaspard de la nuit M.55
No.3 Scarbo

18-year-old  Ben Fu was born in ChengDu China, and began studying piano at the age of 7, before migrating to Australia. Ben studies with Professor Glenn Riddle at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. He has won numerous prizes in both China and Australia, including 1st Prizes in the Preston Symphony Concerto Competition, the Boroondara Concerto Competition, and the PolMusicA Music Competition. Other important achievements include being awarded both the Margaret Green Scholarship and the Reg Lewis Scholarship. Ben made his concerto debut in 2022 performing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No 3 with the Preston Symphony Orchestra. Ben is a keen chamber music player, and recitalist, and he frequently records for 3MBS radio. In the early 2023, Ben has given lunchtime concert at both St. Peter’s Cathedral and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

ISABELLA GUO

Date: Friday, 7 July, 2023
Time: 2:30 PM
Repertoire:

John Carmichael:
Toccata from Sonatina

Alberto Ginastera:
Criolla from Tres piezas Op.6.

Isabella Guo is a vibrant and enthusiastic 10-year-old girl born in Shanghai. Inspired by her mother who plays the piano and clarinet, Isabella commenced her music journey at the age of 4 and shows an innate interest in learning various musical instruments. In 2022, Isabella was awarded the Goodlet Legacy Music Scholarship from the prestigious Sydney Presbyterian Ladies College for 9 years (Years 4-12). Isabella is currently studying piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Rising Stars Program with Dr Paul Rickard-Ford. She is also learning percussion, clarinet and singing and participates in numerous music ensembles.

MENG XIA

Date: Friday, 7 July, 2023
Time: 5:20 PM
Repertoire:

Sergei Rachmaninoff:
from Etudes-tableaux Op.39
No.8 Allegro moderato
No.9 Allegro moderato. Tempo di marcia

Meng is currently studying in the first year of his bachelor of music degree at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music with Glenn Riddle. In 2018, Meng was a semi-finalist in the 7th ASEAN International Chopin Competition in Malaysia. In 2019, Meng competed in the 2nd Beijing International Chopin Competition and performed Liszt’s Piano Concerto No.2 with the Ringwood Symphony Orchestra with conductor William van der Vis. Meng was also recently offered places in various institutions including the Manhattan School of Music, RCM and RAM. In his free time, Meng enjoys reading, exercising and watching TV.

JUDE HOLLAND

Date: Friday, 7 July, 2023
Time: 8:30 PM
Repertoire:

Claude Debussy:
L’isle joyeuse

Jude is currently in his third year studying piano performance at the UWA Conservatorium of Music. Having studied under chair of keyboard studies, Graeme Gilling, he completed his AMusA and LMusA diplomas with distinctions in 2019 and 2020. At the Conservatorium he won the VOSE Concerto Competition, Irwin Street Concerto Competition and Waveney Wansborough Prize. Jude has collaborated with some of Australia’s leading performers of early music, including soprano Dr Sara McLiver, violinist Shaun Lee-Chen and keyboardist Dr Cecilia Sun. Most recently, he was accepted to perform in the 4th International Angela Hewitt Masterclass in Perugia, Italy as part of the Trasimeno Music Festival.

ZOE CHENG

Date: Saturday, 8 July, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM
Repertoire:

Joseph Haydn:
from Keyboard Sonata in D major Hob.XVI:37
I. Allegro con brio 

Isaak Yakovich Berkovich:
Toccata in A minor

Zoe Cheng, an aspiring young pianist, is currently making waves in the Sydney music scene. At just 8 years old, soon to be 9, Zoe has already immersed herself in the world of piano. Her journey began at the tender age of 3, when her passion for music blossomed. Under the guidance of Dr. Paul Rickard-Ford through the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Rising Star program, Zoe has been honing her skills and pushing her musical boundaries. Notably, she has achieved remarkable success, securing prizes in prestigious competitions such as the Sydney Eisteddford. Zoe’s dedication and love for the piano continue to fuel her artistic journey. 

JENNY SU

Date: Saturday, 8 July, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM
Repertoire:

Maurice Ravel:
from Miroirs M.43
No.1 Noctuelles

Jenny, a recent Bachelor of Music (Advanced) graduate, is currently pursuing an Honours degree in Classical Performance under the guidance of Lucinda Collins. She won the Adelaide Eisteddfods Senior Recital and received the Wilf Mader Memorial Medallion in 2021. Jenny has also been a recipient of multiple scholarships, including the Maude Harriot Scholarship for Piano, the Patrick Cecil Greenland Scholarship for Pianoforte, and the Josephine Christiansen Bursary Award. Notable performances include the Art of Possible Festival and PianoLab, where she performed the work of Chopin. Jenny deeply appreciates the piano’s versatility, vast repertoire, and its ability to create an orchestral-like sound. She finds joy in expressing her perspective of the music through this instrument.

JAMES DEKLEVA

Date: Saturday, 8 July, 2023
Time: 7:30 PM
Repertoire:

Frederic Chopin:
Scherzo No.3 in C# minor Op.39

James Dekleva began studying piano at the age five, and is a piano graduate from the University of Western Australia where he studied under Jana Kovar. Highlights in his performance career include playing in the 2014 Beethoven Marathon in Perth, performing solo and chamber music concerts in WA from 2015 onward, and being chosen for continuo and orchestral pianist roles in operatic productions in Melbourne and overseas. In 2019, James was awarded the Management Choice Award in the Steinway Australia Piano Competition, and in 2021, he was selected as a quarter-finalist in the 16th International Beethoven Piano Competition Vienna.

SHEN-YUAN LYNCH

Date: Sunday, July 9, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM
Repertoire:

Franz Liszt:
from Études d’exécution transcendante S.139
No.4 Mazeppa

Sheng-Yuan Lynch had achieved remarkable success by the age of 12, having graduated with the highest grades in the AMEB’s AMusA and LMusA diplomas, making him one of Australia’s youngest candidates with the titles.Having appeared alongside orchestras including the QSO and TSO, Sheng-Yuan has excelled in competitions, being awarded prestigious recognitions including the McCann’s Music Award for the most outstanding AMEB candidate in Southern Tasmania and the 2018 TSO Rising Star.
Using music to assist those in need, Sheng-Yuan has held charity concerts since he was 11, helping donate over $160,000 to various organizations. His contributions were recognised by the City of Hobart in 2021, when he was named the Young Citizen of the Year.

ELSA LI

Date: Sunday, 9 July, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM
Repertoire:

Carl Maria von Weber:
Invitation to the dance Op.65

Xingyao (Elsa) Li was born in 2011, she is currently a year 6 student at St Ives North Public School. Elsa started her piano studies with Dan Wei at the age of 5. In 2021, Elsa joined the Rising Stars program at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she studies with Natalia Ricci. Elsa has a great passion for music and enjoys sharing her music with everyone of all ages. Her ultimate dream is to become a teacher like her mentors and help numerous children learn piano, guiding them towards achieving their goals.

KENT SHEN

Date: Sunday, 9 July, 2023
Time: 7:30 PM
Repertoire:

Franz Liszt:
Valse de l’opéra Faust S.407 (after Charles Gounod)

Currently a year 8 student at Newington College, Kent began learning piano at the age of 6. In February 2022, he joined the Rising Stars program of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and since then studies with Dr Paul Rickard-Ford.

Kent participated in last year’s Sydney Eisteddfod for the first time and achieved great results, winning two events and taking 2nd & 3rd places in another two.

Over this time, Kent has loved playing piano more and more and finds music fascinating. “The piano is a breathtaking instrument. Just 88 keys… with infinite possibilities.”

SAMUEL CHOI

Date: Monday, July 10, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM
Repertoire:

Franz Liszt:
from Venezia e Napoli S.159
IV. Tarantelles napolitaines

Samuel Choi is an internationally touring classical pianist and current Master of Music candidate at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. He is guided by former Central Music School of the Moscow Conservatory teacher and international prize-winner, Natasha Vlassenko.

Samuel started playing piano at the age of eight, learning from Dr Therese Milanovic. In 2022, he was a prize-winner of the International Piano Competition & Festival MozArte 2022. In 2019, he was invited to perform in the city of Daegu, South Korea to record his first album as well as many other performances around the country. In 2021, Samuel has made his first concerto debut with the Queensland Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra performing the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1. He was a semi-finalist in the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition 2019 and 2021; a finalist for the Great Romantic’s Competition in 2019 and 2020. In addition to piano recitals, he has performed in chamber ensembles with the Goldner String Quartet as well as performing with Ensemble Q.

Samuel has also been a special guest in the Asian Pacific Mayor’s Conference for many years. He is looking forward to further his studies in Germany. In September 2023, he will be studying in the University of Music and Theatre, Leipzig, Germany with Christian A. Pohl.

JOSHUA NORONHA

Date: Monday, July 10, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM
Repertoire:

Sergei Rachmaninoff:
from Etudes-tableaux Op.33:
No.3 in C minor

Sergei Rachmaninoff/I. Gerasimenko:
Spring Waters Op.14 No. 11

Joshua Noronha is currently studying with Oleg Stepanov at the Queensland Conservatorium, Brisbane, being awarded the Emily Reinhardt Piano Scholarship. He obtained Licentiate Diplomas from both Australian Music Examinations Board and Trinity College, London with Distinction at age 15.

Joshua has won top prizes in international and national piano competitions including Global International Piano Competition – China, Lev Vlassenko International Internet Piano Competition – Russia, XIIth International Rotary Children’s Music Competition – Russia, National Bernstein Junior Competition – Melbourne, and American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition. His dream is to share the beauty of classical music around the world.

WILLIAM PENG

Date: Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM
Repertoire:

Ludwig van Beethoven:
from Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor Op.57 Appassionata
I. Allegro assai

William Peng began playing piano at the age of 5. He was accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School under a piano scholarship, graduating in 2020. During his high school years, William competed in various competitions, such as finishing as a finalist in the East Tennessee State University International Piano Competition. The following year, William finished as 1st place in the Geelong Eisteddford. he was then accepted into the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he is currently studying a Bachelor of Music (Performance) in classical piano, under Stephanie McCallum. Throughout his years at the Conservatorium, he has finished as a finalist for the Piano Concerto Competition and won awards such as the Bessie Cook Piano Award. William has also been offered admission to undergraduate programs at the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and Manhattan School of Music. In 2023, William will be travelling to Spain in the coming month to attend a music festival under the Henderson Traveller’s Scholarship.

ISABELLA OXENBRIDGE

Date: Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM
Repertoire:

Sergey Prokofiev:
from Sarcasms Op.17
I. Tempestoso
II. Allegro rubato
III. Allegro precipitato
V. Precipitosissimo – Andantino

Isabella has loved studying the piano since she was 4 years old and considers performing on stage her favourite activity. An avid chamber musician, she has been part of numerous chamber ensembles (both as pianist and violinist), with which she toured both nationally and internationally. Some of Isabella’s most fond memories have been, performing in the Strike-a-Chord national chamber music finals in Melbourne last year, travelling to Hamburg Germany to play in a trio, performing at the AMEB Awards ceremony, and most recently, playing Chopin for Piers Lane in a masterclass. She currently studies under Dr Anna Grinberg of the University of Queensland.

WILLIAM SHI

Date: Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Time: 7:30 PM
Repertoire:

Gabriel Fauré:
from 9 Préludes Op.103
No.6 in E♭ minor
No.7 in A major

William Shi is an aspiring classical pianist, currently studying for the Bachelor of Music (Performance) degree at the University of Sydney with Stephanie McCallum.
Born in Sydney, Australia, he began his piano career at the age of five and was fortunate to encounter teachers who nurtured a passion for music and brought
success in his early career, acquiring numerous prizes in eisteddfods and competitions. Graduating from the Conservatorium High School in 2020, William’s
interest in French music brought him to pursue a career in musical research and performance.

SOPHIA BAE

Date: Thursday, July 13, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM
Repertoire:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
from Piano Sonata No.9 in D major K.311/284c
I. Allegro con spirito

Franz Liszt:
from 2 Concert Studies S.145
No.2 Gnomenreigen

Sophia Bae is a Rising Stars program participant at Sydney Conservatorium of Music and is mentored by Natalia Ricci. She has embraced performing at various venues including the Sydney Opera House, and was chosen as a representative of the Rising Stars program to perform with the internationally renowned LGT Young Soloists.

Sophia’s exceptional skills earned her first place in prestigious competitions like the Vienna International Music Competition, Polish Online Piano International Competition, and New York Golden Classical Music Awards. Currently, she is preparing for the Zhuhai International Mozart Competition, excited to broaden her horizons and make new international friends.

JEREMY SUN

Date: Thursday, July 13, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM
Repertoire:

Domenico Scarlatti:
Keyboard Sonata in A major K.24

Maurice Ravel:
from Gaspard de la nuit M.55
No.1 Ondine

17-year-old Jeremy Sun began studying piano at the age of six. He was awarded his L.MusA with distinction at the age of 12 and made his concerto debut at the age of 11.

Jeremy has won numerous international and national competitions including ones in Germany, Italy, Portugal and China. He has also worked with many renowned pianists and professors such as Michel Béroff, Christopher Elton, Piers Lane, Joanna MacGregor, Boris Berman and Dmitri Alexeev.

Jeremy is currently in his second year of a bachelor of music, studying with Dr Anna Grinberg at the University of Queensland.

ANDREW YIN

Date: Thursday, July 13, 2023
Time: 7:30 PM
Repertoire:

Calixa Lavallée:
Étude de concert Le papillon

7 year old Andrew was born in the USA.  In 2017 he moved to Sydney and commenced piano lessons at the age of 4. He has already won important prizes at the Sydney and St George Eisteddfods. He has been a scholarship student in the Sydney Conservatorium’s Rising Stars Program since 2022, studying with Dr Paul Rickard-Ford.

JEFFERY DONG

Date: Thursday, July 13, 2023
Time: 7:30 PM
Repertoire:

Frederic Chopin:
from Nocturnes Op.62
No.1 in B major

Jeffrey is a 12-year-old prodigious talent hailing from Sydney. Currently studying at Sydney Conservatorium High School in Year7, his passion for music has been nurtured since the age of 6 when he first laid hands on a piano. At 9, he picked up the violin, further expanding his musical repertoire. With an ardent love for the stage, Jeffrey aspires to share his profound understanding of music with enthusiastic audiences. Alongside his musical pursuits, he also engages in fencing. As a dedicated Rising Star program student under the tutelage of Dr.Paul Rickard-Ford, Chair of the Piano Unit at Sydney Conservatorium, Jeffrey is determined to pursue his musical dreams with the guidance of his beloved teacher.

NOAH OSHIRO – CELLO

Date: Friday, July 14, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM
Repertoire:

César Franck:
Sonata in A major

Noah Oshiro began playing the cello when he was 3 years old. He is currently completing his Bachelor of Music in Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under Julian Smiles and Danny Yeadon.

Most recently, Noah has performed at the Sydney Festival, Sydney International Jazz Festival, Orange Festival, toured with Daniel Rojas and Ensemble Apex String Quartet for Musica Viva and most recently performed with the Brodsky Quartet in the UTZON room series at the Opera House. In 2022, Noah performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as part of the fellowship program and now looks forward to joining the Opera Australia Orchestra for 2023.

CHING PONG DONO NG

Date: Friday, July 14, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM
Repertoire:

César Franck:
Sonata in A major

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Ching Pong (Dono) Ng has recently completed his Bachelor studies with 1st class Honours at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, under the tutelage of Dr. Paul Rickard-Ford.

Ching Pong was the 3rd prize winner of the 2021/2022 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition, where he made his concerto debut in Rachmaninoff’s piano concerto no. 1 during the finals with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Johannes Fritszch.

Dono is highly sought after as a collaborative pianist. He was a finalist in the 2021 Geoffrey Parsons Award and the 2022 David Miller Award.

LEON FEI – VIOLIN

Date: Friday, July 14, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM
Repertoire:

Maurice Ravel:
Tzigane M.76

Praised for his “rich and expansive tone”, “generous musical personality” and his “passion, excitement, coloured melodical lines and brilliant technique” (The Age, 2022), 18 year old Leon Fei has captivated audiences with his violin since the age of five, and continues to do so on a fine J.B Vuillaume violin made in 1863, on loan from a generous benefactor. He studies with Dr. Robin Wilson and previously learnt from Mark Mogilevski.

Having recently received a full scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Leon has also won numerous international and national competitions, with recent examples including the 2021 LIMSA International Music Competition in the USA and the 2020 Melbourne Recital Centre’s Bach Competition.

Leon has performed as a soloist, in venues such as the Sidney Myer Music Bowl with MSO, Hamer Hall and Melbourne Recital Centre. He has also toured in Germany, France, Belgium, England and the USA. In 2021 Leon participated in the Keshet Eilon International String Mastercourse and studied with Itzhak Rashkovsky and Shmuel Ashkenasi.

As a passionate and dedicated musician, Leon hopes to continue encapsulating the precious moments of life through music in the future.

LOUISA BREEN

Date: Friday, July 14, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM
Repertoire:

Maurice Ravel:
Tzigane M.76

HANNAH KOLOS – CELLO

Date: Saturday, July 15, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM
Repertoire:

Sergey Prokofiev:
from Sonata for Cello and Piano in C major Op.119
III. Allegro, ma non troppo

Ever since learning cello from the young age of 4 years old, Hannah has learnt from numerous cello teachers, most recently being Julian Smiles at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has performed in many contexts from orchestral works in the Australian Youth Orchestra to solo concertos with orchestral ensemble in her local area of the Blue Mountains . Alongside her passion for music Hannah is deeply fascinated by science and has perused this through studying a combined degree majoring in immunology and pathology alongside music performance. 

CHING PONG DONO NG

Date: Saturday, July 15, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM
Repertoire: 

Sergey Prokofiev:
from Sonata for Cello and Piano in C major Op.119
III. Allegro, ma non troppo

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Ching Pong (Dono) Ng has recently completed his Bachelor studies with 1st class Honours at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, under the tutelage of Dr. Paul Rickard-Ford.

Ching Pong was the 3rd prize winner of the 2021/2022 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition, where he made his concerto debut in Rachmaninoff’s piano concerto no. 1 during the finals with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Johannes Fritszch.

Dono is highly sought after as a collaborative pianist. He was a finalist in the 2021 Geoffrey Parsons Award and the 2022 David Miller Award.

LOUISA BREEN

Date: Saturday, July 15, 2023
Time: 6:30 PM
Repertoire:

Karol Szymanowski:
from Nocturne and Tarantella Op.28
No.1 Nocturne

LOUISE TURNBULL

Date: Saturday, July 15, 2023
Time: 6:30 PM
Repertoire:

Karol Szymanowski:
from Nocturne and Tarantella Op.28
No.1 Nocturne

Louise Turnbull, 18, currently studies with Sophie Rowell as a first year student at the Australian Academy of Music (ANAM), having previously been under the tutelage of Ivana Tomaskova. Louise is a current member of the Australian Youth Orchestra, and has previously been both principal viola and concertmaster of the Melbourne Youth Orchestra. Louise has performed as soloist with the Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra, the Frankston Symphony Orchestra and the Preston Symphony Orchestra, and in 2022, was awarded the R&M Dipnall Memorial Trophy for best instrumentalist at the Ringwood Gala Final, and 2nd place in 3MBS The Talent Series 1.