On Sunday 12 September 2010 the Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra performed in Yea for a second time. 2009′s recital had been an unexpected joy,and the second time around lived up to expectations.
The Yea Shire Hall seems large until you fit a 50-piece orchestra into it –the players take up half of the floor space,providing a true up-close-and-personal experience. The air around the audience resonates with the strings of the double basses. The tympani transmit through the floor to the soles of the feet. It’s immersive,not just being a spectator.
A special part of the concert –and the element that had everyone buzzing –was the featured soloists,Damien Eckersley and Phoebe Russell. Their amazing performances had the audience absolutely spellbound;words do not suffice to describe how impressive their playing was. Damien is an established performer with the MSO but Phoebe,his 16 year old protege,is still in the early years of her career. We suggest you keep a sharp eye out for her future performances.
About the Concert
The magic of Mozart. The fire of Beethoven. The passion of Bottesini. The beauty of Snow Rising by Australian composer Katherine Rawlings. And a little Schumann to boot.
Mark Shiell –conductor
Damien Eckersley –double bass
Phoebe Russell –double bass
Program
- Mozart –The Marriage of Figaro:Overture
- Rawlings –Snow Rising
- Bottesini –Passione amorosa for two double basses
- Beethoven –Symphony No. 4
- Schumann –Overture,Scherzo and Finale
Mark Shiell
Our conductor on 12 September,Mark Shiell is Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra. He has established a reputation as one of the leading Australian conductors of his generation. During the last 3 years his guest conducting appearances have included the West Australian Symphony,Victorian Opera,Melbourne Symphony Orchestra,Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa,Canberra Symphony,Sydney Sinfonia and Melbourne University Symphony Orchestra.
Mr Shiell is currently the Principal Conductor of the Canberra Concerto Orchestra,Choir of the Southern Cross and the Macquarie Philharmonia. His passion for working with and encouraging young musicians is well known and he is regularly invited to work with youth orchestras across Australia and in Asia. A devoted interpreter of new music,Mark is a regular guest conductor with the renowned Sydney- based ensemble,Halcyon. He has also conducted numerous Australian and World Premieres with other ensembles including the Melbourne New Orchestra,of which he was both co-founder and Principal Conductor and in the field of opera with works such as Matthew Hindson’s Love,Death,Music and Plants and Emma O’Briens Avatara.
Originally a flautist,Mark Shiell studied at the Victorian College of the Arts where he won the Gwen Nisbett Award for Outstanding Musical Achievement. His conducting study began with Graham Abbott through Monash University and with John Hopkins in the renowned Masters Program at the Faculty of Music,University of Melbourne. Further study has taken him to Moscow,St. Petersburg and Perugia where he has been pursuing the teachings of the great Russian conducting pedagogue,Ilya Musin.
About the Orchestra
The Zelman Symphony Orchestra is Melbourne’s longest-running community symphony orchestra with a history dating back to 1906.
The Orchestra is a mix of professional and amateur players and provides them with opportunities to fulfill their passion for playing fine music,to enhance their skills,and most importantly to share the spirit and joy of fine music with their friends and the wider community. It also provides established and developing conductors and soloists the opportunity to perform with a full symphony orchestra.
The Zelman Symphony performs works from the Baroque to the present day in regular concerts,primarily in the inner-eastern suburbs of Melbourne,Australia. Fortunately for us in Yea,they also play some dates outside the metro area!
