Isaac Davis (cello NSW), Clare Fox (clarinet NSW) and Rachel Kelly (tuba QLD) have been chosen by our panel of esteemed adjudicators as the finalists competing in the ANAM Concerto Competition Final, to be held on 19 October at Federation Concert Hall in Hobart, Tasmania.
The Concerto Competition is an integral part of ANAM’s performance training, providing our young musicians with a supported understanding of the processes and rigour of solo performance with an orchestra. The annual event begins in Semester One where interested musicians are asked to record a 20-minute excerpt of a concerto or substantial solo work of their choice, which is then auditioned by an expert panel to select the top performances for progression to the next round.
This year, thirty-eight ANAM musicians submitted recordings with piano accompaniment, with twelve progressing to the live second round. The semi-finalists performed their complete concerti with piano in front of an audience and a panel of judges across two days in August.
“Every ANAM musician was clearly focused on giving it their all” said Australian/American cellist and pedagogue Molly Kadarauch, one of the judges during the second round, “and even as adjudicators we felt rewarded by hearing and seeing their level of energy and commitment. Although it was difficult to choose from so many various instruments, we felt that the three finalists showed the most overall technical assurance on their particular instrument, an innate and moving musicality, and that their chosen works, played with an orchestra, would show them in their best light.”
Isaac, Clare and Rachel, the top three finalists from this second round, will now travel to Hobart to perform their works with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra under the baton of TSO Chief Conductor, Eivind Aadland. The final winner will be announced live on the evening, following the performances.
“Getting the chance to perform a concerto with a professional orchestra is definitely a rare opportunity which feels unbelievably exciting” says finalist Rachel Kelly. “I’m so grateful to have this opportunity and to be performing alongside Clare (who also just happens to be my housemate!) and Isaac.” Rachel will be performing Arild Plau’s relatively unknown Concerto for tuba and strings.
ANAM first year cellist Isaac Davis thinks that Dmitri Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto is the pinnacle of 20th century repertoire. “I am so honoured to have been given this opportunity and can’t wait to be on stage working with Eivind Aadland, exploring the work in greater depth, and how my role fits within Shostakovich’s intricate ensemble writing,” says Isaac.
Clare Fox, who will be performing Nielsen’s Clarinet Concerto, shares her thoughts about the piece and the value of this experience to her training: “It is a complex and extremely challenging work, and performing it with the orchestra will give me the opportunity to fully explore and express all of its force and power, as well as its intimate beauty. It is an incredible opportunity for me as a developing musician.”
The Winner receives a cash prize of $1,000 and an opportunity to be engaged as a soloist in the ANAM Program in 2023.
To book tickets to the ANAM Concerto Competition Final in Tasmania, visit https://www.tso.com.au