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Kettering Concerts |
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In 2004, cellist Sue-Ellen Paulsen and violinist Susan Collins, after having enjoyed working together with the TSO, began working together as a duo. In 2005 the collaboration was established with a performance in Hobart that was broadcast live as part of the ABC’s Sunday Live series. They performed works by Martinu, Kodaly and Ryden. This performance was rebroadcast nationally with ABC FM, as part of the “Best of Sunday Live” segment.
Following this success, the duo approached the brilliant Australian pianist Duncan Gifford, resident in Madrid, to form the Kingfisher Piano Trio. In 2006, Kingfisher performed recitals in Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle, and recorded a program for ABC FM. That year, the trio’s repertoire included works by Mozart, Schumann and Shostakovich, as well as Australian composers Dunleavy, Schultz and Kats-Chernin. Since 2006, Kingfisher has performed regularly throughout Australia. In 2011, the trio released an ABC Classics recording of all three Schumann Piano Trios to critical acclaim. ...."What a profound delight this music is—and how terrific to hear it performed so wonderfully by these Australian musicians. The creativity, warmth, humanity and intelligence of the composer have been very well served in this recording. To play this music so successfully requires not just individually good players, but also a superlative ensemble, which is quite another thing. This is not just about technical proficiency, musicianship, and team-work—it also requires real intelligence, deep understanding, and a capability for collegial negotiation in the solving of real challenges and problems. The recording of all three of these trios together is a large undertaking, and the release of this work on ABC Classics brings Schumann’s work into the 21st century with renewed vigour and relevance." Reviewed by Alistair Noble, April 1, 2015.
Duncan Gifford
began piano studies at the age of seven with Alison Salkeld
and for several years was a student of Margaret Hair at the Sydney
Conservatorium of Music. In 1991 he commenced study at the Moscow State
Conservatory with Professor Lev Vlassenko, graduating with a Master's Degree
in Piano Performance. He later completed his postgraduate studies with
Professor Joaquin Soriano in Madrid, where he currently resides.
Duncan has firmly established himself as a major
artist of his generation with international successes which include 1st Prizes
in the Maria Callas Grand Prix de Piano in Athens, Greece (2000), the
Concours Prix Mozart in Lausanne, Switzerland (1999), and
the Beethoven and Chopin Prizes, in the prestigious Jose Iturbi
International Piano Competition in Spain (1998) and many others.
He has performed in recital throughout Europe, Asia, Russia,
and Australia. As soloist, he has appeared with all the major Australian
symphony orchestras and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, as well as
major orchestras throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, U.S.A.
and China. Duncan combines his performing activity with teaching. He is
professor of piano at the Conservatory of Palma de Mallorca since 2006 and
gives Master Classes in Spain, Ireland and Greece. He has recorded numerous
CDs since 1993, which include piano works by Tchiakovsky, Rachmaninoff, and
Debussy as well as the renowned Spanish composer Eduardo Perez Maseda, to
great critical acclaim. In 2004, he recorded works by
Saint-Saens, Franck and D'Indy, with the TSO and Sebastian Langlessing conducting.
Sue Collins
"Plays these extraordinary scores with a remarkable sureness of touch, following even the most unexpected shifts in phrasing and expressive direction with micro-fine precision."
At age 14, Susan performed Sarasate’s Zigeunerweissen with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Patrick Thomas at the Sydney Opera House. Since that time, she has performed as soloist and recitalist throughout Australia, the USA and Europe.
Critically acclaimed commercial CD releases include the complete violin works of Raymond Hanson (Tall Poppies) with pianist, David Miller, the complete Schumann Piano Trios (ABC Classics) with Kingfisher Trio, and Fritz Hart Music for Violin and Piano with Stephanie McCallum (Toccata Classics).
From 1992 until 2001, Susan held the position of Deputy Concertmaster of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and in 2003 was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for her contribution to Opera and Ballet.
From 2014 to 2021 she was Head of Strings and Orchestra at University of Tasmania Conservatorium following a 6-year tenure at University of Newcastle. Now based in Queensland, she teaches at Qld Conservatorium, Griffith University.
In recent years, Susan has enjoyed performing as a featured artist in music festivals including Dark Mofo, Synesthesia, Ten Days on the Island and Bangalow festivals. In 2022, Susan conducted the Queensland Youth Orchestra and performed as soloist for the organisation’s fundraising event, was a featured artist at the Newcastle Music Festival, joined the panel of international judges for the Lipizer Violin Competition in Italy, and conducted the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra’s final Metro Concert.
Since 2018, Susan is Musical Director of the Riverina Summer School for Strings. In 2021, she founded the Nova Muse Festival in Penguin as Artistic Director, which is a highlight of her year.
Sue-Ellen Paulsen studied at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music where she had lessons with Richard Dedecius. As an undergraduate, she appeared as soloist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Conservatorium Orchestra and Queensland Youth Orchestra. In 1980, she won the ABC Concerto Competition (now the Young Performer Award) and was awarded a scholarship enabling her to pursue postgraduate study in Vienna with André Navarra. She assumed her current position as principal cellist, with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in 1986. Since then she has been guest principal with the Sydney Symphony, Adelaide Symphony and Australian Chamber Orchestra. An experienced soloist, she has performed concertos by Shostakovich, Walton, Mills ad Ligeti among many others and is featured as soloist on several of the TSO's Australian Composer Series CDs. A strong advocate for contemporary music, she has commissioned and premièred many new Australian works including one written especially for her by Andrew Ford. She has recently recorded the Schumann piano trios with the Kingfisher Piano Trio (ABC Classics). She is lecturer in cello at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music.
The Channel Art Group group started with two members in 2007 at the West Winds Community Centre. With the passage of time, the group has expanded, as newcomers to the area brought their skills and talents with them. The artworks are as diversified as watercolour painting, acrylics, mixed media, bookmaking, felting and stitching. The group meets on Thursday mornings. For further details phone West Winds Community Centre on 6267 4713.
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