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Kettering Concerts |
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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.
Principal Clarinet with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO) since 2012,
Andrew Seymour studied with Robert Schubert at the Victorian College of the
Arts. Between 2009 and 2011 he toured nationally as a member of the orchestra
for OzOpera. Andrew was singled out by The West Australian review of OzOpera’s
production of Verdi’s La Traviata, saying “his every note was meaningful.” In
2014 Andrew was featured in recital on ABC Classic FM’s Sunday Live program,
his performance praised by Limelight Magazine as being “soaring and colourful”
and by the Hobart Mercury as “an astonishing display of instrumental
virtuosity.” Andrew has performed as guest principal Clarinet with the
Australian Chamber Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, West Australian,
Melbourne, and Canberra Symphony Orchestras. In 2016 Andrew made his solo debut
with the TSO performing the Copland Clarinet Concerto under the baton of Chief
Conductor Marko Letonja. His performance was described by The Hobart Mercury as
“sensitive and beautifully shaded” and “gloriously vibrant.” As well as
performing the concertos of Mozart and Weber with the TSO, Andrew has featured
regularly as soloist in the TSO ‘Live Sessions’ series where he has performed a
diverse range of pieces from Klezmer and Jazz inspired works alongside new
pieces by Tasmanian composers Jabra Latham and Stephen Cronin. As a chamber
musician, Andrew has been featured in the Tasmanian Chamber Music Festival,
performed with the Southern Cross Soloists and regularly performs with Virtuosi
Tasmania. Since 2017 Andrew has been a staff member at the University of
Tasmania, Conservatorium of Music, where he is Lecturer in Clarinet and
Coordinator of Woodwind. Andrew is a Backun artist and performs on Backun
Clarinets crafted in Cocobolo wood.
Karen Smithies moved to Tasmania from the Central Coast of NSW in 1998. She completed her Masters in Music Performance at the University of Tasmania in 2003, studying with Beryl Sedivka and David Bollard. Upon graduating from Sydney Conservatorium with a Bachelor of music in piano performance and accompaniment, Karen was awarded the “Mollie Neal” scholarship for excellence in Accompaniment. She has appeared as soloist and accompanist with regional orchestras and major vocal ensembles across the Central Coast and in Sydney.
Karen has made several national ABC and 3MBS FM broadcasts with artists such as cellist Christian Woijtowicz, violinists Marina Phillips and Romana Zieglerova, baritones Christopher Richardson and Michael Lampard and the TSO Brass and Friends.
Karen is currently lecturer in Accompaniment at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music and has lectured in piano studies at the University of Tasmania since 2000. In that time she has been busy as a repetiteur, and accompanist of undergraduates, postgraduates and visiting artists at the Conservatorium and throughout Tasmania. Karen regularly plays as orchestral and rehearsal pianist for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and repetiteurs for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Karen lives in on Hobart’s Eastern shore with her husband Matthew and four children.
The interplay between water and landscape, in the shadowy boundary between
day and night is ever changing and often beautiful. The immensity of the
Universe displayed in the night sky inspires awe. Phillip Hirst
attempts to convey that awe with his photography
| Copyright © 2025 Kettering Concerts. Last updated 18 September 2022. |
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