Strings Spectacular Concert a unifying experience …

And welcomes award winning guest Conductor – Stephen Chin

 

All of WollCon’s String ensembles will be combing forces to present a Strings Spectacular concert for audiences in Wollongong. Hosted at the St Marys School Hall, the concert will showcase all our string ensembles, the St Mary’s String Orchestra and include a finale performance under the expert direction of award winning guest conductor Mr Stephen Chin.

Showcasing the talents of WollCon’s Primrose, Llwellyn, Powell and BlueScope Youth orchestras as well as the Meyer Double Bass ensemble, the concert is an opportunity for all string students at WollCon to experience playing together in a much larger ensemble.

“Not only do the younger students get to learn what it’s like to play alongside the older students, they develop their group playing skills and technical ability and become so much more aware of their of their role in a larger ensemble.”

Scott Taggart

Head of Strings, WollCon

Guest Conductor Stephen Chin who is based in Queensland, is the co-founder of ‘Everything String’ founded in 1997 with his wife Ann. ‘Everything String’ provides music compositions to all levels of string players to develop a diverse range of musical styles. The works are either original compositions or carefully crafted arrangements. Importantly, a main focus is to create works that are interesting for each section of the ensemble.

Stephen Chin

“I like to write multilevel works where advanced, intermediate and elementary musicians can share the wonderful experience of making music together. For this concert, the more senior players will be challenged as they will be constantly be demonstrating precision and stamina to younger players. That is a huge responsibility for them.  I think the younger players will be busy keeping on top of their notes and lasting the distance for the demanding rehearsal regime.”

Stephen Chin

Guest Conductor

Stephen is no stranger to WollCon – he was involved in a similar WollCon concert in 2015 which he remembers fondly.
“It was a truly memorable experience and I really saw how vital music is in bringing so many sectors of our local communities together.”

Last year Stephen was recipient of the National Award by the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) in recognition for his outstanding contribution to the string community throughout Australia – an award given only once every three years.

“It is going to be such a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn from Stephen, perform his pieces and have him conduct as well. It will also be a really unifying experience for the String teachers here at WollCon” Said Scott.

The finale for the concert will involve almost 100 WollCon string musicians, playing two pieces composed by Stephen: ‘Rainbow’ and ‘Lux Angelis’.

The piece called ‘Rainbow’ is loosely built around the story of Noah’s Flood.  Featured in the work is the dichotomy between the energy of the raging storms and the peaceful times that one may experience after going through all of that.
The second work, entitled ‘Lux Angelis’, which translates to Angelic Light, is a juxtaposition of the forces of light and darkness that pervade our universe.

CONCERT DETAILS
Sunday 13th August from 5 pm – 6:30pm
St Mary’s School Hall, 15 Harbour Street, Wollongong
Entry is by Donation.

Zefiro Trio

MORE ABOUT STEPHEN CHIN

Stephen is currently Principal String Teacher and Director of Orchestras at Brisbane Grammar School, lectures at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Griffith University), is State President for the Australian String Teachers’ Association Queensland and directs the BEL Ensemble at The University of Queensland.

Stephen’s undergraduate training in both violin and composition were at Sydney University under John Harding and renowned Australian composer, and Peter Sculthorpe respectively.  He also holds a Master of Music degree specialising in performance and pedagogy from Queensland Conservatorium of Music Griffith University, where he has also lectured.  He’s been invited to perform with such groups as The ABC Sinfonia, The Badinerie Players, The Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, The Queensland Symphony Orchestra, The Queensland Pops Orchestra and Corda Spiritus.

Sue is an accomplished and seasoned manager with a wealth of experience in government administration and community service delivery. With a strong background in strategic planning, organisational development, community engagement, project planning, and building strategic partnerships, Sue has consistently demonstrated her leadership and expertise and brings a wealth of knowledge to the board. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business focusing on Local Government and Creative Industries from the University of Wollongong, reflecting her commitment to public service and innovative leadership. Sue’s extensive career and dedication to community and social service make her a valuable asset, offering both strategic insight and practical experience to drive meaningful impact.

Anne has been a member of the Wollcon Board since 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from UNSW. She is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and an accredited Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. She has taught family law and other subjects at Wollongong University.

For a number of years she has been a subscriber to the Australian Chamber Orchestra which regularly performs in Wollongong . She has been passionate about music and in particular music education to children and adults.

Jake has worked in the disability sector for 24 years- 17 of these with Interchange and 7 years as their CEO. Jake is passionate about inclusion and equality for both people with disability and their carers.

He holds an MBA, Bachelor of Commerce, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, as well as completing Diploma’s in Case Management, Community Services Coordination and the AICD Company Directors Course.

Jake is also a committee member on the International Short Breaks Association Board and has been a Director on the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Board since 2022.

Wayne is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors as well as being a qualified company secretary and accountant with over 35 years experience in banking and finance. He performed for nine of those years as Chief Executive of IMB Ltd, and the preceding seven years as Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, also with IMB. Wayne’s primary expertise is in the areas of governance, management, accounting, risk management and banking and finance. He has spent his whole life living in the Illawarra and is passionate about ensuring the Illawarra can provide the best possible opportunities and lifestyle for its residents. In 2024 Wayne was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to the community.

Dr Terumi Narushima is a senior lecturer and Music Discipline Leader at the University of Wollongong. She is a composer, performer and sound designer specialising in microtonal tuning systems. Her works include Tritriadic Chimes, a sound installation for LA MicroFest, Hidden Sidetracks, a composition for custom-made instruments premiered by Ensemble Offspring at Sydney Opera House, and a project to build microtonal flutes using 3D printing. She has worked on theatre collaborations which have been presented nationally and internationally, including Yasukichi Murakami: Through a Distant Lens, Lost in Shanghai, and The Story of Chi. She performs with microtonal ensemble Clocks and Clouds, and her book Microtonality and the Tuning Systems of Erv Wilson is published by Routledge.

Nicky is the CEO of Community Industry Group. She has degrees in Dementia Care, Community & Environment and Marketing, and a Grad Dip in Project Management. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Honorary Fellow of UOW. In addition to Chairing the WollCon Board, she is Deputy Chair of the Regional Development Australia Illawarra Shoalhaven Board and an Independent Non-Executive Director of Warrigal, a large not-for-profit specialising in the provision of services for older people.

Her corporate governance and strategy experience extends through a 20+ year career on boards in the corporate, government and NFP sectors.