The BlueScope Youth Orchestra will be performing as part of WollCon’s 50th birthday year celebrations at the Wollongong Town Hall in a landmark concert which will bring together the orchestra’s members past and present, as well as celebrated soloists.
Children Under 13 – Free (Promocode CBY13 when purchasing tickets)
The orchestra will be joined by special guest pianist Caroline Almonte, as well as saxophonist and WollCon alumnus Nick Russoniello.
Caroline Almonte is an award-winning Australian pianist, producer and presenter with a reputation as a gifted, versatile and sensitive artist. She studied with Stephen McIntyre at the Victorian College of the Arts and Oxana Yablonskaya at the Juilliard School in New York. In 2019 Caroline was awarded the Excellence in Classical Music Award from the Australian Women in Music Awards.
Caroline will perform Mozart’s famous Piano Concert No.21, to be conducted by Merion Powell, as a tribute to WollCon’s first Director and accomplished pianist Mr James Powell.
Merion Powell, who was raised in the Illawarra, began her career as a music teacher at the Wollongong Conservatorium in 1977. Over the years she has worked in London and throughout Europe as a Musical Director and Conductor, and has been the Chorus Master, and Arranger for the National Opera of Lorraine (in Nancy, France) since 2001.
Our other featured soloist is Nick Russoniello, performing the world premiere of his Geera Concerto for soprano saxophone and orchestra.
Nick, an accomplished saxophonist and composer based in both Sydney and the Illawarra, has been the recipient of major awards over the years, including the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year, and the Fine Music Kruger Scholarship.
Other music will include Mozart’s Overture to the Magic Flute, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 first movement, the first movement of Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, played by bassoon ensemble, and Solo for Pipe Organ “Fiat Lux” by Theodore Dubois performed by alumnus Titus Grenyer.
Titus Grenyer is the current Assistant Organist at St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney, having served as Organ Scholar at St James’ King St and St Andrew’s College. Before transitioning to the organ as his main instrument, Titus studied violin and piano at WollCon, and played in the BlueScope Youth Orchestra from 2008-2015.
Pictured from L-R: Caroline Almonte, Merion Powell, Nick Russoniello and Titus Grenyer
TICKET PRICES:
Children Under 13 – Free of Charge (Use Promocode CBY13 when purchasing tickets)
Students – $15
Concession / Pensioners – $25
Adult – $30
MORE INFORMATION
BlueScope Youth Orchestra
WollCon’s BlueScope Youth orchestra remains the driving force for developing our local young orchestral talent into successful musicians. The 26-year sponsorship of the Orchestra by BlueScope represents the longest running corporate sponsorship for the arts in Australia – a partnership that WollCon is extremely grateful for.
