Celebrating BlueScope Youth Orchestra

Event Details
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.

Caroline Almonte
Merion Powell
Nick Russoniello
Titus Grenyer

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.