Welcome to 2014 s first edition of Encore!

Transcription

1 Encore THE newsletter for WASO patrons & friends February 2014 Welcome to 2014 s first edition of Encore! The Philanthropy team at WASO wishes all our Patrons & Friends a Happy New Year. We are so fortunate to have this wonderful community of supporters and we could not do all that we do without your ongoing commitment. WASO Philanthropy team: Alecia Benzie, Josie Aitchison and Jane Clare We especially welcome all our new Friends! As you may have read in the previous edition of Encore, we have made a few changes to our Friends program and now anyone who makes a donation of $40 up to $499 will be acknowledged as a Friend. This enables more supporters to be part of our community. Donors giving over $500 annually will continue to be part of our Patrons community. We look forward to meeting all of you at our special events for Patrons & Friends throughout the year. We also welcome to WASO Philanthropy Josie Aitchison, whom many of you will know from our Box Office. Josie is still in the Box Office but is also working with the Philanthropy team on Wednesdays. Josie is delighted to assist Patrons with any ticketing and donation enquiries. Your Support The impact of supporting your Orchestra is powerful and far-reaching. Many of the instruments you will see on stage this year are the result of philanthropic partnerships. Annual Giving directly supports what you see on the Perth Concert Hall stage saw the launch of our first Giving Catalogue, supporting our ever-growing Education and Community Engagement programs across the state. The response has been fantastic, but if you haven t seen it yet, contact Jane on or clarej@waso.com.au or go online to waso.com.au/giving_catalogue, and help give someone a magical musical experience. This is your philanthropic support at work, with every gift making a difference Events The Patrons & Friends Committee helped create some lovely events last year, raising money for the Friends of WASO Scholarship. This year we have a number of exciting new events, so please make sure you book early, as seats are limited! You can see a full calendar of events with details and how to book in this edition of Encore. We look forward to seeing you during what is sure to be a wonderful year of music-making. Philanthropy Partner February 2014 Encore

2 2014 Patrons and Friends Events Welcome to 2014 and we are delighted to present to you our calendar of events for Patrons & Friends this year, ranging from our wonderful WASO in Rehearsal series to an exciting new opportunity to meet our artists post-concert at our Fremantle Town Hall Chamber Concert series. In addition, we have created an entertaining evening chatting to Maggie Beer, as well as an opportunity to listen to the wonderful Viola Dana play live to a silent film. Tickets for these events can be purchased by calling the WASO Box Office on and all proceeds support the Friends of WASO Scholarship. Stay tuned! We look forward to updating you soon with details of other exciting events for MARCH WASO in Rehearsal One Friday 7 March, 10am Perth Concert Hall Asher Fisch Conducts & Plays Mozart Join us in celebrating the beginning of our musical journey with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch. Known worldwide as one of the finest conductors of Wagner and Strauss, Fisch leads the Orchestra through Strauss dramatic and poetic Death and Transfiguration followed by orchestral music from Wagner s grand opera Die Meistersinger. In his first concert as Principal Conductor, Maestro Fisch also features as the soloist in Mozart s magnificent Piano Concerto No.20. There will be a pre-rehearsal talk commencing at 9.30am. Tickets are $25 for Patrons & Friends ($30 for guests) and include a lovely morning tea with the musicians. Special offer for Patrons & Friends only Purchase all four WASO in Rehearsal events for $80, saving you a total of $20. Asher Fisch appears courtesy of Wesfarmers Arts MARCH Meet the Chamber Ensemble One Sunday 23 March, 2pm Fremantle Town Hall Glorious Baroque Come and meet acclaimed director of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Paul Dyer, after he leads WASO musicians in a one-hour concert. Principal Flute Andrew Nicholson and violinist Shaun Lee-Chen both feature as soloists in this charming program of exquisite music from the Baroque period. Concerts start at 2pm and tickets can be purchased for $42. Tickets for the post-concert event are $10 for Patrons & Friends ($15 for guests) and include a glass of wine and nibbles. Meet the Chamber Ensemble Series Make an afternoon of it and join us after each delightful and intimate one-hour Chamber Concert at Fremantle Town Hall for a glass of wine, nibbles and the opportunity to chat to WASO chamber musicians and soloists. Encore February 2014

3 MAY JUNE JULY Patrons & Friends General Meeting Details of the 9th annual General Meeting of WASO Patrons & Friends will be announced soon. Tickets for these events can be purchased by calling the WASO Box Office on and all proceeds support the Friends of WASO Scholarship. WASO in Rehearsal Two Friday 6 June, 10am Perth Concert Hall Rossini s Stabat Mater The grand tradition of sacred music and Rossini s operatic genius come together in the Stabat Mater, combining heartfelt solemnity and devotion with theatrical drama. The music of Haydn and Puccini completes this sublime program. There will be a pre-rehearsal talk commencing at 9.30am. Tickets are $25 for Patrons & Friends ($30 for guests) and include a lovely morning tea with the musicians. Special offer for Patrons & Friends only Purchase all four WASO in Rehearsal events for $80, saving you a total of $20. In Conversation with Maggie Beer Thursday 17 July, 6pm McAppion Theatre, Aquinas College This is a wonderful opportunity for WASO Patrons & Friends to learn more about Maggie Beer, her life and her love of music. Maggie will be chatting to Alan Dodge AM, Art Adviser, WASO Patron and former Director of the Art Gallery of Western Australia, and you can join them both afterwards for a glass of wine and canapés. This is a special treat for our Patrons & Friends community and seats are limited, so please make sure you book early Tickets are $30 for Patrons & Friends ($40 for guests). WASO in Rehearsal Series Come and see how an orchestral rehearsal is run, get a behind the scenes insight into your Orchestra and mingle informally with conductors, players and guests over morning tea at Perth Concert Hall. There will be a pre-rehearsal talk commencing at 9.30am for WASO in Rehearsals One, Two and Three. February 2014 Encore

4 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER Meet the Chamber Ensemble Two Sunday 21 September, 2pm Fremantle Town Hall Brahms Clarinet Quintet Meet WASO musicians after they perform Brahms heartwarming Clarinet Quintet in a stunning one-hour chamber concert. Brahms was inspired to write his celebrated Quintet by the playing of the great clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld, whom he considered one of the greatest woodwind players he had ever heard. Iain Grandage is one of WA s most celebrated composers and his string quartet, After Silence, takes its inspiration from the meeting traditions of the Noongar people of the Perth region. Concerts start at 2pm and tickets can be purchased for $42. Tickets for the post-concert event are $10 for Patrons & Friends ($15 for guests) and include a glass of wine and nibbles. Tickets for these events can be purchased by calling the WASO Box Office on and all proceeds support the Friends of WASO Scholarship. WASO in Rehearsal Three Friday 17 October, 10am Perth Concert Hall Piers Lane Plays Liszt Dazzling pianist Piers Lane returns with Liszt s rapturously virtuosic First Piano Concerto. The program being rehearsed features three of Liszt s most popular works, including the ground-breaking symphonic poem Les Préludes. The irrepressible energy of dance pervades the rest of this delightfully varied program, from Brahms gypsy-inspired Hungarian Dance No.1 to John Adams shimmering foxtrot for orchestra. There will be a pre-rehearsal talk commencing at 9.30am. Tickets are $25 for Patrons & Friends ($30 for guests) and include a lovely morning tea with the musicians. Special offer for Patrons & Friends only Purchase all four WASO in Rehearsal events for $80, saving you a total of $20. Old Film: New Music Viola Dana & The General Thursday 6 November, 6pm Kidogo Arthouse Fremantle Your chance to hear some fabulous live music composed and performed by WASO casual violist and librarian Kathy Corecig with her group Viola Dana, accompanying a private screening of Buster Keaton s silent movie, The General. See our feature for more details. Tickets are $45 for Patrons & Friends ($55 for guests) and include a glass of wine and nibbles before the screening. Can t attend a concert? Donate your ticket! Demand for great seats at WASO performances is high. If you cannot attend a concert, please consider donating your ticket for resale. We will send you a tax deductible receipt and you will create an opportunity for another music lover to see the performance. To donate your ticket, please contact the WASO Box Office on Tickets must be received by the WASO Box Office at least two business days prior to the performance. Please post your tickets to WASO, PO Box 3041, East Perth, Note: Only applies to tickets sold by WASO. Transaction fees are not eligible for inclusion in the donation. Encore February 2014

5 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER WASO in Rehearsal Four Friday 21 November, 10am Perth Concert Hall Special Event WASO at the Movies Take a walk down the red carpet and experience a spectacular showcase of the best film scores including Star Wars, The Mission, The Godfather, Casablanca, James Bond and more. Grammy-Award winner Richard Kaufman is a legend in the film music world as a conductor and violinist. Join him and the Orchestra on a journey through timeless Hollywood classics, accompanied by entertaining visuals on the big screen. Tickets are $25 for Patrons & Friends ($30 for guests) and include a lovely morning tea with the musicians. Special offer for Patrons & Friends only Purchase all four WASO in Rehearsal events for $80, saving you a total of $20. Meet the Chamber Ensemble Three Sunday 30 November, 2pm Fremantle Town Hall Tchaikovsky s Serenade Celebrate the arrival of summer with WASO musicians after an exquisite one-hour chamber concert. Dvořák s Serenade for winds and strings is filled with colourful Slavonic folk rhythms and harmonies. Tchaikovsky s Serenade for Strings pays homage to Mozart, the greatest composer of Classical serenades. This glorious work highlights Tchaikovsky s genius for crafting effortlessly engaging and expressive melodies. Concerts start at 2pm and tickets can be purchased for $42. Tickets for the post-concert event are $10 for Patrons & Friends ($15 for guests) and include a glass of wine and nibbles. Annual Patrons & Friends Christmas Party Our annual Christmas Party is always great fun and a lovely opportunity to celebrate a year of wonderful music together. Details to be announced soon. Connect with WASO online! There have never been more ways to experience WASO, wherever you are across our vast state, country or globe. We love to connect with our community of supporters online. Join nearly 7,000 others and like us on Facebook to keep in touch with your Orchestra. Go to facebook.com/ WestAustralianSymphonyOrchestra. Tickets for these events can be purchased by calling the WASO Box Office on and all proceeds support the Friends of WASO Scholarship. Are you one of our 2,000 followers on Twitter? Follow us at twitter.com/_waso_ for all the latest WASO news. Did you know you can watch WASO concerts online? Head to vod/freezone/music/waso/ to catch up on concerts dating back to 2009 that you want to relive or may have missed. February 2014 Encore

6 Patrons & Friends Event Feature Event Old Film: New Music Viola Dana & The General Thursday 6 November Drinks from 6pm with screening starting at 7pm Kidogo Arthouse Fremantle Viola Dana was the name of a starlet of the silent silver screen and is also the name of an exceptional ensemble of musicians in Perth, including WASO casual violist and librarian Kathy Corecig, who create and perform soundtracks for film. Each bringing their own formidable experience and inimitable musicianship to the ensemble, the members of Viola Dana are passionate about creating meaningful, high artistic quality and memorable experiences for their audiences through the use of original music being performed live to film screenings. The result is a dynamic and unique hybrid arts experience, illuminating masterworks of the silent film era for a contemporary audience. Viola Dana s sound can best be described as a mixture of folk, jazz and contemporary classical music rendered in warm, rich sonic hues of cello, guitar, banjo (on occasion), drums, tuned percussion and, of course, viola, the violin s deeper-voiced older sister. The band loses count of the number of times audience members have remarked that their performance to a screening of a silent film was the most special film experience they d had to date. Viola Dana was invited to premiere Kathy Corecig s soundtrack for the feature-length silent film The General at the 2009 Revelation Perth International Film Festival and was subsequently invited to be a part of several more performances throughout Western Australia. In April 2013, Viola Dana embarked on a six-show tour of North America. With great reviews, packed audiences and standing ovations in Toronto, Ottawa and New York City, the group has quickly established a reputation of note internationally. Viola Dana Standing ovation and all, their work was nothing short of brilliant it brought the house down Revelation Perth International Film Festival A classic silent comedy, Buster Keaton/Clyde Bruckman s The General (1926) is set during the American Civil War. Buster s character Johnnie Gray is unable to become a Confederate soldier as he is deemed more helpful in the war effort as the engineer of the train, The General. However, his bravery doesn t go unnoticed as he single-handedly takes on the Union side in a plight to rescue both his engine and his girl. The General is often listed as one of the finest comedic films of all time, featuring beautifully crafted cinematic photography, a thrilling plot and Keaton s trademark dead-pan, perfectly timed comic stunts. Viola Dana s live performance to The General takes the audience back to the 1920s film viewing experience. Kathy Corecig s new soundtrack for the film is infused with American folk tunes, Steve Reich-inspired train evocations and the spontaneity of jazz improvisation to help illuminate Keaton s masterful performance for a contemporary audience. The venue for this exciting event is Kidogo Arthouse, a unique space located at the edge of the sea in Fremantle. Housed in a beautiful, heritage-listed building, the galleries provide pristine art space in a rustic setting where a wide variety of artwork is exhibited. Tickets are $45 for Patrons & Friends ($55 for guests) and include a glass of wine and nibbles before the screening. To book, call the WASO Box Office on Kidogo Arthouse Bathers Beach, Mews Road Fremantle, WA 6160 Encore February 2014

7 Annual Giving Join us in celebrating ten years of WASO Annual Giving by helping raise $500, is the tenth year of WASO s Annual Giving program. Over that time, it has grown to become the foundation stone of WASO s Philanthropy program with donations from individuals becoming vital to the day-to-day running of your Orchestra. WASO Philanthropy helps to build a strong, vibrant Orchestra for this state that enriches lives and brings joy to many thousands of people. We are extremely proud to be supported by the many individuals who, each year, renew their gift to our Annual Giving campaign. To ensure we continue to achieve our vision to touch souls and enrich lives through music, this year we aim to raise, for the first time, $500,000 through our Annual Giving campaign. We invite you to become a WASO Patron this year by making a donation to our Annual Giving campaign. Why is Annual Giving so important? This support is vital in sustaining and building our main stage concert series and supporting our fine community of musicians and visiting artists. It strengthens our ability to bring the joy of live classical music to thousands of children, families and communities who cannot access the Perth Concert Hall easily. To learn more please call Jane Clare on or clarej@waso.com.au. You can find out more on our website at waso.com.au under the Support tab. It is also quick and easy to log in and make a donation online by clicking the red Make a Donation button. ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN 500, , , , ,000 0 $ 84,256 All donations over $2 are fully tax deductible. Did you know that the average cost to WASO of a Masters or Classics concert is $104,000? Hiring sheet music regularly costs $4,000 per program, while the hire of additional instruments, although rare, can cost up to $2,000. Depending on the instrumentation of the pieces in the concert, we may also hire additional players which, on average, costs $10,000 but can reach a price of $35,000. Freight costs for transporting instruments can be up to $2,500 and tuning the piano at the Perth Concert Hall usually costs around $1,200, but can be as much as $2,000. A visiting conductor or soloist can cost between $12,000 and $46,000 and to hire Perth Concert Hall costs WASO up to $27,000 and that s per week! A Masters or Classics concert is just one component of a week at WASO that may also include a mix of regional touring, Education and Community programs and free concerts. WASO has an annual expenditure budget of approximately $18m. February 2014 Encore

8 Donate Online! Did you know you can now donate and renew your annual gift online? Logging in to donate online is quick and easy! 1. Go to waso.com.au. Click the red button. 2. Choose the fund you would like to donate to from the drop down menu. 7. If you have created a WASO online account in the past but have forgotten your password, click on the Forgot Your Login? tab You will see this screen: 3. When the page refreshes fill in the box with the amount you would like to donate. You can indicate your preferred acknowledgement, and whether you would like to remain anonymous. 4. When you proceed to the checkout you will be asked to log in. You will see this screen: Enter your address and an will be sent to you with a link that will take you to the WASO website to update your password. 8. If you have not used this online service before and need to set up an account, click on the Register tab. You will see this screen: 5. If you have purchased tickets through the WASO website or have donated online before, you will already have an online account. Fill in your address and password and click the Login button. 6. If you are not sure if you have already created a WASO online account in the past, you can look up your account by clicking the Lookup Your Account tab. You will see this screen: 9. Fill in your details and click on the Register button to the right of the form. You will then receive an confirming your account registration. Your address and the password you registered are now your login details for your WASO online account. 10. After making a donation, a confirmation will be sent to you immediately. You will receive an acknowledgement letter with your tax deductible receipt in the mail within two weeks. Thank you for your support. Encore February 2014

9 New leadership for the WASO Chorus WASO has announced the appointment of two new leadership positions to the WASO Chorus. Christopher van Tuinen has been appointed to the position of Chorus Director and Andrew Foote has been appointed to the new position of Vocal Coach. Both currently hold positions with WASO s tertiary education partner, The University of Western Australia. Andrew was recently appointed Head of Voice at the UWA School of Music and Christopher, in addition to his position as Program Manager (Classical Music) at the Perth International Arts Festival, guest conducts the UWA Symphony Orchestra and is Conductor of the UWA Choral Society. As Chorus Director, Christopher will take overall responsibility for establishing and maintaining the performance standards of the WASO Chorus and will prepare the Chorus for performances with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch and guest conductors. In the new position of Vocal Coach, Andrew will facilitate ongoing skills development for the Chorus, providing enhanced instruction in vocal techniques and ensemble skills. It s a great honour to be appointed Chorus Director of the WASO Chorus, said Christopher. This group of singers shows an outstanding commitment and passion for the music they perform and the orchestra and audience they share it with. Working alongside incoming Principal Conductor Asher Fisch, and with a voice coach of Andrew s experience, I predict that concerts involving the WASO Chorus will be the full-voiced highlights of the 2014 program. The WASO Chorus was formed in 1988 and is made up of 130 choristers from all walks of life. The Chorus is a skilled ensemble of auditioned singers from Perth and surrounding areas, who give their time voluntarily. They regularly feature in the WASO annual concert season, and have developed a reputation for excellence in music ranging from the Baroque to contemporary repertoire. This year the WASO Chorus will feature in Rossini s Stabat Mater, Beethoven s Symphony No. 9, Handel s Messiah, along with special events The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Symphony in the City. The WASO Chorus is supported by Lotterywest School of Music Tertiary Eduction Partner The WASO Chorus February 2014 Encore

10 Volunteer Induction Evening 18 February 2014 Forty one volunteers attended WASO s third annual induction evening at the Perth Concert Hall. It was great to see many new faces who came to find out about volunteering with WASO. Sydney Opera House the previous week where there had been no one to greet her, and programs were hard to find. This comparison highlighted what a great job WASO s volunteers do. Celeste and Brass Campaign we did it! Edel, Margaret and Chris enjoy a post-induction drink Alecia Benzie, Executive Manager Philanthropy, welcomed the group and stressed that philanthropy is the support of an organisation, not just through financial contribution, but also through the commitment of time and energy. In 2013 WASO recorded the time contributed by nearly 60 volunteers, amounting to nearly 1,500 hours and that s not including the time given by WASO s dedicated Chorus members. These hours translate into real financial savings for WASO a not for profit organisation and so the value of volunteers was made very clear. Jane Clare, Fundraising and Philanthropy Officer, then gave a summary of the volunteers responsibilities at the Perth Concert Hall, emphasising the ambassadorial role played by volunteers. She recounted her own experience as a first-time visitor to Josie Aitchison, who now works with the Philanthropy team on Wednesdays as well as in the Customer Service team, outlined the role of the Box Office and Customer Service at concerts. Alecia gave information on how the volunteer roster works before Laura Barrett, Duty Manager at the Concert Hall, gave a short tour of the Hall s food and beverage areas. Barry Neubecker, a regular volunteer, spoke to the group about his experiences of volunteering and his motivations one of which was that the office has the best coffee in Perth! Volunteer Julie Mews then told a gorgeous story about how she had helped some first time concert-goers with their questions Where do I go? When do I clap? and that they had come back at the interval to thank her and to say how much they were enjoying themselves. New and existing volunteers swapped stories and experiences over a glass of wine and nibbles, and all were enthusiastically looking forward to the beginning of the 2014 Perth Concert Hall season in March. Joshua Davis, Principal Trombone We would like to say a huge thank you to all our Celeste & Brass Campaign donors. We achieved our goal, have a lovely new celeste on stage at the Perth Concert Hall, and have ordered a set of five beautiful German trombones that are currently being made. A special thank you to Robert May who led the campaign with a generous $20,000 donation and also to the donors who purchased individual instruments: Tony and Mary Beeley Glenda Campbell-Evans and Ken Evans Andrew Marsden Jean and Peter Stokes Every donation counted and we will hold an event to thank all donors who supported this campaign, and showcase our new instruments, later this year. We will be in touch again with more details soon. Volunteers in the Wardle Room at the Perth Concert Hall You can take an amazing virtual tour of the workshop where the German trombones are being made by going to the Kromat Brass website: Encore February 2014