Our 50th Anniversary Showcase
Australia House | Wednesday 12 November 2025 from 6:30pm
Since 1975, the Australian Music Foundation has supported the next generation of outstanding Australian classical musicians, offering scholarships, performing opportunities, mentoring, and vital financial assistance to those pursuing advanced studies at the world’s leading music institutions.
Over the past 50 years, nearly 300 awardees have benefitted from the Foundation’s commitment to excellence. Today, our musicians study and build their careers across the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States, enriching musical life worldwide and proudly representing Australian artistry on the global stage.
The Foundation was delighted to present its 50th Anniversary Showcase this week in the Downer Room of the Australian High Commission.
The evening was introduced by His Excellency The Hon Stephen Smith, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, alongside Yvonne Kenny AM, Chair of the Australian Music Foundation.
We warmly acknowledge the generous support and hospitality of the Australian High Commission, whose partnership made this celebratory event possible.
Showcasing Five Outstanding Alumni
The Showcase brought together five remarkable musicians whose artistic journeys have each been supported by the Foundation:
Craig Ogden — Classical Guitar (Awardee 1989)
Emily Sun — Violin (Awardee 2012–2015)
Alexandra Flood — Soprano (Awardee 2015)
James Emerson — Baritone (Awardee 2024–2025)
Anna Rabinowicz — Flute (Awardee 2025)
Their performances offered a vivid testament to the Foundation’s mission: to identify exceptional Australian musicians at pivotal stages of their development and help them flourish on the world stage.
Guests also enjoyed outstanding wines generously donated by Kylie Minogue Wines, whose support added greatly to the warmth of the evening.
The Foundation was honoured to welcome several notable Australians and long-standing supporters, including the Deputy High Commissioner Elisabeth Bowes, Lord Alec Broers, our Life President of the Australian Music Foundation, celebrated author Kathy Lette, conductor Peter Robinson and other Australian Foundation Alumni including Baritone Marcus Van den Akker (Awardee 1997), Pianist Jayson Gillham (Awardee 2007), and Trombonist Tate Cassells (Awardee 2024)
We were also delighted to welcome our Trustees James Pitman, Kate Paterson, and Samantha Crawford. Samantha spoke at the close of the evening about the Foundation’s new mentorship programme, part of our renewed commitment to supporting young Australian musicians throughout their studies and the first years of their professional careers.
Programme Highlights
The evening’s performances featured works by Brahms, Mozart, Strauss, Villa-Lobos, Massenet, Sarasate, Koshkin, Godard and Dyens — a vibrant reflection of the depth and breadth of repertoire championed by our performers.
CRAIG OGDEN — Classical Guitar
• Nikita Koshkin – Usher Waltz
• Roland Dyens – Tango en Skaï
EMILY SUN — Violin
• Jules Massenet – Thaïs: Méditation
• Pablo de Sarasate – Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20 (Allegro molto vivace)
ALEXANDRA FLOOD — Soprano with EMILY SUN — Violin
• Mozart – Aria “L’amerò, sarò costante” (from Il Rè Pastore)
JAMES EMERSON — Baritone
• Brahms – O wüsst’ ich doch den Weg zurück
• Donizetti – Aria “Come Paride vezzoso” (from L’elisir d’amore)
ANNA RABINOWICZ — Flute
• Villa-Lobos – Aria (Cantilena) from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5
• Godard – Valse from Suite de trois morceaux, Op. 116
ALEXANDRA FLOOD — Soprano
• Johann Strauss II – Frühlingsstimmenwalzer (Voices of Spring), Op. 410
ALEXANDRA FLOOD — Soprano and JAMES EMERSON — Baritone
• Mozart – Duet “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen” (from Die Zauberflöte)
with DANIEL PETER SILCOCK - Piano
With thanks to our supporters:
The Australian High Commission
Kylie Minogue Wines
and to the help of:
Daniel Turner, Megan Stellar, SJ Lewis and Antonio Silva.
Floral arrangements provided by Bloomsbury Floral
Catering was provided by Fresh and Wild
