8 September 2022 - The Board of Trustees pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
8 September 2022
Yvonne Kenny, the Chairman of the Australian Music Foundation UK said:
"We are all deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who has been a shining light in all our lives, and an exemplar of selfless service, devotion and commitment to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. We send our heartfelt condolences to His Majesty King Charles, The Queen Consort and to all members of The Royal Family"
Lord Alec Broers, the President of the Australian Music Foundation said:
"Her Majesty the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth has for seven decades steadfastly supported cultural exchanges between the United Kingdom and the members of the Commonwealth and especially with Australia which she has visited sixteen times. Many young Australian musicians have participated in these exchanges, many of them enabled by the Australian Music Foundation. Her son King Charles, as The Prince of Wales, has provided vital support to the Foundation as its Patron-in-Chief."
In Memoriam: Professor William Rodolph (Bill) Cornish CMG, QC, FBA. 1937 - 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our distinguished Honorary Trustee, Professor William Cornish.
A tribute from AMF President Lord Broers:
“I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn that Bill Cornish had passed away. His contributions to the University of Cambridge and to the legal profession made him a scholar of the highest international distinction and he was a delightfully kind and rational person. His view, especially on matters that were complicated and difficult, invariably helped in finding a positive way forward. All of this combined with his love of music and considerable talent as a musician meant that he was of immense value to the Australian Music Foundation and we sorely missed him when he stepped down as a Trustee several years ago. I join all the Trustees in sending my condolences to his wife Lovedy and family.
In Memory of Professor Bill Cornish from AMF trustee Dennis Muirhead
Bill Cornish and I have a long history. In 1960, he was my first Tutor at Adelaide University in a course on introduction to law. He also helped me on my way to a legal career, first in Adelaide, and then in London.
Bill was musical, quick witted and with a mischievous sense of humour. He always had a twinkle in his eye! A colleague from Adelaide, Bruce Debelle AO QC, was in the very first Adelaide Law School revue which he said “was largely the result of the cleverness of Bill Cornish who wrote most of the scripts…….and put together all the music. It was stunningly clever.”
When I started practising law in London in 1960, Bill was also here, teaching at LSE and on occasions, we met socially. Our friendship was renewed in around 2010, when I was appointed a Trustee of the Australian Music Foundation (AMF). To my delight, Bill was an established and leading Trustee of the AMF, and we met up often. Bill was a joy to work with on the committee: he grasped issues quickly and had the intelligence and persuasive ability to find amicable resolutions.
During this period, we forged a close friendship. A highlight for me was an invitation by Bill to dine at Magdalene College, in its beautiful candlelit Hall, and to stay at his home. I will always be deeply grateful to Bill, and his dear wife Lovedy, for their generosity and hospitality.
I was very sad to see Bill’s health decline over recent years. I will always remember him as a close and steadfast friend who stood by me at all times. He is missed not only by me but also his many close friends and colleagues.
Dennis Muirhead FRSA
Violinist emily Sun launches debut solo album, June 2021
Congratulations to AMF awardee, violinist Emily Sun, who launches her debut solo album today. Accompanied by pianist Andrea Lam, the album features a beautiful selection of French romantic repertoire:
CÉSAR FRANCK Violin Sonata in A major
1 I. Allegro ben moderato
2 II. Allegro
3 III. Recitative – Fantasia (Ben moderato)
4 IV. Allegretto poco mosso
5 CLAUDE DEBUSSY Clair de lune
6 GABRIEL FAURÉ Après un rêve
GABRIEL FAURÉ Violin Sonata No. 1 in A major, Op. 13
7 I. Allegro molto
8 II. Andante
9 III. Allegro vivo
10 IV. Allegro quasi presto
11 LILI BOULANGER Nocturne
12 LOUIGUY La Vie en rose
https://www.abc.net.au/classic/shop/emily-sun-andrea-lim-nocturns/13366620
Richard Bonynge 90th Birthday Gala Concert, 29 September 2020
The Tait Memorial Trust presented an online concert to celebrate the 90th birthday of Australian international conductor and pianist, Maestro Richard Bonynge AC CBE, Life President of the AMF.
The concert was specially curated by Australian concert pianist Rosemary Tuck, and the cast of Australian and New Zealand international artists presented a programme including excerpts from Norma, I Capuleti ed I Montecchi, The Pearlfishers and Giuditta. Dancers from The Royal Ballet, artistically directed by retired Royal Ballet principal dancer Leanne Benjamin AM OBE, performed excerpts from ballets conducted, and in some cases discovered, by Maestro Bonynge during his long and illustrious career.
The event also included special guest appearances by internationally acclaimed opera producer and director, John Copley CBE, and retired politician, broadcaster and lawyer, David Mellor QC.
The concert was opened by AMF Chairman, soprano Yvonne Kenny AM (pictured), and AMF alumni - cellist Waynne Kwon, soprano Valda Wilson and baritone Jeffrey Black - all took taking part, in acknowledgement of Maestro Bonynge’s many years of support as Life President of the AMF.
Many thanks to the Tait Memorial Trust and all involved in this wonderful tribute.
Recorded at the Australian High Commission, London
Professor Peter Tregear awarded OAM in Queen's Birthday Honours
Congratulations to Professor Peter Tregear who has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this year for service to music education, and to professional organisations. Professor Tregear is a longtime Trustee of the AMF UK and also the Founding Chair of the AMF Australia Foundation.
Peter Tregear studied at the University of Melbourne and at King’s College Cambridge. In 2000 he was appointed a Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge where he was Lecturer and Director of Music.
He returned to Australia in 2006 as Dean of Trinity College, University of Melbourne and in November 2010 he was appointed Executive Director of the Academy of Performing Arts, Monash University. In August 2012 he was appointed Professor and Head of the School of Music of the Australian National University. In 2015 he returned to the UK to a Teaching Fellowship at Royal Holloway, University of London, and in 2020 he took up the position of Dean of St Mark's College, Adelaide. He continues to work in both Australia and in Europe as a singer, conductor, and writer.
In Memoriam - Sir John Tooley
AMF Chairman Yvonne Kenny AM writes:
“It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of AMF Life President Sir John Tooley on 18 March at the age of 95. I recall that Sir John ran the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, for 18 years from 1970 to 1988, as General Administrator and then General Director, which coincided with much of my time there as a resident soprano. He was a wonderful General Director - a true gentleman who knew every single person in the ROH by name - and had the admiration and respect of us all. He eventually became a Life President of the AMF, but was also an active Trustee and great friend of AMF Chairman Peter Andry. Most importantly for AMF, Peter Andry and Sir John were instrumental in enabling co-productions, shared between the AMF and the ROH, of big charity gala fundraisers. These were glittering occasions that took place on Sunday evenings at the ROH during the 1980’s, featuring Dame Joan Sutherland, Richard Bonynge and Sir Charles Mackerras leading a lineup of wonderful Australian artists. These galas established the AMF's endowment, which continues to support our work today. We will be forever grateful for this wonderful legacy.”
Results of the Finals of the 2019 AMF Awards
Following the Finals of the AMF Awards on Sunday 13 October 2019, we are delighted to announce the names of the new 2019 AMF Awardees:
Named Awards:
Magdalenna Krstevska (Clarinet) - AMF Nora Goodridge Developing Artist Award
James Blackford (Euphonium) - AMF Guy Parsons Award (Portland House Foundation). We are delighted to announce that James has recently won the RNCM Concerto Prize.
Yvette Keong (Soprano) - AMF Nora Goodridge Young Artist Award
AMF Awards:
Victoria Wong (Violin) - Berlin
David Soo (Piano) - GSMD, London
Waynne Kwon (Cello) - RNCM, Manchester
Jeremy Kleeman (Bass Baritone) - RCM, London
Courtenay Cleary (Violin) - Juilliard School, New York
Guillaume Wang (Cello) - Queen Elisabeth Chapel, Brussels
Robbin Reza (Piano) - Cologne
Mitzi Gardner (Violin) - RCM, London
We are most grateful to all our AMF donors without whose generosity these awards would not be possible.
Our thanks also go to the panel of distinguished judges who generously gave up their time to help young Australian musicians studying overseas:
Yvonne Kenny AM - Chairman (non-voting)
Jayson Gillham - piano
Ben Mellefont - clarinet
Linnhe Robertson - vocal coach and accompanist
Peter Robinson - conductor and vocal coach
Patrick Savage - violin
Australian Bushfire Benefit London, 01.03.20
The AMF was proud to support the Australian Bushfire Benefit London on Sunday 1st March 2020.
This wonderful fundraising concert at the Royal Academy of Music featured some of Australia’s finest musicians with full orchestra, choir and soloists and raised over $84,000 AUD.
The event was originally conceived by two young awardees of the Tait Memorial Trust, Bridget O’Donnell (violin) and Lotte Betts-Dean (mezzo-soprano), to honour the brave men and women fighting the worst fires in Australia’s history, and to raise funds for the charities and organisations who are assisting those who have lost everything to rebuild their lives.
Please visit the Australian Bushfire Benefit London website to find out more.
Every penny raised will be sent back to Australia to help make a tangible difference to the victims of this terrible tragedy.
Cellist Guillaume Wang, wins Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition
Congratulations to current AMF Awardee, Guillaume Maurice Wang, who has been awarded the 1st Prize at the 7th International Cello Competition Antonio Janigro in Zagreb. https://musicchapel.org/en/guillaume-wang-cello/
Yvonne Kenny AM awarded 2019 Australian of the Year in the UK
Many congratulations to AMF Chairman, Yvonne Kenny AM, who was named Australian of the Year in the UK at the Australia Day Foundation awards ceremony at Australia House in January 2019. Pictured left, receiving her award from High Commissioner HE the Hon George Brandis QC.
Yvonne Kenny is one of the most distinguished sopranos of her generation. She was born in Sydney and gained a BSc in Biochemistry before moving to London to study singing. She made her operatic debut in 1975, after which she joined the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden where she remained a member of the company until 1994.
She built an enviable reputation as a dazzling interpreter of works by Handel, Mozart, Donizetti, Britten and the heroines of Richard Strauss, with international appearances at the Wiener Staatsoper, La Scala Milan, Salzburger Festspiel, Staatsoper Berlin, Opera de Paris, English National Opera, San Francisco, Glyndebourne and the Staatsoper, Munich.
Throughout her long career Yvonne has continued to return to Australia, singing major roles with Opera Australia and performing with all the major symphony orchestras. She was honoured to perform at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She also has a discography of over 66 international titles including her Gold Disc Simple Gifts for ABC Classics. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 for services to music and received an Honorary Doctorate in Music from the University of Sydney in 1999.
Yvonne now devotes her time to teaching and mentoring young singers. She is a Professor of Voice at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama and a vocal coach with the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at ROH Covent Garden.
AMF Spring Showcase 2019
Many thanks to all who attended the AMF Spring Showcase, hosted by our Patron His Excellency the Hon George Brandis QC in the magnificent Exhibition Hall at Australia House on Wednesday 20 March 2019. Six of our recent awardees performed a wonderful programme of music by Poulenc, Debussy, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Brahms, Albeniz and Puccini. The drinks reception was generously sponsored by McGuigan Wines and Little Creatures Ale, who also provided prizes for the raffle, along with the office of the Agent General for South Australia.
Photo by Jari Laakso. L to R: Rohan Dasika (double bass), Samantha Clarke (soprano), Courtenay Cleary (violin), Yvonne Kenny (Chairman AMF UK), HE the Hon George Brandis QC, David Soo (piano), Victoria Wong (violin), Robbin Reza (piano).
Nora Goodridge Awardee, soprano Samantha Clarke wins GSMD Gold Medal
Many congratulations to AMF awardee soprano Samatha Clarke who is this year's winner of the GSMD Gold Medal, the School’s most prestigious prize for outstanding soloists. Samatha has been supported by the AMF Nora Goodridge Emerging Artist Award during the two years of her Artist Diploma in Opera Studies.
The Finals took place at the Barbican with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Richard Farnes.
Afterwards, Samantha said "I felt very privileged to be performing on the Barbican stage and the support from the audience was so encouraging. It was lovely to have my tutor Yvonne Kenny watching my performance and I can’t thank her and my wonderful accompanist Michael Pandya enough for their help and guidance.”
The distinguished panel of judges included bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, GSMD alumnus and winner of the 1989 Gold Medal; Kevin Murphy, Director of Coaching and Music Administration for Indiana University Opera Theater; mezzo-soprano Ann Murray DBE; and Jonathan Vaughan, Vice-Principal and Director of Music at Guildhall School.
The Gold Medal award was founded and endowed by Sir H. Dixon Kimber in 1915. Previous winners include Jacqueline du Pré (1960), Patricia Rozario (1979), Tasmin Little (1986) and Bryn Terfel (1989).
Samantha's recent engagements include the roles of Georgiana in 'Georgiana' (Buxton International Festival) and Musetta in 'La Bohème' (Opera North).
She is to the right of the photo in the blue dress, surrounded by the judges and her fellow contestants.
AMF Guy Parsons Awardee, euphonium player James Blackford, wins RNCM Concerto Prize
Many congratulations to current AMF Guy Parsons Awardee, euphonium player James Blackford, who has won this year's Concerto Prize at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
James is currently studying for his MMus, supported by the AMF Guy Parsons Award and several other scholarships. Originally from Brisbane, James graduated with a BMus in advanced performance from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music before moving to Sydney after successfully auditioning as the youngest ever full-time member of the NSW Police Band. He was recently appointed principal euphonium with the well-known Leyland Band in Lancashire, and has performed with them at the Royal Albert Hall and in Bergen and Stavanger in Norway.
We look forward to hearing James play again at the AMF Spring Showcase at Australia House on Tuesday 10th March.
2019 Australia Day Gala with the Australia-UK Chamber of Commerce
The AMF was delighted to be invited to partner with the Australia-UK Chamber of Commerce for their Australia Day Gala at Simpson’s at the Savoy on the Strand on 29 January 2019. There were performances by AMF awardees violinist Emily Sun from Sydney (winner of the ABC Young Performer Award 2018), soprano Samantha Clarke from Perth and pianist David Soo from Clayton, Victoria (both studying at GSMD). Many thanks to all at the Australia-UK Chamber for this wonderful initiative in support of the AMF and for their generous donation.
Main Photo: L to R: Elizabeth Rossiter, accompanist, Emily Sun, AMF Chairman Yvonne Kenny AM, David Soo, Samantha Clarke. Thanks to Peter Livingstone Photography
Australia Day Gala at the Savoy
The performers with Dick Porter, Yvonne Kenny, Elizabeth Ames and Lord Broers
In Memoriam: AMF Life President, Guy Parsons OBE
The AMF is very sad to announce the death of Guy Parsons OBE. He was one of the charity’s founding Trustees and served as Treasurer and then Life President for many years. His memory lives on through his connection with the Portland House Foundation, who in recent years have sponsored an AMF award in his name, enabling a variety of talented young Australians to continue their musical studies overseas. We are most grateful for his long service and we send our deepest condolences to his family.
Connor D'Netto, new composition premiered at Royal College of Music, April 2019
AMF alumnus, composer Connor D'Netto, recently collaborated with fellow RCM composer Matthew Lomax, the Central School of Ballet and chamber orchestra Cat’s Cradle Collective, in a multimedia ballet, presented as part of the Royal College of Music’s Great Exhibitionists series. Entitled 'non place', the concert-length work is abstractly based around the writings of French anthropologist Marc Auge, and brings together over 30 dancers, a new electroacoustic score for chamber orchestra, live electronics, and live visuals transforming footage from around London into an immersive projection display.
Connor (left) and Matthew are pictured with AMF Trustee, Dr Margaret Mayston AM, after the performance at the Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music, on 26 April.
Listen to a recording of Connor's Second String Quartet, which will be performed by the Australian String Quartet at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, where Connor has been named Composer in Residence: https://soundcloud.com/…/string-quartet-no-2-in-e-minor-liv…
Emily Sun wins Tagore Gold Medal and is selected for the Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition
AMF Awardee, Emily Sun, who recently won the ABC Young Performers Award in Sydney, has been selected as the only Australian to take part in the 19th Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition in Belgium at the end of April. More information and interview with Limelight Magazine: https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/news/emily-sun-to-represent-australia-at-the-queen-elisabeth-competition/
Photo shows Emily receiving her Tagore Gold Medal at the Royal College of Music from HRH The Prince of Wales, Patron of both the RCM and the AMF.
Many congratulations to Emily on these wonderful achievements.
Cellist Waynne Kwon to perform in RNCM Gold Medal Winners' concert at Wigmore Hall, 28.03.19
Current AMF awardee, cellist Waynne Kwon, will be performing at London's Wigmore Hall on Thursday, 28th March as part of the RNCM Gold Medal winners concert. More information and tickets: https://wigmore-hall.org.uk/…/waynne-kwon-maksim-kinasov-an…
AWC Australia Day luncheon at Spring, Somerset House, London
Many thanks to the Australian Women's Club in London for inviting AMF Chairman Yvonne Kenny and alumni saxophonist Amy Dickson and soprano Samantha Clarke to their Australia Day luncheon at Skye Gyngell's restaurant, Spring, at Somerset House. The focus was on celebrating young Australian talent, and the AMF are most grateful for the generous donation presented by AWC President Helen Sargent.
L to R: Amy Dickson, Yvonne Kenny, Samantha Clarke
Photo credit: Louis Amore Photography
AMF partners with Australia-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce
Many thanks to the Australia-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce for inviting the AMF to be part of their Australia Day Gala at Simpsons at the Savoy on 29 January. The glamorous event included performances by three AMF alumni - soprano Samantha Clarke, pianist David Soo and violinist Emily Sun. We are immensely grateful for the donation from the Australia-United Kingdom Chamber, raised through a percentage of the ticket sales and the proceeds of the raffle. Thanks again for a fabulous evening.
Photo shows L to R: Dick Porter, Elizabeth Rossiter, Emily Sun, Yvonne Kenny, David Soo, Samantha Clarke, Elizabeth Ames and Lord Broers.
Photo credit: Peter Livingstone.