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From the President

It doesn’t seem thirty years since the First Competition was held in July 1977. Do you notice how time goes faster? It seems such a short time between birthdays now.

We are very pleased to announce that we already have over fifty concerts arranged for the Prize-Winners of the next Competition in 2008 – concerts have never been before arranged so far ahead of the Competition itself. The public throughout Australia really do like the Prize-Winners to perform for them, as they have heard them on ABC Classic FM and they can be sure that the level of performance will be very high.

We certainly have the most wonderful country to live in and a country that is so appreciative of fine music. I feel very happy and proud that the Competition is so successful since many people in the 1970’s said that the Australian public was not really interested in music but in sports. The same negative attitude was prevalent with the planned building of the Sydney Opera House – but now, we have the one of the most famous buildings in the world.

We can all look forward to the best Competition ever in 2008 when we bring to Sydney the finest young pianists from around the world.

Claire Dan
AM, OBE

What they are doing now

Anna Malikova has now released 11 CD’s – the last two CD’s being recordings of the 5 Saint-Saëns Concerti with Radio Orchestra Cologne and Thomas Sanderling conducting. These recordings have received the Classical Internet Award. Future recordings include the Burleske by Richard Strauss, Les Djinns and Variations Symphoniques by César Franck. In March 2007, she went to China again to perform and give masterclasses. In April, she will be again in Japan to perform concertos, recitals and classes. In October, she will perform with the Sinfonia Varsovia in Portugal and also another tour to China with the Orchestra of Deutsche Oper am Rhein.

Spencer Myer has finished recording his debut solo CD for Harmonia Mundi US label. This CD includes works by Debussy, Copeland, Busoni and a world premiere of a work by Ellis Kohs and is scheduled for release in September, 2007.
Spencer’s activities in 2007-2008 will include appearances in the USA with the Dayton Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony and the Phoenix Symphony and also recitals in Chicago, Palm Beach and Duluth. He will also return to South Africa in February 2008 for an extensive tour comprised of recitals and concertos. This will be his third return to South Africa after winning 1st Prize in the 2004 UNISA International Piano Competition in Pretoria.

Martina Filjak had a very busy 2005/6 season, with over 50 performances. She was soloist with the following Orchestras: Strasbourg, Morocco and Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestras and also the Croatian Symphony. She toured with the Zagreb Philharmonic and Croatian Chamber Orchestras featuring concertos by Mozart K414 and K466 and also Rachmaninov, Grieg and Shostakovitch. She also gave recitals in France, Germany, Italy, Greece and Japan.
In recent competitions, she has had the following prizes awarded:
The Kawai Prize in Los Angeles, the prize of Böesendorfer (Vienna) for the performance of Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata, special prize in the Okiden Competition (Japan) 1st prize Johannes Brahms (Austria), 1st prize Competition for piano and Orchestra ( M. Masin - Italy), 1st prize Keyboard Institute Competition New York, 1st prize in Vincenzo Bellini Competition (Italy), honorary prize on the ‘Animato’ Competition (Paris). Finalist in the Busoni Competition (Italy).
She has now 3 CDs of solo works and upcoming projects include performances in the Ljubljana Philharmonic Hall, a tour in Spain, recital in Warsaw, recital at Festival de Pays Briard, France and concerto appearances with the Zagreb and Croatian Orchestras.

She has now an Artists Management Agency based in Croatia and in the United Kingdom.

Marian Sobula continues in the second year of post-graduate study in the Master Class of Prof. Sergio Perticaroli at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia (Rome). In recent months, he was a semi-finalist in the 19th Rina Sala Gallo International Piano Competition in Monza, Italy. He has given concerts in Madrid and in Kracow was a major participant in a recording of the 24 Preludes and Fugues by Shostakovich. He is currently recording his first solo album for DUX of piano works by Karol Szymanowski.

Forthcoming events include: performances with the National Warsaw Philharmonic, and a performance on one evening of Beethoven Piano Concerto No 5 and Brahms Piano Concerto No 1 and has performances in Paris (Salle Invalides), Rome and in Spain with a piano trio.

Competition Dates for 2008

Seymour Centre

Wed	16 July	Opening Recital - John Chen			8.00pm
Thu	17 July	Stage I	9.30am	2.00pm	7.15pm
Fri	18 July	Stage I	9.30am	2.00pm
Sat	19 July	Stage II	9.30am	2.00pm	7.15pm
Sun	20 July	Stage II	9.30am	2.00pm
Mon	21 July	Stage III	9.30am	2.00pm	7.15pm
Tue	22 July	Stage III	9.30am	2.00pm
Wed	23 July	Stage IV	10.00am*	12.00pm	7.15pm
Thu	24 July	Stage IV	10.00am*	12.00pm	7.15pm
Fri	25 July	Stage IV	10.00am*	12.00pm	7.15pm

*Composer Talks will be given at these times.

Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

Tue 29 July Mozart Concertos with Sydney Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Milton. Competitors 1, 2 and 3
8.00pm

Wed 30 July Mozart Concertos. Competitors 4, 5 and 6
8.00pm

Fri 1 August 19th/20th Century Concertos with Sydney Symphyony Orchestra, conducted by Kirill Karabits. Competitors 1, 2 and 3
8.00pm

Sat 2 August 19th/20th Century Concertos. Competitors 4, 5 and 6
2.30pm

Presentation of Prizes/Finalists' Recitals
7.30pm

Booking brochures will be available from January, 2008.

Australian Compositions featured in SIPCA since 1977

1977	The requirements were: A published work by an Australian composer written after 1950 OR a published work composed since 1950 by a composer from the competitor’s own country. Stage I of the Competition.
1981	Commissioned works were by Nigel Butterley, Peter Sculthorpe and Larry Sitsky (one to be chosen by each competitor) for Stage I of the Competition.
1985	Commissioned works by Graham Hair, Bozidar Kos and James Penberthy (one to be chosen by each competitor) for Stage II of the Competition.
1988	The Bicentennial Year. There was a survey of Australian piano compositions with the competitors required to choose one of the set works by Don Banks, Miriam Hyde, Ross Edwards, Roy Agnew, Raymond Hanson, Richard Meale or Percy Grainger for Stage III of the Competition.
1992	The requirements were: A work written since 1950 from the country of the competitor for Stage III of the Competition.
1996	The competitors were required to choose one of the works selected for Stage III of the Competition. These works were: Carl Vine – Piano Sonata No 1 – 1st or 2nd Movement OR Nigel Butterley – Uttering Joyous Leaves.
2000	The works required were: Carl Vine – Bagatelles Nos 1, 2 and 4 OR 1, 2, and 5 OR the commissioned works Peter Schulthorpe – Between Five Bells and Elena Kats-Chernin – Page Turn. The competitors were required to choose one as part of Stage III of the Competition.
2004	The commissioned works were: Brenton Broadstock – Tower of Strength AND Gordon Kerry – Figured in the Drift of Stars. The competitors were required to select one work as part of Stage III of the Competition.
2008	New works have been commissioned from Andrew Ford and Roger Smalley, as part of Stage III of the Competition.

L-R: Composers Andrew Ford and Roger Smalley, who have been comissioned to write works for Stage III of the 2008 Competition.

Friends of SIPCA Annual General Meeting

At the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of the Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia, the following Committee Members were elected for the 2007/2008 year:

President (Chair):	Bronwyn Bishop MP
Deputy President:	Denise Fink
Senior Vice President:	Warren Thomson OAM
Vice President:	Alf Reichardt
Secretary & Public Officer:	Lyn Osman
Treasurer:	Genevieve Michael
Volunteer Co-Ordinator:	Judy Hunt
Publicity Officer:	Gary Nash
Members:	Annette Blinco, June Buckingham, Judith Einstein, Bernice Gardiner-Hill, Glenys Granger, Jennifer Harris, Sylvia Laurent, Christine Liddy AM, Danny May, Diana-Rose Orr, Ross Steele AM, Janice Tuynman

New Members on the Friends Committee

Jennifer May McDonald Harris: Jennifer is Principal of Jennifer Harris & Associates, Solicitors and Attorneys with specialities in intellectual property, defamation, media, entertainment and communications law. She has a BA(NSW) and LLB(Melb) and is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Courts of Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and the High Court of Australia and the Supreme Courts of New South Wales and Queensland. Previously she was Principal Legal Officer and Solicitor to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1968-1985) and a partner of Hunt & Hunt Lawyers (1985-1987). She has held numerous directorships and has an interest in music and was the winner of the Outstanding Service Award to Pittwater Community – Pittwater Council (1988).

Bernice Gardiner-Hill: Bernice has had much experience in community organizations including Medical Foundations at the Sydney University since 1988. During this time, she has been a member of the Executive Committee (1984-1998 and 2000- 2004). She has also worked with the Australiana Fund since 1984 and has held positions of Councillor, Honorary Secretary and Member of Acquisitions Committee. She has a special interest in the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children (now renamed Redkite) being a Trustee from 1984-1994 and Chairman from 1990. She has also in the past been involved with Australian Red Cross – schools program and Prevention (later CAPS) and is Honorary Life Governor of Postgraduate Federation in Medicine since 1987. She also has a great interest in music over many years.

Congratulations, John Blanch!

Congratulations to John Blanch, who has a new position as General Manager of Kawai Australia and New Zealand. He is also a member of a committee that meets at Kawai Headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan twice a year for discussions on all aspects of Kawai business and product range. The other members of the Committee come from Kawai America and Kawai Europe.

Feedback from Rem Urasin’s Australian Tour

Dear Mr Urasin,
My wife, Marlena joins me in thanking you for such an outstanding performance at Admiralty House recently. In the midst of such a busy concert schedule in Australia, we greatly appreciated the fact that you were willing to share your considerable talents by entertaining us with such an exciting programme. May I wish you every success, not only for the remainder of your Australian tour, but in your future career which I know will continue to be an outstanding one. Thank you once again for providing us with such wonderful music.

Yours sincerely,
Michael Jeffery
His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC
Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia

Rem gave a marvellous recital on Friday and he was very warmly received by the audience….a number of people who had been at the concert came over and congratulated him which was really lovely.
Alison Beare - Elder School of Music, The University of Adelaide

There is still wonderful feedback from Rem’s recital. The evening was an uplifting and joyful experience.
June Howath - Roseville Music Club

After Rem’s Gala Opening Recital. L-R: Judy & David Hunt, Rem Urasin and Richard Cornfield (ABC-TV)

We had a magnificent concert in Bryant Memorial last Friday evening - and if that were not sufficient – Rem played as encores the most wonderful Chopin, which caused tears to flow down the cheeks of those who heard him – an experience unlikely to be repeated. The Busselton community wish to express its appreciation for the opportunity afforded us to have a musician of such calibre perform for us.
Rev’d Wes Hartley - Minister, Busselton Uniting Church

Thank you so much for the doubtless thousands of hours of your life spent in nurturing the wonderful art you shared with our orchestra and community at Brisbane a little way back. What a performance (Rachmaninov Paganini Variations). You are clearly a gifted young man and you won the admiration of our company and audience in a dazzling display.
Michael Smith, Managing Director - The Queensland Orchestra