Search names, events, places, organisations, and sources across the archive.
Person
TYCHO, Tommy
Tommy Tycho and music-making in Western Australia
Tommy Tycho had a long association with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. From 1984-2003 he was a frequent guest conductor in their family and contemporary music programs. At the time Tommy was the first popular music conductor to appear with all the state symphony orchestras (who were then managed by the ABC).
The first concerts Tycho performed with WASO were the ABC Family concerts 1984 featuring Tommy and Vicky and conducted by Dobbs Franks. Soon Tycho was invited as a guest conductor for WASO and the first concert was “Fascinating Rhythms” featuring singer Jackie Love. The program also included the Perth premiere of Tommy’s 1984 “Prom Overture”, op.5 which had been commissioned by Sydney Youth Orchestra. The concert also featured Tommy’s piano and orchestra arrangement of Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm”, with many other Gershwin themes thrown in.
During the 1990s Tycho was featured as conductor in the “Fantastic Fridays” series. These concerts included Broadway music, and a Disney concert was also programmed in the 1990s featuring singers and instrumental arrangements of Disney music. Another concert called “All themes great and small” featuring daughter Vicky Tycho who gave her debut in 1982 and worked regularly with Tommy during the 1980s-1990s as a duelling piano act.
Tommy Tycho with James Morrison and WASOJody Harrison, Tommy Tycho, Grace Knight
In 2000 Tommy conducted many of WASO’s outdoor concerts called “Pops in the Park” held at Kings Park.
These featured James Morrison and Emma Pask, the crooner Frank Bennett, and Grace Knight.
Mark Underwood, Jody Harrison, Annie Neil, Sue Bluck, Jenny Wren (“Birdland”) and Tommy Tycho
The early 2000s saw Tycho return to WASO as a guest artist and conductor as part of the Ernst and Young Contempo Series. These concerts included Rhonda Burchmore and pianist Ray Aldridge. Other concerts featured Julie Anthony, Rob Guest, and others.
Tommy Tycho, Libby Hammer and James Flynn on tour in Esperance with “Sinatra”
In 2003 Tommy was commissioned by WASO to compose a five-minute piece to celebrate their 75th birthday (Tycho also celebrated his 75th birthday that year), which was a celebratory overture called The Celebration of Septuaginta Quinque.
This was part of their 5 x 15 commissioning program in which they commissioned 15 composers to write 5 minute works totalling 15 minutes. In this same concert Tommy also gave the premiere of the third movement of his Violin Concerto, which was performed by WASO’s concert master at the time, Daniel Kossov.
Material provided by Dr Samuel Cottell.
Tommy Tycho (1928-2013), AM MBE, Doctor of Music (honoris causa)
Thomas (Tommy) Tycho was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1928. His mother was a celebrated soprano, and his father worked for the Hungarian Electrical Commission. By age four Tycho began learning the piano and soon was a child prodigy, playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Budapest Philharmonic at ten years of age. Tycho also studied composition with Leo Weiner, Zoltan Kodaly, and Carl Orff. The Occupation of Hungary and World War II interrupted Tycho’s studies and he was interned in a Labor camp and the ghetto. After the war Tycho continued his studies in composition and conducting. To make a living to support his family he worked as a pianist and arranger in jazz and dance bands in Hungary performing in upscale hotels and making recordings. He also worked in a number of night clubs. His formal studies included music at the Hungarian Gymnasium and the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. Leaving Hungary the day before the Communist takeover, Tommy joined a dance band led by Jules Szepesi, and they became residents at the Park Hotel in Tehran. Tycho was soon called upon by the Shah and became the palace pianist. During this time Tycho met his wife Eve, and wanting to settle down they migrated to Australia in 1951.
Unable to join the protectionist Musician’s Union of NSW Tycho sought work at David Jones as a storeman in the loading dock. Upon gaining entry to the Union Tycho auditioned at the ABC and soon gave broadcasts on the Sunday radio program A Handful of Keys. During the 1950s he regularly broadcast on ABC radio including as a duo pianist with Glenn Marks, as pianist with the Jay Wilbur Ensemble, in the Geza Bachmann Trio, and forming his own light music ensemble, The Thomas Tycho Players, where he wrote the music arrangements, compositions, and led the ensemble. Beyond the ABC Tycho led a quartet on radio 2UW, appeared on The Ford Show, and for a time was the Shefte Melody Man broadcasting popular tunes on the 2UW program. In the 1950s Tycho also composed his first two film scores for the Government film department: Valley of the Yarra and A Call for Order.
When Channel 7 (ATN) commenced broadcasting on 2 December 1956, Tycho was one of the first musicians to perform on television. At the same time he was also a pianist and arranger in the Sydney Tonight orchestra, soon becoming the music director of the entire 7 network. Tycho was vital to the success of television working as music director for all of the music and revue programs Curtain Call, The Commonwealth Bank Hour of Music, Revue ‘61, ‘62, Startime, Startime ‘63, Studio A, Teen Time, The Johnny O’Keefe Show (later renamed Sing Sing Sing), and many more. During this period Tycho also composed original music for locally produced television programs Penthouse, and the documentary series ANZAC. He later wrote music for The Mavis Bramston Show, the theme music for You Can’t See ‘Round Corners,The Battlers, and Riptide. During the period 1964-1968 Tycho wrote arrangements for RCA Records of Australia appearing on over fifty recordings. Here he released his debut LP as pianist arranger and conductor on Tycho, Tycho. In the latter years of his association with ATN7 Tycho also directed the orchestra at the Silver Spade, working with artists such as Ethel Merman, Mel Torme, Barbara Eden and other international artists.
Leaving television in 1972 Tycho reinvented himself by returning to live performing. With the help of Robert A. Gunn and Mel Welles, the trio created a series of concerts in association with 2CH Radio who had just switched to the ‘good music’ format. The concerts featured the newly formed Good Music Orchestra and showcased Tycho’s talents as a pianist, arranger, and conductor. The first of these concerts, Good Music Live at the Sydney Opera House, was released on Festival Records. These were followed by a series of “Nigh with …” concerts that included music by Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, and Rodgers, Hammerstein and Hart were all recorded and released on LP. During this time Tycho also created Big Band Concerts, An Evening with Julie Anthony, and Hello Broadway starring Anthony, Barry Crocker, and Frankie Davidson. In 1979 Tycho was the music director for Peggy Lee’s Australian tour. During this period he was the music director for A Concert for Darwin, and for June Bronhill’s concert at the Sydney Opera House.
Having established himself as the leading orchestral popular music figure in Australia, the 1980s saw Tycho conducting the first Royal Charity concert broadcast live from Sydney Opera House. In 1980 Tycho once again returned to television as the music director of the multicultural music variety program Cabaret on the newly established Channel-0 (SBS). He made recordings, and with Lynn Rich as manager formed the Sydney International Orchestra. In 1982 Tycho composed and arranged music for the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. In 1983 he was the music director for the opening of Sydney Entertainment Center. During this time Tycho formed a piano duo with his daughter Vicky. They toured nationally and made an LP Duelling Pianos.
In 1984 Tycho arranged and recorded Australia’s new national anthem Advance Australia Fair for the ABC. He later arranged various versions of the anthem in 1985 and 1986. The 1986 version was recorded by Julie Anthony and is the version still used today for major sporting and cultural events. Tycho’s most iconic version is perhaps the special 1988 Bicentennial version broadcast live from the lawn of Parliament House and was used as ABC television’s station closing throughout the 1980s and 90s, with Tycho’s arrangement giving Australia’s anthem its heart and soul.
The 1980s saw Tycho engaged as a guest conductor with the state symphony orchestras becoming one of Australia’s first popular music maestros. He first was invited as a guest pianist with the MSO, then recorded a three-part television series, My Music, with the Queensland Symphony for ABC television. He conducted the Queensland, Adelaide, Tasmanian, West Australian, and Sydney Symphony Orchestras over a twenty-year period. Tycho continued to be in demand as conductor, arranger and pianist throughout the 1990s and 2000s making three albums with his protege Bernard Walz. Tycho also wrote the arrangements for three Anthony Warlow albums and was music director for two of Warlow’s national tours in the 1990s and 2000s. He provided arrangements and recordings for hundreds of artists and was in demand for all the major cultural events. In 1995 he published his memoirs The Tommy Tycho Story: Music, Maestro Please.
During his lifetime Tycho composed several film scores including the iconic Young Einstein for Yahoo Serious and others. Tycho composed a number of light music pieces including Sydney Suite, Sunday at Taronga Park, Dance of the Fireflies, The Kangaroo and others. He also composed a number of classical concert pieces including a String Quartet (1947), Suite for Grand Orchestra (1948/9), Three Pieces for Woodwind Quartet (1971), a Trumpet Concerto for Dick Montz (1985), Proms Overture, op.5 (1984) commissioned by the Sydney Youth Orchestra, The Celebration of Septuaginta Quinque commissioned by WASO in 2003, “Romanza” the second movement from his incomplete second piano concerto, and his magnum opus, the Violin Concerto (2002) which is regularly performed.
Tycho was awarded an MBE in 1977, an AM in 1987 and an honorary Doctor of Music in 2007 from the University of Sydney. He was also a patron of the MO Awards. Tycho’s enduring legacy is still present today in Australian cultural life. His orchestrations are still performed by orchestras and the Tycho Trust, led by his daughter Vicky, ensures his music is made available for future generations through digitisation and preservation. Samuel Cottell has written a PhD on Tycho “From storeman to stardom: the life and music of Tommy Tycho within the context of light music 1951-1978,” and a new documentary TYCHO! Beyond the Baton by Stephan Wellink has won multiple awards and accolades being regularly screened in cinemas around Australia.
Anastasia Buettner-Moore is a UWA piano performance graduate who has played an active role as a passionate performer, presenter, collaborative pianist and an experienced teacher in both the WA community and abroad.
She has served the WA Music Teachers Association council serving as Vice President and was drawn to the council in order to assist in improving the standard and quality of private music studio teaching in the state.
Anastasia has strong experience in many forms of movement studies, including dance, yoga, pilates, Alexander Technique as well as experience in the Taubman Approach which specialises in musician’s wellness and assists pianists to play with more comfort, speed, accuracy and ease as well as helping piano teachers diagnose teaching problems faster.
In her spare time, Anastasia loves to explore new technology and apps to improve her teaching, learning new repertoire, playing chamber music, cooking up a storm, renovating houses, travelling and tending to her garden, chickens and toddler.
When Donald William Thornton was born on 6 April 1933 in Perth, Western Australia, his father, John, was 28 and his mother, Lilian Mary (nee Levy), was 33. He had one sister, Joan Lilian, who dated Jack Harrison for five years prior to Jack’s death in 2013.
1937
In 1937 Jack and Jill Harrison attended Nedlands State School with Donald Thornton and Jill remembers having to play “English Country Gardens” on the piano – alternating with Donald Thornton – to assist the children march back to class after assembly.
1952
MUSIC AND THE THEATRE By “FIDELIO”
A musical entertainment is included in today’s closing programme for the Arts Festival at the University. Beginning at 7.30 p.m. in Winthrop Hall, John Dean and Donald Thornton will play one of Beethoven’s violin sonatas, the Madrigal Singers will present medieval songs and madrigals, and Mr. Thornton will play Ravel’s Sonatine.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 12 July 1952, page 15
1953
1953 ABC I&V finals
Next Thursday evening the finals of the A.B.C.‘s Concerto and Vocal Competition will take place at the Capitol. The contestants, with their chosen items, are as follows: Donald Thornton, pianist (first movement of Tschaikowsky concerto); Molly McGurk, soprano (air from “Louise”); Brenda Cullity, violinist (first movement of Beethoven concerto); Laurel Devine, pianist (Franck’s “Symphonic Variations”); Patricia Wyatt, soprano (Meyerbeer aria); Jack Harrison, clarinettist (movements from Weber concerto). The adjudicators will be the A.B.C.’s Director of Music (Mr. W. G. James) and Mr. H. Portnoj.
The West Australian Saturday 2 May 1953 page 20
Finalists Will Be Selected
The State finalists in the Concerto-Vocal Competition will be selected tomorrow when the State semi-finalists are called for re-audition. The finalists will appear with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in the Concerto Vocal Concert to be held on May 7. The semi-finalists are: Pianists. Laurel May Devine, Donald William Thornton, Sheila Hines and Angela Travia: violinists, Brenda Cullity and Barbara Tyler; clarinet, Jack Harrison: sopranos, Patricia Wyatt, Lynette Howieson, Beth Banks and Molly McGurk, mezzo-soprano. Vella Timewell; baritone, John Little and bass-baritone, Douglas Glendinning.
The West Australian Friday 10 April 1953 page 6
ABC FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
For MAY 7 1953
THE Australian Broadcasting Commission today announced the State finalists in its 1953 concerto and vocal competition. The six finalists are: Sopranos; Patricia Wyatt and Mollie McGurk. Pianists: Laurel Devine and Donald Thornton. Violinist: Brenda Cullity, Clarinet: Jack Harrison.
An ABC spokesman said that the finalists would be heard at a youth concert in the Capitol on May 7, with the State Symphony orchestra. They will compete in the Australian final in Melbourne in July.
The Daily News Saturday 11 April 1953 page 3
ABC STATE FINALISTS
State finalists in the ABC Concerto and Vocal competition for 1953 are:
Sopranos: Molly McGurk, Patricia Wyatt.
Pianists: Laurel Devine, Donald Thornton.
Violinist: Brenda Cullity.
Clarinet: Jack Harrison. They will take part in the finals on May 7 when they appear with the State Symphony orchestra in the Capitol.
Sunday Times Sunday 12 April 1953 page 8
Winners In Music Test Are Chosen (By “Fidelio.”)
Donald Thornton, a 20-year old science student at the University of Western Australia, won first place in the instrumental section of the A.B.C.’s concerto and vocal finals at the Capitol last night. It was his first appearance in these competitions. He played the opening movement of the Tschaikovsky No. 1 Piano Concerto and pleased the judges (and others) with his “musical approach” to a work which, as the A.B.C’s Director of Music (Mr. W. G. James) said, is so often “banged out from end to end.” In the vocal section, Molly McGurk, who sang the well-known soprano air from “Louise,” was named the winner, thereby achieving a feat probably without precedent here. For hitherto Miss McGurk has figured in the list of finalists – three times – as pianist. Her win last night, which was her first, comes at her first attempt as vocalist.
The remaining contestants were Brenda Cullity, violinist (second time in these concerts); Laurel Devine, pianist, and Patricia Wyatt, soprano, both newcomers; and Jack Harrison, clarinettist, who for the third time had gained a place in the finals. High Standard The adjudication was in the hands of Mr. James, Mr. Henry Portnoj, and the W.A. Symphony Orchestra’s conductor, Mr. Pekarek. Mr. James introduced Mr. Portnoj as a musician from Vienna, now settled in Melbourne, and formerly closely associated with the Vienna State Opera. Mr. James said that the all-round standard was high, and he gave well deserved praise to Mr. Pekarek for his sympathetic help to the competitors by way of the orchestral accompanying. Hitherto the “grand finalists” from the several States, chosen to appear in Sydney, have been selected from the State winners. Mr. James said this had been changed. From now on, the eight to appear in Sydney will be selected from the finalists in the States, that is, they will not necessarily be the winners in the States. So far this year, finalists have been heard only in W.A. After the Hobart adjudication, on June 6, when all State finals will have been completed, the choice of winners to go to Sydney will be made. As usual at these events, there was a very large audience last night.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Friday 8 May 1953, page 8
BOY VIOLINIST GETS HIGH PRAISE
“Yours is talent that you only get once in a generation and Perth has every reason to be proud of it,” said Mr. James A. Steele, the adjudicator for the Musical Festival, when awarding nine-year-old Geoffrey Michaels second place in the open violin solo section last night. Norman Bourke, who gained one point more than Michaels, was first. Miss Lynette Howieson won the ladies open championship solo with 90 points, Miss Margaret Jones being second with 89 points. Mr. Steele told the winner: “You have caught the mood of the song excellently and have given as good coloratura work as we would get from any professional singer. Of the final of the men’s champion solo, Mr. Steele said that the winner, Mr. Douglas Glendinning had a fine voice with great possibilities.
Mr. Neil Garland was second. Other results were: Girls’ High School Choir: Coolgardie High School, 1; Perth Girls’ School Choir. 2. Final Soprano Solo: Miss Margery Walwyn, 1; Miss Alice Plant. 2. Final Baritone Solo: Mr. Gordon Freeman. 1; Mr. Vernon Wardrop. 2. Final Contralto Solo: Miss Irene Gilligan, 1; Miss Millicent Evans, 2. Final Open Piano Solo: Mr. Donald Thornton. 1; Miss Angela Travia and Miss Dawn Baldwin. 2.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 11 July 1953, page 15
At the Kylie Club’s meeting today Donald Thornton (pianist) and Margaret Jones (soprano) will be heard. Also, Henry Cuthbertson and Ella Fry will present a Poulenc work for speaking voice and piano.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 1 August 1953, page 31
University Prize Winners Named
The following prize winners for 1953 have been announced by the University of W.A.
FACULTY OF ARTS. Amy Jane Best prize in English literature: HILAIRE DALY SMITH. Convocation prize: JULIUS S. KOVESI. H. L. Fowler Prize in psychology: MARY E. SMITH. Lady Hackett Moulden prize for Latin I: SISINIA D. ATTISANO. Jane and Annie Nisbet memorial prize in French: ELIZABETH A. McBRIDE. Benjamin Rosenstamm prize in economics: NORMAN F. DUFTY. John R. Saunders prize in philosophy: JAMES K. WALSH. Bertha Elvina Shillington prize in history: JOHN R. ROBERTSON. The Thompson Classical prize: PATRICK McGUSHIN. Arthur Lovekin prize in Journalism: J. L. G. MARSHALL. LAW. Convocation prize for Law: JAMES K. WALSH. John Norman Barker prise for Law: ANTHONY L. VINCENT. Frank Edward Parsons memorial Prize for law: GEOFFREY A. KENNEDY. H. C. F. Keall prize for law: GEOFFREY A. KENNEDY. J. A. Wood memorial prize: GEOFFREY KENNEDY.EDUCATION. EDUCATION. Bertha Houghton prize in Education IV: IAN R. HOOKER. Convocation prize: JUDITH A. GRIGG. MEDICINE. Burroughs Wellcome prize in medicine: COLIN L. MATHEWS. Roy Le Page Muecke memorial prize in medicine: COLIN L. MATHEWS. Elsie Louise Simpson prize for medicine: COLIN L. MATHEWS. John and Louisa Cowcher memorial prize for medical students: ERIC EZEKIEL. SCIENCE. Convocation prize: CEDRIC J. POWELL. Lady James prizes in science: Chemistry I: MICHAEL W. FULLER. Physics I: KENNETH J. G. Mc-NAUGHTON. Physical Science: JOHN G. COLLINS and DONALD W. THORNTON equal. Natural science: LORNA W. BYASS. Science Union prize for Geology I: JOHN O. KAY. Science Union prize for Zoology I: ROBERT T. LANGE. Wilsmore prize in chemistry: DONALD W. THORNTON. Blackall prize in botany: ROBERT T. LANGE. ENGINEERING. Convocation prize: GEORGE E. J. SAYER and EDWARD C. WELLS, equal. G. M. Nunn prizes in surveying: Surveying I: ERNEST P. EVANS: Surveying II., COLIN O. SIMPSON. I.S.A.S. scholarship: THOMAS H. CAIRNES. DENTAL SCIENCE. Dr. F. Simpson prize in dental science: SAMUEL K. ATLAS.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 19 December 1953, page 12
1954
Semi-Finalists Chosen For A.B.C. Contest
The semi-finalists in the A.B.C. vocal and concerto com-petition were announced last night. From these the finalists will be selected this morning. They are: Pianists: Donald Thornton, Josephine McKimmie, Jan Williams, Laurel Devine, Sheila Hines. Violinists: Robert Ingram, Barbara Tyler, Brenda Cullity. Vocalists: Jan Conochie, baritone; Molly McGurk, soprano; Patricia Wyatt, soprano; Sylvia Calcei, soprano; John Browne, bass baritone; Peggy Stuart, soprano; Jeanette Earle, soprano; David Dunwoodie, baritone.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 19 June 1954, page 12
Scooped the Pool – W.A. MUSICIANS’ SUCCESS
Sydney, Aug. 17.—Two West Australian musicians who scooped the pool in the final round of the A.B.C. vocal and concerto competitions last night said that they did not want to win “We only wanted honourable mentions,” they said. The two—Donald Thornton, pianist, and Patricia Wyatt, soprano—are both 21 and for the next four years could have entered the A.B.C competition. “Now we have won it seems that we cannot enter any more,” Miss Wyatt said. “We can only go back-stage and wish competitors the best of luck.” Mr Thornton won the instrumental section. He played Rachmaninov’s “Paganini Rhapsody” with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Miss Wyatt, who sang the “Bell Song” from Delibes’ “Lakme,” won the vocal section. Nine young musicians took part in the final concert. The adjudicator was the noted European conductor, Walter Susskind, and the orchestra was conducted by Eugene Goosens.
Brilliant Soprano And Pianist In Collie Tomorrow Night
Patricia Wyatt, soprano and Donald Thornton, pianist, the winner of the A.B.C. Vocal Concerto competition for 1954 are to give a concert in the Mineworker’s Institute tomorrow night. These two young artists are both West Australian born, and are both 21 years of age.
Mr. Thornton is now a pupil of the well-known West Australian pianist Stephen Dornan, and has been learning the piano for 11 years. For the first eight years he studied with Miss Agnes Hill. Mr. Thornton first came into prominence when he won the open piano section of the W.A. Music Festival, also the state final of the Concerto Competition. In Sydney where he won the Commonwealth final this year, he received high praise from the adjudicator, the famous conductor Walter Susskind. Mr. Thornton is a student at the University of Western Australia where he is at present doing honours in physical chemistry.
Collie Mail (WA : 1908 – 1966), Thursday 23 September 1954, page 15
CONCERT AT COLLIE WAS A SUCCESS (From P.K.)
Patricia Wyatt and Donald Thornton, the two winners of the Vocal and Concerto Competition last night at Collie, gave their first concert performance since their win. John Browne, the State finalist in the competition, was associate artist. The The youthful appeal of the three, as well as their promising work made the concert an undoubted success which will, it is hoped, encourage the Adult Education Board to arrange other programmes like this. The audience, although not large, was unusually warm, and recalled the artists several times for encores. Don Thorton with his purposeful style of piano playing, clean technique and good sense of colour and rhythm, was best in his group of “moderns”–Shostakovich and de Falla. Patricia Wyatt’s work, more finished perhaps than the other two, was artistic and technically facile. The accompanist was Flora Bunning. Incidentally the modern Collie hall has fine acoustics and is of an admirable size for a recital of this kind.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 25 September 1954, page 4
CHRISTMAS SOCIAL:
About 200 people attended the annual Christmas social of the Australian Broadcasting Commission Youth Concert Committee held at the A.B.C. last night. The picture shows some of the guests gathered around a piano listening to Mr. Donald Thornton play.
They are (from left), Misses Noelle Willcock, of North Perth, Daphne Smith, of Nedlands, Betty Boulton, of Dalkeith and Betty Hill, of Mt. Hawthorn.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Friday 10 December 1954, page 22
1955
21 year-old Western Australian pianist Donald Thornton, who is to be soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Joseph Post at the opening concert of the ABCs 1955 International Celebrity Concert series at Canberra on Monday, February 28, mixes successfully a life of music and science. Last month Thornton completed an honours degree in physical chemistry. Beginning his piano studies at the age of 10, Donald Thornton gained his A.Mus.A. at the age of 15 and subsequently won honours in every examination of the AMEB for which he sat. In 1952 Thornton, with soloist at the Western Australian University Arts Festival, was a state winner of the 1953 ABC Concerto and Vocal competitions and in the same year won the piano section of the W.A. music festival conducted by the Music Teachers Association of WA. Last year, after taking the State Concerto title, he went on to selection as Commonwealth winner of the ABC competition. Thornton’s academic life has been just a spectacular. He started a science course at the University of Western Australia in 1951, majoring in chemistry. He completed the degree in 1953 and was so successful that he topped final year chemistry and final year physical science, for both of which he was awarded endowment prizes. An Honours year followed in 1954, and his thesis and research findings were submitted just before leaving Western Australia for this Tour.
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995), Saturday 19 February 1955, page 2
Paul To Conduct Orchestra
The illness of Joseph Post has necessitated a change in conductors for the A.B.C, Celebrity Concert on Monday night at the Capitol Theatre. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will now be conducted by Tibor Paul. The main work for the programme has been changed from Symphony No, 2 by Sibelius to. Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. Donald Thornton, winner of the 1954 A.B.C. vocal and concerto competition, will be soloist in the Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra by Cesar Franck.
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995), Saturday 26 February 1955, page 2
1979
Way 1979 Eisteddfod: Eileen Joyce signature with Donald Thornton
Donald died on 4 May 2011 in Perth at the age of 78.
Terence Ronald Ingram was born in the English Midlands on 7th November 1929 to parents William and Alice. Terry’s parent and sister, Alice, emigrated to Australia soon after World War II and after having completed National Service, Terry joined them in Perth on 16th July 1950.
Terry befriended clarinettist Jack Harrison and his wife Marcia and his musical family.
1953
April 1953 at the wedding of Jill Harrison and John Mowson – Terry Ingram, Marcia Chayter and Jack Harrison
1954 at 11 Dodonia Gardens: Marcia Harrison and Terry Ingram1954 jam session with the vibraphone at 11 Dodonia GardensJam session with Terry IngramParty at Dodonia Gardens: Terry Ingram (seated) Peter Harrison (standing in the flowery shirt) and Marcia in the banana chair1954 party on the crazy pavement
Through the 1950s and 1960s, he worked a variety of jobs, as well as playing in the evenings, but prowess on the piano gradually allowed him to live the life – late nights, venues full of cigarette smoke and clinking glasses – of a professional musician. He was one of the first in W.A. to play the vibraphone.
1955 Jim Riley Show1955 Jim Riley Show program
By the time he met his future wife Gloria, he was established. When the newly opened Sheraton Hotel wanted a resident musician he was it. Among his other venues was the Wardroom restaurant in Subiaco. At Channel seven in the 1970s, he worked closely with presenter Peter Dean. He was musical director on New Faces, on the variety show Anything Goes and accompanied countless singers on Telethon.
Terry died suddenly on 18th October 2000 aged nearly 71.
“Carl Vine AO is one of the most prolific and consistently inspired composers of our time, with an output that includes eight symphonies, thirteen concertos and six string quartets” (Chicago Classical Review, August 2022). His compositions are performed frequently around the world and recordings of his music on more than 70 albums are available on the major streaming platforms. He has an extensive range of chamber music alongside various work for film, television, dance and theatre.
Although primarily a composer of modern art music, he has undertaken such diverse tasks as arranging the Australian National Anthem and writing music for the Olympic Games (Closing Ceremony, Atlanta 1996). From 2000 until 2019 Carl was the Artistic Director of Musica Viva Australia, the world’s largest entrepreneur of chamber music. Within that role he was also Artistic Director of the Huntington Estate Music Festival from 2006, and of the Musica Viva Festival (Sydney) from 2008. Carl has been Senior Lecturer in Composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music since 2014.
Fractured 3 vertebrae falling out of a tree during gymnastics. Unable to play the trumpet, so started learning piano.
1967
Student at Guildford Grammar School (Secondary), Perth. Started learning the pipe organ under Choral Director Kathleen Wood. Pianist and Organist for School Church Services, Assemblies and assorted performances.
1970
First Prize in the Australian Society for Music Education Composers’ Competition (under-18 section) for ‘Unwritten Divertimento’: his first complete electronic work.
1971
Completed his first commissioned score, ‘2 Short Circuits’ (electronic tape work), for the West Australian Ballet Company, choreographed by Eleanor Martin. Graduated Dux of Guildford Grammar School with 2 Government University Exhibitions.
1972
Enrolled in Bachelor of Science degree course majoring in Physics at the University of Western Australia. Winner, Open Instrumental Solo division (Piano) of the Perth Music Festival. A.Mus.A. (Associate in Music, Australia) with distinction for Piano from the Australian Music Examinations Board. Harpist (on the piano) with the Queensland Youth Orchestra conducted by John Curro, for James Christiansen’s production of ‘Tosca’ at the Innisfail Festival, North Queensland.
1973
Trainee Sound Recording Engineer at the Tape Transcription Unit, BBC, Shepherds Bush, London (2 months). Created the music soundtrack for experimental films ‘IS’ and ‘Facade’ directed by Barrie Oldfield (WA). Winner of the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s Instrumental and Vocal Competition (Western Australian division – Piano).
1973-5
Pianist (casual orchestral, and occasionally solo) with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
1974
Transferred to Bachelor of Music degree course (Composition Major) at the University of Western Australia. A member of the West Australian Debating Team competing at the National Championships in Adelaide.
1975
Participated in the inaugural ‘Young Composers’ Training Scheme’ organised by the Australia Council. Moved to Sydney to commence his professional career.
1975-8
Accompanist and rehearsal pianist for the Sydney Dance Company (then the ‘Dance Company of New South Wales’). Created the soundtrack for experimental film ‘Envir’ directed by Barrie Oldfield. Performed at a vast range of musical, electronic and ‘alternative’ events in and around Sydney. He was also Musical Director of ‘Sounds Nice’ vocal duo on the Sydney ‘club’ circuit with various TV appearances. Until 1980, freelance performer with such groups as the Australia Ensemble, A-Z Music, the Seymour Group, Mused Performance Ensemble, the Ashes of Sydney and others.
1976
Regular performer at the Sydney Opera House ‘Environmental Music Series’. Assisted by the Australia Council to attend the Gulbenkian International Choreographic Summer School in Guildford, England.
1977
First fully professional commission for Dance : ‘Tip‘ (for Sydney Dance Company). The score was called ‘961 Ways to Nirvana‘, for amplified string quartet, orchestra and electronics. (work subsequently withdrawn)
1978
Resident composer with the Sydney Dance Company. Composed the music for the first all-Australian full-length Ballet – ‘Poppy‘. Guest performer at ‘Music Rostrum ’78’ (featuring Luciano Berio). Guest conductor for the Seymour Group.
1979
Conductor, pianist and resident composer at the London Contemporary Dance Theatre. Founded the contemporary music performance ensemble ‘Flederman’ with trombonist Simone de Haan in Sydney. Remained as pianist, composer, conductor and director of the ensemble until 1989.
1980
Participant in the first ‘Australian Composers’ Summer School’ with the ABC Sinfonietta
1980-2
Lecturer in Electronic Music Composition at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. The Flederman ensemble averaged 30 concerts each year on the Australian eastern seaboard.
1983
Received the ‘Adams’ award for outstanding contribution to Music for Dance in Australia. Flederman made its first international tour to the USA. Moved to Toowoomba (South-East Queensland) for R & R.
1984
Musical Director of the Australia/New Zealand Choreographic School (Melbourne) directed by Glen Tetley.
1985
Resident Composer at the New South Wales State Conservatorium. From 1985 to 1987, occasional conducting appearances with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
1987
Resident Composer with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Guest conductor with the Sydney Philharmonia Society. Flederman receives the Sydney Myer Performing Arts ‘Group’ Award.
1988
Flederman international tour to Holland, Finland and the UK, including a concert on the opening night of the BBC Proms. Carl’s Symphony No. 2 is performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Stuart Challender across the continental United States, while the West Australian Ballet Company premieres his ‘Legend‘ choreographed as the dance work ‘The Night of the Full Moon‘ by Jacqui Carroll.
1989
Guest Artist at EVOS Music (Perth), W.A.University and W.A.Academy for the Performing Arts. Awarded the Sounds Australian National Music Critics’ Award for the Best Instrumental or Ensemble Work of 1988 (‘Miniature IV’). Flederman closes down after their Federal funding is withdrawn.
1990
Symphony No. 3 premiered by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Stuart Challender at the 1990 Adelaide Festival of the Arts.
1991
The Queensland Ballet Company premieres ‘The Tempest‘ choreographed by Jacqui Carroll.
1992-5
Deputy Chairman of the Australia Council.
1993
ABC Classics Records releases the premiere recording of Carl Vine’s first Three Symphonies performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by the late Stuart Challender.
1994
Carl’s first and second Symphonies choreographed by Glen Tetley for the Canadian National Ballet Company.
2000-
2019
From 2000 until 2019 Carl was the Artistic Director of Musica Viva Australia, the largest entrepreneur of chamber music in the world.
2006-
2019
As part of his duties as Artistic Director of Musica Viva Australia, Carl was also Artistic Director of the Huntington Estate Music Festival, one of Australia’s most prestigious and successful annual chamber music festivals.
Freelance composer living in Sydney.In line with Carl’s lifelong fascination with progamming and automation, he has released a free set of Lua Scripts to enhance the native abilities of Finale music software.
VERDON WILLIAMS was one of Australia’s most versatile musicians – and one of the most popular – as percussionist, pianist, lecturer, arranger, composer and conductor.
After early piano training with his mother, he obtained a scholarship to the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music from where he graduated with first class honours. He studied piano under Waldemar Sidel and Percy Grainger, and undertook many tours in both solo and concerto performances, and gave lecture tours with his wife, soprano Doris Dodd.
A former conductor of opera at the National Theatre, Melbourne, he also composed two successful ballets, The Outlaw and Conflict.
Verdon Williams joined the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in 1960; shortly afterward he founded the Perth Sinfonietta and the Lyric Singers.
He was for a time conductor of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra before returning to Western Australia.
Jack “Harmonica and Clarinet”
Verdon arranged “Moon River” for harmonica and orchestra for Jack Harrison and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. This arrangement appears on the ABC album “Moon River” (previously known as “Harmonica and Clarinet”) and is heard frequently on ABC Classic FM.
Verdon Williams moved in a number of different directions. He was initially engaged as a percussion player, doubling on piano. However, his talents were multi-faceted. The orchestra often played is light music arrangements, with Verdon wielding the baton; and as if that were not enough, he could also turn hs hand to a honking contra bassoon on the rare occasions when that cumbersome instrument was required.
ABW TO SCREEN BIRTHDAY SHOW Thursday May 11 1961 – By Keith Flanagan
ABW Channel 2 will tonight present its biggest live show yet, to celebrate its first birthday. There will be singers, dancers, a 25 piece orchestra and an invited audience of 200 for the two hour show. Jock Millett will produce the cabaret style show in the Kirk Memorial Studio in the radio building – the biggest studio the A.B.C. has here. The record library will be taken over as a makeup room for the 44 people who will come before the cameras. Lighting in the studio will be equivalent to 1000 60 watt globes. Jim Fisher, Earl Reeve and Diana Ward will compere the show, to run from 8pm to 10.30pm, with a half hour break from 9 for the American documentary “Our Man in Space”. Verdon Williams has formed a 25 piece orchestra for the show. Artists to appear are the Four Notes, Margot Robertson, Tony Federici, Carmen Arenas, Adriano Angelucci, Doris Dodd, Garry Smith and Derna Sluik, Jack Harrison, the Wrightsons, Lorna Sydney, Gerrard Sibbritt and Terri Charlesworth, Andre Tio, Peter Piccini and a demonstration ballroom group.
The West Australian Thursday May 11 1961
1961 RADIO BROADCAST
Light Music by Family
When Perth’s versatile instrumentalist Jack Harrison and his quintet play, it’s a family affair. In a series of six programmes of light music starting this Tuesday at 8pm from 6WN, Harrison will play the harmonica, saxophone and clarinet. He and his father have made special arrangements of Latin-American tunes slow ballads and novelty numbers for the programmes. Members of the quintet will be Harrison’s twin sister Jill (bassoonist and second pianist) her husband John Mowson (principal bass with the W.A. Symphony Orchestra), Laszlo Vidak (violin), Verdon Williams (percussion) and Stephanie James (principal piano).
FESTIVAL CONCERT TONIGHT
World Premiere of David Farquhar’s prize winning Concertino for Piano and Orchestra
First Performance in Australia – Chamber Concerto No. 3 for Bassoon, Strings and Percussion by Elisabeth Lutyens.
David Tunley’s Introduction and Scherzo for Clarinet and Strings
Plus works by Dvorak, Grieg, Delius, Elgar, Walton and others.
8pm Sat 5th August 1961 – Unreserved seats at door 10/ Students 7/6
BROADCASTS
The Eastern states have had the rare pleasure of hearing a good deal of Jack Harrison’s quintet from the A.B.C. stations. Jack produced six programmes of light music for 6WN with arrangements by himself and his father of Latin-American tunes, slow ballads and novelty numbers. Members of the quintet are: Jack, clarinet, saxophone and harmonica; his sister Jill on bassoonist and also as second pianist; her husband John Mowson, principal bass with the W.A. Symphony Orchestra; Laszlo Vidak, violin; Verdon Williams, percussion and Stephanie James, principal piano. The session is a pleasure to listen to.
The Australian Accordionist Vol. 8 No. 1 November 1961
1962
The Southern Serenaders
ATTRACTIVE PERFORMANCE
Southern Serenaders Tour
Verdon Williams, popular conductor of the Perth Light Orchestra and the A.B.C. Sinfonietta, will head the orchestra which will tour the North West next month. Accordion virtuoso Peter Piccini and versatile clarinettist Jack Harrison will also tour with the group. All the musicians with the exception of Peter Piccini are members of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. People in the North will once again hear the magic violin of Laszlo Vidak, who earned thundering ovations during the 1959 M.M.A. A.B.C. Cultural Tour of the “Lido Quartet”.
Jack Harrison has written a special number called “Jumping Joeys” for this tour. Soprano, Shirley Flesfader, will also sing three excerpts from the lyric song cycle “North of Capricorn” by W.A. Composer, Robert Gude.
The outstanding gaiety and appeal of the programme compiled and arranged by Verdon Williams includes selections by Cole Porter, excerpts from “Oklahoma” and Latin American music and a special arrangement for string quartet of a movement from “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” by Mozart. Shirley Flesfader will sing arias from Bizet’s opera “Carmen”, Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” and a selection from “Kismet”. Peter Piccini will give an impromptu recital of audience request numbers. Each member of the group will be heard in solo items and the versatile musicians will play a wide variety of instruments.
The A.B.C. and MacRobertson Miller Airlines Ltd. Will send seven musicians through the North-West for a series of concerts between August 28 and September 8. The A.B.C. artists will fly 4000 miles in 12 days to give concerts in Carnarvon, Port Hedland, Broome, Derby, Wyndham, Kununurra and Darwin. The group is to be led by Verdon Williams, will include Shirley Fresfader, Peter Piccini (accordion), Jack Harrison (clarinet and harmonica), Graham Wood (violin), Laslo Vidak (violin and viola) and Brian Meddeman (cello and violin). A small TV film unit will tour with the group. The film they make will be shown in the Eastern States as a part of an A.B.C. project to focus attention on the North.
The West Australian August 8 1962
The “Southern Serenaders”
From August 28 – September 8th 1962 the A.B.C. sent a small group of musicians, led by Verdon Williams, on a tour of the north west of the state. Apart from Verdon, the ensemble which we called “The Southern Serenaders” included Graham Wood on violin, Laslo Vidak on violin and viola, Brian Meddemmen on cello, Jack Harrison on clarinet and harmonica, Peter Piccini on accordion and soprano Shirley Flesfader.
Graham Wood wrote to me: “ We travelled by DC3 aircraft, giving concerts in Carnarvon, Port Hedland, Derby, Broome, Darwin, Wyndham and Kununurra. Verdon had arranged all the music, which was of a pretty light nature and we all had a solo spot. We were paid £8 per concert and received a living allowance of £3/3/0 a day. We had a happy time, enjoying each other’s company. Peter Piccini was a natural comic and poor Shirley was the butt of many a practical joke, which she took in good part. One thing I remember vividly was the night when a huge stick insect landed on my violin while I was playing “The Flight of the Bumblebee”!
Most of the towns were still remote and largely undeveloped at that time, so people really appreciated our efforts. The aborigines were shy about coming to our concerts, so in Derby a few of us were taken out to a camp late at night after our performance. In a moonlit clearing we played to the people, some of whom produced a couple of digeridoos and played them for us. A magical moment ensued, as Jack Harrison quietly joined in with some gentle improvisations on his clarinet. We were entranced as were all the people there, dogs included. A genuine fusion of cultures.”
RECORD AUDIENCE CHEERS 1962 CULTURAL TOUR
The A.B.C. “Southern Serenaders” played to an estimated audience of 6000 people during their 4000 mile tour of seven North West ports including Darwin and Kununurra.
Darwin gave the orchestra its largest reception. About 4000 people crowded the Darwin oval sitting on available chairs provided, on rugs on the ground and in hundreds of motor cars parked around the perimeter of the ground. Darwin’s town Clerk (Bill Sullivan), who estimated the size of the audience, remarked that in all his experience it was the largest crowd he had seen in Darwin at such a presentation. Everywhere they went the “Southern Serenaders” earned cheering ovations and goodwill for M.M.A. and the A.B.C.
Departing from Derby around 4am, Jack Harrison (clarinet) and Peter Piccini (accordion) decided to hold an impromptu jam session in the air terminal. When M.M.A.’s chartered F.27 arrived, they moved out onto the tarmac, serenading the sleepy-eyed passengers that emerged from the aircraft in the small hours. The previous night, six members of the orchestra, augmented by four aborigine musicians, improvised what was probably the most unique combination of sounds heard in the North in a long time. The only bachelor in the orchestra, cellist Brian Meddemmen, was the only member of the group game enough to bring home an aboriginal wife beater. Violinist Laszlo Vidak fell victim to “fiddler’s peril” when the top string on his violin broke during a solo. He finished the item without a break and few people realised what had happened until Verdon Williams mentioned it to the audience.
On arrival at Wyndham, Peter Piccini discovered that the precision mechanism on one key on his £500 accordion had broken. A technician from Wyndham Aeradio was located who did a superb welding job at short notice and a scant hour before the concert there. Mr Piccini was still replacing bits and pieces of springs, levers and keys with the able assistance of Graham Wood and Jack Harrison.
In their off-duty moments, most members of the group took the opportunity to see the surrounding countryside of the towns they visited. Mr. E.K. Sholl, A.B.C. Manager, Fred Combs, A.B.C.2 cameraman and cellist Brian Meddermmen earned top honours for vim, vigour and vitality by climbing the Bastion at Wyndham and Kelly’s Knob at Kununurra. Shirley Flesfader was the only member of the touring group to return to Perth with genuine Nor’-West influenza. Well on the road to recovery as Jetstream went to press, Miss Flesfader enjoyed the joke on herself remarking “Trust the soprano to be the only one in the company to catch the ‘flu’”. To Verdon Williams, the North-West was a paradise. He collected seeds and minute cuttings of different varieties of Western Australian plants, shrubs and flowers. Some are already established in the large garden of his south Perth home.
PRAISE FROM A.B.C.
At every port-of-call, the Manager for Western Australia of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Mr. E.K. Sholl, told audiences at the “Southern Serenaders” concerts how greatly he admired the work being done by M.M.A. to bring culture programmes into the North. He went on to assure audiences that by next March the A.B.C.’s two short wave stations, VLX and VLW, would increase their signals from 10 to 50 kilowatts and from 2 to 10 kilowatts respectively. “You will then be able to receive Perth short wave broadcasts with approximately the same clarity as you now receive Melbourne’s transmission through Radio Australia”, Mr Sholl said. This, he anticipated, would enhance the listening pleasure of almost everyone in the North from Carnarvon to Wyndham.
Jetstream Official Publication of Mac.Robertson Miller Airlines Ltd. Vol 1. No. 20 September 1962
1963
CONCERT – MARCH 14th 1963
An outstanding programme by the Perth Sinfonietta will be given in Winthrop Hall at 1.10pm next Thursday under the baton of Verdon Williams. This free recital is being presented by the A.B.C. as the first in a weekly series being sponsored by the University during the year. The Sinfonietta will play works by Berger, Copland, Delius and Vaughan Williams. The soloists will be Allyne Tilsed (flute) and Jack Harrison (clarinet). Those attending the concert include Russian violinist Nelli Schkolniskova and W.A. resident conductor John Farnsworth Hall, who will be soloists and conductor in the first A.B.C. Youth Concert on March 19.
LUNCH MUSIC IS PROMISING – By Sally Trethowan – MARCH 14th 1963
The programme for this year’s free lunch-hour concert series held on Thursdays in Winthrop Hall is even more interesting and varied in type of music and number of performers than last year’s. If the first concert given yesterday to a large audience by the Perth Sinfonietta, is any indication of the quality, the weekly programmes will be exciting musical experiences and a major contribution to musical life in W.A. The Perth Sinfonietta always gives us an entertaining, thought-provoking programme. Conductor Verdon William’s introductory comments are instructive, to the point, and do not offend by being too technical or too long. The choice of composers in yesterday’s concert – Berger, Vivaldi, Copland, Delius and Vaughan Williams – leaned heavily towards the moderate, making the Vivaldi Flute Concerto (“The Goldfinch”) a pertinent, pleasant comment on, and exposition of, a more elegant and graceful age. The young flautist, Allyne Tilsed, who has just joined the W.A. Symphony Orchestra has a sureness of tone control which allows the most delicate innuendos without over or under emphasis. In Vivaldi’s “Goldfinch”, flute and strings chattered and trilled in animated conversation, whereas in the Copland Clarinet Concerto, a different symphonic relationship exists between orchestra and clarinet. Clarinettist Jack Harrison interwove the sure mellowness of tone and bell-like clarity of his instrument into the orchestral texture of the work. The brief overture of Jean Berger that began the programme and a Delius “Serenade” and Vaughan Williams “Fantasia on Greensleeves” which closed it, are works typical of the individuality of their composers, but have in common the fact that they make light and easy listening.
The West Australian March 15 1963
1963 TELEVISION – 9.30 Channel 2: ALL STRINGS AND FANCY FREE
Perth Sinfonietta conducted by Verdon Williams. Featuring Audrey Webster (harp), John Reece (percussionist), Jack Harrison (clarinet and harmonica) and Molly McGurk (soprano). Music to be played includes All Strings, Fancy Free and Moon River.
TELEVISION – 9.30 Channel 2: ALL STRINGS AND FANCY FREE
An 18 piece orchestra will be used by Channel 2 for its live program – All Strings and Fancy Free – at 9.30pm on Tuesday. The group, conducted by Verdon Williams, will consist of 10 violins, three violas, two cellos, a double bass, harp and percussion. In some tunes they will be joined by the piano. Soloists will be pianist and soprano Molly McGurk and dance band leader, Jack Harrison who will play clarinet and harmonica. Some of the tunes to be played include Moon River, At the Balalaika, Cuban Rondo, One Kiss They Can’t Take that Away from Me.
1964
1964 William Walton – Facade – signed photo
Jack Harrison performed in the Perth premiere performance of “Façade” in May 1964 with the composer present.
Actor James Beattie was the speaker and Verdon Williams the conductor. William Walton signed a photo for Jack that reads:
“with many thanks for your performance in “Façade” 21.5.64 Perth”.
1966
Saturday 26 February 1966
In the same studio at 6pm next Saturday, Verdon Williams will conduct a chamber music concert. The performers will be the A.B.C. Chamber Ensemble and James Beattie and the Oriel String Quartet with Jack Harrison.
MUSIC – By Peter Hellstrom
British music to be played next week in the Festival Of Perth will include some well-known compositions in the ABCs Basil Kirk studio at 6 o’clock tonight. There will be a performance of William Walton’s “Façade” for speaker and chamber ensemble with which Walton first made an impact on the English musical scene. It consists of a recitation of Edith Sitwell poems against the background of chamber ensemble music. The speaker will be James Beatty and the ABC chamber ensemble will be conducted by Verdon Williams. The other work in the programme, Bliss Clarinet Quintet, will be performed by the Oriel String Quartet with Jack Harrison.
The West Australian Saturday February 26 1966
WORDS, MUSIC BLEND SUBTLY IN “FAÇADE” – By Sally Trethowan
Nearly 2 years ago, actor James Beatty conductor Verdon Williams and a small chamber ensemble gave a scintillating performance of the original version of “Façade”. The same actor and conductor were responsible for a no less diverting and accomplished reading of the work in the Basil Kirk Memorial studio on Saturday night as part of the Festival Of Perth “Music of Britain” series. William Walton deft and witty accompaniment to the spoken verses by Edith Sitwell no longer shock audiences as they did in the 20s. What seemed iconoclastic musical language then, derived as it was mainly from jazz and the music-hall, seems passe now. But though time has weathered the original satiric bite, the work still magnificently fulfils the sub- title “An Entertainment”. A successful performance of “Façade” depends predominantly on fractional timing and coordination between the individual musicians, and between the speaker and instrumentalists. On this count Saturday’s reading could scarcely have been better. Beattie’s performance of the verbal prestidigitations in the “Tarantella” and part of the “’Tango Paso Doble” was admirable as was his rhythmic delivery of the apparently nonsensical compilation of associative images into a rich mosaic of orchestrated word sounds. The other work on the program, Arthur Bliss’s Clarinet Quintet, is extremely demanding on all players, though in no sense is it a showpiece. The Oriel String Quartet and clarinettist Jack Harrison, who also performed this work in the composers presence when he visited W.A. about 18 months ago, gave a craftsman like an intelligent reading, inclusive in the brusque helter-skelter scherzo and finale, and reflective, even faintly nostalgic, in the intensely lyrical first and third movements. Bliss’s harmonic acidulation in these movements, however, precludes any thought of the molasses type sentimentality often associated particularly in 19th century music with lyricism.
The West Australian Monday February 28 1966
FESTIVAL FAILS IN ITS HUNT FOR A MUSICAL DRAW CARD – BY KENNETH HINCE IN PERTH
Put on at cocktail time “Façade” was prefaced by the Clarinet Quintet of Arthur Bliss, music of thick Brahmsian texture. This has no necessary reason for existence being simply a work that someone felt like writing down. All the instruments are used with a sense of duty, all the movements are filled with scrupulously professional writing, but it’s total meaning might be boiled down into a bar or two of Elgar or Britten. Only a historian could have really enjoyed its performance; only an archivist could have been satisfied to hear it played instead of reading it over in a library. It was performed on Saturday by Jack Harrison and the Oriel String Quartet – Harrison with unfailingly accurate but monotonous uninflected attack, the Quartet balanced, well matched and reasonably polished. “Façade” came off rather worse. Music of superb elan which has worn much better than most people realise, it had a fairly good reading from James Beatty. The décor in the Basil Kirke Studio was quite adequate with a gauze curtain allowing just enough of the reciter and the chamber Orchestra to come through to the audience. But the instrumental work was just not accurate enough for the music. For a mid 60s audience, the point of this music lies half in the way it bites its thumb at Victorian morality, half in the bitterly precise realisation of the score. On Saturday under Verdon Williams, things were too this and that too hither and thither. For people who had not heard “Façade” before this was a tolerable enough experience but to a man who wanted to feel the true historical grip of this music, the performance was too slack and inefficient for a casual reading let alone for a performance of festival tone.
The Australian Monday February 28 1966
1966 NEW PROGRAM OF “EVERGREENS” FROM W.A. JACK HARRISON AND HIS MUSIC
A new series of popular all-time favourite music will start on Monday on May 16 1966 at 8.30pm on the First Network.
It will be presented by six members of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra led by Jack Harrison. Special arrangements have been written for their combination of bassoon, bass, violin, piano and percussion with the leader doubling on clarinet and saxophone. There are five programs in the series to be titled “Jack Harrison and his Music”. Jack Harrison will occasionally introduce his first love the mouth organ. He is a versatile musician and once made a multi recording in which he played 14 instruments including percussion and piano. He has been a member of the W.A. Symphony Orchestra for 15 years during which he has appeared frequently as soloist in clarinet and saxophone Concertos. Highlights of these performances were the Australian Premiere of the Aaron Copland Clarinet Concerto and the Richard Strauss Double Concerto for Bassoon and Clarinet. On this occasion the bassoon soloist was his twin sister Jill who also joins him in his new series doubling on piano and percussion. Items in the first program are “Mice on the Move”, “Gigi”, “Sidewalk”, “Petite Waltz”, “Holiday in Honduras”, “Comedian Gallop” The Pygmy Patrol”, “Will O‘ Wisp” and “Forever Samba”. The other artists in the series Laszlo Vidak violin John Mowson bass Stephanie James piano and Verdon Williams percussion.
1967
1967 WASO: Peter Clinch augmenting on percussion with Verdon on side drum
1967 CONCERT IS A PERTH MUSIC “HAPPENING”
By Sally Trethowan
The “straight” items included popular classics such as… Schubert’s “The Shepherd on The Rock” with pianist Stephen Dornan, soprano Margot Robertson and clarinettist Jack Harrison.
PART II: Harmonica and Piano:
“Genevieve Waltz” Larry Adler
Hungarian Dance No. 6 Brahms
Jack Harrison and Verdon Williams
1968
Free A.B.C. Concert – Sunday September 29th 1968
The free concert in the A.B.C.s Basil Kirke Studio tomorrow beginning at 3 o’clock is one of a series of six in which distinguished artists are performing a wide variety of works. The program will be Bartok’s outstanding and complicated “Sonata for two pianos and percussion” played by Wendy Nash and Stephen Dornan and percussionists John Reece and Brian Sadique directed by Verdon Williams and Stravinsky’s “Soldiers Tale” concert suite conducted by Verdon Williams. The performers will be Graham Wood (violin), John Mowson (bass), Jack Harrison (clarinet), Jill Harrison (bassoon), Donald Johnson (trumpet), Alan Mewitt (trombone) and Brian Sadique (percussion).
The West Australian Saturday September 28 1968
Igor Stravinsky‘s The Soldier’s Tale Concert Suite (July 1920) is scored for septet: Clarinet (in A and B♭), Bassoon, Cornet, Trombone, Violin, Double Bass and percussion. The West Australian premiere was performed on Sunday September 29th 1968 in a free concert put on by the A.B.C. in the Basic Kirke Studio. Directed by Verdon Williams, the performers were Graham Wood (violin), John Mowson (bass), Jack Harrison (clarinet), Jill Harrison (bassoon), Donald Johnson (trumpet), Alan Mewitt (trombone) and Brian Sadique (percussion).
ABC – AUSTRALIA DAY FREE CONCERT – SUNDAY 30TH JANUARY 1972 AT 8PM – Supreme Court Gardens
By the West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Verdon Williams
With soloist Jack Harrison (clarinet) and narrator David Hawkes
1973
MUSIC PROGRAMMES
A six-part series of West Australia Australian Symphony orchestral programs under the baton of conductor Verdon Williams and Tibor Paul will begin on Channel 2 on Thursday. The series also brings before the public seven of Western Australia’s leading concert Hall soloists: Robert Armstrong (flute); Jack Harrison (clarinet); Leslie Perrin (soprano); Ashley Arbuckle (violin); the Perth Trumpet Trio and pianists Wendy Pomroy and David Bollard. Music for the series was selected for its broad appeal. Works range from the themes from “Love Story” and “Exodus” and the part from the ballet Spartacus (made popular as the theme from the television series The Onedin Line) to Rossini’s Barber of Seville overture the Capriccio Italien by Tchaikovsky and Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. The Sunday Times April 29 1973
1974
ABC FESTIVAL OF PERTH FREE CONCERT – 3pm SUNDAY 3rd February 1974
West Australian Symphony Orchestra Conductor Verdon Williams
With soloist Jack Harrison (harmonica) playing Moon River, Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head
1977
CONCERT PLEASES FAMILIES
By Dan Chadwick
The third ABC Family Concert for this year was held at the Perth Concert Hall on Friday night. An all Australian program was greeted with the now customary glee associated with this show. The W.A. Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Alan Abbott, a large, affable raconteur of musical anecdotes. He is a long-standing exponent of light music, a sound which is supposed to be pleasing but not profound. This is in contrast to dark and heavy music which is regarded as profound but not very pleasing. The program was geared to the short attention spans of the youngest members of the audience. The most lively event was Jack Harrison’s mouth organ masterpiece as he wove his way around the microphone. The deep voiced Bruce Martin together with the male section of the W.A. Opera Company chorus contributed three songs including an emphatic rendering of Kipling’s Boots which encouraged the stamping for more items in the second half. Luciano Trebse, though only committed to a small part in a Verdon Williams work, also performed a Chopin Impromptu. The evening closed with a succession of singalongs.
PLEASANT AUSTRALIAN MUSIC – By Derek Moore Morgan
Australian music provided the theme for last night’s ABC family concert at the Perth Concert Hall. Under the title “Australia calls the tune” and with Alan Abbott as conductor, the highlights of this light music program were items by Percy Grainger and in particular his colourful and even moving setting of “Shallow Brown”. This was one of three folk songs settings in which the soloist was Bruce Martin with the W.A. opera chorus men’s voices. Bruce Martin possesses a pleasing, commanding voice and sings with residence and clarity. Pianist Luciano Trebse contributed a Chopin Impromptu in addition to his somewhat negative part in the “Chanson Romantique” by Verdon Williams, and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra’s Jack Harrison gave us very credible harmonica playing. Coaxed by conductor Alan Abbott, audience participation in William Lovelock’s “Let’s all join in” was effective – especially when it came to “Waltzing Matilda”. A lively audience with lots of really young children revelled in the programs variety.
Allyne Tilsed, known always as Lyn, studied at the Sydney Conservatorium as a pianist with Lindley Evans and Nancy Salas, and as a flautist with Victor McMahon, becoming a member of the Australian Youth Orchestra in 1962.
In 1962, Lyn won the instrumental section of the New South Wales Final of the ABC Concerto and Vocal Competition playing the flute, and in the following year, won both the Keyboard (flute)and Wind/Brass (flute) sections of the West Australian Finals.
1963
In 1963, Lyn joined the West Australian Symphony Orchestra as second flute and piccolo and she remained a member of the WASO until 1968.
1967 WASO Wind Section: Allan Rule, Jack Harrison (clarinets), Brian Pope, John McCarthy (bassoons); Allyn Tilsed, Owen Fisenden (flutes), Peter Randall, Joy Cummins (oboes)
During this time, she performed as a soloist with the WASO on flute, piccolo, piano and harpsichord, and was a frequent broadcaster and solo performer.
Lyn also enjoyed playing chamber music and particularly, accompanying.
An outstanding programme by the Perth Sinfonietta will be given in Winthrop Hall at 1.10pm next Thursday under the baton of Verdon Williams. This free recital is being presented by the A.B.C. as the first in a weekly series being sponsored by the University during the year. The Sinfonietta will play works by Berger, Copland, Delius and Vaughan Williams.
The soloists will be Allyne Tilsed (flute) and Jack Harrison (clarinet).
Those attending the concert include Russian violinist Nelli Schkolniskova and W.A. resident conductor John Farnsworth Hall, who will be soloists and conductor in the first A.B.C. Youth Concert on March 19.
LUNCH MUSIC IS PROMISING – By Sally Trethowan
MARCH 14th 1963
The programme for this year’s free lunch-hour concert series held on Thursdays in Winthrop Hall is even more interesting and varied in type of music and number of performers than last year’s.
If the first concert given yesterday to a large audience by the Perth Sinfonietta, is any indication of the quality, the weekly programmes will be exciting musical experiences and a major contribution to musical life in W.A.
The Perth Sinfonietta always gives us an entertaining, thought-provoking programme. Conductor Verdon William’s introductory comments are instructive, to the point, and do not offend by being too technical or too long. The choice of composers in yesterday’s concert – Berger, Vivaldi, Copland, Delius and Vaughan Williams – leaned heavily towards the moderate, making the Vivaldi Flute Concerto (“The Goldfinch”) a pertinent, pleasant comment on, and exposition of, a more elegant and graceful age. The young flautist, Allyne Tilsed, who has just joined the W.A. Symphony Orchestra has a sureness of tone control which allows the most delicate innuendos without over or under emphasis. In Vivaldi’s “Goldfinch”, flute and strings chattered and trilled in animated conversation, whereas in the Copland Clarinet Concerto, a different symphonic relationship exists between orchestra and clarinet. Clarinettist Jack Harrison interwove the sure mellowness of tone and bell-like clarity of his instrument into the orchestral texture of the work. The brief overture of Jean Berger that began the programme and a Delius “Serenade” and Vaughan Williams “Fantasia on Greensleeves” which closed it, are works typical of the individuality of their composers, but have in common the fact that they make light and easy listening.
The West Australian March 15 1963
1965
1965 John Farnsworth Hall WASO Capitol Theatre
1966
HARSH-TONED MUSIC ENTERTAINS – By Sally Trethowan
The last of the festival “Music of Britain” chamber concerts given in the Basil Kirk memorial studio last night offered some of the most complex and insistently dissonant music of the whole series. Yet each of the three works was so excellently performed that some measure of the composers musical thought in each case intense and highly individual must surely have impressed the general music lover no matter how unsympathetic he might have been to the harsh contemporary harmonic language. The first work “Quintet for wind and piano” by Alan Rawsthorne, was perhaps the most earnest in intention, and also the most abstruse and uncompromising. Much of it was concerned with working out, in terms of spasmodic tempi, unremitting dissonance and often exciting and original blends of wind colour, two moods, one apparently serene but masking disquieting emotional currents; the other desperately merry. This difficult music was persuasively presented by Alice Carrard (piano), Peter Randall (oboe), Jack Harrison (clarinet), Brian Pope (bassoon) and Neil Pierson (French horn). After this, Trevor Jones’s happy blend of whimsy lyricism and drama in his “Cantata Zoologica” was immensely entertaining. It was given a premiere late last year by the W.A. Bach Society choir and quintet and it was performed last night by the same artists except that the conductor on this occasion was Laughton Harris and the narrator was Neville Teede. Mr Harris’s cogent grasp, poetically and musically of the work was incisively conveyed through the unerring accuracy of his beat to which the choir and instrumentalists responded with brilliant execution. Mr Harris also conducted the final concerto for wind Quintet and two pianos (eight hands) by Malcolm Williamson. The wind players were joined by flautist Owen Fisenden and pianist Madame Carrard by fellow soloist Allyne Tilsed,Stephen Dornan and Michael Cole. This work exhibited complex interplay of tone colour. The finale, where the piano parts exploded in figuration of a Bartokian ferocity and aliveness was, I think, unrivalled in the festival music for sheer excitement of performance. The West Australian Wednesday March 9 1966 page 17
1966 MUSIC LOVER’S DIARY
The fourth programme in the A.B.C.’s free recitals in the Basil Kirke Studio this year will be held at 3pm tomorrow. Jack Harrison, Graham Wood, John Dean, Brian Meddemmen and Stephen Dornan will perform trios by Mozart and Shostakovich. The Kylie Club will hold its annual general meeting in the Skinner Galleries at 8.15pm next Saturday. There will be a musical programme in which the artists will be Frances Moncrieff, Allyne Tilsed and Brian Meddemmen.
1967 Basil Kirke Studio WASO personnel1968 WASO printed program with orchestra list – Thomas Mayerca 1966 – Roslyn Mayrhofer and Lyn Tilsed
1968
In 1968, Lyn entered the ABC Concerto and Vocal Competition once more, winning the keyboard section of the WA Finals and was runner – up in the Commonwealth Finals playing the harpsichord, an instrument for which she developed a great love and interest.
In 1968, Lyn resigned from the WASO, having decided that orchestral playing was no longer sufficiently engaging her interest, and moved to England. Before finally leaving the world of professional music, she obtained Licentiates on both the piano and flute from the Royal Academy of Music.
From 1969 until 1997, Lyn worked for a Charity based in England which was concerned with women and children’s education, health and social well-being. Her commitment to this cause took her to many parts of the United Kingdom, Romania, India, South Africa, Botswana and Madagascar, as well as frequent shorter visits to Italy, Belgium, Sweden and East Germany.
At the end of 1997, her deep love of her native land called her back home. She retired from the Charity and its involvement, returning to Australia where she settled in Adelaide. The piano was “dusted off” and requests to accompany advanced students at the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music and the TAFE School of Music soon followed.
In 2002, following her husband Patrick Brislan’s retirement from the Elder Conservatorium, they moved to the Central Coast of NSW. The Central Coast Conservatorium was in need of accompanists, and Lyn quickly became established in the area, continuing to work with students for another twelve years. She also returned to teaching the flute at the request of the Director at the Conservatorium; this she did for ten years, finding great enjoyment in her students’ progress and developing careers.
Lin Tilsed With colleagues, Paul Curtis (ex WASO) and Charmian Gadd
Lyn continued accompanying various students until retirement in 2015. She then undertook some official overseas visits with her husband Patrick, concerning international students’ placement, including to China, Korea, Taiwan and the United States.
Lyn Tilsed 2015 – China, Lyn with students
At the request of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust in Sydney, Lyn’s final performance project was recording several Australian piano compositions of the nineteenth century for the Trust’s archives. Together with her husband, she continues to maintain a connection to the local music scene through their joint involvement in adjudication of scholarships and awards, particularly for the Bouddi Foundation for the Arts. They also have a life-long commitment to the Australian Youth Orchestra.
Stephanie St Clair James was born in 1913 in Northam to Cuthbert Roper and Elsie James.
1935
Finalists In Musical Festival Sections
Further preliminaries in the eleventh Western Australian Musical Festival were conducted at the Assembly Hail today. Those selected as finalists in the piano duet (under 13) were Stephanie James and Eileen Kidson, Shirley Burden and Carmel Burrows, Elsie Masarei and Joan Tempelman, Marcia Ellis and Joyce Foreman, L. Rosekelly and Alison Linden. Finalists in the violin solo (under 13) tests were Lionel Elliott, Gertrude Segal, Joy Hobley and Edward Smith.
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1955), Wednesday 2 October 1935, page 5
THE SILVER WATTLE CLUB.
The Silver Wattle Club of Midland Junction held its final meeting for the year on Thursday, November 28, when many visitors were present to enjoy the fine programme and afternoon tea provided. Many gifts from members and friends were sold in aid of the funds for Y.W.C.A. work in the district. The programme was contributed to by: … Mrs. James, recitation, Miss Stephanie James, piano solo.
Swan Express (Midland Junction, WA : 1900 – 1954), Thursday 12 December 1935, page 6
1936
Last Stages Of Music Festival
The West Australian Musical Festival, conducted by the West Australian Music Teachers’ Association, entered its final stages today. It will conclude with the competition for ladies’ choirs tonight. Today the piano sight reading, under 13 under 15 and open were decided. Only-one prize was awarded in the open piano sight reading:
Piano sight reading (under 15)’: Barbara Corpe, 1; Stephanie James,
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1955), Saturday 7 November 1936, page 15
MUSICAL FESTIVAL. Striking Piano Performances.
Brilliant pianoforte displays by competitors in the prize-winning section and in other classes were features yesterday of the 12th annual musical festival promoted by the West Australian Music Teachers’ Association, and the adjudicator (Mr. Thorold Waters) found his task a hard one. The festival, which opened on Monday, will continue until Monday evening next. Last night there was a large and appreciative audience. “This has indeed been a stimulating performance, and one which revealed outstanding merit,” said Mr. Waters, at the conclusion of the main feature of the evening-the prize-winners’ section, in which four competitors (all first prize winners at previous festivals) appeared. Each was required to play a Bach excerpt, a sonata movement and a modern piece. In naming Miss Mavis Dick the winner, the adjudicator said that her playing was remarkable for its certainty. He could not detect a note badly defined. Miss Dick chose Bach’s Fugue in G Major, No. 15, First Movement of the Sonata Op. 90 (Beethoven) and “Reflets dans l’eau” (Debussy). She won the event with 90 points, Misses Owenle Lynch (88 points) and Lorna Ford (87 points) being second and third respectively. The evening’s programme opened with the final of the pianoforte solo for competitors over 12 and under 14 years. In this John Hobley, with 83 points, was first, Eleanor Williams (82 points) was second and Stephanie James (81 points) was third. Marjorie Harper and Louis Pryor received honourable mention. In his comments, Mr. Waters said that the piece, “Will o’ the Wisp” (Sweating) had given competitors a severe test and, taken generally, they had done very well. In the under 10 violin solo event, Joy Hobley, with 84 points, was successful with Lionel Elliott (83) points second. There were four sets of finalists in the under 15 pianoforte duet section, who were required to play Colin Taylor’s “Sally Waters.” At the conclusion, the adjudicator confessed that he was hard put to it to separate the competitors. All had rendered very bright performances. Stephanie James and Evelyn Osborne were named the winners with £1 points and Barbara Corpe and Verna Smith were second with 80 points. Marie Quinliven and Joy Salter received honourable mention from the adjudicator. “This song is one which makes big demands on the feelings of the singer. It is a reflective sort of an affair, almost a soliloquy and its Eastern idiom makes it hard to convey. Yet the poetry is beautifully simple; the music, however, is not so simple. The four singers have done well with this song.” Mr. Waters was referring to Granville Bantock’s “Yung Yang,” which was the piece set for the mezzo-soprano solo event. With” 85 points, Mrs. 0. Cox was first, Miss L. Turner (84 points) was second and Miss N. Mcserracher (83 points) was third. Miss G. Tearle received honourable mention. Mr. Mr. N. Grange won the baritone solo event with a good rendering of “Ethiopia Saluting the Colours” (Chas. Wood), which, Mr. Waters commented, was a “very difficult song to interpret.” Mr. W. Frankish was second, with three points less than the winner. Although the hour was growing late, considerable interest was taken in the folk song contest, in which there were three competitors. Mr. Waters complimented all the singers on their renderings and awarded the first prize to Miss Myril Frape, who sang “Look Into My Eye, Come Near,” and another folk song. Mr. B. Gamble was awarded second position. The Darlington Double Quartet was the only entrant in the concerted item section and, after listening to the singers’ rendering of “The Stable Door” (Armstrong Gibbs), the adjudicator recommended to the committee that a special prize be given. Mesdames E. Stokes and J. J. Curlewis and Messrs. J. Tomlinson and A. Bumstead won the mixed quartet event. They sang Pinsuti’s “The Sea Bath its Pearls.” Tonight the first choral contest will take place, for the West Australian Newspapers’ prize and the Hugo Fischer Cup. Contralto and tenor soloists will be heard in finals and there will also be the final of the duet for two pianos.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Thursday 5 November 1936, page 9
1937
TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC. West Australian Exhibitioners. SYDNEY, May 26.–In connection with the award of local exhibitions for Australia by Trinity College of Music, London, the general secretary for Australia (Mr. G. de Cairos Rego) has received the following list of West Australian exhibitioners:–Perth: Stephanie James (senior practical), Boma J. Williams (senior practical), Joy Hobley (intermediate practical), James Purvey (intermediate practical), Lindsay Walker (junior practical), Connie Guilfoyle (Intermediate theory), Norma J. Goodes (advanced junior theory), Mary L. Flanagan (advanced junior theory). Coolgardie: Frances J. Moran (advanced junior theory). York: Margaret L. Betts (intermediate theory). These exhibitions provide tuition in musical subjects or elocution for 12 months.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Thursday 27 May 1937, page 20
TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC. West Australian Exhibitioners. SYDNEY, May 26.-In connection with the award of local exhibitions for Australia by Trinity College of Music, London, the general secretary for Australia (Mr. G. de Cairos Bego) has received the following list of West Australian exhibitioners:-Perth: Stephanie James (senior practical), Roma J. Williams (senior practical), Joy Hobley (intermediate practical), James Purvey (intermediate practical), Lindsay Walker (Junior practical), Connie Guilfoyle (intermediate theory), Norma J. Goodes (advanced junior theory). Mary I. Flanagan (advanced junior theory). Coolgardie: Frances J. Moran (advanced junior theory). York: Margaret L. Betts (intermediate theory). These exhibitions provide tuition in musical subjects or elocution for 12 months.
Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 – 1954), Thursday 3 June 1937, page 26
1939
MUSICAL FESTIVAL. Keen Choral Competition.
At last night’s session of the 14th West Australian Musical Festival, promoted by the W.A. Music Teachers’ Association, girls’ choirs and choirs from primary schools delighted a large audience in the Perth Town Hall. Public appreciation was shared by the festival adjudicator (Mr. Harold S. Elvins), who, at the close of the evening, said that he wished to congratulate Perth on having such a number of beautifully fresh young voices. The Victoria Square choir, which won ‘The Western Mail” shield for girls’ choirs, received high commendation from the adjudicator. “Their rendering was very delightfully clear in tone,” he said, “and the speed was nice and well sustained . . . it was a delightful performance. In ‘the Echo Song’ one could almost believe that the echo was outside the hall. The performance was technically faultless. The The songs which girls’ choirs were required to sing were Purcell’s “Nymphs and Shepherds” and “The Echo Song,” by Rowley. Eight school choirs competed, and such was the high standard that only ten marks separated the winning choir from the last on the list. The Victoria Square choir won with 92 marks and the Perth Girls’ School choir and Sacred Heart High School choir, with 88 and 87 marks respectively, were second and third. Six primary schools competed for the Levinson Centenary Shield for choirs of children under 13 years of age. This section was won by St. Joseph’s School with a performance which was. described by the adjudicator is “very delightful” The Kellerberrin State School choir and the East Victoria Park State School choir obtained the second and third places. During yesterday morning and afternoon several other sections. were decided. The’ pianoforte solo for children between 13 and 16 years of age provided an interesting contest. It was won by Mannix Gosper with 91 marks, with Stephanie James (90 marks) and Shirley Bowes Thompson (88 marks) closely following. The adjudicator said that the winner’s work was very good indeed and showed imagination and a sensitive touch. The festival will be continued today in the Assembly Hall. An important item of tonight’s programme will be the ladies’ solo championship, in which there are five finalists.
Other results of yesterday’s contests were as follows: Violin solo (under 14).-Helen Hookway (86 marks). Duet for two pianos-Stephanie James and Lois Harry (86 marks), 1; Terry Jeffers and Arthur Huck (84 marks), 2. Piano solo (over 13′ and under 16).Mannix Gosper (91 marks), 1; Stephanie James (90 marks), 2; Shirley Bowes Thompson (88. marks). 3. Piano quick study contest (under 15) Stephanie James (91 marks). Piano solo (over 15 and under 18). John Hobley (88 marks); 1: Nancy Hemmant (87 marks), 2; Owenyth Evans (85 marks). 3.. Piano solo (over 9 and under 12. final).Joy Edgar (91 marks). 1:. Margaret Carney (90 marks), 2; Walter Bourke (89 marks). 3. Piano solo (over 11 and under 13. final) Allison Linden (87 marks). 1: Walter Bourke (86 marks), 2; Mary Bernet and Valma Hoult (85 marks each). 3. Piano solo (over 12 and under 14. final) Barbara Webster (90 marks), I; Mina Kooperman (89 marks). 2; Ted Bailey (88 marks), 3. Duet for two pianos (under 18):–Morna Graggs and Mannix Gosper
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 1 July 1939, page 15
1940
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP. University Award for Pianist.
Each alternate year since 1922 the University of Western Australia has offered a music scholarship -valued at £180 (£60 a year for three years) to an outstanding candidate in the diploma and higher grade music examinations. This year the examiners-Mr. Harold S. Elvins, of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, and Mr. Frank Hutchens, of the State Conservatorium of Music, Sydney have recommended that the scholarship be awarded to Miss Stephanie St. Clair James, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. James, of Guildford. Miss James is only 16 years of age. She was born at Northam, but has spent most of her life at Guildford, where, until the end of last year, she was a music pupil of Miss Doris H Pearcy. During the present year she continued her pianoforte studies under Mr. Marshall Sumner. Miss James has had a series of brilliant successes in her pianoforte work. She passed each of the six grades of the University examinations with honours, obtained two exhibitions, and gained the A.Mus.A. diploma at the age of 12. In Trinity College examinations she obtained honours in the senior and higher local divisions, an exhibition and three medals, and lst year, at the age of 15, she gained her L.R.S.M. diploma from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. She has also been consistently successful in the annual music festivals. Success has attended Miss James’s efforts in other spheres than music. She is an outstanding pupil of Perth College, Mt. Lawley. In 1938 she passed the junior certificate examination in ten subjects, and has distinguished herself particularly in languages. She has her swimming and running colours, having competed successfully for her school in Interschool sports. Next month Miss James will sit for the leaving certificate examination, and. having then completed her general schooling will proceed to a conservatorium of music to continue her music studies.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Wednesday 23 October 1940, page 6
1941
Miss Stephanie James will leave by the Westland express on Saturday to continue her musical studies in Melbourne.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Tuesday 28 January 1941, page 10
Woman’s Realm —ROUNDABOUT. People and Events. By “Halsted.”
THERE was a bevy of young people mostly pupils or ex-pupils of Perth College on the central railway station on Saturday afternoon to wave good-bye to Stephanie James, the gifted young West Australian pianist, who was leaving for Melbourne to take up a four years’ scholarship at the Melbourne University Conservatorium. She was accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Cuthbert James. Arrangements have been made by Miss James’s former teacher (Mr. Marshall Sumner) for her to study with Miss Reike Parker, who was a personal pupil of Schnabel, the German virtuoso, on each of her two trips to Europe. Miss Parker is a sister of Miss Katherine Parker (Mrs. Hubert Eisdell), who is a well-known pianist and composer in London. It is interesting to learn that on her arrival in Melbourne Miss James will use a piano lent to her by another gifted young West Australian, Miss June Epstein, who is returning to this State to take up an appointment at Kobeelya Girls’ School, Katanning. If the necessary arrangements can be made, Miss James hopes to study the oboe as her second instrument.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Tuesday 4 February 1941, page 5
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP. Won by West Australian Student.
The chairman of the University Music Board (Professor A. D. Ross) has received advice that Miss Stephanie St. Clair James has been awarded the Royal Schools of Music (London) scholarship open to candidates throughout Australia entering for examinations of the Australian Music Examinations Board. The scholarship is tenable for two years and is of the value of £50 per annum. The scholar is required to continue the study of music either at an approved conservatorium of music in Australia or at one of the Royal Schools in London. Last October Miss James gained the £150 music scholarship awarded biennially by the University of Western Australia. Born at Northam in 1924, she has spent most of her life in Guildford, where she was a music pupil of Miss Doris H. Pearcy, but during 1940 she continued her pianoforte studies under Mr. Marshall Sumner. She attended Perth College and passed the junior in 1938 and the leaving certificate last November. Early this year she went to Melbourne and enrolled in the University Conservatorium of Music for the three-year diploma course. She won a further exhibition at the entrance test. Commenting on the award of the scholarship, Professor Ross said yesterday that Miss James was an outstanding student. Her pianoforte playing had last year called forth strong recommendation from the University’s music examiners–Mr. H. S. Elvins, of Melbourne, and Mr. Frank Hutchens, of Sydney who had been impressed by a certain maturity and balance in her playing which was unusual in so young a candidate. “It is good to know,” said Professor Ross, “that Miss James is an allround scholar. To her marked ability in music she adds high attainments in languages, and she has also distinguished herself in sport. Professor Ross added that when the scholarship was first instituted in 1937 the award then was to Miss Owenie Lynch, of Western Australia, who had since gained the Diploma in Music of the University of Melbourne and was now practising as a teacher of music in Kalgoorlie. That West Australian candidates had gained two out of five awards was testimony to the excellence of music work in this State.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Wednesday 7 May 1941, page 4
1943
6WN HIGHLIGHTS
For Week Ending January 23 • A programme “From the Classics” will be given at 3 pm on Sunday. At 8.45 pm (Stephanie James will present a programme.
Swan Express (Midland Junction, WA : 1900 – 1954), Thursday 14 January 1943, page 3
1947
Finalists (By “Tenori”).
Australian Broadcasting Commission’s Concerto and Vocal Competition.
Finalists: Miss Betty North. Miss Nancy Barnden, Miss Betty Wright, Miss Norecn Edwards, and Miss Stephanie James.
Tuesday, April 23, in the Capitol Theatre, the Australian Broadcasting Commission conducted a Concerto and Vocal Concert at which were heard the above dualists in the recent competitions.
The Perth Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Ernest J. Roberts, opened with an overture, “The Marriage of Figaro,” by Mozart. Miss Betty North played “Konzertstuck in F Minor for Piano and Orchestra,” by Weber. This item was followed by Recit. and Aria, ” Dove Sono,” from ” The Marriage of Figaro,” by Mozart, rendered by soprano Miss Nancy Barnden.
Miss Betty Wright then played the first movement of ” Concerto in A Minor, Op., 16, for Piano and Orchestra.” by Grieg, which completed the first half of the programme. After the Interval, Miss Noreen Edwards played a Concerto No. 1 in G Minor for Violin and Orchestra, first and second movements by Max Bruch. This artist, although quite young and immature, so far as orchestral associations are concerned, displayed a solidity and sympathy which makes her future musical career assured.
Miss Ray Williams, soprano, then sang “Il Est Deux, Il Est Bon” (from “Herodiade”), and the programme was brought to a close with an item from Miss Stephanie James, Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra” by Franck. Of all the contestants this young lady was outstanding. She has the brilliance and poise of the accomplished artist and a promising musical future is. undoubtedly in store for her.
Music lovers throughout the Stale are appreciative of the Concerto and Vocal programmes provided by the A.B.C., which are a boon to country listeners and which provide aspiring young artists with the opportunity of displaying their talent before a public audience.
Westralian Worker (Perth, WA : 1900 – 1951), Friday 2 May 1947, page 2
A NEW CHOIR Successful Debut Of W.A. Choral Society (By Tactus.”)
The appearance of a new choral organisation in our midst should always be welcomed as another noteworthy stride forward in musical development. Still greater significance may be attached to a debut which brings with it work containing charm and artistry in good measure, as did that of the Western Australian Choral Society, conducted by Arthur Buss at its inaugural concert in the Perth Town Hall last night. The audience was large and appreciative. The choir, with a strength of nearly 70 voices, includes an unusual proportion of young members, and although there was the usual preponderance of the gentler sex and a tenor line of only seven, good balance was maintained. In the points that matter most–intonation, quality, precision, tone-shading and especially soft singing-meritorious results were secured. Good judgment was shown in the avoidance of compositions of magnitude, whilst still maintaining a good musical standard, and it should be added that when lusty climaxes were called for they were secured without force. Arrangements of airs and songs such as “Brother James” (Jacob). “Going Home” (from Dvorak’s “New World” Symphony), “Eriskay Love Lilt” (Kennedy-Fraser), “The Wandering Miller” (from Schubert’s “Die Schone Mullerin” Cycle) and Arne’s “Where the Bee Sucks” abounded in good harmony and were effectively sung. “Blessed Jesu, Fount of Mercy,” a composition in motet style, by Dvorak, Bach’s beautiful chorale, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” (complete with the oboe obligato, played by Stephanie James). “My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land” (Elgar), “Ave Verum” (Mozart) and “Invocation” (Schumann) were also included in the choir’s presentations. Interludes provided by the associate artists added considerably to the attractiveness of the programme. Songs by Scott, Rachmaninov. Puccini, and Mozart were sung by Irene Stancliffe, instrumental trios by Beethoven and Bridge were played by Noreen Edwards, Wendy Tyler and Joy Edgar, and pianoforte works by Liszt were contributed by Stephanie James. All the accompaniments were efficiently played by Gwyn Brockway.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Thursday 13 November 1947, page 8
1948
RECITAL
Beethoven’s A major sonata for ‘cello and piano was played by Otti Veit, ‘cellist, and Stephanie James, pianist, at Winthrop Hall last night This, with a group of old English folk songs, sung by Alice Mallon, was featured in a recital arranged by the Adult Education Board.
Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 – 1955), Sunday 18 April 1948, page 10
1950
For over a week from Monday 23rd October 1950, clarinettist Jack Harrison toured to country centres under the auspices of the Adult Education Board and was accompanied on piano by and Stephanie James and vocalist Pamela Flower.
COUNTRY MUSIC TOUR
Three well-known local artists will leave on Monday on a tour of country towns under the auspices of the Adult Education Board. They are Miss Stephanie James, pianist, Miss Pamela Flower, soprano, and Mr. Jack Harrison, clarinettist. The assistant-director of Adult Education (Mr. John Birman) said yesterday that towns to be visited would include Harvey, Balingup, Donnybrook, Busselton, Boyup Brook, Kojonup, Katanning and Pingelly. This would be the last of a series of concerts in country districts presented by the board during this year. Afternoon, performances for children would be given, in conformity with the board’s policy to arrange concerts for schoolchildren whenever possible, Mr. Birman said.
The West Australian Saturday 21 October 1950 page 8
Tuesday October 24 1950 – Harvey – Outstanding Trio Of Artists
An outstanding trio of artists will present a concert at Harvey on Tuesday, October 24, under the auspices of the Adult Education Board. They are Miss Stephanie James, pianist, brilliant young West Australian, who has just returned home from overseas studies; Miss Pamela Flower, soprano, who is this year’s winner of the West Australian section of the Mobil Quest competition and who performed last year as soloist with the Perth Symphony Orchestra; and last, but not least, a very outstanding young man, Jack Harrison, who is well known throughout the State for his ability as a clarinet player. Mr. Harrison was this year’s State finalist in the A.B.C. vocal and concerto competition. There will be a school matinee in the afternoon.
Harvey-Murray Times Friday 29 September 1950 page 2
WEDNESDAY 25 OCTOBER 1950 – BALINGUP
A letter from the Adult Education Board which was read at the fast meeting of the CWA at Balingup intimated that there “was an opportunity of providing Balingup with a concert on Wednesday, 25th October. Three excellent Western. Australian artists will be making the trip and will include Miss Pamela Flower, soprano, this year’s winner of the WA division of the mobile quest competition. Jack Harrison, clarinettist, the finalist of this year’s ABC Vocal and Concerto competition and Miss Stephanie James who has just returned home from extensive studies abroad. There will be one evening performance and one afternoon performance for the children.
Blackwood-Warren Sentinel Thursday 5 October 1950 page 6
Thursday October 26 1950 – DONNYBROOK
The Adult Education Board advised that their next visit to Donnybrook with a group of artists would be on Thursday, October 26. The visiting group would include Pamela Flower, soprano; Jack Harrison, clarionetist; with Stephanie James, pianist. The secretary reported that the hall had been booked and preliminary arrangements made.
South Western times Thursday 28 September 1950 page 2
DONNYBROOK EDUCATION BOARD RECITAL
Visit Of Talented West Australian Artists Under the direction of the Adult Education Board Donnybrook was given the opportunity last Thursday to hear three brilliant West Australian artists, Miss Stephanie James (pianist), Miss Pamela Flower (soprano) and Mr Jack Harrison (clarinettist). The programme presented was well chosen, this being evident by the warm reception it received from a fairly large audience. Most gratifying to the local committee was the enthusiastic comments made by those who were fortunate to be present. This augurs well for the future. Mr. Jack Harrison opened the programme with Weber’s Concertino Op. 26 His control of tone and well rounded phrasing at once gave evidence of his ability. Worthy of note was the tonal work in the sustained passages of the slow movements. Later he was heard in “Hymn to the Sun” (Rimsky-Korsakov) Arabesque, an adaptation from Debussy’s No. 2 Prelude and Anita’s Dance from the Peer Gynt Suite by Grieg. Concluding both halves of the programme the voice, clarinet j and piano were heard together in “The Thrush” (Harrhy), “Bird Songs at Eventide” (Coates), “By the Waters of Minnetonka” (Lieurance), “Pipes of Pan” (Monckton). This could have been improved if the clarinet obligato was arranged and not merely the subtraction of certain passages from the piano accompaniment. Mention must be made of Miss James as the accompanist. At all times she was able to catch the mood and tempo of the soloists which is no mean feat. Her ability is remarkable. At the conclusion of the concert members of the local committee of the Adult Education Board entertained the artists at supper. Both Mr. Newton, the Adult Education Board representative and Miss Stephanie James, the leader of the artists thanked the committee. Among the audience were noticed the chairman of the Preston Road Board, Mr. J. K. Kirkpatrick and Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mr. and Mrs. Newman (Lowden), Mr. and Mrs. R. Skinner, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Brockman, Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Skinner (Lowden), Mr. R. Trevena and Miss Trevena, Mr. A. O. W. Knight, Mr. L. Miller, Mr. T. V. Finch, Mr. and Mrs. L. Mortlock, Mr. and Mrs. G. V. Mitchell, Mrs. A. C. Fenn.
The Preston Mail and District Advocate Thursday 2 November 1950 page 3
THURSDAY October 26 1950 – CONSUMMATE ARTISTRY – Young Westralians Please – DONNYBROOK
A greatly improved patronage was afforded the Adult Education Board’s recital on Thursday evening last when the programme was presented by three brilliant young West Australian artists. The interest now being displayed in what the A.E.B. designates Everyman’s Music is most heartening to the committee which has undertaken the local arrangements. In this respect a word of thanks is due to Mr. Frank Arbuthnott who prepared an ideal stage setting, with the requisite lighting, and to Mr. L. J. Mortlock who made a new Mignon piano, from his showroom, available for the occasion. The visiting party paid glowing tributes to the way they had been received in Donnybrook and of the arrangements
made for the concert presentation. The local Adult Education Committee entertained Misses James and Flower and Messrs. Harrison and Newton (manager) at supper at the conclusion of the entertainment. During the afternoon a short matinee performance was given to about two hundred and fifty children drawn from the Donnybrook schools and the young folk evinced keen appreciation in the fare presented, especially when the mouth organ was produced by Jack Harrison. A pleasing feature of the afternoon was the way the children joined in singing the National Anthem.
The evening opened with Jack Harrison performing the clarinet solo part of Concertino Op. 26 (Weber), Stephanie James explaining that the Concertino was originally written to be played with orchestra. The clarinet was heard to good advantage in slow sustained passages and fingering left little to be desired. The first half of the programme concluded with concerted numbers for voice, clarinet and piano. This was particularly pleasing work, the numbers being “The Thrush” (Edith Harrhy) and “Bird Songs at Eventide” (Eric Coates) , the voice and clarinet harmonising to good effect. Jack Harrison again opened after the interval, choosing “Hymn To The Sun” (Rimsky- Korsakov), “Arabesque” (Debussy) and “Anita’s Dance” (Grieg). Here again the tone was beautiful and brought the audience to its toes. The programme concluded with another concerted group by the voice, clarinet and piano. These numbers “By The Waters Of Minnetonka” (Thurlow Lieurance) and “Pipes Of Pan” (Monckton) lent themselves admirably to the co-ordination of voice and clarinet. For the whole programme sympathetic accompaniments were given by Stephanie James. Thanks To Adult Education Board At the conclusion of the programme Mr. A. C. Frost, provisional chairman of the Donnybrook Adult Education Board Committee, on behalf of the audience, thanked the A.E.B. and the artists for the excellent programme given. Speaking on behalf of the committee he thanked the audience for their splendid response and voiced thanks to Mr. Len Mortlock for the loan of the new piano for the concert. He also expressed the hope that it would be possible to bring other artists and bigger ventures to Donnybrook. One of the requisites for more ambitious programmes was a concert grand piano and the Proton Road Board had now set in motion a proposition to purchase such an instrument for the hall. Previous generations, he said, were long sighted enough to provide a big hall and a stage of requisite size and now support from the Donnybrook people could make the completion of the whole project possible. Replying, Mr. Newton said that it was most heartening to the artists to receive such a warm reception and to have such a satisfactory setting prepared for which to give the concert. He went on to congratulate the Donnybrook civic fathers on their foresight and wisdom in securing a beautiful instrument for their hall. He promised that the A.E.B. would do everything possible to send programmes that will measure to the standard that is being set, mentioning the new State Symphony Orchestra. Finally, Mr. Newton thanked the committee for the setting they had provided on the stage for this concert\ as it was very rarely that the stage is well set and he felt sure that Mr. Arnott’s attention to these details had brought out the very best from the artists. He concluded by saying that the children’s audience at that afternoon’s matinee had been a credit to the parents of Donnybrook.
South Western Times (Bunbury) Thursday 2 November 1950 page 2
FRIDAY 27 October 1950 – BUSSELTON EVERYMAN’S MUSIC RECITAL – POPULAR VISITING ARTISTS
The programme presented in the Regal Theatre last Friday night by the artists, Stephanie James (pianiste), Pamela Flower (soprano) and Jack Harrison (clarinettist) proved to be one of the most popular and enjoyable Busselton has yet heard. The youth and charm of the performers appealed instantly to the audience, while the sincerity and quality of their work revealed them as musicians of high calibre. In turn, the warmth and appreciation of the audience inspired the artists, so that in such a pleasant, atmosphere, it was not surprising that the hours tied all too quickly. The programme opened with Weber’s Concertino, played by Jack Harrison, very ably accompanied by Stephanie James, who described. the piece beforehand as a small concerto. Jack Harrison’s artistry and tone were displayed again later in Rimsky Korsakov’s “Hymn to the Sun,” Debussy’s “Arabesque” and Grieg’s “‘Anitra’s Dance.” The three artists combined most effectively in two groups, one at the end of the first half of the programme and the other at the conclusion. So enjoyable was this combination, with the blending of the clarinet, voice and piano, that, the audience demanded an encore. On Friday afternoon, the children of the State School and Busselton Convent attended a short concert given by the visiting artists. Judging from the warmth of the applause the children enjoyed themselves thoroughly.
The South Western News (Busselton) Thursday 2 November 1950 page 5
Saturday October 28 1950 – Celebrity Concert At Boyup Brook
On October 28, under the auspices of the Boyup Brook Chamber of Commerce, the Adult Education Board included Boyup Brook in its itinerary and gave two hours of delightful instrumental and vocal recital. Those who were unable to attend are to be sympathised with for missing a musical treat which will long be remembered by those fortunate enough to be there. At conclusion the recital, two dainty posies of roses were handed to the lady artists by Mr. R. U Graham, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, after which Mr. B. Ryan, on behalf of the Chamber and residents of the district thanked the Director, Mr. B. Newton, the artists and the Adult Education Board for the recital. He expressed the appreciation of the real music loving section of the community and hoped the Education Board would always include Boyup Brook in its future itineraries. In responding, Mr. Newton said the Board would always include Boyup Brook in its itineraries. He emphasised how pleased he, and the artists were with the reception they had received, and made special comment on the decorations of the stage with flowers from local gardens, which he and the artists regarded as a special token of artistic appreciation. After the recital, he and the artists, accompanied by Members of the Chamber of Commerce and a few friends were entertained at “Blackwood” the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Graham, to a delightful supper, at conclusion of which Mr. Newton thanked the host and hostess for their hospitality. At conclusion of supper, Mr. Harrison was persuaded to bring out his mouth organ, on which instrument he is one of Australia’s most outstanding artists, he gave two excellently rendered numbers which showed his ability with that instrument as well as with the clarinet. Noticeable features of the Director and the Artists were their sociability. They enjoyed themselves just as much as those present enjoyed their company. It was a happy conclusion to a pleasant evening and musical feast. On Sunday they, were taken on a tour round the district by Members of the Chamber of Commerce and by invitation were the guests to afternoon tea at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ritson. They were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Graham as host and hostess and Mr. and Mrs. A.T, Smith-Ryan. On the Monday they gave a morning concert to scholars from the Boyup Brook, Chowerup and Greenbushes schools in the Boyup Brook Town Hall. Over three hundred scholars were there.
The president of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr. R. L. Graham) and Mrs. Graham invited members of the Chamber of Commerce and their wives to a supper party at their home on Saturday evening last in honour of concert artists Miss Stephanie James, Miss Pamela Flower and Mr. Jack Harrison and Mr. Newton, of the Adult Education Board. An enjoyable supper was served, after which Mr. Jack Harrison favoured the guests with several mouth organ solos, accompanied by Miss James at the piano. On behalf of the artists, Mr. Newton thanked Mr. and Mrs. Graham for their informality and help in making the party such a success. Among those present were: The secretary (Mr. W. Bainbridge) and Mrs. Bainbridge, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Cummins, Mr. and Mrs. F. Proctor, Mr. and Mrs. A. Smith-Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. V. Randell, Mr. B. 0. Ryan, Miss J. Graham and Mr. E. Godfrey, Mr. P. Scammel and Mr. and Mrs. W. Drown. On Sunday Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Graham and Mr. and Mrs. A. Smith-Ryan took Miss James, Miss Flower and Mr. Harrison touring around the district and later, by invitation, they visited the farm of Mr. and Mrs. F. Ritson and had afternoon tea.
The Blackwood Times (Greensbushes) Friday 3 November 1950 page 8
Monday 30 October 1950 at 8.15pm – KOJONUP MEMORIAL HALL
TUESDAY, 31st OCTOBER, 1950 at 8.15 p.m. in the – KATANNING TOWN HALL
MAKE SURE AND BOOK YOUR SEATS FOR THE CONCERT Featuring three Brilliant young West Australian Artists. STEPHANIE JAMES (Pianist) (First Public appearance after return from abroad), PAMELA FLOWER (Soprano) ,(West Australian Finalist Mobil Quest Competition), JACK HARRISON (Clarinettist) (West Australian Finalist A.B.C. Concerto Competition).
Box plan at Blythe’s Newsagency; Box plan at Barkley & Gilbert’s. Prices: 4/- (No Tax); Children, 1/6 anywhere Direction : Adult Education Board.
The Great Southern Herald (Katanning) Friday 20 October 1950 page 4
CONCERT ARTISTS AT KATANNING – PROGRAMME TO BE PRESENTED ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 31
The Adult Education Board has advised that three concert artists will be presenting a programme at the Katanning Town Hall on Tuesday, October 3. The artists are all well-known in musical circles and their visit to Katanning will be welcomed. The third artist is also a West Australian, who has advanced very well in the musical world. He is Jackie Harrison who, since a very small lad, has been broadcasting over all stations. Mr. Harrison plays several instruments but is visiting Katanning as a clarinettist on this occasion. He is now only 20, but is the proud leader of his own dance band in Perth. He is perhaps better known among the younger people for his success in the jazz band contests in Perth each year. His twin sister plays the piano and his family in general are very musical.
The Great Southern Herald (Katanning) Friday 6 October 1950 page 2
KATANNING ADULT EDUCATION CONCERT – DELIGHTFUL PROGRAMME PRESENTED AT KATANNING
Sponsored by the Adult Education Board, three concert artists presented a delightful programme of great appeal at the Katanning Town Hall on Tuesday. Miss Stephanie James, who is well known in Katanning and who recently returned from further studying abroad, is regarded as one of the most promising pianists in Western Australia. Complementary with the other artists, Miss James showed her skill as a component artist and, as a soloist, played with great sensitivity and understanding Miss Pamela Flower’s chief quality was the delicate and restrained manner in which she handled the work she had chosen. Her stage presence was remarkable for one so young. Jack Harrison has had a meteoric rise to fame as a clarinet virtuoso and gave an unusual selection which was greatly appreciated. The choice of programme was ideally suited for the audience to which it was presented and evidence of its appeal was obvious through out. PIANO NEEDED IN KATANNING At the conclusion of the “presentation, Mr. B. Newton of the Adult Education Board, expressed the appreciation of the artists for the reception they had received at Katanning. He thanked particularly Miss Rae Ricket, and those who had assisted her, for making the local arrangements for the concert and for stage decorations. In thanking Miss Russell, headmistress of “Kobeelya,” for the loan of a piano, Mr. Newton considered it possible that presentations of Adult Education concerts at Katanning might increase in the future, in which case a good piano would he required at the Town Hall. He stated that a small local authority, not very far from Katanning, had recently purchased for its town hall a £900 instrument.
The Great Southern Herald (Katanning) Friday 3 November 1950 page 2
PINGELLY WEDNESDAY NOV 1 and NOV 2 1950
Miss Pamela Flower (soprano), this year’s W.A. finalist in the Mobil Quest competition; Jack Harrison, Clarinettist (finalist in the A.B.C. vocal and concerto competition), Miss Stephanie James, pianist (just returned from studies aboard), are to visit Pingelly under the auspices of the Adult Education Board). The Pingelly Committee finalised arrangements early this week for the visit of these outstanding artists, who are to combine in a Music-Song Recital in the Pingelly Town Hall on Wednesday evening, November 1, and a special programme for district school children, on Thursday morning, November 2. Residents of Pingelly, Brookton and surrounding districts will learn with pleasure of this visit by such well-known and highly rated artists and -at the same time will accord a measure of appreciation to those residents responsible for the arrangements. The box plan will open shortly at the Pingelly Newsagency and further details will be given later.
Pingelly Brookton Leader Thursday 5 October 1950 page 2
Pingelly Adult Education Board – Visit of Outstanding Artists. – Wednesday 1st NOVEMBER
It must have been a disappointment to those residents responsible for the visit to this centre on Wednesday evening of last week three such brilliant artists as Miss Stephanie James (pianist), Miss Pamela) Flower (soprano), and Mr. Jack Harrison (clarionetist), that the Everyman’s Music Recital in which these three artists took part should have been accorded such relatively poor patronage. The Adult Education Board, under the auspices of which the recital was made possible, is commended for its efforts in bringing top ranking artists to rural centres and when a town of the size of Pingelly is privileged to participate in these tours, it is regrettable that the audience is not as large as it should be. Those who attended Wednesday evening’s concert were indeed fortunate, for the performance of the artists was really excellent and thoroughly enjoyed by all present. Mr. Jack Harrison fully retained, if not enhanced, his reputation with delightful renditions on his clarionet.
Pingelly – Brookton Leader Thursday 9 November 1950 page 2
ADULT EDUCATION CONCERT ENJOYED – Wednesday 1st NOVEMBER
Although the attendance at the Everyman’s Music Recital on Wednesday night last, was perhaps, a little disappointing, those who went along thoroughly enjoyed the program submitted by the three Adult Education Board artistes. Fortunately, there were sufficient patrons present to warrant a return at a later date of a similar program, which according to the manager, Mr. E. Newton, would be available in the near future. Many people attended, thinking that all the, music played would be of a classical level well above the heads of the ordinary layman. They were, however, very-agreeably surprised, to find that the majority of the program was well known and those songs which were not so well known were so well presented that they were usually as well enjoyed. Mr. Jack Harrison, who commenced the program with Concertino On. 26 by Weber literally thrilled his listeners with his uncanny technique and control of his clarinet. The rich mellow tone which he so effortlessly produced from this tube of wood and metal won him instant favour. Trios comprising piano, voice and clarinet obligato were exceptionally well presented and proved very popular.
Blackwood – Warren Sentinel Thursday 2 November 1950 page 6
The tour ended after schools’ performances the morning of Thursday 2nd November in Pingelly, a two hour drive from Perth.
1951
The second annual general meeting of the Upper Blackwood Chamber of Commerce was recently held in the Boyup Brook Hall and was well attended. “Two most successful cultural efforts were initiated by the Chamber with the ready co-operation of the Adult Education Board. The first was in the form of a concert by the Greek tenor, Mr. G. Saligaros and Louise D’Arcy, and the second by the trio, Miss Pamela Flower, Miss Stephanie James and Mr. Jack Harrison.
Blackwood-Warren Sentinel Thursday 5 April 1951 page 4
Stephanie James (left) Marcia Harrison, Jill Harrison
The first broadcast of “Jack Harrison and His Music” was on September 1951 on 6WN.
1951 – JACK HARRISON’S SEXTET OPENS ON 6WN
On September 2 Jack Harrison’s Sextet opens on 6WN. The programme will probably consist of light classics, arranged modern ballads, and bright numbers of the samba, tarantella and bolero type.
Last year Jack studied under the Sydney musician Clive Amadio and it is quite likely that Jack’s sessions will resemble the well-known Amadio Quintet.
Jack reports that the members are James Drummond (violinist), Stephanie James (pianist) who recently returned from Europe, Kenneth Murdoch (saxophonist) John Mowson (bass) and his father, William Harrison (organ and vibes). Jack will play first clarinet and second saxophone. He will have a guest singer for each session. Kath Bass, Phyllis Blott and Elise Longwill would probably be the first three he says. Each number will be arranged for the sextet. Jack and his father are doing some of this work. Some work by an Eastern States arranger is available provided it is copied. Sister Jill is doing this in her spare time in Adelaide.
The Broadcaster Saturday August 18 1951 Vol. 18 No. 907.
* THESE STARS TONIGHT *
Friday 7 December 1951
Elizabeth Munro-George, Flora Nowotny, Jack Harrison,
Len Hancock, Stephanie James, Linda Marsh,
JULIANA FLESFADAR (Coloratura Soprano)
PAPADAPAFF (Noted Violinist)
ANATOL PAVLOV and His Balalaika
Edgar Park, Dorothy Holl, Kate Judd School of Modern Ballet, at
GRAND CHARITY CONCERT
ASSEMBLY HALL, Pier Street.
Proceeds to “Daily News” Orphans’ Xmas Appeal Fund.
The West Australian Friday 7 December 1951 page 29
NSW Singer For Concert
WELL-KNOWN Sydney coloratura soprano Julia Flesfada, who arrived in Perth this week, will sing at the Assembly Hall, Pier-st., tonight. She will appear in a Legionnaires concert with pianist Elizabeth Munro-George, clarinettist Jack Harrison, violinist Papadaff, Stephanie James, Edgar Nottage; Len Hancock, and others. Proceeds from the show will be donated to the Daily News Orphans’ Christmas Cheer Fund.
The Daily News Friday 7 December 1951 page 3
1952
DONNYBROOK MUSICAL RECITAL
SATURDAY APRIL 26 1952
In the musical world of Perth the name of Vaughan Hanly is outstanding. He is one of the city’s most gifted violinists and is well known as a leader of the State Symphony Orchestra. Lorna McLean’ is a brilliant soprano who has appeared on the radio and concert platform with conspicuous success. Stephanie James will be remembered in association with Pamela Flower and Jack Harrison on a previous visit to Donnybrook when her work at the piano was a feature of the programme on that occasion. These three artists, Vaughn Hanly, Lorna McLean and Stephanie James, will be heard at a recital in the Donnybrook Memorial Hall on Saturday, April 26, when James on this occasion will have the added advantage of playing on the Bechstein grand. The recital is being sponsored by the Donnybrook Adult Education Committee at considerable cost and music-lovers in the South-West should not miss this opportunity of hearing these talented artists, (Box plans are now open at McDaniel’s newsagency).
Appearances as soloist with the State Orchestra, many studio recitals and tours for the Adult Education Board have made the pianist, Stephanie James , a well known figure in West Australian music circles. Just recently featured with the orchestra at one of the A.B.C.’s 1952 series of concerts for youth, Miss James will be making her first Kalgoorlie appearance as a soloist when she plays at the concert to be given in the Kalgoorlie Town Hall on October 14. Music has brought travel to Stephanie James, for her studies have taken her to many places far from home. At the age of 16 she won two scholarships to the Melbourne Conservatorium, where she gained her Mus.B. degree, and two years later she made a two-year visit to London, France and Switzerland, tour during which she studied at the Royal Academy of Music under well-known teacher, Harold Caxton. At Kalgoorlie she will present with the orchestra, a popular Grieg concerto.
Organisers of the Greek Earthquake Victims’ Relief Fund hope to pass £3,000 with proceeds from a concert in the Capitol Theatre tomorrow night. This week the committee sent £500 to Greece, bringing the total to more than £2,500. In addition, a consignment of clothing was sent for earthquake victim relief. Tomorrow night’s concert will be directed by Mr. Stephen Dornan. Artists will include Shirley Flesfader and Stephanie James, Peter Martin and the Moongana Singers. Two films, including a newsreel of earthquake damage, will be presented.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 26 September 1953, page 4
1954
Two Women Musicians Will Play For Queen
Looking forward to playing for the Queen are two of Perth’s women musicians, Miss Aino Neumann, a double bass player, and Miss Stephanie James, a pianist. They will be members of a small group who will provide music at the parliamentary dinner and at the women’s reception at the University. Both are members of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. Born in Sydney, where she studied at the Conservatorium, Miss Neumann joined the orchestra when she came to Perth last year. She started piano lessons when she was, 11, but later decided to learn the double bass, an instrument she had always admired. Dwarfed by her instrument, Miss Neumann is one of the very few women double bass players in Australia. She comes from a musical family. Her mother was a singer and ballet dancer, and her grandfather played the French horn and the organ. In private life Miss Neumann is the wife of Mr. Neil Pierson, a trombonist. Her only hobby beside music, is housekeeping at their City Beach home. As there is no harp in the orchestra, Miss James plays on the piano the parts scored for the harp. A West Australian, she studied at the Melbourne Conservatorium and in England before she joined the orchestra four years ago.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Thursday 18 March 1954, page 22
1955
FAIRY LIKE QUALITY – CELESTE FEATURED BY ORCHESTRA
Concert At Collie
Amongst the thousands of pounds worth of instruments travelling with the W.A. Concert Orchestra during its forthcoming tour will be the piano-like Celeste. This has been fairly recently acquired by the Commission and will be the first time it has been used in country performances. It is believed to be the only one in the State. The Celeste is, about one third the size of an ordinary upright piano. It has a keyboard, and when played, it gives the sound of tinkling bells. There is a fairy-like quality about it and effective use is made of this in the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from ‘Nutcracker Suite.” When no harp is available to an orchestra, effective use can be made of the celeste by modifications to the parts written for harp. It has been frequently used in this way at Perth orchestral concerts. Playing the Celeste is Stephanie James, who has made many appearances with the Orchestra since she returned from a two-year study trip. to London, France and Switzerland. The concert in which the Celeste is to be featured will be given in the Miners’ Institute Hall on Monday, March 28. Bookings are at McGeachie’s Newsagency.
Collie Mail (WA : 1908 – 1966), Thursday 24 March 1955, page 4
1961
1961 RADIO BROADCAST
Light Music by Family
When Perth’s versatile instrumentalist Jack Harrison and his quintet play, it’s a family affair. In a series of six programmes of light music starting this Tuesday at 8pm from 6WN, Harrison will play the harmonica, saxophone and clarinet. He and his father have made special arrangements of Latin-American tunes slow ballads and novelty numbers for the programmes. Members of the quintet will be Harrison’s twin sister Jill (bassoonist and second pianist) her husband John Mowson (principal bass with the W.A. Symphony Orchestra), Laszlo Vidak (violin), Verdon Williams (percussion) and Stephanie James (principal piano).
BROADCASTS
The Eastern states have had the rare pleasure of hearing a good deal of Jack Harrison’s quintet from the A.B.C. stations. Jack produced six programmes of light music for 6WN with arrangements by himself and his father of Latin-American tunes, slow ballads and novelty numbers. Members of the quintet are: Jack, clarinet, saxophone and harmonica; his sister Jill on bassoonist and also as second pianist; her husband John Mowson, principal bass with the W.A. Symphony Orchestra; Laszlo Vidak, violin; Verdon Williams, percussion and Stephanie James, principal piano. The session is a pleasure to listen to.
The Australian Accordionist Vol. 8 No. 1 November 1961
1960 Stephanie married George William Coleman.
1966
MUSIC – By Peter Hellstrom – Festival Of Perth 1966
The Master of Queens Musick, Sir Arthur Bliss, has told the Festival Of Perth committee that the planning of the musical programs in the coming festival is a magnificent gesture to British music and should be more widely known. That it has become well known already in Britain is showing by letters from many leading authorities there they include congratulations from the executive of the Composers Guild of Great Britain. Though some prominent English music festivals like Cheltenham Aldeburgh and the longest established Three Choirs Festival feature their country music, no British festival has in recent times included such an extensive and exciting range of British music in one series. Works of nearly 70 composers are included. The Perth programs have been wisely spaced over the six week festival period and though many of the concerts will start at the customary 8 pm some will be at 6 pm to enable patrons to attend another festival attraction the same evening.
Works by Vaughan Williams Gordon Jacob, Howard Ferguson, Lennox Berkeley and Michael Tippett will be new to W.A. The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Colin Davis will introduce Bliss’s “Discourse for Orchestra” to Australia in one of its Perth concerts. In the other, Tippitt’s Symphony No. 2 and Stravinsksy’s Symphony in Three movements will be played here for the first time. Leading W.A. musicians appearing as soloists in the festival will include soprano Molly McGurk who will sing Benjamin Britain’s song cycle Les Illuminations with the W.A. Symphony Orchestra. She will also sing the solo soprano part in the University Choral Society’s performance of Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony. Stephen Dorman will be the accompanist for tenor David Galliver’s three British song recitals. He will also partner violinist Vaughan Hanly in a Sonata recital and will play the solo part in constant Lambert’s Concerto for Orchestra and Nine Instruments. Jack Harrison will be the soloist in David Tunley’s Clarinet Concerto and will be joined by the Oriel Quartet in Bliss Clarinet Quintet. Graham Wood will introduce James Penberthy’s Romance for Violin and Orchestra and Alice Carrard will be the pianist with the A.B.C. Wind Players in Rawsthorne’s recent quintet. Madame Carrard will be joined by Mr Stephen Dornan, Stephanie James and Michael Cole to perform Malcolm Williamson’s new Concerto for Wind Quintet and two pianos. The new university organist, Mr John Hind, will be soloist in a program which will feature the W.A. Bach Society. The Oriel Quartet will also be the soloists with the W.A. Symphony Orchestra in Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro for strings and will give a separate recital of works by Howells, Frank Bridge, John Exton (the newly appointed senior lecturer in music at the university) Gerald Finzi, Elizabeth Lutyens and Edmund Rubbra.
The West Australian September 1965
1966
1966 NEW PROGRAM OF “EVERGREENS” FROM W.A.
JACK HARRISON AND HIS MUSIC
A new series of popular all-time favourite music will start on Monday on May 16 1966 at 8.30pm on the First Network.
It will be presented by six members of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra led by Jack Harrison. Special arrangements have been written for their combination of bassoon, bass, violin, piano and percussion with the leader doubling on clarinet and saxophone. There are five programs in the series to be titled “Jack Harrison and his Music”. Jack Harrison will occasionally introduce his first love the mouth organ. He is a versatile musician and once made a multi track recording in which he played 14 instruments including percussion and piano. He has been a member of the W.A. Symphony Orchestra for 15 years during which he has appeared frequently as soloist in clarinet and saxophone Concertos. Highlights of these performances were the Australian Premiere of the Aaron Copland Clarinet Concerto and the Richard Strauss Double Concerto for Bassoon and Clarinet. On this occasion the bassoon soloist was his twin sister Jill who also joins him in his new series doubling on piano and percussion. Items in the first program are “Mice on the Move”, “Gigi”, “Sidewalk”, “Petite Waltz”, “Holiday in Honduras”, “Comedian Gallop” The Pygmy Patrol”, “Will O‘ Wisp” and “Forever Samba”. The other artists in the series Laszlo Vidak violin John Mowson bass Stephanie James piano and Verdon Williams percussion.
Joseph Mozart Post (1906-1972), musician, was born on 10 April 1906 at Erskineville, Sydney, eldest child of native-born parents John Anthony Joseph Post, law clerk, and his wife Annie Theresa, née Schadel. He grew up in a home rich in the traditions of amateur music-making. His mother was a talented chorister, and his father an enthusiastic conductor much involved with church choirs and suburban musical societies. Joe was regarded as a child prodigy. From about the age of 8 he provided the piano accompaniment at his parents’ musical gatherings. He attended the Christian Brothers’ parish school at Waverley, won a scholarship, and was among the first students at the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music, opened under Henri Verbrugghen in March 1916. Post studied piano and oboe, acquiring enough proficiency on the latter instrument by the age of 15 to play with the New South Wales State Orchestra until it was disbanded in 1922. He then toured with theatre orchestras, visiting New Zealand in 1924 with one of J. C. Williamson Ltd’s musical-comedy companies.
By 1926 Post was teaching oboe and cor anglais at the conservatorium; later, he also offered tuition in piano. He graduated in 1927 with diplomas in performance and teaching (pianoforte). Despite such auspicious beginnings, he did not see his vocation as a teacher nor as an orchestral musician, but chose to build a career as a conductor. The elder Post gave his son extensive informal training in the conductor’s art. Joseph always regarded his father as his most important mentor and severest critic.
After valuable experience conducting the conservatorium’s chamber orchestra and the choir at St Brigid’s Catholic Church, Coogee, Post seized an opportunity in 1932 to organize a 350-voice choir for the Imperial Opera Company (a touring Italian troupe) to perform in the Williamson Imperial Grand Opera Season. When the regular conductor became indisposed, Post conducted a performance of Aida at only a few hours notice, which led to regular conducting appearances with the company.
The establishment of the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1932 introduced a powerful new force to the Australian music scene. Post astutely recognized the potential of radio and accepted an offer from the A.B.C. to form a wireless chorus in Sydney. He severed his connexion with the conservatorium, did some conducting with Sir Benjamin Fuller‘s Royal Grand Opera Company and visited Europe in 1935. Returning to Australia, he moved to Melbourne. From 1936 to 1947 he worked for the A.B.C. as a conductor of the Victorian Symphony Orchestra and the city’s A.B.C. wireless chorus.
Post was commissioned lieutenant and mobilized in the Australian Army Service Corps, Militia, on 24 August 1940. Transferred to the Australian Imperial Force in July 1942, he was promoted temporary major in the following month and made commandant of the transshipment centre at Terowie, South Australia, an important staging point on the overland supply route to Darwin. He relinquished command in February 1945 and was placed on the Reserve of Officers in March. At St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, on 12 May 1943 he had married Nancye Lille Tucker, a 28-year-old stenographer.
After World War II Post continued as one of the A.B.C.’s chief conductors. From 1947 to 1957 he was associate-conductor with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, a term that virtually coincided with (Sir) Eugene Goossens‘s period in charge. Post made many guest appearances with A.B.C. orchestras across Australia. In 1950 he went to Britain on exchange with Charles Groves, conductor of the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Northern Orchestra. At his début at the Royal Albert Hall, Post became the first Australian to conduct at a Promenade Concert; he included a piece by the Australian composer Clive Douglas. He also conducted the Hallé and other British orchestras. At his final concert with the Northern Orchestra, crowds filled the hall and flowed outside.
Despite such successes, Post’s career with the A.B.C. was marred by disappointment. In 1945 he had submitted a proposal to the A.B.C. to establish the Victorian Symphony Orchestra on a full-time basis, but he was twice overlooked for the position of principal conductor. He made no secret of his chagrin when he was not appointed director of music in 1957. Throughout his long tenure with the A.B.C., he never relinquished his involvement with his first love, opera. He was musical director (1947-54) of Gertrude Johnson‘s National Theatre Movement and principal conductor (from 1949) for its opera. In addition, Post also conducted seasons with the New South Wales National Opera in Sydney, and joint seasons of the combined opera companies in 1952. Granted leave from the A.B.C., he was appointed musical director of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust in 1955. He conducted the trust’s first opera production, The Marriage of Figaro, in 1956, but resigned next year to return to the A.B.C. as assistant-director of music.
Heavier administrative responsibilities did not significantly curtail the number of Post’s performances. In 1963 he established the Sydney Little Symphony Orchestra and conducted its début series of four concerts. He also continued his long association with school concerts. The advent of television broadcasting created new audiences for him. He made television appearances with the S.S.O. and conducted numerous operas on television. In 1962 he travelled to Europe and the United States of America to investigate methods of presenting music on television.
At a time when most Australian classical musicians depended on success abroad, Post built a public career in Australia. He and Sir Bernard Heinze represented the first generation of native-born conductors to rise to prominence under the A.B.C. Post conducted when an Australian was required to support visiting celebrity musicians. The role suited his talents admirably. He was proud of his efforts to promote ‘Australian’ composers, releasing recordings of Raymond Hanson‘s Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra (1948) and Robert Hughes’s Xanadu (1954). Nor was he averse to the performance of ‘new music’, though his tastes could hardly be regarded as avant garde.
In 1966 Post was appointed O.B.E. That year he succeeded Heinze as director of the New South Wales State Conservatorium. He was its first diplomate to fill the position. Although reluctant to take the job, he put considerable effort into the conservatorium’s opera school, but limited his wider involvement to consolidating initiatives begun by Heinze.
Post was a small, spry man with an alert demeanour and an acerbic tongue. He had many interests beyond the music world, being fond of sport (especially golf and lawn bowls), gardening (particularly cultivating camellias) and cooking. A passionate ‘do-it-yourself’ home handyman (who whittled his own batons from English birch), he had an intensely practical approach to life. Post preferred to talk about anything but music, and always insisted that his favourite composer was the one ‘whose work I am playing at the moment’. Like many musicians, he had a strong sense of effort insufficiently rewarded. While he and his brothers John Verdi and Noel Schumann were propelled into careers as professional musicians, Joseph actively discouraged his only child Nola from any sort of musical training. Privately, he spoke of a vanquished desire to practise architecture.
Increasingly dogged by ill health, Post resigned from the conservatorium in late 1971 and moved to the Gold Coast, Queensland. He died of myocardial disease on 27 December 1972 at Broadbeach and was cremated; his wife and their daughter survived him. Although the family had Jewish connexions, Post had been raised in the Catholic faith and died devout in his atheism. He made an unrivalled contribution to the development of opera-conducting in Australia and was, in Roger Covell’s words, the ‘first Australian-born musician to excel in this genre’. As an orchestral conductor, he was judged a ‘good all-round man’: he was well-regarded for his enthusiasm, clarity and economy of gesture, but he was not associated with inspiring or challenging musicianship. None the less, his ability to take over conducting assignments at very short notice became legendary and was greeted with ‘rave’ reviews. Such was the case in 1955 when he substituted for Goossens at a day’s notice to conduct Max Rostal in Bartók’s Violin Concerto, a score with which Post was unfamiliar.
Stephen Lloyd George Dornan was born in Perth in 1916. He died on 25th April 2012 aged 95.
1933
The Resident Secretary of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (Mr. W. E. Southwood) has been notified of a record success for Western Australia, in, that two exhibitions tenable in London have been awarded to West Australian musicians. The successful candidates are Miss Joy Huggett, pupil of St. Hilda’s Church of England Girls’ School, Cottesloe (tenable at the Royal Academy of Music, London) and Mr. Stephen Dornan, pupil of Mr. A: J. Leckie, Mus.Bac. (tenable at the, Royal College of ‘Music, London).
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 8 April 1933, page 5
Stephen L. G. Dornan, – L.A.B., A.Mus.A., a pupil of Mr. A. J. Leckie, Mus.Bac, left for, London this week to study at the Royal College of Music, having gained an Associated Board exhibition. This exceptionally clever young pianist, who is now only- 17 years old, has had a remarkable series of examination successes. He gained exhibitions in Grade III and Grade II. of the A.M.E.B. examinations, the gold medal and prize in both advanced and final trades of this Associated Board, and this year shared the prize for L.A.B. with 192 marks out of a possible 200. It was mainly through his active enthusiasm that the Young Musicians’ Club was formed in Perth. He has acted as president of. the club since its inception. The exhibition given by the Associated Board is one of three awarded annually in Australia. It provides free tuition at either the Royal College or Royal Academy of Music for a period of two years or more.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 16 December 1933, page 5
1940
A PIANIST’S SUCCESS. Mr. Stephen Dorman Returns.
Mr. Stephen Dorman, a young West Australian pianist who has acquitted himself creditably in musical circles in London, has returned to this state, where he plans to make his home. In 1933 Mr. Dorman, then 16 years of age, won a two years’ scholarship of the Associated Board of Music and in the following year he went to the Royal College of Music, London, where he studied pianoforte as a soloist and, from the teacher’s aspect, the organ, choral and orchestral conducting, orchestration and ensemble. He studied pianoforte under Herbert Fryer, Kendall-Taylor and Edwin Mitchell. After he had two years’ study the scholarship was extended for three years and in 1938 he won the Leverhulme Scholarship and the Challen Gold Medal. The medal is awarded to an advanced student giving the best half-hour recital of work selected by himself. It was presented to him by the Duke of Kent at St. James’s Palace. Mr. Dorman gave several recitals at the Royal College of Music, and included some big modern works in his programmes. He took part in several concertos at the college, including the Glazounov Concerto in F minor under Constant Lambert and the Delius Concerto under Dr. Malcolm Sargent. He has given several Empire broadcasts for the British Broadcasting Corporation and was to have given a recital in the Wigmore Hall in January last, having won a competition for the honour. However, the war Intervened and the recital bad to be postponed. Since the beginning of the war, Mr. Dorman said, he had been pianist for a successful ballet company named the Arts Theatre Ballet. In a few months this small but very talented company, which included some former members of the Russian Ballet, had risen to a position of amazing solidarity and importance in the ballet world. Mr. Dorman was accompanied on his homeward journey by his sister, Miss Pearl Dorman, a chemist, who has for the past 12 months been studying singing in London.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Tuesday 6 August 1940, page 11
Reception at the University. The president (Mr. C. L. Jenkins) and committee of the University Music Society held a reception at the refectory at the University on Saturday evening, at which the guests of honour were the music examiners at present visiting Western Australia, Messrs. Frank Hutchins and H. Elvins. The president, and secretary (Mrs. A. D. Hunter) received the guests, Mrs. Hunter wearing a self-patterned apple green satin frock with matching rucked velvet bolero jacket. A profusion of golden broom and Geraldton wax flower decorated the refectory, and there were between 150 and 200 people present. A programme of music was presented, the following artists contributing items, Misses Angus and Bunning (Tschaikowsky Concerto on two pianos), Vaughan Hanley (violin solo. Bach Unaccompanied Sonata), Miss Alice Mallon (three songs by Brahms), and Mr. Stephen Dornan (who has recently returned from abroad, pianoforte solos). Specially interesting notes were lent to the programme by talks by the guests of honour. Mr. Elvins took as his subject, “Adventures in Norway,” relating charming and humorous incidents of his travels. Mr. Hutchins’s remarks were followed by illustrations played by himself, of some of his own compositions for the piano. Professor A. D. Ross, patron of the society, proposed a vote of thanks to the artists, and at the conclusion of the programme an adjournment was made to another part of the refectory. where supper was served. Other special guests of the society included Dr. Lyon (Trinity College), Mrs. Conrad Charlton, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Leckie. Mr. and Mrs. R. Wood, Mr. F. Robertson, and Mr. E. Black. Mrs. Partridge and Miss Harrie Partridge of White Rocks. Brunswick Junction, motored up to Perth on Friday and spent the week-end with Mrs. Horace Sholl at her home at Peppermint Grove.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Monday 7 October 1940, page 10
1941
STEPHEN DORNAN
Young Australian pianist, who returned to Perth last year from London after building a successful career. He is now touring the National stations ; under contract to the A.B.C. He won the Challen medal, which is the highest distinction awarded by the Royal College of Music in London for a soloist, and he was presented with the medal by the Duke of Kent at St. James Palace.
You all know Steven Dornan, A.B.C. pianist. He’s given up twiddling his fingers on the ivory keys and donned khaki.
Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 – 1956), Saturday 3 January 1942, page 20
1944
STEPHEN DORNAN’S RECITALS.
Warrant-Officer Stephen Dornan, who visited Cairns during the week-end and gave recitals, sponsored by Army Education Service, for service-men and women, may give a public recital in Cairns some time next month. The selections tor his recital at the Council Chambers on Friday night, which was attended by members of all types of services and units in the district, included Bachs “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” ; Chopin’s “Waltz in A Flat,” “Waltz in C Sharp Minor,.” “Berceuse,” and “Study in E”; Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” and Brahms’ “Rhapsody in G Minor.” for the first half; then “The Viennese Dance,” by Gartner ; “Valse Oubliee,” by Liszt ; “The Cathedral Under the Sky,” by Debussy ; “Ritual Fire Dance,” by Falla ; “Harpsichord Dance,” by Delius ; “Carillon,” by Casella ; “Perpetual Motion,” by Poulenc ; “Jeux d’Eauz,” by Ravel, and “Chromatic Waltz,” by Godard.
Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 – 1965), Tuesday 12 September 1944, page 4
1946
MUSIC AND THEATRE. (By “Fidelio”) The detailed programme of the fifth series of “Everyman’s Music” recitals under the auspices of the Adult Education Board, which will: commence shortly, discloses some new features. In two of the four recitals chamber music is represented -in one case a string quartet, in the other a woodwind group to the: fore. For the first time seats can be’ reserved in advance, and printed; programmes will be available. Thei artists, besides a number already; well known in this connection, and: some youthful newcomers, will in-i elude also a notable visitor from the [Eastern States, the soprano Thea Philips. Miss Philips will appear on Thursday evening, May 2-all these recitals take place on Thursdays with, as associate artist, Stephen Dornan, the West Australian pianist, returning from Army Education Service duties.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 9 March 1946, page 6
1947
Recital at Geraldton – Dornan-Everett Concert DELIGHTFUL MUSIC (By ‘Music-Lover’)
On Saturday evening last the Adult Education Board, in association with the Geraldton Music-Lovers’ Club, offered to a Geraldton Town Hall audience (of less than expected numbers, let it be stated) an evening of fine music. The artists were the brilliant young pianist, soon to leave for overseas, Stephen Dornan and Phyllis Everett, contralto. Introducing the programme in a friendly and informal style Mr. Dornan explained that it was designed to present to listeners a brief survey of music over three centuries — the eighteenth, nineteenth and the present. The audience would easily discern the differences in style of composers whose lives fell within the span of the periods covered. The earlier composers were restricted in their mode of writing, not only by established practices, but also by the limitations of the instruments tneu known. The piano as they knew it to-day, belonged rather to the nineteenth century and earlier instruments, notably the harpsichord, had nothing of the pianoforte’s robustness of tone nor its compass. Among the composers included in the earlier groups were Bach, Handel and Scarlatti. Mr. Dornan’s playing was sure and pleasing to a degree, while Miss Everett’s fine contralto voice was heard to advantage in several groups of songs. Singing with deceptive ease, the contralto’s efforts brought forth the very best in the audience — perfect stillness and rapt attention during items and sustained and genuine applause after each song. Throughout the entire evening Stephen Dornan’s annotations were in every way most helpful, combining authoritative musical knowledge with a friendly attitude towards his audience, the whole enlivened by occasional flashes of humour. His playing of both solo items and acompaniments for Miss Everett’s songs was a joy. His command of the tonal resources of the instrument, his ability to express the mood and the period of the various composers selected, and his skill at making the most of a not-too-co-operative hall piano were in full measure appreciated by the audience. If one could pick any items as outstanding in a really first-class programme one might be tempted to mention the pianist’s ‘Etude in E’ (Chopin) and the Debussy ‘Cathedrale Engloutie’ and the contralto’s ‘Do i Not Go My Love’ and the enchanting ‘Foxgloves.’ One feels that in a town and district of such size there should be better support for these recitals of good music by leading artists, especially in view of the very moderate charge made for admission. Members of the Geraldton Music-Lovers’ Club, upon whose shoulders falls the responsibility of organising these recitals at the Geraldton end, feel that many people do not fully realise what they are missing by not attending these recitals. Children, particularly those studying music, should be especially encouraged to attend these functions as the benefit to be derived is enormous. The next Everyman’s Music recital to be held in Geraldton should attract considerable attention as three artists of very high standing have been engaged to visit the town. On October 9th, Father Albert Lynch (violinist), Irene Stancliffe (soprano) and Frances Moran (pianist) will give a combined recital at the Geraldton Town Hall under the auspices of the Adult Education Board. The attention of readers is drawn to press advertisements, shortly to begin, in which full particulars of this musical treat will be given.
Geraldton Guardian and Express (WA : 1929 – 1947), Saturday 27 September 1947, page 5
1951
Pianist On Way Home
A REALLY warm reception will be given Australian pianist Stephen Dornan when he arrives in Fremantle from England on February 15, on the Maloja. Since he left the army over three years ago, he has been under the tuition of Reizenstein and Rosa Kosloff in England. During the war, he was well known to Australian troops for his recitals in the Pacific islands. He will also be remembered by Australian audiences for his broadcasts with the A.B.C.. particularly during his 1940 tour of Australian cities.
PARTNERS IN SUCCESS Sonatas For Violin And Piano (By “Fidelio.”)
The large audience drawn to the Winthrop Hall on Saturday night to hear Vaughan Hanly and Stephen Dornan in four sonatas for violin and piano was richly rewarded. In the past the association of these artists proved a happy one. Their reunion on Saturday showed that while both have matured in the intervening years, their approach to the chosen works retains conspicuous freshness and vitality. Backed by high technical competence and fine standards of tone, their interpretations must have kindled an answering glow in every attentive, sensitive listener. The springing full-blooded, incisive impetuosity, for instance, with which the bold opening passages of Elgar in E Minor were flung forth! But the high point of this sonata is the slow movement, in which the composer. preceding and following a central passage of intense lyrical feeling with broken phrases half playful, half wistful, has created a very original piece of music, distinctive m character and of great poetic appeal. UNANIMITY. Of the four sonatas played, only the Cesar Franck can be described as thoroughly familiar. The programme began with a performance of Beethoven’s Op. 12 No. 1, in D, which most happily captured the buoyant impulse and lyrical charm of one of the most gracious and masterly works of the composer in his teenager state. At once the fine finish of the partnership, its unanimity, ardour and sensitiveness, were manifest. After the interval came an excursion into modernity. Hindemith’s Sonata in E, dated 1935, is not in the atonal category to which this German composer has contributed much. Its dissonances are not of the aggressively excruciating kind; and, unlike many modern composers, Hindemith does not outrage the nature of the violin by condemning it to scrappy percussiveness. He allows it flowing, singing passages in plenty but, being anything but a Romantic, it is-a cool, impersonal kind of song, which seems to communicate nothing but its own equable patterning. More immediately accessible is a. section which exploits a tarantella rhythm with stimulating vigour. Many recalls at the end signified the audience’s appreciation of an outstanding recital.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Monday 23 April 1951, page 7
This Tuesday, June 12, a recital was given in the Town Hall to the children of Pingelly by Australian , soprano, Lorna McKean, and brilliant pianist, Stephen Dornan. The programme was one chosen especially for the children, the opening: song being “The Road to the Isles,” rendered delightfully by Miss McKean. A description of the song was given by Mr. Dornan to an appreciative audience. This was followed by a Maori song, “Waaata.Poi,” by the Australian composer, Alfred Hill. We were then entertained with the Military Prelude by Rachmaninoff with Stephen Dornan at the piano. Further vocal and pianoforte items were fully appreciated by the children present and it is hoped that we will receive many more entertainments of such a high calibre.
At the beginning of this month the new typewriter arrived at the school, in time for the preparation of examination papers.
Soprano, Lorna McKean and associate artist, pianist, Stephen Dornan presented a Jubilee recital in the Albany Town Hall last Friday, under the direction of the Adult Education Board. A programme of varied works was received by an enthusiastic, if rather sparse audience. Although bookings were filled for the dress circle, a number of seats in the hall remained vacant. One can easily imagine why Lorna McKean is popular with fellow artists and audiences. She sings with grace and charm. Miss McKean commenced the programme with two well known songs “My Mother Bids Me Bind My Hair” by Haydyn and “My Heart Ever Faithful” by Bach, sung with sympathy and sensitive expression. One of the most popular of Max Reger’s compositions, “The Virgin Slumber Song,” “A Dream,” by Grieg and a highly dramatic song “The Trout” by Schubert were executed with fin-The only operatic works included in the programme were “They Call Me Mimi” from La Boheme by Puccini, and “The Laughing Song” from der Fledermaus by Strauss. Miss McKean completely captivated her audience with her effervescent charm and her excellent interpretation of both. “The Laughing Song” was received with more than ordinary enthusiasm. In her five years’ absence from the musical scene of Albany, Miss McKean’s voice has developed from a lyric soprano, to a soprano with greater depth of tone, dramatic content and flexibility. Her interpretations of “They Call Me Mimi” and “The Laughing Song” were beautifully done, the first being most poignant and the second sung with joyous abandonment. . Finally, Miss McKean sang three delightful folk songs, “The Road to the Isles,” “The Last Rose of Summer” and Peter Warlock’s arrangement of “One More River to Cross,” which had a very fine piano accompaniment. Stephen Dornan gave explanatory notes oji all the music performed, and to the listener, they were too long and definitely overdone. To an audience of school children this is most desirable, but for adults the explanations and story of musical architecture want to be drastically pruned. Mr. Dornan’s contribution to the recital was three fold. He did the talking, accompaniments and solo playing. His playing was noted for its fine technique, clarity of tone and rhythm content, but one feels that the aesthetic side was lost through the explanatory interruptions. Debussy’s soothing composition, “Clair de Lune” was presented in direct contrast with its companion, “Prelude in G Minor,” by Rachmaninoff: Dornan played this gripping military piece with vitality and understanding and a great deal of rhythmic quality. This Prelude is seldom heard at recitals and it possesses great rhythm and dramatic feeling. “Viennese Dances,” by Gaitner-Friedmann were delightful and entertaining, but his final presentation was easily the most popular on the programme. “The Ritual Fire Dance” by de Falla was played stirringly and with admirable understanding for the barbaric quality of the composition. Stephen Dornan’s rendering was his best on the programme. This young pianist wants to be careful that he does not let mannerism and habit at the keyboard detract from his musicianship.
A recital rich in musical satisfaction was given by Alice Carrard (piano) and Zoltan Barna (‘cello) at the Winthrop Hall on Saturday night. Each was heard as soloist, and jointly they interpreted sonatas by Debussy and Kodaly, a modern Hungarian master. The work last named, a novelty here but composed over 40 years ago, impressed most in the haunting, brooding music of its slow opening, re-captured at the end. Debussy’s sonata, which we have heard from these artists before, again charmed with its piquant effects in original sonorities, and characteristic finesse. In both sonatas the players’ partnership was conspicuously successful. UNACCOMPANIED. Mr. Barna had undertaken the formidable task of opening the recital with a performance of one of Bach’s suites for un-accompanied cello. Here, one felt, he was a little dry and at times inadequate in firm outlining of the music. His fine skill and sensitive musicianship (a striking feature of which is a flair for capturing the beauty of “re-mote,” dreamy moods) were displayed more effectively later. He played also that 19th Century favourite of the cello virtuoso, Boellmann’s “Varia-ions Symphoniques.” Masterfully able as was Mme. Carrard’s performance of Schumann’s “Carnaval,” we valued more the opportunity of hearing her in one of the late Beethoven sonatas—great music seldom played here. Her affinity for the works of this composer and her “masculine” grasp were evidenced anew in a deeply satisfying performance of Op. 109. The last of this series of Adult Education Board recitals will be given next Saturday, with the Perth String Quartet, Stephen Dornan and Lorna McKean.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Monday 8 October 1951, page 5
1954
The Repertory Club will present the operetta “The New Moon” (music by Sigmund Romberg) at the end of June. Nita Pannell is producing, with Stephen Dornan as musical director. Auditions will be held at the club tomorrow evening. Romberg, a prolific composer of musical plays, is best known, probably, by his scores for “Desert Song” and “The Student Prince.”
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Saturday 3 April 1954, page 27
Melodious Vocalists – English Duo’s Artistry TOWN HALL CONCERT
Presented under the auspices of the Adult Education Board, with whom the Geraldton Music Lovers’ Club co-operated, the celebrated English, Duo—soprano Viola Morris and contralto Victoria Anderson—with a Western Australian in Stephen Dornan at the piano — delighted a small but most enthusiastic audience in the Geraldton Town Hall last Thursday night. The singers teamed admirably in their duets, drew from a repertoire so extensive that they might have truthfully . been billed as “The Cosmopolitans” and in their expressive renderings revealed sweetness of tone, clarity and a capacity, to reproduce with fidelity the mood of every composer. Nor was their artistry in solo numbers any less satisfying, and the end of the programme came all too quickly for a house which revelled in their many items. In some contributions they were unaccompanied, and in those which Stephen Dornan accompanied them the pianist revealed ability of a high order, despite the fact that he found the instrument he was playing was not up to expectations. In his own brackets Mr. Dornan demonstrated he could reproduce every shade of musical beauty and, whether in lively or sedate passages, was equally at home. The programme opened brightly with Viola Morris and Victoria Anderson singing the lilting “Now is the Month of Maying,” which they followed with. “My Dearest, My Fairest,” “Angler’s Song,” “It Was a Lover and His Lass” {a particularly popular offering), “Adieu. Sweet Amaryllis” and “Sound the Trumpet” (in which there was all the requisite vigor). Stephen Dornan’s first group comprised the Concert Study (Poldini), Debussy’s Clair de Lune, played with all the delicacy which has made this number a favorite with concertgoers, and Mozart’s lively Turkish March. The English Duo submitted “When Spring With It’s Joy,” “Schon Blumelein,” “Die Schwestem,” “Le Coeur de Ma Mie,” “I, Would That My Love,” “I Know a Bank” and the sprightly “Where the Bee Sucks.’ With her delightful soprano voice Viola Morris began the second half with “Have You Seen but a Whyte Lillie Grow,” which preceded, the spirited rendering of “I’ll Sail Upon the Dog Star,” the other two numbers in this group comprising “L’Invitation au Voyage” and “The Maiden.” All the anticipated animation was apparent in Stephen Dornan’s playing of Seguidillas and the Ritual Fire Dance, and then came further vocal camoes with the melodious contralto offerings of Victoria Anderson in “Awake Saturnia” (calling for considerable power in volume and expression), “The Queen’s Maries” and the vivacious number entitled “The Bold Unbiddable Child.” Amongst the duets which concluded. a splendid programme were “Early One Morning,” ‘.’Five Eyes,” “Afton Water” and the “Keel Row,” with “O Dear What Can the Matter Be?” as an encore. ‘ On Thursday afternoon about 250 pupils from the Geraldton High School and Geraldton Primary School made a very appreciative audience at a special concert given in the town hall.
John Kay (27), of Taringa (Queensland) had forty-seven stitches inserted in his head and right arm after being attacked with a reaping hook in a southern suburb (Holland Park) to-day. The police have charged a fifty-one-year-old man with unlawful wounding.
Stephen Dornan the associate artist in the Adult Education recital by Viola Morris and Victoria Anderson at the Kalgoorlie Town Hall tomorrow night, needs no introduction to goldfields audiences. He is a firm favourite with metropolitan music lovers, and ranks high in the list of outstanding Western Australian artists. Some years ago he won the associated board scholarship and carried out further studies at the Royal College of Music. London, where he came under the supervision of well known tutors in Herbert Fryer and Kendall Taylor (piano), Sir Walter Alcock (organ) and Dr. William Reed (conducting). He has also given numerous recitals for the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
The Youth concert on 31st May 1956 presented enthusiastic patrons with an interesting item – Concerto in E flat for two pianos by Mozart. Stephen Dornan joined Stephanie James, who had already played many times with the orchestra. Stephen, who studied at the Royal College of Music in London and later under Roza Kozloff, was also well known to the Perth musical public as a soloist and chamber music player, and also later as a teacher. Hi sympathetic accompanying technique was admired by all musicians who had the privilege of playing with him.
WIND QUINTET IS REFRESHING – By Sally Trethowan – Thursday June 27 1963
A concert by a rare composition of instruments – a wind quintet – makes a refreshing excursion from the string works that monopolise the field of chamber music. Though few composers have been attracted to the wind group as a medium for musical expression, they have not in general been cavalier in their treatment of it. Beethoven’s early Quintet Op. 16 played at yesterday’s free lunch-hour concert in Winthrop Hall, is as felicitous an example of fusion of form and content as any that can be found in the repertoire. The artists, Jack Harrison (clarinet), Peter Randall (oboe), Brian Pope (bassoon) and Harold Thornton (horn) with Stephen Dornan (pianist) , wove the interlaced counterpoint of their respective strands with a professional skill to give a nearly flawless reading. The other work on the programme, Mozart’s Quintet K 452, was given a less inspired though pleasant performance. Stephen Dornan is playing at his best and yesterday fulfilled his pivotal role in setting the tempo and maintaining the balance of the ensemble and gave coherence to the whole.
The West Australian Friday June 28 1963
1965
MUSIC – By Peter Hellstrom – U.W.A. Thursday Lunchtime Recital
September 1965
The free lunch-time concert at 1.10pm at the University next Thursday will be given in the undercroft of Winthrop Hall. The performers will be clarinettist Jack Harrison, cellist Louis Mojzer and pianist Stephen Dornan. The programme will be Sonata in E flat major Op. 120 No. 2 for Clarinet by Brahms, Sonata (1934) for Cello and Piano by Shostakovich, and the
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano by Leonard Bernstein.
The Master of Queens Musick, Sir Arthur Bliss, has told the Festival Of Perth committee that the planning of the musical programs in the coming festival is a magnificent gesture to British music and should be more widely known. That it has become well known already in Britain is showing by letters from many leading authorities there they include congratulations from the executive of the Composers Guild of Great Britain. Though some prominent English music festivals like Cheltenham Aldeburgh and the longest established Three Choirs Festival feature their country music, no British festival has in recent times included such an extensive and exciting range of British music in one series. Works of nearly 70 composers are included. The Perth programs have been wisely spaced over the six week festival period and though many of the concerts will start at the customary 8 pm some will be at 6 pm to enable patrons to attend another festival attraction the same evening.
Works by Vaughan Williams Gordon Jacob, Howard Ferguson, Lennox Berkeley and Michael Tippett will be new to W.A. The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Colin Davis will introduce Bliss’s “Discourse for Orchestra” to Australia in one of its Perth concerts. In the other, Tippitt’s Symphony No. 2 and Stravinsksy’s Symphony in Three movements will be played here for the first time. Leading W.A. musicians appearing as soloists in the festival will include soprano Molly McGurk who will sing Benjamin Britain’s song cycle Les Illuminations with the W.A. Symphony Orchestra. She will also sing the solo soprano part in the University Choral Society’s performance of Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony. Stephen Dorman will be the accompanist for tenor David Galliver’s three British song recitals. He will also partner violinist Vaughan Hanley in a Sonata recital and will play the solo part in constant Lambert’s Concerto for Orchestra and Nine Instruments. Jack Harrison will be the soloist in David Tunley’s Clarinet Concerto and will be joined by the Oriole Quartet in Bliss Clarinet Quintet. Graham Wood will introduce James Penberthy’s Romance for Violin and Orchestra and Alice Carrard will be the pianist with the A.B.C. Wind Players in Rawsthorne’s recent quintet. Madame Carrard will be joined by Mr Dornan, Stephanie James and Michael Cole to perform Malcolm Williamson’s new Concerto for Wind Quintet and two pianos. The new university organist, Mr John Hind, will be soloist in a program which will feature the W.A. Bach Society. The Oriel Quartet will also be the soloists with the W.A. Symphony Orchestra in Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro for strings and will give a separate recital of works by Howells, Frank Bridge, John Exton (the newly appointed senior lecturer in music at the university) Gerald Finzi, Elizabeth Lutyens and Edmund Rubbra.
The West Australian September 1965
EXPRESSION IN BRAHMS TRIO – By Sally Trethowan
Much of Brahms later music is valedictory in sentiment, and the trio for Piano Clarinet and Cello Op. 114 is typical of his last works. The major item in yesterday’s free lunchtime concert in Winthrop Hall, this work was performed expressively by Stephen Dornan (piano) Jack Harrison (clarinet) and Louis Mojzer (cello). Mr Dornan’s realisation of the full textured piano part which lies mainly in the middle and lower registers of the instrument demonstrated his deep understanding of and affinity for Brahms’s chamber music. Mr Harrison played the clarinet line with a poignancy and sweetness that echoed in sentiment the autumnal sadness of the cello part effectively realised by Mr Mozer. To open the program Mr Dornan and Mr Harrison play the Sonata for Clarinet and Piano by American Leonard Bernstein, a man famed as composer, conductor, concert pianist, scholar and expert on Bach and jazz. The first of the two movements was a romantic outpouring of song which, however, adroitly sidestepped both the banal and the sentimental. The second was a delightful capricious movement strongly flavoured with jazz rhythms. Here the clarinet chatted loquaciously, emphasising its arguments with strongly accented syncopations till it finally deemed to defeat the piano with sheer ebullience. After this Mr. Dornan in an expert display on the piano played three highly coloured pieces from Mihaud’s “Saudades do Brazil”, music that alternatively swayed and exploded with the ferocity of a tropical storm.
The West Australian Friday September 10 1965
1966
HARSH-TONED MUSIC ENTERTAINS – By Sally Trethowan
The last of the festival “Music of Britain” chamber concerts given in the Basil Kirk memorial studio last night offered some of the most complex and insistently dissonant music of the whole series. Yet each of the three works was so excellently performed that some measure of the composers musical thought in each case intense and highly individual must surely have impressed the general music lover no matter how unsympathetic he might have been to the harsh contemporary harmonic language. The first work “Quintet for wind and piano” by Alan Rawsthorne, was perhaps the most earnest in intention, and also the most abstruse and uncompromising. Much of it was concerned with working out, in terms of spasmodic tempi, unremitting dissonance and often exciting and original blends of wind colour, two moods, one apparently serene but masking disquieting emotional currents; the other desperately merry. This difficult music was persuasively presented by Alice Carrard (piano), Peter Randall (oboe), Jack Harrison (clarinet), Brian Pope (bassoon) and Neil Pierson (French horn). After this, Trevor Jones’s happy blend of whimsy lyricism and drama in his “Cantata Zoologica” was immensely entertaining. It was given a premiere late last year by the W.A. Bach Society choir and quintet and it was performed last night by the same artists except that the conductor on this occasion was Laughton Harris and the narrator was Neville Teede. Mr Harris’s cogent grasp, poetically and musically of the work was incisively conveyed through the unerring accuracy of his beat to which the choir and instrumentalists responded with brilliant execution. Mr Harris also conducted the final concerto for wind Quintet and two pianos (eight hands) by Malcolm Williamson. The wind players were joined by flautist Owen Fisenden and pianist Madame Carrard by fellow soloist Allyne Tilsed, Stephen Dornan and Michael Cole. This work exhibited complex interplay of tone colour. The finale, where the piano parts exploded in figuration of a Bartokian ferocity and aliveness was, I think, unrivalled in the festival music for sheer excitement of performance.
The West Australian Wednesday March 9 1966 page 17
1966 MUSIC LOVER’S DIARY
The fourth programme in the A.B.C.’s free recitals in the Basil Kirke Studio this year will be held at 3pm tomorrow. Jack Harrison, Graham Wood,John Dean, Brian Meddemmen and Stephen Dornan will perform trios by Mozart and Shostakovich. The Kylie Club will hold its annual general meeting in the Skinner Galleries at 8.15pm next Saturday. There will be a musical programme in which the artists will be Frances Moncrieff, Allyne Tilsed and Brian Meddemmen.
1967
MUSIC – A CONCERT – By Peter Hellstrom
Saturday August 5th 1967 8pm
An unusual and exciting concert will be given in Winthrop Hall on August 5 in aid of the building fund of St Columba the new university men’s residential college. Called “Concert Extraordinary”, the varied program will involve more than 300 performers including several leading W.A. musicians, all of whom will donate their services to the appeal. Directed by John Hind, the Bach Society Choir will sing Benjamin Britain’s “Hymn to St Cecilia” and the Perth Madrigal Singers will sing ”The Daniel Jazz” by Herbert Chappell. The University’s A Cappella Choir conducted by David Tunley, will sing English madrigals. The University Choral Society will join combined choirs in performances of works by Mozart and Handel which will be conducted by Professor Frank Callaway. The program will open with university organist, John Hind, playing Bach’s great “Toccata and Fugue in D minor”. Violinist Vaughan Hanly will play Saint-Saen’s “Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso” with pianist Stephen Dornan who will also be heard with soprano Margot Robertson and clarinettist Jack Harrison in Schubert’s “The Shepherd on The Rock”.
1967 CONCERT IS A PERTH MUSIC “HAPPENING” – By Sally Trethowan
The “straight” items included popular classics such as… Schubert’s “The Shepherd on The Rock” with pianist Stephen Dornan, soprano Margot Robertson and clarinettist Jack Harrison.
1968 Soldier’s Tale Perth premiere
1968
Free A.B.C. Concert – Sunday September 29th 1968
The free concert in the A.B.C.s Basil Kirke Studio tomorrow beginning at 3 o’clock is one of a series of six in which distinguished artists are performing a wide variety of works. The program will be Bartok’s outstanding and complicated “Sonata for two pianos and percussion” played by Wendy Nash and Stephen Dornan and percussionists John Reece and Brian Sadique directed by Verdon Williams and Stravinsky’s “Soldiers Tale” concert suite conducted by Verdon Williams. The performers will be Graham Wood (violin), John Mowson (bass), Jack Harrison (clarinet), Jill Harrison (bassoon), Donald Johnson (trumpet), Alan Mewitt (trombone) and Brian Sadique (percussion).
The West Australian Saturday September 28 1968
1971
On Feb 23 1971, Jack Harrison performed the Perth premiere of Margaret Sutherland’s “Sonata for Clarinet and Piano” (1949) with Stephen Dornan (piano) in a Festival of Perth’s Australian Composers’ Workshop held at the Basil Kirke Memorial Studio at the A.B.C. in Western Australia. He performed on the first commercial recording in 1972 – LP compilation titled Australian Festival of Music, Volume 8.
Peter Jenkins: I suspect Jack’s was probably the first recording. (Festival SFC 80025)
Workshop at its most attractive – By MARY TANNOCK – Thursday February 18 1971
Last night’s Australian composers workshop program at the Basil Kirke Studio was distinguished by the presence of Dr Andre Jurres, president of the International Society of Contemporary Music and the Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe. They were members of the panel chaired by Professor Frank Callaway. It was also the most attractive of the workshop series in the festival so far. Works by Margaret Sutherland, Colin Brumby, John Exton, Peter Sculthorpe and Trevor Jones were performed by Molly McGurk (soprano), Jack Harrison (clarinet), Stephen Dornan (piano) and the Oriel Quartet. Peter Sculthorpe’s “The stars turn” opened with wistful echoes from Gregorian Chant and a sea shanty and dissipated quickly into the character of the song. With limpid tones Miss McGurk sensitively delineated the shifting patterns of a lyrical line. Again, with Colin Brumby’s “Three Italian Songs for High Voice and String Quartet”, she infused chiselled and graceful declamation into the string line, throwing into relief its undulating fluidity. Trevor Jones’s “Essay for String Quartet” was alive with dense pulsating rhythms and sometimes fugal growth. Its textural complexity was skilfully highlighted by the Oriel Quartet.
In Margaret Sutherland’s “Sonata for Clarinet and Piano” traditional texture and techniques were cleverly reconciled to the clarinet line and the accompanist Stephen Dornan’s deft chordal Textures in the piano provided neat and subtle undertones.
The West Australian February 19 1971
Composers’ Workshop an Evening of Contrasts – By ALAN BONDS – Thursday February 18 1971
The workshop program presented in the Basil Kirke Studio last night was an evening of contrasts. The programme began with a polished rendition by Jack Harrison and Stephen Dornan of a “polished” Sonata for Clarinet and Piano by Dr. Margaret Sutherland. The work’s appeal was immediate, its form was basically straightforward and concealed few intricacies for cerebral digestion. The cycle of three songs by Colin Brumby further enhanced this composer’s reputation for skilful handling of texts. The work was witty and sensitive, but I feel that the texture of the accompanying string quartet was frequently too thick and overpowered the refined singing of Molly McGurk. For those interested, last Thursday’s performance of John Exton’s String Quartet (1969) was their fourth opportunity to hear the work in as many months and the work could easily stand a fourth hearing. It is completely absorbing, combining the all-embracing logic of serialism with a wonderful sense of contrast and colour. The performance by the Oriel Quartet was both accurate and persuasive, skilfully handling textures, which demand fine precision and control. “The Stars Turn” (1970) by Peter Sculthorpe was I feel more notable for the performance than the music which was performed. The piece itself was expressive and moving in the skull for tradition of Irkanda and the Quartets but I couldn’t help it feel that I had heard it all before. Molly McGurk did a splendid job moulding and phrasing as she might to Schubert or Brahms. The Oriel Quartet concluded the performance with a performance of Trevor Jones’s “Essay for string Quartet”. It would be fair to say that much of the work is reminiscent of Bartok’s quartet writing. The Essay was easily sectionalised thematically with frequent excursions through poly modality to atonalism.
The Sunday Times February 21 1971
1972
The A.B.C. presents Studio Recital – 3pm Sunday May 21 1972 – Basil Kirke Studio
Molly McGurk (soprano) Jack Harrison (clarinet) Stephen Dornan (piano)
Programme
Women’s Love and Life – Song Cycle Op. 42 SCHUMANN
Three Fantasy Pieces for Clarinet and Piano Op. 73 SCHUMANN
The Shepherd on the Rock SCHUBERT
In September 1973 Jack Harrison was invited by Ivor Meddleton to be an artist on the second Churchill Fellows’ L.P. recording. The artist was asked to donate their time, to be recorded at the closest A.B.C. studio and the cost of the accompanist covered by The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.
Jack replied that he would be happy to contribute. “Listed below are three pieces, any one of which would be suitable and I will leave the final choice in your hands:-
“Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra” by Malcolm Arnold – my reasons for including this work is that I am performing this piece of music with the W.A. Symphony Orchestra during the month of November and the A.B.C. has agreed to allow a recording to be made for the Churchill Trust. Another reason is that there is, to my knowledge, no commercial recording of this concerto. As I will be concentrating on this piece for the next six weeks, I would naturally favour it as my choice.
“Sonatina” for Clarinet and Piano” by Malcolm Arnold
“Sonata for Clarinet and Piano” by Poulenc
He recorded the Poulenc with Stephen Dornan (piano) and was the first Australian recording of the work.
In 1984 Tycho arranged and recorded Australia’s new national anthem Advance Australia Fair for the ABC. He later arranged various versions of the anthem in 1985 and 1986. The 1986 version was recorded by Julie Anthony and is the version still used today for major sporting and cultural events. Tycho’s most iconic version is perhaps the special 1988 Bicentennial version broadcast live from the lawn of Parliament House and was used as ABC television’s station closing throughout the 1980s and 90s, with Tycho’s arrangement giving Australia’s anthem its heart and soul.
ABC STATE FINALISTS
Donald Thornton, a 20-year old science student at the University of Western Australia, won first place in the instrumental section of the A.B.C.’s concerto and vocal finals at the Capitol last night. It was his first appearance in these competitions. He played the opening movement of the Tschaikovsky No. 1 Piano Concerto and pleased the judges (and others) with his “musical approach” to a work which, as the A.B.C’s Director of Music (Mr. W. G. James) said, is so often “banged out from end to end.” In the vocal section, Molly McGurk, who sang the well-known soprano air from “Louise,” was named the winner, thereby achieving a feat probably without precedent here. For hitherto Miss McGurk has figured in the list of finalists – three times – as pianist. Her win last night, which was her first, comes at her first attempt as vocalist. 
CHRISTMAS SOCIAL: 
MUSICIANS TO TOUR IN NORTH
1963
CONCERT – MARCH 14th 1963
Stephen L. G. Dornan, – L.A.B., A.Mus.A., a pupil of Mr. A. J. Leckie, Mus.Bac, left for, London this week to study at the Royal College of Music, having gained an Associated Board exhibition. This exceptionally clever young pianist, who is now only- 17 years old, has had a remarkable series of examination successes. He gained exhibitions in Grade III and Grade II. of the A.M.E.B. examinations, the gold medal and prize in both advanced and final trades of this Associated Board, and this year shared the prize for L.A.B. with 192 marks out of a possible 200. It was mainly through his active enthusiasm that the Young Musicians’ Club was formed in Perth. He has acted as president of. the club since its inception. The exhibition given by the Associated Board is one of three awarded annually in Australia. It provides free tuition at either the Royal College or Royal Academy of Music for a period of two years or more.
1966
