Musical Matinees presents A Winter in Europe on Election Day 2nd July, 2016

Passionate songs in German and Spanish by Strauss, Da Falla,  Granados and Grieg.
Renowned composer & pianist Ross Fiddes forges a powerful partnership with Newcastle's favourite song bird, Susan Carson. Sue will delight you with the range of her voice and stunning interpretations. As a multi-instrumentalist she provides incredible musical insight. Ross's similarly intense knowledge of music means this pair will inspire and amaze.
Our guest young song recitalist is Lauren Gummow. Lauren is a student at Newcastle Grammar School.

Date: 2nd July, 2016
Time: 2pm
Venue: St Andrews Presbyterian Church, 12 Laman Street, Newcastle. Crn Laman and Auckland Streets
Cost: $25 for the show. A complimentary, home made afternoon teas is provided after the show so you have the opportunity to meet the stars.
Music Students Free

For more details contact Kim Duffy 0407437773 or via facebook or email

For the love of Music

Sue has performed as a professional musician for over 27 years in various genres from opera to contemporary pop, country, folk, blues, rock, soul, jazz and musical theatre. She is a musical whirlwind, a musical explorer and a musical all-rounder. She’ll give anything a go (…musically!)

Most know Sue for her exquisite coloratura soprano performances including Mozart’s “Queen of the Night” in The Magic Flute, Strauss’s “Rosalinde” in Die Fledermaus, and “Cunegonde” in Bernstein’s Candide, her music theatre roles as   “Mrs Lovett” in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, “Carrie” in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel or for her pop/celtic/bluegrass/rock star turn-outs in Sligo Maid, The Sue and Mikey Show, Love That Hat and the multi award-winning Bob Corbett Band.

She won the Newcastle Conservatorium “Doris Smith” scholarship for classical voice in 1997 which enabled her to study for a short time in London. Since her return, Sue has been involved in several Hunter region performances of opera, oratorio, musicals, jazz concerts, orchestras, and has conducted workshops for school students, University students and at regional music camps.

Sue has been nominated for several CONDAs (City of Newcastle Drama Awards) including best professional actress as “Beatrice” in Hunter Valley Theatre Company’s The Venetian Twins (1996), “Susanna” in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro (2004), and best supporting actress as “Queen of the Night “in Mozart’s Magic Flute (2009).

Aside from her regular membership in the Bob Corbett Band as fiddle player, mandolin player and backing vocalist, Sue is in high demand as a session player and has played at numerous national festivals, cruises and functions with other high profile artists such as Troy Cassar-Daley, The McClymonts, Sara Storer, Adam Harvey, O’Shea, McCalister Kemp, Amber Lawrence, Jetty Road and Beccy Cole.

Based in Newcastle, Sue teaches singing at community and tertiary level at the Newcastle University Conservatorium and is currently studying for her Master of Philosophy exploring the art of multi-genre singing and teaching.

She also played “Heloise” in the debut performances of original production Abelard and Heloise by Ross Fiddes and Paul Kavanagh. It will be a pleasure to return to her recital duo with long-time friend and musical colleague Ross Fiddes in 2016.

Romance in Red White and Blue

Music lovers were treated to a fabulous Saturday Afternoon of glorious music played by Ann O'Hearn and sung by Newcastle's own Madam Butterfly, Jennifer Barnes.

Georgia Hall was the young Soprano who filled the church with her fabulous voice.

                                                        Ann O'Hearn

                                                         Jenny Barnes

                                                        Georgia Hall
A Scrumtious Afternoon Tea was provided afterwards

When I grow up, I want to be an Opera Singer

         When I grow up I want to be an Opera Singer

Musical Matinees proudly presents Georgia Hall on Saturday 21^st May, 2016 at St Andrews Presbyterian Church, 12 Laman St, Newcastle.

She will be performing in Romance in Red, White and Blue as the young artist. Accomplished pianist and teacher Ann O’Hearn accompanies Georgia and Jennifer Barnes (aka Opera Australia’s  Madame Butterfly) in this dramatic concert performance.

If you were to ask Georgia as a child what she wanted to be when she grew up, her answer would have been an opera singer. Coming from a very musical family, Georgia grew up learning singing, piano and ballet. Her fondest memories are of her time spent in the family singing studio listening to her grandmothers teach singing and attending her mother’s rehearsals.

A regular concert performer in and around Newcastle and Sydney, Georgia has enjoyed performing roles for Opera Hunter including Phoebe in The Yeomen of the Guard, The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors and key roles in CONDA Nominated Love, Life and Opera. In 2015 she performed Forester’s Wife and covered the Fox in Pacific Opera’s production of The Cunning Little Vixen. In 2016, Georgia takes up a second year in Pacific Opera’s Young Artist Program while she makes her role debut as The Countess in The Marriage of Figaro with Opera Hunter.

Georgia holds an Associate Diploma from the Trinity College London for Singing Performance and is studying for a Bachelor of Music degree with principal study in classical voice at the University of Newcastle under the tutelage of Dr. Jennifer Barnes.

A complimentary home made, afternoon tea after the show provides and opportunity to meet the artists.

Tickets $25 from Sticky Tickets or at the door on the day.

Music students free.

                                         Georgia Hall

Newcastle's own Madame Butterfly in recital

Musical Matinees presents a rare opportunity to hear our own Madame Butterfly, Dr Jennifer Barnes, in recital on Saturday May 21 at 2pm in St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Newcastle. 

Jennifer is a well-known Newcastle singer, teacher, choir and music director.  She has a superb soprano voice, which landed her the coveted role of Madame Butterfly as a principal artist with Opera Australia. She also performed in several other operas.

She will appear in Romance in Red, White and Blue with local pianist Ann O’Hearn in a recital of English, French and German songs on Saturday May 21 at 2pm in St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Newcastle. 

Georgia Hall will be the guest, young performer appearing as part of a new Musical Matinees Inc initiate to give young singers a chance to perform alongside professionals.

Complimentary, home-made refreshments after the concert provide the opportunity to meet with performers

Tickets are just $25 at the door on the day or online from 

https://www.stickytickets.com.au/33083/romance_in_red_white_and_blue.aspx

 Program

Jenny and Ann - 

Purcell

If music be the food of love

Sweeter than roses

Hahn

A Chloris

Le Rossignol

Quand je fus pris au pavillon

La Douce Paix

Ann - solo

Georgia Hall

Richard Strauss

Heimliche Aufforderung

Morgen

Ann - solo

Jenny and Ann

Poulenc

Airs Chantes

Horace Keats

Love’s Secret

 

Science Has Great News for People Who Can’t Sing

Source: Getty Images

Forget the middle school haters who shamed you into believing you were tone-deaf. A new study reveals that singing is more like playing an instrument than previously thought: Singing accurately is a skill that can be taught and developed. And that means that even the worst singers among us should just keep singing.

“No one expects a beginner on violin to sound good right away; it takes practice, but everyone is supposed to be able to sing,” Steven Demorest, the lead researcher behind the study, told Northwestern University. “When people are unsuccessful, they take it very personally. But we think if you sing more, you’ll get better.” The study: Using three age groups — kindergarteners, sixth graders and college-aged adults — researchers asked each person to listen to a pitch and then sing it back. Researchers noticed a significant increase in accuracy from kindergarteners to sixth graders, likely because most kids that age have regular musical training at school.
Surprisingly, the adults performed at a level closer to the kindergarteners than the sixth graders; researchers now think that’s because singing has a “use it or lose it” quality to it. It’s like a muscle. And all that off-pitch singing only helps strengthen it.
“It’s a skill that can be taught and developed, and much of it has to do with using the voice regularly,” Demorest explained to Northwestern. “Our study suggests that adults who may have performed better as children lost the ability when they stopped singing.”
Just keep singing: According to the study, only 34% of kids in the U.S. past the eighth grade choose to participate in music classes of any kind; that percentage decreases as kids near high school graduation. Those dire statistics, combined with anecdotal evidence that many kids stop singing when they’re told they’re simply “tone deaf,” have convinced researchers that kids are dropping out of music education because they’ve been shamed into believing they’re simply no good.
That’s a real problem — and it’s depriving kids of important cognitive benefits. Music education has loads of scientifically proven benefits: It improves reading and verbal skills, raises IQ, helps in learning new languages, slows the effects of aging, betters memory, enhances self-confidence and so much more. Singing in particular has great physical benefits too. It’s an aerobic activity that increases blood oxygenation, improves heart health and exercises core muscles.
In short, singing — no matter how bad — is a good thing. In fact, it might just make you better. Don’t let the haters keep you down.
Kate Beaudoin (Music.Mic) / February 18, 2015
Weblink : http://mic.com/
Photo credit : http://mic.com/

Did Henry VIII write Love Songs?

 What is a Theorbo?

Find out on Saturday 30th April at 2pm at St Andrews Presbyterian Church Newcastle. 

Three sublime choirs bring you.....
Revel in the Renaissance - German, French, Italian and English vocal music from the 13th-16th centuries
Sydney group, I Cantarini with its elegant and intricate 7 voices accompanied by Bernie Williams on Theorbo, local legends, Choir V with their sumptous blend of stunning unaccompanied voices and Acappella Nova with their generous and inspiring interpretations, will sweep you off your feet and away to the renaissance times in Europe.

Composers include King Henry VIII, Thomas Weelkes, William Byrd, William Corynish, John Wilbye, John Bennett, Francis Pilkington, Orlando Gibbons & Thomas
Morley.
Acappella Nova will be in authentic renaissance garb and our supper will also be traditional fare from the period.

Tickets are $25 at the door or online from 
https://www.stickytickets.com.au/36097/revel_in_the_renaissance.aspx

Sterling Stage Stars MC Bios

Hallam Ingram (or Hal Raiser) is a 14 year old now living at Bobs Farm, typically identified by his distinctive hair -  wild fairy floss one day, followed by tight coils the next.   Hal is a super fast breaststroke swimmer with half an aim to make it to Tokyo in four years time.  He is the eldest of 3 brothers and is generally a very handy young man.  Hal was recently living away from home at boarding school in Cairns where he fell in love with Gelato and Sailing.  Hal relaxes by riding his motor bike, driving tractors, learning to surf and helping with Wildlife Rescue. He is a regular member of Birubi Surf Life Club and helps patrol the beach to keep swimmers safe. 

Buckley Ingram (known as The Boo) is the 12 year old brother to Hallam and Randal Ingram.  The Middle Child with lots of swagger, Boo is blessed with a tenor voice since birth and has a size 58cm head circumference.  Boo loves Maths, modern Music and is rather obsessed with Soccer.  He can cook the best Chocolate Caramel Slice known to humans and has a talent for finding chocolates no matter how well they are hidden by his Mum.  Buckley has lived in the Torres Strait for two years where he learnt to fish for BIG fish, made some very cool Islander friends and realised how amazing Mangoes trees can be.  Buckley begrudgingly took tap dancing lessons for two years and is this year part of his first theatrical performance Back to the 80’s.