Join us for an enchanting evening at MAP mima as we present Autumn Serenade: Mozart, Haydn & Friends.
This special chamber music concert features four of the Hunter region's most acclaimed musicians, promising a day of exquisite classical music that will transport you to the refined courts and salons of the 18th century.
Immerse yourself in the brilliance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's compositions, known for their clarity, balance, and effortless beauty. The afternoon will feature some of his most beloved chamber works, showcasing the lyrical elegance and intricate interplay that define his music.
This program showcases a rich selection of classical masterpieces, spanning Baroque to Romantic eras. Highlights include Handel’s lively "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba", Schumann’s introspective "Träumerei", and Mozart’s spirited "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik". Saint-Saëns’ elegant "The Swan" and Beethoven’s refined Minuet add lyrical charm, while Strauss II’s festive "Annen Polka" brings a lively dance element.
The second half features Haydn’s graceful "Serenade", Bach’s timeless "Air", and Mozart’s Flute Quartet in D major, showcasing the composer’s melodic brilliance. Massenet’s "Méditation" offers a moment of deep expression, followed by Boccherini’s elegant "Minuetto" and Mozart’s energetic "Rondo alla Turca", ensuring a dynamic and captivating finale.
PERFORMERS
Jennifer StGeorge has been immersed in the music field as performer, educator and researcher since her undergraduate studies at Melbourne University. As a flautist she has played in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the State Orchestra of Victoria. In the Hunter, and across Australia and France, she has performed in innumerable symphony, opera, ballet and chamber performances. She has taught in many schools and universities, and is the author of an award-winning PhD thesis on instrumental music education.
Elizabeth Holowell OAM commenced her career as a foundation member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and as a member of the William Hennessy String Quartet. She is also an internationally acclaimed teacher of violin and viola having held the position of Head of Strings in Universities in Australia and New Zealand. Her students have been prize-winners in major competitions and have graduated to leading orchestral and teaching positions around the world. Elizabeth has released several CD recordings of Australasian works for violin and piano. Her most recent CD, released by Centaur, USA, draws upon her specialism in Viennese classical performance practice in a recording of the Schubert Violin Sonatas with renowned fortepianist, Erin Helyard.
Anthea Scott-Mitchell studied the cello with Janos Starker in Bloomington (USA), with Paul Tortelier in San Francisco, and at Switzerland's International Menuhin Music Academy with Radu Aldulescu and Pierre Fournier. She was Co-principal cellist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Camerata Lysy Gstaad, Professoressa di Violoncello with Rome's Santa Cecilia Orchestra under Leonard Bernstein, principal cellist with the Camerata Strumentale di Santa Cecilia, and has been Guest Principal Cello with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Anthea became Senior Lecturer in Cello at the University of Newcastle, and has recorded an album, ‘Into the Silence’ with pianist Erin Sweetman.
Catherine Sheng-Cooper is a graduate of Newcastle Conservatorium where she gained her Master of Music degree in violin performance in 2005. Her most influential teachers are Elizabeth Holowell OAM and Timur Yakubov. Catherine is passionate about orchestra and ensemble playing and has been the concertmaster for Opera Hunter and the Lake Macquarie Philharmonic Orchestra for the past 5 years. She loves teaching at Heritage and Macquarie Colleges as well as at her healthy home studio.