Macquarie Philharmonia

2005 Concert Series

'Folktales and Legends'

Saturday 24 September 2005 Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre

Sunday 25 September 2005 Orange Civic Theatre

Conductors: Fiona Thompson (Musical Director)

Graham Sattler

Narrator: Vince Melton

Program:

Tchaikovsky - Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture

Prokoviev - Peter and the Wolf 'a musical tale for children'

Dvorak - Symphony No 9 'From the New World'

PRESS RELEASE 5 September 2005

‘Folktales and Legends’  - a concert for the whole family

The Macquarie Philharmonia concerts, ‘Folktales and Legends’ will be held on the last weekend in September. This Symphony Orchestra is made up of local professional and amateur musicians. The Central West is blessed with a large number of very talented musicians who teach in various towns and cities from the Blue Mountains to Dubbo. The Macquarie Philharmonia is an independent orchestra supported by a Foundation whose gold level contributors include Charles Sturt University, Bathurst and Blayney Councils, Reliance Credit Union, Bathurst Broadcasters, Central Tablelands Commercial Industries, McIntosh and McPhillamy, Peter Rogers Real Estate and Angus McKibbin Vet Hospital. These generous sponsors enable the Macquarie Philharmonia to put on 2 concerts a year – local musicians performing for local audiences and also giving some of this regions outstanding music students the opportunity to play along side professional musicians and experience the excitement of playing in a full symphony orchestra. 
The title ‘Folktales and Legends’ was inspired by the choice of music. Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture was written by Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky, who also wrote The Nutcracker and Swan Lake ballets, through music the listener is told the tale of these famous star crossed lovers. Prokofiev’s musical folktale ‘Peter and the Wolf’ has delighted generations of children and combines musical portraits of the characters with entertaining storytelling – the narrator will be Bathurst Theatre Company’s Vince Melton. This musical journey will conclude with the powerful and dramatic Symphony No 9 by Anton Dvorak, subtitled ‘From the New World’ in which the composer conveys his impressions of the various parts of America he visited, from the bustle and social whirl of cities like New York to the vast and silent prairies, he also used themes based on the Native and African American  music that he heard.
The Macquarie Philharmonia will be performing on Saturday, 24 September at 7.30pm in the Theatre at BMEC and on Sunday 25 September at 3pm in the Orange Civic Theatre. Tickets are on sale now - $20 Adult and $15 Child /Concession - from BMEC and Orange Civic Theatre box offices. Enquiries BMEC 6333 6161 and OCT 6393 8112.

Biography - Fiona Thompson, Musical Director

Fiona Thompson has had a lifetime association with orchestras. As a young violinist in her home town of Bath, Somerset, she played with her school orchestra and the local Youth Orchestra. After her family immigrated to Australia she gained a place at the Conservatorium High School majoring in Piano. In her first tertiary year she changed her major to Viola and after graduating with a DSCM, in 1978, she was involved in teaching in Sydney, Wollongong and Lithgow, tutoring for FAMTA in Wagga and Grafton and for music camps in Tamworth, Collaroy, Sydney and Geelong, and playing professionally.
 In 1980 she took up a string teaching position at the newly established Central Western Music Centre in Bathurst It was there she began her association with the Bathurst City Orchestras (affiliated with the CWMC) which comprised a Chamber Orchestra and a Youth Orchestra and to which she added an Intermediate String Ensemble, which she directed until last year. Fiona continues to direct and conduct both the Bathurst Chamber Orchestra and the Bathurst Youth Orchestra. At the beginning of 2005 Fiona was appointed as Executive Director of Mitchell Conservatorium however she continues to perform extensively throughout the Central West as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician.
Last year Fiona Thompson and Stephanie Camplin set up The Macquarie Philharmonia, presenting the inaugural concerts in June with Fiona as musical director and conductor. She continues as the Macquarie Philharmonia’s Musical Director and looks forward to developing the orchestra so that as many local professional, amateur and student musicians can be involved in performing for local audiences throughout the Central West.

Biography - Vince Melton, Narrator

Vince Melton is an experienced local actor. His early training was in amateur dramatic societies and he has performed regularly over the last 20 years with The Bathurst Players, now reformed as The Bathurst Theatre Company.  His most recent roles for the BTC have been in the controversial play The Censor and a powerful and acclaimed performance in Inheritance.
Vince has worked extensively in Film and Television. His professional appearances included All Saints, Water Rats, Young Lions and Home and Away.
Vince is excited about his first experience working with an orchestra and in particular as narrator of Peter and the Wolf which he remembers as a childhood favourite.

Biography - Graham Sattler, Conductor

Graham Sattler began his musical career as a trombonist, playing with the major orchestras of Sydney and Melbourne as well as ensembles ranging in style from early music, through commercial musical theatre to contemporary and experimental.
As a singer, Graham has worked as an ensemble member of the Australian Opera (1990 – 1994), soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia and the Symphony Orchestras of Sydney, Tasmania and West Australia and as a member of Sounds Baroque, touring with Musica Viva in Schools from 1997 to 2000
In 1992 Graham co-founded Three's Company Opera, a company designed principally to provide opera and music theatre for children. Three's Company Opera incorporated incy wincy, the popular ABC for Kids group for which Graham not only performed but also wrote and produced albums.
Graham has been Musical Director of several school band programmes, the Manly Warringah Choir and Orchestra, Sydney's Grange Orchestra and Ensemble as well as Choral Director of various Special Events such as the Sydney Paralympic Games Team Meet and the Opening of Sydney's Fox Studios. From 1997 - 2000 he was Musical Director of various Australian Youth Choir ensembles.
In 1999 / 2000 Graham consolidated his musical activities with a Master of Performance in Conducting degree from the University of Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
He was appointed in 2001 to one of the most challenging leadership positions in regional NSW – Music Director of the Orange Regional Conservatorium, where he has undertaken to develop the music education resources for that region.  This development is now taking the form, not only of conventional face-to-face tuition and direction of ensembles (which range from small school choral groups to symphonic orchestras and choirs), but also music tuition to more rural and remote communities via video-conferencing. 
As vice-president of the Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums he is developing a keen awareness of the broad-ranging music education issues affecting isolated students and communities across the state. He is currently preparing to commence PhD studies in the area of socio-cultural development through ensemble music programs.
In addition to his regular conducting responsibilities with the Orange Symphony Orchestra and other ORC ensembles, Graham’s 2005 activities include concerts as Presenter/Conductor with the Sydney Symphony’s Education Program.