Quartet composes future for students

Music

The Australian String Quartet is helping to inspire the next generation of composers thanks to a new competition involving University of Adelaide students.

The competition saw students compose original works for string quartet of no longer than six minutes.

From those entries, the Australian String Quartet (ASQ) chose the six best compositions. The winning students were given the chance to workshop their compositions with the ASQ ahead of a public concert of each piece in Elder Hall, which was recorded.

Three of the six compositions - by students David Lang, Daniel Schricker and Steven Tanoto - were also performed to a capacity audience by the ASQ as part of the Lunchtimes at Elder Hall concert series last month.

"The ASQ has a strong commitment to supporting the work of Australian composers," said ASQ violinist Sophie Rowell.

"While much is already done to provide encouragement and support to new, emerging performers, we felt we should do something to encourage new composers as well.

"The response to the competition has shown us that there is a lot of talent that deserves to be fostered. We're really happy with the results, and the winning students have each received a CD recording of their new works. We hope this will be a great start to their very promising careers."

Professor Graeme Koehne, Professor of Composition with the University's Elder Conservatorium of Music, said the competition had many benefits for students.

"One of the great things to emerge from this competition is the chance for students to workshop their compositions with the ASQ. They're learning from incredibly talented musicians who have a wealth of experience behind them," Professor Koehne said.

"The students were thrilled by the opportunity to create new works, and to have the ASQ give those works a world premiere."

Following the success of this year's competition, the ASQ's support for composers will become a major part of its program for 2010.

The Quartet will host its first National Composers Forum at the University of Adelaide next August. Led by Carl Vine, one of Australia's most distinguished composers, the Forum is aimed at encouraging and supporting emerging composers.

As with the competition held this year, the Forum will provide a rare opportunity for these artists to workshop their compositions and hear them played by one of Australia's finest quartets.

The ASQ's concert program for 2010 will also include works by Australian composers Paul Stanhope and Peter Sculthorpe.

The Quartet's subscription season includes three national tours: Flight (March) presented in association with the Adelaide Festival, Songs of Travel - Gala Concert (May/June) and Unity (November).

Adelaide-based pianist and senior Lecturer at the Elder Conservatorium Lucinda Collins will join the ASQ on stage for tour one, while tour two showcases internationally acclaimed baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes.

"The intimacy of performing in a small group means we can really feed off each other's energy; it enables you to become the other instrument," Rhodes said.

"Sophie, Sally, Rachel and Anne are so amazingly talented and vibrant and to be able to create music with them is one of the highlights of my year."

In addition to its 2010 national season, the Quartet will perform at a number of festivals around Australia. The ASQ will also return to the UK and Germany in 2010, and the players will record their second album for ABC Classics.

The Australian String Quartet is Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music.

The Quartet comprises: Sophie Rowell (violin), Sally Boud (viola), Anne Horton (violin) and Rachel Johnston (cello).

The 2010 subscription season is now on sale. Phone 1800 040 444 or visit www.asq.com.au