Global talent goes local for new music series

Music

Classical guitarist Aleksandr Tsiboulski's future is indeed full, and bright.

The 25-year-old University of Adelaide Music PhD student and international performer has recently been named as one of two Adelaide students to receive a prestigious Fulbright scholarship in 2005 (visit Fulbright scholar Josh reaches new watermark story for information on other recipient, Josh Cantone).

And later this month he will kick off his own series of concerts known as Chambered by performing with one of Australia's best known musical talents, fellow guitarist Slava Grigoryan.

Alex was born in the Ukraine and moved to Adelaide in 1989, later attending the specialist music school, Marryatville High School.

He has a first-class Honours degree in Music from Australian National University, and among a swathe of achievements, won the Australian Guitar Competition in 2000, and last year was named the SA Young Achievers' Award in the Arts.

In addition to studying at Adelaide, and his playing commitments here and around the world, he also commutes to teach classical guitar part-time at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne.

He will use his Fulbright scholarship to head to the US in 2006 to continue his PhD research into the works of the great Mexican composer, Manuel Ponce (1886-1948), and developing his playing.

"I'm really looking forward to going to the US on the Fulbright, and also just to be immersed in the music scene over there for a sustained period of time," Alex said.

"There is always a lot going on over there: performances, conferences, festivals, and competitions.

"There'll be a lot for me to do and experience."

Alex, who is studying for his PhD at Adelaide under the supervision of the Elder School of Music's Dr Mark Carroll, said Adelaide was an ideal base for him to continue his career at this stage of his life.

"Adelaide has always been my permanent address, and I always like to come back here between trips," he said. "I have to say that I quite like the lifestyle here, too!"

On Sunday, May 15, Alex will join forces with fellow Soviet-born guitar virtuoso Slava Grigoryan for the first concert, Ecos de Cuba, of the Chambered concert series, which has been organised by Alex personally.

He said the idea for Chambered came out of his desire to bring music "up close" and approachable to Adelaide audiences, by collaborating with leading young musicians such as Grigoryan and performing in venues where the divide between audience and performer is minimised.

In the second concert, Baroque and Beyond, he will join Ben Dollman (violin), Glenys March (harpsichord) and Zoe Barry (cello), and for the final concert Songs of the Half Light he will perform with Adelaide soprano Emma Horwood.

"For Chambered I wanted to give Adelaide audiences the opportunity to hear and see hear how good our local musicians are," he said.

"Another reason is that there are many young artists here in Adelaide that I really admire, like Emma Horwood and Ben Dollman, and seeking to collaborate with people like that seems like an obvious and enjoyable thing to do."

Alex will go on to perform solo recitals in Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Adelaide, Ukraine, the UK, Canada and Italy later this year. He will appear with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra with Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, and record Manuel Ponce's Guitar Sonatas in Florence for an Italian record label for international release.

Ecos de Cuba, the first concert in the Chambered series, will feature Aleksandr Tsiboulski and Slava Grigoryan on Sunday, May 15 at 6pm at The Jade Monkey, 29a Twin Street, Adelaide. Tickets are $25/20, and are available through BASS on 131 246, or by emailing adelaideconcerts@yahoo.com.au

Story by Ben Osborne