Masses of music this month

August is a month of music at the University of Adelaide.

The highly popular Lunch Hour Concert Series returns to Elder Hall, with another incredible line-up that just can't be found anywhere else in Adelaide - especially for only $5 a ticket!

And with a program guaranteed to lift your spirits, the Evening Concert Series also continues this month, featuring three beautiful masses.

For full program details visit the website: www.music.adelaide.edu.au

Elder Hall Lunch Hour Concert Series

John Chen, winner of the 2004 Sydney International Piano Competition, will launch the new series of Lunch Hour Concerts in Elder Hall with a recital on Friday, August 6 at 1.10pm.

At just 18 years of age, the Malaysian-born pianist was one of the youngest competitors in this prestigious competition. In addition to his first prize he was awarded five special prizes and recording contracts with Naxos Records and ABC Classics.

John's performance will feature works by Beethoven, Ravel, Gordon Kerry and Balakirev.

Other highlights in the lunch-hour series include performances by some outstanding former students of the Elder School of Music. Lance Coburn, winner of the Tomassoni International Piano Competition, will return to Australia and give a solo piano recital on August 27. Pei-Sian Ng, Elder Overseas Scholar, and his brother, Pei-Jee Ng, also a scholarship holder, will give a combined cello recital on September 10.

The Lunch Hour Concerts are held at Elder Hall every Friday at 1.10pm, from August 6 to November 19. Tickets are $5, available at the door from 12.30pm on the day of each concert. Special subscription passes are also available for $60. For more information contact the Concert Office on (08) 8303 5925.

Elder School of Music Evening Concert Series

Music of the Masses, the fourth concert in the series, will be held at 8pm on Saturday, August 28 in Elder Hall.

Three beautiful masses make up the program. The first is Benjamin Britten's Missa brevis in D for treble voices and organ performed by Bella Voce, conducted by Christie Anderson.

The second mass in the program is Haydn's well-known Missa Sancti Johannes de Deo, which was written in honour of the founder of the Brothers of Charity, and also features the Elder Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra conducted by Keith Crellin. Named The Little Organ Mass because of its short, beautiful solo in the benedictus for soprano and organ obligato, it features organist Joshua van Konkelenberg who is currently enrolled in the Honours program in Composition at the Elder School of Music.

The final mass in the program, Duruflé's Requiem, is performed by the Elder Conservatorium Chorale and Adelaide Voices conducted by Carl Crossin, with organ soloist Anthony Hunt. A hauntingly beautiful piece, this is Maurice Duruflé's best known and most widely performed work.

Tickets: $25 adult, $17 concession, $10 student from all BASS outlets or dial'n'charge on 131 246. (University of Adelaide staff at concession prices.)