The UQ School of Music through out the year promotes excellence in performance and composition by inviting students to participate in a range of competitions. This concert will feature students who are finalists in the Richard Pollett Prize, Ethel Osborn Prize and Burnett William Wendorff Memorial Prize for Classical Piano.
Daniel Chiou
César Franck (Delsart) Violin Sonata, (arr. cello) II. Allegro
Having received his Associate Diploma (AmusA) at the age of 15, Daniel has since been collaborating with musicians and ensembles from ANAM (Australian National Academy of Music), Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the Queensland Conservatorium of Music for festivals and concerts. Daniel regularly performs with the Pulse Chamber Orchestra and the University of Queensland Symphony Orchestra as principal cellist, which hold great connections with the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra in China, where Daniel was invited to perform at their mid-year concert in 2017. Daniel has been a prize winner of several competitions held at the University, including the Richard Pollet Memorial Strings Prize (2018 and 2019), and the Sid Page 4MBS Chamber Prize (2018), where he is now in his fourth year studying a Bachelor of Music (honours) degree, under the tutelage of cello master Patrick Murphy.
Daniel is also a member of the newly formed Islay Trio, comprising of the young budding talents of Rollin Zhao (violin) and Caleb Salizzo (piano). This year, the trio is very excited to be performing at various venues across the Gold Coast and at the Bangalow Music Festival as part of the Southern Cross Soloists Next Gen Artists program in August.
Benjamin Anderson
Prokofiev Piano Sonata no 3 Op. 28.
Ben is currently completing the fourth year of his Bmus (Honours) degree at the University of Queensland, majoring in classical piano performance. He began piano lessons in 2007, and in 2013, achieved his AmusA. Studying under the tutelage of Dr Anna Grinberg, Ben has enjoyed exploring both solo repertoire while also developing his love for collaborative performance through chamber music and accompanying. Ben has participated in masterclasses and workshops conducted by Lisa Moore, Stephen Chin, Ammiel Bushakevita, and Laetitia Grimaldi, exploring aspects of solo performance, chamber music, and improvisation. Since commencing studies at UQ in 2016, he has regularly performed in concerts and festivals as a member of the UQ Chamber Singers.
Naomi Klazinga
"Le temps des lilas" by Ernest Chausson
"Let the florid music praise" from On this Island by Benjamin Britten
"Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" from La Rondine by Giacomo Puccini
Naomi Klazinga is a soprano in her second year of studying a Bachelor of Music (Hons) under the tutelage of Sarah Crane and Shaun Brown. She feels very grateful to be able to perform frequently with the UQ singers. In 2017 she had the opportunity to be a soloist in the Australian premier performance of Dona Nobis Pacem by Ralph Vaughn Williams, performed with UQ Chorale and QYO2. In March of 2018, she travelled to China to perform in Xi’an with seven other singers from the School of Music. Outside of studying, Naomi has sung as a dep with the Schola of St. Stephen’s, as well as with the Cathedral Choir at St. John’s. Naomi has been singing since she was little – her first performance being at the tender age of seven - and is passionate about sharing her love for singing and music.
Troy Castle
“Lean Away” by Gene Scheer
“I’m Glad I’m Not a Tenor” by Ben Moore
Troy is a third year bachelor of music (honours) student studying classical voice at the School of Music, The University of Queensland under the direction of Mr. Shaun Brown. Beginning his musical education at age five with Sr. Anne Gallagher OAM, Troy studied piano and trumpet before realising his passion for voice. Troy has been awarded an Associate Diploma of Music (voice) with distinction from the Australian Music Examinations Board.
Troy’s musical career has been varied with performance opportunities across the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland. He has performed as a guest artist with the Ipswich City Symphony Orchestra, as a soloist at Opera with the Cows in Cowper, he was a featured associate artist with the Australian Men’s Rugby Choir in Canberra and in 2018 toured Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China with the UQ School of Music performing with the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra and at the Xi’an Conservatory of Music. Troy was the Baritone soloist performing the Faure Requiem with the University of Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the UQ Chorale at QPAC in 2018.
This year Troy sang the role of Eisenstein in Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus with the Cuskelly College of Music Summer School and performed in the Australian premiere of Richard Ferguson’s Opera Galactica with Brisbane City Opera.