THE AUSTRALIAN INSTRUMENTAL CONVENTION   The Australian Instrumental Convention will be held in Grafton, NSW at Easter 2009 (April 10-13). The event will feature some of Australia's leading instrumentalists in the fields of woodwind, brass, strings and vocal. Sessions include masterclasses, teaching techniques, exam preparation, physio for musicians, technology, ensemble playing and much more. Delegates may be students, teachers, professional musicians or simply music lovers. There will be a Convention Symphony Orchestra, Big Band, Concert Band and various small ensembles. An ensemble competition will also run during the Convention - this will be an exciting event for ensembles of all sizes and experience! A trade hall will operate during the Convention. This will give delegates that chance to see and try the latest instruments, sheet music and technology. Register now for this fabulous event! Ensemble Competition

MARK EAGER Mark Eager has been at the forefront of music making in the UK since leaving the Royal Academy of Music with their highest award. Initially Mark was a trombonist with all the London orchestras. In 1993 he became Principal Trombone with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The BBC commissioned two new Trombone Concertos for Mark by John Pickard ‘The Spindle of Necessity’ 1998 and Alun Hoddinott ‘Trombone Concerto’ 2004. Both were recorded and broadcast by BBC Radio 3 to much critical acclaim. The International Trombone Association bestowed on Mark the ‘Orchestral Recognition Award’ and he received an ARAM from the Royal Academy of Music for the excellence of his playing and the promotion of the Trombone as a solo instrument. Mark studied violin and piano from an early age and has conducted since his late teens. In 2004 he decided that conducting was to take a central role in his career and he won a coveted scholarship to the Orkney Conductor’s Course during the St. Magnus Festival. Whilst there he studied with Martyn Brabbins, conducting the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Paragon Ensemble and the St. Magnus Festival Chorus. Notable recent successes include a highly acclaimed Australian tour, including a standing ovation for the newly formed North Queensland Youth Symphony; the opening concert at the Welsh Senydd with the Welsh Sinfonia; Stravinsky’s ‘Soldier’s Tale’ with Narrator/Actor Timothy West and the Southbank Sinfonia; a DVD and contemporary music concerts with the BBCNOW Chamber Ensemble and a Holst CD with Hertfordshire Wind Sinfonia. Mark is Principal Conductor of the Welsh Sinfonia (President: Karl Jenkins) and his “clear and highly musical direction” is rapidly developing it into Wales’ finest chamber orchestra. Together they have instigated the ‘PLAY’ (Performance, Learning, And the Young) and ‘Draig’ projects for schools, which are new initiatives aimed at regenerating interest in orchestras. Mark is Music Director of Hertfordshire Wind Sinfonia and newly appointed as conductor of Cardiff University Orchestra. Mark is a lecturer at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, a visiting tutor at the University of Bristol, an advisor to Trinity Guildhall and is involved in education projects for BBC TV and Radio. For more information please visit www.markeager.com Location

ANDY FIRTH

Andy Firth is not only one of the finest clarinet and saxophone players on the music scene today, but he is also a gifted composer and a dedicated educator. Wherever he performs, he leaves critics and fellow players gasping in awe of his ability to either dazzle with his blindingly fast, fluent technique or his soulful, beautiful tone. In short, a musician of extraordinary technique and finesse. “'Once in a blue moon along comes an artist whose talent, musicianship and expertise is awesome. Such a man is Andy Firth, whose reputation as a brilliant performer is Australia wide and acknowledged Internationally as well. He is a sought-after wonderful teacher, a lecturer of “good music” and a fine composer. I am privileged to be associated with him and also call him a friend.'” Maestro Tommy Tycho. AM. MBE

GEORGE TORBAY

George Torbay is one of the most sought after choral conductors in Australia. In 2000, he conducted and recorded the National Anthem for the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games. George conducted the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics and was the Choral Director of the Schools Spectacular and Chief Conductor Choral Music for The Arts Unit,NSW Department of Education & Training. Recently, George was the guest conductor for the Pacific Basin Music Festival in Hawaii and choral adjudicator for the International Music Festival in Sydney. George was also the Choral Director for the Australian Idol finale at the Opera House and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo - Salute to Australia. George also appeared as a judge of the highly successful Channel 7 show, 'Battle of the Choirs'.

STEPHEN ROBINSON

Stephen Robinson has held the position of Principal Oboe of Orchestra Victoria since 1985, and is one of Australia's leading performers of contemporary music. He studied with Norman Weiner at the Victorian College of the Arts, and also for two years with Heinz Holliger at the Musikhochschule in Freiburg, Germany. He has held positions in the Queensland Theatre Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as well as having performed for a time as Solo Oboe with I Solisti Veneti in Italy. Stephen is a founding member of Melbourne Windpower. As a member of Australia's internationally acclaimed contemporary music ensemble Elision, Stephen has performed at festivals in Australia and throughout the world and has collaborated with many contemporary composers. Stephen has recorded a CD of Australian Oboe works including the Mills Preludes and the Hindson Night Dances. Stephen lectures in oboe at the University of Melbourne and the Victorian College of the Arts, and examines for the Australian Music Examinations Board.

JANET WEBB   Janet was appointed to the Sydney Symphony as Principal Flute in 1986. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Music from the Canberra School of Music and has also studied with Andras Adorjan in France. In 1980 Janet became the Principal Flute in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. During her time in Singapore she also performed concertos with the orchestra and as a member of the Singapore Wind Quintet. She was also flute lecturer at Singapore University. Janet has appeared as soloist with various orchestras. Concerto performances with the Sydney Symphony include the Mozart flute concertos in G major and D major, the Mozart flute and harp concerto, the Vivaldi, Chaminade, Danzi and Honegger concertos, and a performance of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 4 with James Galway. As Principal flautist in the Sydney Symphony Janet regularly undertakes overseas tours, performs on the Orchestra’s many recordings, and performs for ABC radio, both with the Orchestra and in solo recital. Recently, Janet has crossed Australia giving numerous, enthusiastically received, solo recitals and masterclasses. Guest orchestral appearances include the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sadlers Wells Ballet, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony, Canberra Symphony, Sydney Philharmonia, Queensland Philharmonia and Canberra Opera. Janet also performs chamber music regularly as a member of the Sydney Soloists. Janet has been on the teaching staff at the NSW Conservatorium of Music for many years. and also teaches at the Sydney and NSW Universities. In 2001 Janet was the recipient of the Whelan Trust Scholarship which enabled her to study in the US and Canada. In 2003, Janet and her accompanist – Jocelyn Edey–Fazzone, released their CD – “Tango And All That Jazz” which includes works composed for them by Australian composer– Andy Firth.

JOCELYN EDEY-FAZZONE

Jocelyn Edey-Fazzone studied piano with Nancy Salas[Sydney Conservatorium] and flute with David Cubbin[Canberra], Maxence Larrieu[Switzerland] & Robert Willoughby[USA]. She has performed with the SSO, TSO, QSO and Collegium Academicum orchestras, has a large private teaching practice and also teaches flute at the Sydney Conservatorium and Wesley Institute of Creative Arts. She is a senior AMEB examiner and frequently gives flute master classes and adjudicates competitions. Jocelyn regularly performs with Windfall ensemble, a Sydney based wind/piano 6-tet. Jocelyn has a special interest in working as associate artist on piano with flutists; she frequently collaborates in recitals with Janet Webb. They released their CD, Tango and all that Jazz, in 2002. In 2004, Jocelyn was awarded a prestigious AMEB Shield Award for best teaching results in NSW.

BRENDAN JOYCE Violinist Brendan Joyce leads Brisbane's Camerata of St John's (string chamber orchestra) and commutes to Sydney to play for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. Brendan has appeared as a guest Associate Concertmaster for the Tasmanian Symphony and Qld Philharmonic Orchestras, has played with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and America's Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, and was leader of the Qld Youth Symphony and the Australian Youth Orchestra. He performs regularly as a recitalist, as a guest with chamber ensembles and at music festivals, and he was recently a recording artist for the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB). A frequent violin tutor for Education Qld's Musically Outstanding Scholars programme (MOST), Brendan has also tutored the strings at the McGregor Summer School, the Gondwana Voices National Choral School, and for the federal government's Priority Country Area Programme, and he teaches for Griffith University Qld Conservatorium. Brendan was born and raised in Ayr, Queensland, and his teachers there were Joyce Crooks, Lyn Darveneza and Stephen Frewen-Lord. He undertook extensive studies with Elizabeth Morgan in Brisbane, and furthered these in America with Gerald Fischbach, William Preucil and chamber music with David Salness and the Guarneri String Quartet. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin performance from The University of Maryland and was awarded there for his leadership of the Maryland Handel Festival Opera Orchestra, and for his performances and premieres of the music of twenty Australian composers.

PAULA MELVILLE-CLARK Paula Melville-Clark is a music educator and registered classroom teacher with over 30 years of experience. She currently conducts Music and Movement programs for children and teaches piano from her studio in Toowoomba.  As a Dalcroze practitioner and experienced musician, Paula is a regular guest teacher at many workshops and conferences in Australia and overseas. As President of the Toowoomba Eisteddfod she is actively involved in supporting music in the community. She is a regular consultant to several local Early Childhood Centres. Her innovative approach to music in the early years is documented in her book, ‘Music, Moving & Learning in Early Childhood’ published in 2006. Paula has held teaching positions in England, France, Hong Kong & Australia working with children, tertiary students, teachers, dancers and actors in many areas related to music and movement. She was Lecturer in Music and Music Education at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) from 1996 – 2008 and the founding Director of the Junior Academy of Music at USQ from 2003 – 2006. Qualifications & Memberships: MMusic (USQ); GDipMusic; BA (Creative); Licentiate Guildhall School of Music (London); Licentiate Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (London); Dalcroze Certificate (Australia) President of City of Toowoomba Eisteddfod Inc; Member of Qld College of Teachers; Member Music Teachers Association of Qld;  Director of Music & Movement Education Australia.

BOB DEMKIN   Bob’s passion for stringed instruments was born many years ago after he discovered a beautiful, although dilapidated, antique violin in a shop. Already highly skilled in the repair and restoration of antique furniture, he dismantled the violin and lovingly restored  it to its former glory. Over recent years Bob has acquired violins which ‘have seen better days’, restored them and lent them out to aspiring young players in the Bowral area, where he lived until mid-2005.  Since moving to Urunga he has continued restoring, repairing and hiring out violins to local students. Nothing gives Bob more joy than resurrecting a wonderful old violin then  seeing  his ‘born again’ instrument being utilised and enjoyed by others. Treasured old instruments, some of which have been in a family for many years, have been dragged out of attics and cupboards by numerous friends and other locals and made their way to Bob’s workshop.  Special projects of Bob’s have included the complete restoration of a 1763 violin and another made in 1811.  Both of these instruments were made by famous German luthiers. Although his main interest is violins, Bob’s skills also extend to other stringed instruments, from violas to ‘cellos and even double basses.  He has had the pleasure of setting up many a new instrument for local schools in the Bellinger Valley.  As a gesture of support for the newly formed Bellingen Youth Orchestra, he offered his repair and setting up service free of charge.  As a result of this offer he has been nominated as a major sponsor of the orchestra. His thoroughness and attention to detail have seen him become a highly respected luthier on the Mid North Coast and he is in constant demand for his expertise and advice.   Location