Talent shines in Willoughby Symphony Orchestra’s Parisian Rhapsody

Last modified on 15 September 2022

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The world premiere of a new clarinet concerto by award-winning Australian composer Alice Chance forms part of a thrilling new symphonic concert by the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra (WSO).

On 8-9 October, the WSO will perform Parisian Rhapsody, the final concert in the 2022 season. The audience will experience the premiere of Échappsodie, a clarinet concerto featuring solo clarinetist Oliver Shermacher a grand finalist in the 2018 ABC Young Performers Awards.

 Featuring new Australian music talent, this concert is part of Willoughby City Council’s Emerge Festival.

The impressive lineup of the next generation of classical music stars includes up-and-coming conductor Sam Weller who has performed with Grammy Award winning artist Lorde.

2021 Composer in Residence, Alice Chance is a three-time finalist in the APRA AMC Art Music Awards in the category of Vocal/Choral work of the year, and was a recipient of funding from both Create NSW the Art Music Fund in 2021 for her upcoming work Heirloom with Rubiks Collective. She is currently based in Paris studying a master’s degree in composition with Régis Campo at l'École Normale de Musique de Paris–Alfred Cortot and l'Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin.

The 2021 Willoughby Symphony Young Featured Artist Oliver Shermacher is gaining recognition as one of the country’s finest young musicians. In 2018, he won the Freedman Fellowship Award, one of the most prestigious awards awarded to Australian classical musicians. This exciting concert will also see him perform Debussy’s haunting Première Rhapsodie 

Award-winning soprano Cassandra Doyle and Opera Australia baritone Simon Lobelson will join the orchestra and choir for Fauré’s sublime Requiem.

Mr Lobelson, who is fluent in nearly four European languages, has performed in over 75 operatic roles all around the world at venues including The Royal Opera House Covent Garden and The European Opera Centre.

Ms Doyle is a mezzo-soprano completing a Bachelor of Music (Performance) degree on merit scholarship at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has performed with Musgrove Opera, Illawarra Choral Society and Choir of St James. Ms Doyle enjoyed success at the Sydney Eisteddfod, and received the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Award in the semi-finals of the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition.

The Parisian Rhapsody concert whirls to life with Saint-Saëns’ wild and beautiful Danse Macabre, with conductor Mr Weller at the helm. Known for his flair and passion for classical music, the young conductor has performed in London, New York, Amsterdam and the Czech Republic. Mr Weller was the Associate Conductor for the Sydney Youth Orchestra and has worked with Sydney Philharmonic Choirs and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

Due to COVID-19, this concert series has been rescheduled from 2021. Tickets purchased for the 2021 shows are valid for the new dates.

Purchase your tickets now by calling 02 8075 8111 or visit https://www.theconcourse.com.au/Whats-On/Parisian-Rhapsody

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