News

8 March: Jet-Stream QSO cond. Sarah-Grace Williams, QSO Studio, Southbank Brisbane, 7pm.
12-13 April: Qinoth Camerata of St Johns, Brisbane and Toowoomba, 7pm.
22 April: Sea Chronicles Greta Bradman and the Flinders Quartet, Melbourne Recital Centre Salon, 6pm
3 May: Machinations QSO cond. Ben Northey, QSO Studios, Southbank, Brisbane, 7pm.

2013 is the Britten Centenary, and to mark this year, Gondwana Choirs commissioned Paul to write a new piece which they will premiere in Sydney and tour to the UK and France.

Paul's "Lament to Saint Cecilia" is a darkly humorous piece for SATB Choir intended as a shadow for the ebulient Britten work "Hymn to St Cecilia". The performances by Gondwana Chorale (conducted by Paul Holley) were performed inthe UK and France. Click here for to hear a performance.

In exciting news, Paul has been awarded a Sydney Myer Creative Fellowship to pursue his composition schedule in 2013-2014. These prestigious fellowships reconize excellence for early to mid career artists and offer financial support for them to continue in their field. Check out the list of awarded fellows – some really great stuff happening in the arts in this country right now!

The Benaud Trio had their final programs for 2012 and performed, as usual with aplomb! This was recognised in their premiere of Paul's new piece for soprano Greta Bradman and the Trio reviewed here:

"The Benauds meet any challenge that comes their way, and perform with relish – as they continued to do when guest soloist Greta Bradman joined them for the second work, the world premiere of Paul Stanhope’s two Lorca songs: Songs of the Seven Maidens and Madrigals. Beautiful in basic black, Bradman commanded the stage, even in the more intimate space of the Salon.

"Her voice is powerful without being strained, and her resonant legato was secure above the pizzicato and driving rhythm of the first song. Just as the violin had some interesting effects (Sighing? Bird cries?) so Bradman’s rising and falling tones emphasised words like ‘dying’.

"Madrigals began with subdued strings and the piano seeming to explore the score, bringing Bradman’s pure voice to the forefront. Her diction, secure high notes and equal command of the lower register were all noteworthy, but above all was the conveying of emotion. Farid’s reaching inside the piano to achieve a last, very soft note, concluded Stanhope’s work which was given the best possible premiere – and deserves many more performances." Suzanne Yanko, ArtsHub, 24 November 2012.

In exciting news, Paul Stanhope's orchestral music will now be handled through Clear Music Australia. You can hire sets of orchestral parts and also request perusal scores through the Alfred Music Hire library, administered by Clear Music.

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