More ‘bad news, good news’. The bad news is the ongoing lockdown for everyone. Added local impact has been the unavoidable postponement of The Galston Concerts scheduled for Sunday 26 September in Galston Uniting Church. Galston Talent
Let’s hear the good news! Local talented musician Jack Theakston, Galston Concerts’ Young Performer for 2020-21, has scored top prizes in the recent national championships for secondary school chamber music groups. The Strike A Chord contest organized by Musica Viva Australia held a national Livestream final on 15 August. Galston Talent
The Piccolo String Quartet, with Jack their cellist, was one of twelve finalists from 114 groups and 465 young musicians who applied. While lockdowns meant Piccolo missed out on a trip to perform live at the Melbourne Recital Hall their video performance did score three prizes.
As part of the Strike A Chord prize pool The Galston Concerts Awards were given to Piccolo Quartet and another Sydney resident group, the Bartholdy Piano Trio.
The Piccolos also achieved a ‘double whammy’: a performance at the Bendigo Chamber Music Festival in 2022 plus the very prestigious Australian National Academy of Music award of a week’s residency at this world-standard music mentoring program in Melbourne. Galston Talent
A Kenthurst ‘local lad’, Jack is a scholarship student at Hills Grammar and at the Sydney Conservatorium’s Rising Stars project on Saturdays. He now adds Strike A Chord to his earlier national profile as a member of the Australian Youth Orchestra. Well done Jack!
Here’s hoping that live concerts return soon, locally and nationally. If lockdowns allow The Galston Gala scheduled for 21 November will see Jack, the Piccolos, the Bartholdys and another young talent ringing in a more optimistic musical future – cause for hope in better times. Galston Talent
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