Events & NEWS
UPCOMING CONCERTS AND EVENTS
Alexander Technique lessons now available at Mitchell Conservatorium
MITCON NEWS
Bright Seraphim concert
Organist and pianist Mel Waters was joined by soprano Bethany Carter-Sherlock and trumpeter and tenor David Hood on Saturday 24th August in an afternoon’s concert of musical favourites by Mozart, Handel and others. David and Mel opened the program with Sammy Nestico’s Portrait of a Trumpet, after which Mel moved from the piano to the organ to play Percy Grainger’s delightful Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol. Bethany was in top form and sparkling voice in her Mozart and Handel arias, and her leading from the microphone of the audience hymn Jerusalem, along with a stirring trumpet descant, filled the Cathedral with sound and delighted the audience. The delicacy of the Cathedral organ shone throughout the classical and baroque vocal accompaniments as concert goers enjoyed the grandeur of Elgar and Bach, Bethany and David’s vocal solos, and the sounds of the trumpet ringing throughout the wonderful acoustic of the venue. You can view the entire program by clicking here.
Our Winter Strings Concert
About 70 people came along to the Winter Strings Concert at All Saints’ Cathedral on on 11th August, where they were treated to a spirited and elegant performance of Haydn’s Piano Concerto in D major by soloist Elena Day-Hakker and the Bathurst Chamber Orchestra. Mitchell Conservatorium string ensembles Stringendo conducted by Frances McLeod and Bella Forte led by Nicholas Newell played classical favourites by Mozart and others, as well as surprises by Morricone, John Denver, and even The Beatles! A special treat was provided by a quartet comprising Nicholas Newell and Frances McLeod on violins, Rowena Lloyd on viola, and Ben Lloyd on cello, which played the melodic and haunting Notturno from Borodin’s String Quartet No 2. The concert finished with performances by the Bathurst Chamber Orchestra of selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and the first movement of Mendelssohn’s String Symphony No 9. You can see the entire program by clicking here.
The Swing Factor Black Tie Ball
The Swing Factor Black tie ball was a raging success, packing the room with guests who all took to their feet and danced the night away. MitCon’s CONnections big band and Denison College’s Swing Factor took to the stage for a massive four-hour performance at BMEC. The big band played a number of jazz classics followed by a whole vocal and dance set which got everyone up and dancing after the delicious three-course dinner provided. Events like these are a fabulous way to showcase the talents of our staff and students alike… What a night!
Cold Christmas Cabaret
On the evenings of 21st and 22nd June, audiences enjoyed a winter Christmas recently at the Conservatorium’s Cold Christmas Cabaret. Hosted by Janelle Lindsay OAM and directed by Michelle Griffin, the senior vocal students of the Conservatorium were joined by vocal ensemble VOX and accompanied by CONnections jazz band. Featuring chilled winter classics, hot tunes and a rare off-season appearance by Santa, the attendees expressed their appreciation for a night of festive fun.
2024 Big Band Blast takes off
On the 23rd May, Bathurst’s mini Jazz festival, the “Big Band Blast”, struck again with Mitchell Conservatorium at the helm partnered with John Morrison and Jacki Cooper. Over a huge 3-day weekend, many teachers and students of MitCon had the opportunity to attend incredible concerts, get involved in workshops led by industry professionals and, most importantly, to strut their stuff across a three-stage venue and show off their performing abilities. Alongside the Navy Band, MitCon’s CONnections Big Band opened the weekend with a set of cracking swing tunes. The event concluded with a grand concert at BMEC with this year with dozens of local and state schools in attendance. MitCon Executive director Andrew Smith is keen to expand the event next year, making it more accessible to the public and providing more people with the opportunity to perform in a professional setting.
On the 23rd May, Bathurst’s mini Jazz festival, the “Big Band Blast”, struck again with Mitchell Conservatorium at the helm partnered with John Morrison and Jacki Cooper. Over a huge 3-day weekend, many teachers and students of MitCon had the opportunity to attend incredible concerts, get involved in workshops led by industry professionals and, most importantly, to strut their stuff across a three-stage venue and show off their performing abilities. Alongside the Navy Band, MitCon’s CONnections Big Band opened the weekend with a set of cracking swing tunes. The event concluded with a grand concert at BMEC with this year with dozens of local and state schools in attendance. MitCon Executive director Andrew Smith is keen to expand the event next year, making it more accessible to the public and providing more people with the opportunity to perform in a professional setting.
Former MitCon Executive Director Graham Sattler honoured by NSW Churchill Association
Former Mitchell Conservatorium Executive Director Dr Graham Sattler recently received a Churchill Medallion awarded by the NSW Churchill Association. Graham is highly regarded in the field of music education and a regular presenter at international Music Education conferences. Graham recently spoke at a number of regional conservatoriums where he outlined the results of his Churchill Fellowship research into best-practice musical inclusion and community music leadership training programs in the US, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Portugal and Armenia.
Conservatorium string ensembles kick off 2024 performing year
Congratulations to our 2024 Scholarship Recipients
MitCon piano students shine in recital
Congratulations to all Mitchell Conservatorium students who took part in the 17th March 2024 recital in Studio 1 at our Havannah Street campus, to our teachers (Michelle Griffin, Carolyn Miller and David Hood) who prepared them so well, and to parents and friends who supported them is so many ways, including filling the studio with a large and very appreciative audience! Participants ranged from the very young to the adult, and from beginner to advanced, and listeners enjoyed an incredible range of enjoyable music. This was the first time many of the students had played in public, and all did so well … these recitals will be a regular event at MitCon, so watch out for the next one.
November 2023 Concerto & Aria Showcase
Did you hear our Ukuleles in concert - twice?
The Conservatorium ukulele group UkeCons is staving off the winter cold by keeping busy!
As part of the Bathurst Winter Festival, on Sunday 9 July the group kept themselves and the audience warm by playing some hot jazz at the Bathurst Railway Museum. Everyone present enjoyed the music-making, the beautiful acoustic of the historical venue and its excellent central heating!
Less than two weeks previously, UkeCons presented a free singalong concert for everyone to come and enjoy at the MitCon studios in Havannah Street. Director Michelle Griffin had everyone clapping along and singing the tunes – even our office staff got involved!
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Big Band Blast lives up to its name
The Bathurst region Big Band Blast Festival opened on 26 May 2023 and MitCon CONnections Big Band was in the thick of it right from the very beginning. After a huge day of setting the stages and working alongside musical legends Jackie Cooper and John Morrison, CONnections members took to the stage with a performance that showcased everything from the talent of MitCon teachers and adult students right through to how much fun a performance can actually be!
A highlight for many participants was the rhythm section workshop on 28 May run by MitCon Executive Director Andrew Smith which 80 people attended. In fact, hundreds of big band and jazz enthusiasts from all over NSW attended the three-day spectacular, and support for a repeat in 2024 is strong!
Bathurst Chamber Orchestra performs music by Vivaldi, J.S. Bach and others with the Allegri Singers at Lithgow and Bathurst
All in all, nearly 160 people attended two concerts by the Bathurst Chamber Orchestra and the Allegri Singers on the weekend of 6-7 May 2023 despite very wintery weather. The first concert was presented at Hoskins Memorial Uniting Church in Lithgow, the second at Bathurst Uniting Church.
The program included the famous Vivaldi “Gloria”, with William Moxey conducting, soloists Bethany Carter-Sherlock (soprano) and Amelia Bland (mezzo-soprano), the Allegri Singers, and the Bathurst Chamber Orchestra, the latter led by violinist Nicole Hammill.
Vivaldi’s musical genius was also on display with a spirited rendition of the Concerto in C for Two Trumpets, with MitCon teacher David Hood and MitCon associate teacher Laykus Woods as trumpet soloists.
The audience was also treated to three pieces sang by the Allegri Singers: Gerald Finzi’s “Feat no more the heat o’ the sun”, Tomas Luis de Victoria’s “O Magnam Mysterium”, and American composer Frank Ticheli’s moving “Earth Song”. Luke Moxey ably accompanied.
Flautist Emma Knott featured in J.S Bach’s Suite No 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067, with the orchestra led by Dr Nicole Hammill.
Photographs from the 6-7 May 2023 Bathurst Chamber Orchestra concert
Strong MitCon representation at inaugural Bathurst Performance Exchange, Keystone 1889, 30 April 2023
On Sunday 30 April 2023 Mitchell Conservatorium vocal students joined by Conservatorium singing and piano teacher Michelle Griffin took to the stage at the inaugural Bathurst Performance Exchange at Keystone 1889, Keppel Street, Bathurst. This was an opportunity to showcase local talent and to perform and promote upcoming shows in a friendly and relaxed setting.
The Conservatorium students got to close out the show and brought down the house with rousing performance numbers from the Con’s two upcoming Cabaret evenings on 21 & 22 July 2023 at Keystone.
Enjoy these photographs taken on the day!
CONnections, Concert Band, Mitchell Young Voices & Vox at the Festival of Bells, 29 April 2023
Bathurst Chamber Orchestra performs Bach, Handel, Rimsky-Korsakov and others at Palm Sunday Concert at Bathurst Uniting Church
Photographs and videos from the BCO Easter Concert
Click on the video to hear the Bathurst Chamber Orchestra play “Were you there?” at the 2 April 2023 concert.
Click on the video to hear the Bathurst Chamber Orchestra play the Sarabande from J.S. Bach’s “Suite No 2 in B minor” with Emma Knott as flute soloist.
Congratulations to MitCon singing teacher Alyson Laver who was a finalist in the 2023 Bathurst Regional Songwriting Competition. Alyson performed her song, Four Walls, to a capacity and enthusiastic audience at a gala event at Keystone 1889 on 23 February 2023, with a fabulous six-piece backing band. We hope to hear more songs from Alyson over the coming year!
