A Celebration of Solo and Ensemble Music in 17th and 18th Community Concerts
- Concerts for All
- Aug 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 17
Our 17th and 18th Young Maestros Community Concerts were a celebration of exceptional music-making, bringing together acclaimed guest artists, accomplished young soloists, and prize-winning ensembles. They were a wonderful presentation of our mission to share high-quality classical music with our growing community, offering a welcoming experience for newcomers and a valuable stage for the performers.
Both concerts were held at the Master Music Studio in Glebe, where pianists had the pleasure of performing on the Steinway B-211 grand piano from Theme and Variations Piano Services.
Guest Artists and Diverse Instruments Highlight 17th Community Concert
Our 17th Community Concert on 19 July 2025 featured an outstanding lineup of skilled young musicians, and for the first time, we were delighted to welcome four guest artists to the stage.
Continuing with a feature that has proven effective, we also presented our audio listening guides before each piece: a short, narrated introduction sharing interesting details about the work to enhance the experience for our audience, regardless of their level of musical knowledge.
The program featured a diverse range of instruments. Pianists Oliver Sun and Ian Wu opened with sensitive interpretations of Debussy and Medtner, while Emma Rose Koeswandy offered a brilliant contrast of Scarlatti’s elegance and Liszt’s fiery Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11. The afternoon also featured the wonderful Trio Arcélo, whose unique combination of oboe, cello, and harp brought a rare and beautiful texture to Bruch's work originally written for clarinet, viola, and piano.
Four guest artists brought a high level of artistry to the stage, with violinists Regina Buenaventura-Alawadhi and Harry Wang adding a personal touch by introducing their pieces. Regina gave an engaging and eloquent description of capriccioso, likening its spontaneous and spirited nature to that of a capricious friend and demonstrating its musical equivalent on her violin. Her powerful performance of the Saint-Saëns, with pianist Dr Brieley Cutting, was followed by a poignant and incredibly nuanced rendition of Glazunov's Meditation.
Harry Wang then gave an informative introduction to his fiery Hubay fantasy. His performance with pianist Jack Cheng was a special treat for the audience, offering a glimpse into the pair's upcoming concert. The duo delivered a performance that showcased Harry's technique and built in intensity to a thrilling conclusion.
The wonderful collaboration between the guest artists was a highlight of the afternoon, and their interplay on stage was a masterful prelude to our next concert, which celebrated the art of ensemble performance.
18th Community Concert Celebrates Ensemble Music
The high calibre of performances continued into our 18th Community Concert on 16 August 2025, a special Ensembles edition. The concert celebrated the unique joy of collaboration and featured several prize-winning groups. It was wonderful to see familiar faces on stage, as young cellists Charlotte Mok and Celina Nguyen, who have performed in previous concerts, returned to perform with their friends Nina Bai and Isabella Kim.
Celina shared her thoughts on the experience:
"Thank you for the opportunity to play a duet with Bella. This helps us learn more about music beyond just lessons and practice. Performing live allows us to connect closely with people through music. Meeting other musicians is very helpful for improving our skills and musical styles. I look forward to more chances for us to grow together."
The art of collaborative performance was on full display. The Ryden Piano Trio, a group from the Conservatorium High School with a shared interest in 20th-century music, presented a thoughtful collaboration between strings and piano. Adding a novel texture to the program was the unusual four-cello quartet 4 Bartolomey. Finalists in Musica Viva’s Strike a Chord competition, they roused the audience with a captivating contemporary piece, garnering the loudest and warmest applause of the afternoon.
To close the concert, the string quartet The Vths gave an energetic and inspiring performance of Mendelssohn’s dramatic String Quartet No. 6. Their work on this piece recently earned them a Highly Commended at the Sydney Eisteddfod and the "Spirit of Chamber Music" prize at the Strike a Chord competition, and their performance was a fitting finale to an afternoon of exceptional chamber music.
Interactive & Educational: Music Trivia and Instrument Exploration
The vibrant community atmosphere that defines our concerts was ever-present through our interactive and educational segments. The opening Music Trivia was particularly lively at our 17th Community Concert, and this was made all the more exciting with generous prizes from Australian Piano Warehouse. This had young audience members enthusiastically identifying the piece and composer being played.
Both concerts concluded with our popular instrument exploration. At our 18th concert, the young performers themselves made this session particularly special. Members of the ensembles, especially of The Vths, were active and attentive, patiently guiding newcomers and sharing their passion for their instruments.
An Invitation to Young Musicians: Perform in our Concerts!
We are always looking for more young musicians to join our community. If you are a soloist or an ensemble, we invite you to register to perform at our upcoming concerts. It is a free and valuable opportunity to gain performance experience and share your music in a supportive and welcoming environment.
Don't Miss Our Next Concert
Join us for our upcoming concert in North Willoughby! We'll be heading directly to our Supporting Partner, Australian Piano Warehouse. Seats are limited, so reserve yours quickly.
Help us keep the concerts going. Any amount makes a difference.
Your support is vital. In just over a year, we have held 18 community concerts, providing a stage for over 80 young musicians. We need your help to continue this momentum.
Donate today to support our Young Maestros and make a lasting impact in music education. Any amount makes a difference. The Young Maestros Community Concert Series is supported through the Australian Cultural Fund (ACF), and donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Join the Concert Listening Challenge! 🎶
Inspired to make concert-going a regular adventure? We invite you to take on the Concert Listening Challenge. It is a free and exciting program designed to make your concert-going experience even more rewarding. The goal is to attend 15 concerts in 12 months to become a Classical Champion, earning special prizes at key milestones along the way.
To begin, simply download a free Challenge Card from our website or pick one up at our next concert.
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