Young Maestros Warm up Lunchtime Concert at St James' Church
- Aug 11
- 2 min read
Our Community Concert series returned for its 21st run on August 5th, held at the majestic St James' Church in King St. We showcased a remarkable breadth of classical repertoire that afternoon, with four instruments masterfully played by seven young maestros – including an organ work, made possible by the church's historic organ.
The magnificent architecture of church provided an unparalleled acoustic setting. A particular highlight was hearing the pedal harp effortlessly carry throughout the space, beautifully played by Caressa Peng. Her rendition of Dvořák's "Song to the Moon" resonated perfectly, all nuances audible, allowing the delicate, shimmering textures of the instrument through. Audience members were also treated with the majestic sound of the St James' organ reverberating through the walls. Otto Puhtajevics performance of Karg-Elert's Nun danket alle Gott filled the space with an awe-inspiring, grand sound that was deeply fitting for the historic space.
The Program
The musicality displayed across the entire program was exceptional. From the lively, folk-inspired rhythms of Monti's Csárdás to the nuanced piano works of Haydn, Blumenfeld and Chopin – Lily Song, Kite Wang, Ian Wu and Angel Quingaiza all demonstrated notable skills and dedication to their craft.
As violinist Harry Wang, who performed an intricate Bach Partita, so eloquently shared with the audience on the day:
"I want to thank Concerts for All for providing us an opportunity to perform. So much of what we do is contained in a practice room so every opportunity that you get to play for those around you – people who enjoy music – is always a great opportunity."
This sentiment captures the very essence of the Young Maestros series – transforming solitary hours of rigorous practice into a shared experience of joy, connection and community.
We are incredibly grateful to the wonderful supportive team at St James' Church for helping us create a welcoming environment for both our performers and the audience. Reflecting on the afternoon's success, the St James' team kindly noted, “Despite the cold, the musicians warmed the space with their musicality and beautiful performances!”.
Be sure to watch the highlight video above to listen and relive this beautiful afternoon of music! We look forward to providing many more opportunities for these young artists to shine outside of the practice room.
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