Conductor Simone Young will lead the Australian Youth Orchestra's first Brisbane concert in seven years.
Conductor Simone Young will lead the Australian Youth Orchestra's first Brisbane concert in seven years.
17 July 2012

The University of Queensland is supporting the Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) for their first appearance in Brisbane in seven years as their July concert partner.

Playing at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre on Saturday July 28, the orchestral line-up will include UQ students Michael Webb and Josephine Pollicina on viola and Daniel Smith, Oliver Scott and Nils Hobiger on cello.

Celebrated conductor Simone Young will lead one of Australia’s most outstanding lyrical sopranos, Emma Matthews in a selection of Mozart concert arias, and the award-winning youth orchestra in its performance of Richard Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony.

UQ Pro Vice-Chancellor Clare Pullar says many UQ students are current members and alumni of the AYO.

“The university sees the AYO as a very important training program for Australian musicians and is proud to be supporting the concert.”

Simone Young’s conducting career spans work with the Hamburg State Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Opera Australia for which she was named a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to the arts.

Before the Saturday concert, the Richard Pollett Memorial Award on Thursday July 26 at Customs House, which will announced at an event tobe attended by Vice-Chancellor Professor Debbie Terry. The award aims to support violinists who display outstanding personal and musical attributes.

Australian Youth Orchestra CEO Colin Cornish said the award had been made possible by the generosity of others.

“Richard attended UQ on an Australian Postgraduate Award to do a Master of Philosophy and was a member of AYO for many years over many programs. The generosity from around the world, of individuals and organisations has enabled this award to be perpetuated and honour Richard’s life,” he said.

Richard was a violinist and a finalist in the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer Awards in 2006 and 2007 and went on to win the Strings Final of the awards in 2010.

“It’s wonderful that Richard Pollett will be remembered with an award which has been endowed through many donations from UQ staff, alumni and community and we look forward to celebrating his talent and musical accomplishments,” Ms Pullar said.

Mr Pollet was one of dozens of AYO members who have studied at the university throughout the orchestra’s 64-year existence.

Concert details:

Saturday 28 July 8pm, Queensland Performing Arts Centre
MOZART concert arias
GRAINGER Youthful Suite: selections
R STRAUSS An Alpine Symphony
Tickets can be purchased via Qtix on 136 246 or visiting www.qpac.com.au