| Newsletter (2007) | |
Greetings Stacey Supporters!
First and foremost I must alert you to the fact the Stacey Trust IS still going! In the past few months I have frequently been asked if we are still functioning, as our two much loved annual fund-raising events were given their last hurrahs in 2006.
There is plenty of news on the Stacey Trust front, firstly I would like to reflect on the wonderful success of our final fundraising events:
We farewelled a longstanding partnership with the Arts Centre, at our final Morning Melodies. The ‘Stars of the Future’ concert took place on Monday 14 August at The Hamer Hall, The Arts Centre @ 11.00am & 1.30pm. Our heartfelt and sincerest thanks to The Arts Centre for supporting us and allowing us to contribute to their Morning Melodies program over the past 10 years.
This concert was the biggest collection of emerging and young talent to grace the stage of our Morning Melodies ever! As always, this cross-genre concert of music and dance paid tribute to Stace’s diverse and wonderful career directed by our own Mark Gogoll. In one short, ambitious hour the audience saw; a full symphony orchestra – the Melbourne Youth Orchestra, directed by Peter Bandy; energetic, fun, song and dance numbers from Centrestage; superb singing from VoxSynergy (Melbourne Youth Music) lead by Kathryn Sadler, special guest soloist Rebecca Chambers, a pianist of incredible skill for her years; an introduction to Nicholas Buc, a young composer and conductor (to watch in the future!) and special guest Roger Lemke (who worked closely with Stace over the years); all brought together by the delicious and vibrant Rhonda Burchmore who sang with her usual panache as well as being our glamorous MC. A special version of ‘Make Our Garden Grow’ was sung by VoxSynergy and joined by the whole company, accompanied by the Melbourne Youth Orchestra as a tribute finale to ‘Stace’. This piece, from Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, is the signature song for the Stacey Trust. It is also a complex and difficult musical piece and we take our hats off and applaud those who brought it to life and made it so memorable and beautiful to hear, resounding through the Hamer Hall (as it did in 1996 at Stacey‘s Memorial Concert)
took place at the Hifi Bar & Ballroom (the one and only venue this event took place in for 9 years) on Sunday 15 October 2006, independently of the Melbourne Festival but during it, as always. As the Melbourne Festival countdown for 2007 is upon us it is hard to believe this unique event has been put to bed and will not suddenly bob up again as it has each year. But it was a fitting finish and those who shared the night with us will treasure some very sentimental and beautiful moments of impromptu top class big band music and vocal performances along with a moving tribute to Brian Stacey himself. It was important that we remind those who were there (many faithful Stacey Night supporters over the years and the like) who Brian was. Stace was encapsulated by video footage and a speech from Kathryn Sadler, Chair of the Trust (and his partner of 10 years). The segment finished with a very moving version of ‘Make Our Garden Grow’ sung by VoxSynergy conducted by Kathryn Sadler and accompanied by the Stacey Big Band conducted by Reuben Zylberszpic (kindly arranged by Graeme Brown) For those of us that knew ‘Stace’ it was an opportunity to both miss him and celebrate his life, and for those 10 years on who are too young to have any idea about him, it gave a nutshell insight into the unique and versatile conductor he was, as well as a much-loved friend, partner, father and nurturer of emerging talent.
As always a multitude of people made this glorious night possible and we wish to thank every one of them. Though we cannot acknowledge you all I must give mention to the following; Marty Fields who has MC’d for the past 5 years and given his undivided support, Madman Entertainment who sponsored the event by providing the audio/footage equipment and everything that went with it for the night as well as the table decorations, the sensational ‘Stacey Big Band’ (what an amazing gang of top class musos, how lucky we have been, thank you!) and it’s fearless leader Reuben Zylberszpic who has put the band together every year and conducted it with skill and humour, Janet Creaner for doing many jobs a lot of people would prefer not to do as well as Head Door Honcho, Kelvin Gedye and Cameron for their outstanding Sound, Mark Allan for fab lighting every year and finally the Stacey Events Committee, six dedicated workers who have met many times every year to make sure the next Stacey Night did happen; Kathryn Sadler, Mark Gogoll, Mindy Stacey, Reuben Zylberszpic, Beck Wilkinson (and myself) In all honesty it’s been quite a ride for all of us together and as individuals, but there has always been a great sense of willing teamwork, respect and hope and on a personal note I will miss the regular contact with this clever, busy and driven bunch of people. Who knows perhaps we will make a big comeback for the 20 Year Anniversary!?!
To enjoy some of the great memories of these events over the years we have updated our website to include photos, fliers and programs from them. www.staceytrust.com.au
Our 10th and youngest Stacey Award winner was announced at the Helpmann Award’s Media Launch at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Monday 9th July. 22 year old, Dane Lam flew into Melbourne from Brisbane for the day to receive his $5,000 prize presented to him by Kathryn Sadler (Chair) It was wonderful to finally have a winner receiving the Award in Melbourne, where Stacey was based and much of the latter part of his career grew. We were not only delighted to meet this outstandingly talented young man, we were immediately engaged and impressed by the way he received and spoke when presented with his Award. Dane will be the first Australian to study conducting at New York’s Julliard school for which he was awarded a scholarship to cover his tuition for 2 years, but needed support to cover living expenses for his time in New York. He flew to Sydney on Monday 6 August to appear as a presenter for the Helpmann Award’s Ceremony at the Capitol Theatre and the following week flew to New York to begin his studies at Julliard.
Extract from Dane Lam acceptance speech 9 July 2007:
“…Several of my mentors and friends in the music business have recounted their own stories of Brian’s prowess in front of the orchestra, be it on the stage or in the pit and I am thrilled to be awarded this prize in his honour.
In any musical or cultural life, the conductor’s role is an important one. Of course not in an egotistical or self-important way, but rather as a facilitator of wonderful music making; of communication between composer, performers and most importantly the audience. It is a marvellous thing then that the Brian Stacey Trust has recognised the significance of developing Australian conductors and has enthusiastically thrown their support behind the Brian Stacey Award.
This award is significant for my development as conductor as it will assist me in attending the Juilliard School and living in New York. It will help me immerse myself in the amazing cultural melting pot of the city; it will help me to draw inspiration and guidance from the luminaries of the profession; it will help me to assimilate all this and ultimately return to Australia and make my contribution to our musical life…”
See Dane Lam Biog at the end of the newsletter.
We have secured S10 in the State Theatre Stalls for a memory plaque for Stace. A massive thank you to those who donated to this in 2006, I will confirm when the plaque is done. Finally we will have a concrete memory in an appropriate theatre for Brian Stacey, not before time!
Of course the only way we can continue to encourage emerging Australian conductors through our annual Stacey Award in the future, is by your ongoing generosity and support. The Stacey Trust is proud to have given over $50,000 now to 10 wonderful recipients and we hope we can continue to do this again and more into the future with your help. Even the smallest donation will make a difference and we thank you for your support in the past as well as the future.
A donation/contact information update slip is enclosed – please take the time to fill it out so we can keep in touch. You can either post it back with your donation and or new contact details or simply email me your new contact info on staceytrust@optusnet.com.au.
As my 13 year old son said to me recently, ‘I cannot imagine the world without music’ and I am sure you will all agree. Let’s keep the Australian music garden growing and healthy as we nurture those who will tend the plot with expert and loving care.
Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter. In Stace’s words ‘go well’
Andrea Gaze
Administrator for the Brian Stacey Memorial Trust
Winner Brian Stacey Award 2007 – Dame Lam
Dane Lam is one of the leading graduates of Symphony Services Australia’s Conductor Development Program. Through this program he has conducted the symphony orchestras of Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania and Adelaide, The Queensland Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. He has studied with a range of eminent conductors including Jorma Panula, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Johannes Fritzsch, Arvo Volmer and Werner Andreas Albert and has enjoyed a close working relationship with Christopher Seaman. Dane Lam has received engagements with the Sydney Symphony as part of their 2004 Regional Tour as well as with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as part of the 2006 Symphony Services Australia Young Performers Awards.
From 2003 – 2005 he was assistant to Maestro Gianluigi Gelmetti, Chief Conductor of the Sydney Symphony. This involved periods of study in Sydney and Melbourne and several performance opportunities. One of these opportunities involved sharing conducting duties with Maestro Gelmetti in the Sydney Symphony 2004 Regional Tour and also making a guest appearance with the orchestra in the Sydney Opera House. Lam’s musical assistantship also comprised three summers of intensive study at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Siena, Italy. In Siena, Lam conducted the Festival Orchestra of Sofia and the Camerata Strumentale di Prato.
Dane Lam has been awarded numerous prizes and grants including the Boris Christoff Scholarship, Pellegrino Scholarship, Symphony Australia Podium Scholarship and the Dalley–Scarlett Memorial Scholarship. He has been a beneficiary of the Stuart Challender Trust, the Australia Council and the Australia Business Arts Foundation. He has been featured in publications including the Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, Limelight Magazine and the Courier Mail.
In 2006, Dane Lam completed his conducting studies at the University of Queensland with Gwyn Roberts, attaining the Bachelor of Music (Honours Class I.) After a highly competitive audition process he was recently offered places for postgraduate study at the Juilliard School, New York and the Royal Academy of Music, London. He will begin studies for the Master of Music (Conducting) at Juilliard under Maestro James DePreist in September 2007.
The Brian Stacey Memorial Trust congratulate Dane Lam on winning the 2007 Stacey Award. The Trust feel confident Dane has again fulfilled the high expectation both in talent and excellence this unique award demands. To see Dane in action is an inspiring experience for both the observer and the orchestra.
The Stacey Trust is proud to be part of the 2007 Helpmann Awards and thanks Live Performance Australia for their outstanding, ongoing support.
Annual Giving 2007 & A seat for ‘Stace’ in the State – Please fill out this form (click here for a print-friendly version).
Brian Stacey Memorial Trust – Donation/Contact update (Fully tax deductible over $2)
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Andrea Gaze – Stacey Trust
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Andrea Gaze
Administrator for the Brian Stacey Memorial Trust
