An Evening with Australian International Musicians
What an outstanding and enthralling concert we had the pleasure of enjoying on Tuesday night.
In an auditorium that sat five hundred and a concert group from soloist to a string octet, the individual instruments were so easy to hear and appreciate as much as the physical performance of the musicians, and the emotional content of the music; the audience responded and so we had just a wonderful experience.
We are a very fortunate Rotary Club to have two great Rotarians as members, and with their wives, to have daughters who are so gifted and world renowned in their field of classical music. Through Tamara Cislowska and Natalie Chee who brought together the ensemble, designed the evening of music for us, and then donated their time so that we could raise funds for the two Beneficiaries – CanTeen and our Neurological Scholarship Fund, we are very, very grateful.
Where on earth to start? Master of Ceremonies Noel Cislowski as always so relaxing yet so professional in introducing us to the evening and the musicians.
In fact, a highlight, of many, was when Natalie Chee explained why she had selected four compositions by Kreisler – how they related to her life, her sense of Australia (now as a visitor), and her heritage.
Tamara Cislowska in her piano solo commented on her pieces and mentioned that she had first played some of these when she was only eight. But the expression, feeling, emotion, which came through in both of their performances was just unbelievable.
Back to the program. The first item was the Concerto for Oboe, Violin and Strings in D minor by Bach. Violin by Natalie Chee, Oboe Franz Scherzer, accompanied with strings by Anne Harvey-Nagl, Emma West (violins), Andrew Jezek (viola), Timothy Nankervis (cello), Kees Boersma (double bass).
The absolute world-class performance truly reflected why these musicians are part of The Australian World Orchestra.
The second item was by the soprano, Louise Page. Before Noel introduced Louise, we were able to read of her achievements in the very informative program. Louise is now based in Canberra and for her presentation of Nellie Melba: Queen of Song at the Canberra International Music Festival 2011, she received the Canberra Critics’ Circle Award for Music and the Canberra Times Artist of the Year Award. Louise sang for us Ave Maria, Caro nome (Rigoletto Act 1) and Vocalise Opus 34 No 14.
Then we had the wonderful pieces of Liebesleid, Liebesfreud, Syncopation and Tambourin Chinios played by Natalie Chee, accompanied by Tamara Cislowska.
This was followed by our soprano Louise Page performing O mio babbino caro, Willow Willow, and Meine lippen sie kussen so heiss, accompanied by Tamara.
Following the interval, Tamara Cislowska on piano played for us Etude Opus 10 No 12 (Revolutionary), Nocturn No 20 in C # minor (posthumous) and the Waltz from Gounod’s “Faust”. Tamara has attracted national and international acclaim for her thrilling performances and flawless technique and this was no exception. She brings to life the feeling within the music through her unbelievable talent on the piano.
Finally the Octet of 4 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos played Mendelssohn’s Opus 20.
But the evening was not yet over. Through the great efforts of Hetty Cislowski, Susie Basten, Cherry Kearns and many of our Rotarian wives, we had a very plentiful supply of sandwiches, savories, and cupcakes, accompanied by wine, so that we could mix with the members of the audience and the artists to wind-up a very memorable and exciting concert.
Bruce Carfrae's extended family were represented across three generations in a huge effort to ensure that the food reached all the guests as quickly as possible in such a large group.
In addition we had the customary raffle run by John Jobson, assisted by his wife Bronwyn, and Darren Leukefeld and others. A big thank you to all who helped, participated and brought guests.
Thanks also have to go to our sponsors in particular the Chief Sponsor, BD, a leading global medical technology company, and International Cargo Express, Abbott Laboratories, Colonial First State, IPAC, and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Our special thanks go to the Sydney Church of England Grammar School (SHORE), who provided free-of-charge their Smith Auditorium, and to the pupils to serve at the interval, and act as parking attendants.
But that’s not all – Natalie has ‘promised’ that she will be back in Australia in 2013 and would like to organise another fundraising concert, which we are certain will also be supported by Tamara – thank you to these outstanding young women for their support, wonderful music and contribution to our cultural experience.
TEXT: PP Alan Hall-Watson PHOTO: PP Bruce Carfrae
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MUSIC MADE IN HEAVEN FOR THE MORTALS
It is a wonder to me to watch and hear music-makers perform the most daunting tasks in timing, fullness of tone, and the highest quality of sound with the barest minimum of rehearsal.
Last night [Tuesday, 30th] we were privileged to watch and hear true professionals join as a unified whole in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Some of us have heard recordings, some have been at a performance of one of the major items, but rarely, if ever, both. It is futile to choose, and totally unnecessary to decide, who was best. They were all excellent.
The real pinnacle was to see the joy with which their performance was blessed and that was transmitted to the audience, which vigorously responded. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I am still purring.
The program was so nicely balanced that any change would have been futile. The Bach concerto set the scene with a rare empathy between soloists and chamber orchestra.I have heard it many times on disc, but never in a live performance. That put a whole new experience before me: the music came alive. This is surely one of the finest concertos the old maestro has created.
The recital section of the program displayed the sureness of the artists in their milieu. Full credit must be given to the sensitive application of accompanist. It is not an easy task. Soprano and pianist blended effortlessly as though they had a lifetime of association and not a few rehearsals.
Tamara Anna Cislowska exploded in the beginning of the second half, but for me the nocturne demonstrated her art the most. Even though applause before the end of the piece may have upset another artist, she took it all in her stride without a flinch. A true performer.
The final work, the climax of the evening, really proved, if confirmation was needed, that we have some wonderful home-grown talent, the equal of any overseas. I believe they only had two rehearsals for this challenging octet. It is a musical gem which was, to my amateur ears, played to near-perfection.
It rounded off a musical experience that is likely not to be equalled.
TEXT: PP Bob Mugdan PHOTO: PP Bruce Carfrae
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FROM PRESIDENT MICHAEL
Congratulations!
What a terrific concert the Rotary Club of Chatswood produced for 500 guests at Shore's Smith Auditorium last night.
Thank you to Noel and Tony and Nick and Phillip and everybody involved. That was certainly one of the best Rotary concerts that I have attended and the feedback from everyone I spoke to was so very positive. Job well done!
I spoke with Natalie Chee after the concert and she told me she’d be back for another Rotary concert in October 2013 at The Concourse so we only have 1,000 seats to fill next time! And both Tamara and Louise agreed to join forces again. Wow!
Congratulations to everybody …. Especially NSCOC (Neurological Scholarship Concert Organising Committee), the concert-ticket sellers (especially Nick and Barbara), the proud parents (Hetty & Noel and Carole & Phillip), the ushers, the parking attendants, the cake and sandwich people, the raffle-sellers (John & Bronwyn and Darren and others), and all those who attended and brought guests.
And thank you to our generous sponsors BD and International Cargo Express, Abbott, Colonial First State, IPAC and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Your very proud President …..
TEXT: President Michael MacQuillan PHOTO: GSE in NY
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NYSF, STAGE 2
As might be expected from the former Head of Speech and Drama for the NSW Department of Education, PP Noel Cislowski has managed, with consummate ease, to juggle at least three of his roles in Rotary during this past week.
On Tuesday night, Noel was our excellent MC at our Concert, unflustered by a variety of challenges and ready to become a stage-hand as required.
By Thursday, at Chatswood High, Noel had, as District Chair of the National Youth Science Forum, become Leader of the Orienation Session for three hours.
Not only was Noel into quick-changes, but he had convinced his international educator wife, Hetty, to move from catering for 500 on Tuesday night to operating the registration desk on Thursday!
As you would expect, the twenty-four freshly chosen candidates for NYSF 2012 in Canberra and Perth next January were very excited to gather from the northern suburbs down to Gladesville,out to Baulkham Hills and from the Central Coast up to Green Point and Toukley.
They were keen to meet each other and over a fine afternoon-tea and nutritious dinner-break had a chance to compare notes, as did their accompanying parents, teachers and sponsoring Rotarians.
Noel called on our very own Rtn Nick Dorsch to provide a contempoary view of where their pathways in Science might lead them. Professor Emeritus Dr Dorsch, with his very long and extensive experience of neurosurgery, gave all of us a tremendous insight into the multifaceted dimensions of modern Medicine where so many different careers in Science and Engineering all contribute to significant breakthroughs in giving us even better health and longevity.
Geoff Burchfield, zoology graduate, who became an ABC-TV star in Quantum, has been the NYSF Executive Director for the past seven years. By the time he finished showing the youngsters some of the NYSF ingredients and opened up post-NYSF possibilities that many of almost 8000 NYSF alumni have taken, frankly, many of us wrinklies were feeling decidedly envious.
The variety of paths for NYSF alumni ranged from one who recently was part of the NASA Team who landed a vehicle the farthest out in space to another who heads up the research laboratories of Bacardi Rum in Bermuda.
Recent NYSF participants were guest-speakers during the Orientation Session as was a parent from last year.
These current Year 11 Students are about to enter Year 12 as Term 4 begins. They have some absolutely wonderful opportunities ahead of them if they have the staying power to match their intellects.
Meanwhile, PP Noel will be introducing them all to Governor Marie Bashir at Government House this Monday morning. Is that man busy? Is The Concourse about to open?
Our two sponsored students, William Lin from James Ruse Ag High at Carlingford and Stuart Maclaine from St Pius X College, Chatswood will be my guests at two of our Dinner-Meetings this month and look forward to meeting you all.
TEXT: PP Gerard Say [NG-Youth Service] PHOTO: Rtn Richard Binns
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HOW ARE WE ATTENDING?
An overview of Tuesday night's Concert attendance:
Today: 74%
Month-to-date: 80%
Year-to-date: 79%
Apologies: W Bateman, F Chen, M Ghosh, C Gorsuch, P Kindred, P Smith, B Sookias, D Torheiden
LOA: S Morrison, P Timmermann, L Walsh
Visitors and partners numbered some 500 – Well done folks!
SOURCE: Rtn Walter Gaspari
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UPCOMING DINNER-DUTIES
7 September 2011 – The Adventures of Papua New Guinea (Justin Friend – Orion Expeditions)
Host and Badges: Richard Gilbert
Helper of the Day: Carl Gorsuch
Grace & Loyal Toast: John Jobson
Speaker Host + Intro: Wayne Kearns
VoT+Write-Up: Richard Whiley
14 September 2011 – Willoughby City Concourse (Nick Tobin – GM WCC)
Host and Badges: Carl Gorsuch
Helper of the Day: John Jobson
Grace & Loyal Toast: Wayne Kearns
Speaker Host + Intro: Richard Binns
VoT+Write-Up: Richard Gilbert
21 September 2011 – District Governor’s Visit – DG David Rands
Host and Badges: John Jobson
Helper of the Day: Wayne Kearns
Grace & Loyal Toast: Peter Kindred
Intro: President Michael MacQuillan
VoT+Write-Up: Robyn Gaspari
SOURCE: PP David Williams
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BUNNINGS BI-MONTHLY BBQ
This Saturday's BBQ was my first experience of our new setting and format at Bunnings, East Chatswood.
Compared to our days in front of the old Town Hall and up on Chatswood Mall, the Bunnings BBQ is very lively with almost a constant stream of customers for both our famous sandwiches and for the cool-drinks.
Our chefs are kept going at a pace that some of our more popular restaurants might recognise although there is just so much they can do with sausages and onions.
The front servers not only have to have sandwich-making skills par-excellence but, unlike the chefs, have to display their finely tuned public-relations skills as well.
The onion-slicers have their own unique abilities as do the margarine-spreaders while others have to cope notes and coins of great variety made more complicated by the set prices of $2.50 per sandwich and $1.50 per drink.
This is not to mention those who have the subtle art of keeping eskies at the appropriate temperature and the range of condiments topped up and ready to be used.
The really brilliant operators are those who guestimate the number of sausages to be ordered and collected and the loaves of bread and bags of onions.
In terms of a community-activity it is brilliant in bringing the Rotary brand before so many people in our local area and, with some tasty food and good humour, over time, developing quite a strong relationship on which we can well and truly build.
Our dedicated Head of Community Service, Prof Tony Basten, was supported by a hardworking Team that included: Warwick Bateman, Alison Binns, Richard Binns, Noel Cislowski, Barbara Dorsch, Nick Dorsch, Robyn Gaspari, Walter Gaspari, Molly Ghosh, Richard Gilbert, Carl Gorsuch, Alan Hall-Watson, Wayne Kearns, Lloyd Lucas, Gerard Say, George Wightman, Roger Wilkinson, David Williams and Peggy Yu.
TEXT: PP Gerard Say PHOTO: Rob Reynolds WYD 2008
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Relief for refugees as ShelterBox provides aid
Somali refugees have expressed their relief to ShelterBox now that they have somewhere to shelter their families.
Nearly three thousand ShelterBox tents have been pitched at the IFO2 refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya. The tents will provide shelter and security for families who have fled famine, drought and conflict in Somalia.
ShelterBox Response Team member, Lizzy Treglown (UK), said:
‘It’s almost impossible to imagine what many of these refugees have been through prior to reaching the refugee camps. The lady in the photo has a large family and we had just helped them to move into their new tent.
She was so happy and proud of her new home.’ ShelterBox has provided over 4,500 tents for refugee families in Dadaab and more are on their way.
Each day teams from a range of organisations go out to identify and mark suitable sites, erect tents and ensure that there are adequate water and sanitary facilities.
‘ShelterBox is helping on a huge scale and our tents are perfect for the tough conditions here’, explained Lizzy. ‘Each tent can accommodate an extended family and offers protection from the harsh physical conditions of the camp.’
Hundreds of Somali families continue to arrive at the refugee camp in Dadaab every day. Originally designed for 90,000 people it now hosts a population of approximately 440,000 refugees, 150,000 of whom have arrived in the last months alone.
SOURCE: ShelterBox UK website 30.8.11
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UPCOMING ROTARY EVENTS
#Wed., 7th Sept. * EXCITING NUIGINI EXPEDITIONS [Justin Friend]
#Sat., 10th Sept. * Willoughby STREETFAIR [See eTRW 64-09]
#Sun., 11th Sept. *District 9680 CLUB SERVICE Symposium [See eTRW64-07]
#Wed., 14th Sept. * THE CONCOURSE [Nick Tobin, WCC]
#Sun., 18th Sept. * Club Fellowship at WOY WOY [See Wayne]
#Wed., 21st Sept. * DG DAVID RANDS' Visit
#Sat., 24th Sept,*Inaugural WILLOUGHBY FUN RUN [See eTRW 64-07]
#Thurs., 6th Oct. * Premier O'Farrell, Guest Speaker at Nth Sydney Rotary
#Fri., 7th Oct. * OKTOBERFEST, 2011 [See Dieter Torheiden]
#Sat., 8th Oct. *Young Carers' Outing to LUNA PARK [See Prof Tony Basten]
# Tues., 29th Nov. * Paul Harris Tri-District Lunch at Olympic Park
FOR ALL FUTURE ITEMS, see our NEW EDITOR, PP LES WALSH
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