University of Adelaide's Lunchtime Series Hosts 2013 John Davis Award Competitors Today

The Lunchtime Concert at 1.10pm today 15 November will see the prize winners of this year's John Davis Music Awards. This popular concert will present the rising stars of the music world to the public, and see them rewarded with cash prizes for their proficiency.

Time: 1.10pm on Friday 15 November, 2013. Admission $10 at door. The music world is highly competitive and four rising musicians are keenly polishing up their technique to help them win cash prizes at the John Davis Classical Music Awards where the winner will pick up first prize of $1200, sponsored by John Davis Music. All four competitors will win prizes. In addition to the John Davis Music Award of $1200 there will be a second prize of $600 plus two finalist prizes of $300 each, funded by the Elder Conservatorium.

The 2013 competitors are:

- Joshua Oates of Payneham, Oboe, who will perform Edwin York-Bowen's Oboe Sonata;
- Mandy Jane Hutchinson of Athelstone, Flute, performing Le Merle Noir by Olivier Messiaen ;
- Helen Seppelt of North Adelaide, Flute; playing Chant de Linos by Andre Jolivet ;
- Callum Gunn of Glengowrie, Piano, performing Messiaen: Premiere communion de la Vierge, from Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jesus

John Davis Music has been providing fine music to Adelaide for over 60 years. They are also passionate about supporting the young people who represent the future of music. They are delighted to be able to do this in partnership with the Elder Conservatorium through the John Davis Music Awards.

John Davis Music Adelaide's fine music specialist now also stocks books, holds art exhibitions and offers live performances of music and poetry. It also contributes to political and social debate through their monthly "Speakers Stump".
Joshua Oates of Payneham is currently studying a Bachelor of Music Performance in Oboe at the Elder Conservatorium of Music with ASO principle Oboe, Celia Craig. He began his oboe studies while in Marryatville High School's special interest music program under ASO principle Cor Anglais Peter Duggan. Joshua has played as a casual oboist with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, having his debut Master Series in 2012 Master Series 9 under Hannu Lintu, and performing in the Tea and Symphony series and most recently in 2013 Master Series 4 under Arvo Volmer. He regularly plays with the Adelaide Art Orchestra, working on many projects including Regional Tours and ABC live broadcasts, and many festival season projects with artists such as Lea Salonga, Idina Menzel, Daniel Johns, Kimbra, and Kate Ceberano. He had his premier solo recital for Recitals Australia in May 2012 at Pilgrim Church, and was a Recitals Australia finalist for that season. Invited to join the new Adelaide Wind Orchestra in 2012 as their inaugural principle Oboe. Joshua also plays Oboe and Cor Anglais in various University ensembles and the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, who he'll be making his Concerto debut with in September 2013. Joshua was in New Zealand for the second Ruapehu International Oboe Summer School in January 2013 studying under GorDon Hunt (Royal Academy and Guild Hall London) and David Walter (Paris Conservatoire). Joshua was successful in winning the Gabor Reeves Woodwind Medallion in the 2013 Adelaide Eisteddfods for excellence in performance.

Mandy-Jane Hutchinson of Athelstone SA 5076.studied the flute and music at Marryatville High School then did a Physiotherapy degree, graduating with Distinction from the South Australian Institute of Technology in 1989. At the beginning of 2008 she resigned from her physiotherapy job in order to pursue the study of music and the flute, and she is now in the Honours year of a Bachelor of Music in Classical Flute Performance studying with Elizabeth Koch. Her current occupational interests include flute teaching, part-time physiotherapy and writing programme notes for some of the Friday lunch-time concerts. She is also a member of the recently formed Adelaide Wind Orchestra.

Helen Seppelt of North Adelaide is a student of Samantha Hennessy, studying for Honors in Music (Performance) at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. She completed her undergraduate degree as a student of Associate Professor Elizabeth Koch OAM with whom she undertook an overseas study trip to London and Paris. Helen has been Principal Flute of the Adelaide Youth Orchestra and Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra over the last few years, and has also participated in a number of Australian Youth Orchestra Programmes such as National Music Camp (as Principal Flute) and Young Symphonists. Helen has been a very successful competitor in the Flute Section of the Adelaide Eisteddfod since the age of 9 and won the Eisteddfod Concerto Competition in August; she was also a State finalist in the 5MBS Young Performer of the Year in 2009 and 2012. In October 2011 Helen won the Australian Piccolo Competition at the Australian Flute Festival in Canberra, and she held the 2012 Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Orchestral Traineeship for Woodwind. She appeared as third flute/piccolo with the ASO last year and this year toured with the Adelaide Art Orchestra supporting the State Opera.

Callum Gunn of Glengowrie. is in his final year of the Bachelor of Music at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. Since 2006 he has been studying with Stefan Ammer, and since the beginning of 2012 has also been taking lessons with Dr. Graham Williams (pupil of Olivier Messiaen and Yvonne Loriod). Callum has appeared in many public concerts in Adelaide as well as abroad. He has also been involved with masterclasses and had private lessons with many distinguished pianists, including Anna Goldsworthy, Bart van Oort, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Raphael Lustchevsky and Louis Lortie, as well as the acclaimed Morgenstern Trio as a chamber musician. Callum is experienced as an accompanist and chamber musician, performing with a variety of instrumentalists and ensembles since the age of 14. Next year Callum intends to continue his study in the Honors program at the Elder Conservatorium.

The 2013 Elder Hall Lunchtime Concerts continue each Friday until 22 November, 2013. Admission is $10 at the door. No bookings are taken. For further information and about the concerts and becoming a 2014 Gold Pass Holder contact: 08 8313 5925 or claire.oremland@adelaide.edu.au.

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