CONTENT COURTESY SIMA
After a nation-wide search, finalists Molly Collier-O’Boyle (viola), Will Hansen (double bass), Kyla Matsuura-Miller (violin) and Eliza Shephard (flute) have been selected as Australia’s preeminent classical instrumentalists 30 years and under.
Each year, The Music Trust’s Freedman Classical Fellowship promises spectacular creativity and energy as finalists vie for the $21,000 Fellowship in a thrilling deciding concert.
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
The Freedman Classical Fellowship is one of Australia’s most prestigious, career-defining awards. The program, which was founded by The Music Trust and generously funded by the Freedman Foundation, highlights the next generation of leaders in Classical Music. Past Fellows include a long list of Australia’s most distinguished classical musicians including Genevieve Lacy, William Barton, Joseph Tawadros and Claire Edwardes.
Each year, nine prominent classical artists and industry from around Australia are challenged: “Nominate the winner of this year’s Freedman Classical Fellowship!” The nominees must be classical instrumentalists aged 30 and under at the time of the concert, and Australian citizens.
In 2021, NSW double bassist Will Hansen (24) has been named alongside the three Victorian artists; violist Molly Collier-O’Boyle (27), violinist Kyla Matsuura-Miller (28) and flautist Eliza Shephard (28) as the Freedman Classical Fellowship Finalists.
Join us for this exciting concert that demonstrates great diversity, innovation and agility, as the four finalists compete for the Fellowship, recorded live for the Melbourne Digital Concert Hall. The decision rests with this year’s illustrious judging panel, Penny Lomax, Tamara-Anna Cislowska and Véronique Serret.
ABOUT THE FINALISTS
Molly Collier-O’Boyle (27) is Acting Assistant Principal Viola with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as well as the violist in Rathdowne Quartet.Molly’s project Ephemerality is a curated concept album which will feature ten new works.
Will Hansen (24) is a prodigious young double bass player whose enthusiasm for contemporary classical music is as ambitious as it is intoxicating. Will’s project is to commission five new works for solo double bass by local composers.
Tokyo-born and Melbourne-raised Kyla Matsuura-Miller (28) is a powerhouse violinist who is currently working with Inventi Ensemble, Trio Clara and Duo Pagio. Her project aims to express and evoke elements of the collective cultural memory of being raised non-white in Australia.
Eliza Shephard (28) is a Wagga Wagga-born, Melbourne-based flautist who strives to push the boundaries of her instrument. She proposes to commission five flute duets from Australian composers for her project, that pay homage to the relationships and training that she has received.
PROGRAM
Molly Collier-O’Boyle (viola)
A Simple Song for Complex Times, Jared Yapp (3:24)
What What What, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh (3:00)
Cello Suite in C Minor, Sarabande, JS Bach (3:40)
in manus tuas, Caroline Shaw (6:16)
Reverie, Molly Collier-O’Boyle (2:10)
Will Hanson (double bass)
Datamosh, Tristan Coelho
The Lyre, Rory Knott, Arr. Will Hansen
Mvt. I- Flash of Feather
Mvt. II- Flash of Feet
Mvt. III- Meditative Dance
Etude No. 1, Will Hansen
Poucha Dass, Francois Rabbath
Kyla Matsuura-Miller (violin)
Irkanda I, Peter Sculthorpe
Sonata for Violin Solo No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1003, J.S. Bach
i. Grave
iv. Allegro
Takeda No Komoriuta (Lullaby of Takeda) – Traditional Japanese Folk Song with Brandon Lee (Koto)
Eliza Shephard (flute)
Don’t Knock, Smash, Eliza Shephard
Concerto in D Major, Op. 283, Carl Reinecke
Mvt 2
Pirouette on a Moon Sliver, Amy Beth Kirsten
Chaconne, Sigfrid Karg-Elert
