4 October

Thomas Talmacs (violin)

Sonata in G minor for violin alone - J S Bach (1685 - 1750)

1. Adagio
2. Fugue
3. Sicilienne
4. Presto

Suite No. 1 in G major for solo viola (orginally cello) - J S Bach (1685 - 1750)

1. Prelude
2. Allemande
3. Courante
4. Sarabande
5. Minuets I and II
6. Gigue

Thomas Talmacs is a Masters graduate from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music . He gained his BMus with first class Honours under the guidance of Mr Alex Todicescu and later studied with Preofessor Goetz Richter. he has perfomed as a soloist and concertmaster with various orchestras in Sydney and beyond but his main passion is chamber music.

11 October

Sophia Mitchell (mezzo-soprano) &
Diana Weston (harpsichord)

Per pianto la mia carne - Leonora Orsini (1560 - 1634)

Maria Magdalena et altera Maria - Sulpitia Cesis (1577 - ?)

Variations Hexachordum Apollinis 1699 - Johann Pachelbel (1653 - 1706)

O Solitude - Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695)

Thy Hand Belinda.. When I am Laid in Earth (Dido and Aeneas) - Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695)

Ah! Whither should we fly?.. As with Rosy Steps the Morn (Theodora) - George Frederic Handel (1685 - 1759)

Sophia Mitchell is a Sydney based mezzo-soprano. She studied the violin and viola before commencing training in classical singing at the age of 16. Sophia performed with choirs, vocal groups and as a soloist in concerts, winning and placing in competitions throughout primary and high school. She was given lead roles in school musicals and dramas from her first year of high school before commencing formal training.

After receiving her Associate Diploma in singing at the age of 19, Sophia began singing with the Sydney Philharmonia Symphonic Choir. She was later asked to sing with their Motet Choir, performing in such venues as London's Royal Albert Hall, Kings College Chapel, Cambridge, the Sydney Opera House and the City Recital Hall. Major performances with the choirs include the 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony, Barbara Streisand's 2000 Sydney Farewell Concert and the 2002 Birmingham and London Proms. She also had the opportunity to do a number of recordings with this choir.

Sophia was accepted into the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and received a Bachelor of Music in 2006. During her undergraduate degree she continued to sing with the Philharmonia Choirs and was also accepted into the Conservatorium Chamber Choir. Sophia joined an acting agency, enrolled in some short acting courses, and successfully aquired work as an extra and feature for films, commercials and television and had a lead role in a short film. In 2008 Sophia continued her studies, completing a Graduate Diploma at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Since graduating, Sophia has been performing for Sydney based opera companies with roles including Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief, Berta in The Barber of Seville, Ernestiana in Opportunity makes the Thief and Josephine in HMS Pinafore. With an interest in supporting charities, she produced and performed in three concerts of opera and oratorio excerpts between 2008-09 to raise funds for the work of Anglicare.

In 2010, Sophia recorded a short a program for broadcast on 2MBS radio with harpsichordist Chris Berensen thereafter performing a series of concerts entitled Handel You Haven't Heard!. She also began performing a series of concerts of Dowland songs with lutenist Andrew Byrne. Sophia was also accepted into the Amsterdam Conservatorium's Early Music Summer School and studied the cantatas of J.S. Bach under Johanette Zommer.

Sophia performs as a soloist for corporate events around Australia and in 2011 gave her first cruise ship concert. She has also continued acting and modelling alongside her busy singing schedule, performing the role of Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest with Squeaky Floor Productions and featuring in a recent Aldi TV commerical.

Concert engagements for 2012 include Haydn's Nelson Mass, Mozart's Alma Dei Creatoris and Dominican Vespers for UNSW's Collegium Musicum Choir, Bach's Lobe den Herren for the St Swithun's Gala Concert, a concert with Thoroughbass and appearances with Pastance in recital and at the Tyalgum Classical Music Festival. Sophia will also perform the role of Una Damigella in Francesca Caccini's Alcina for Ondine Productions and joins The Song Company for their Sunken Dreams concert tour.

Diana has a Masters in Music (Hons, Performance Research) from the University of New England. Originally studying as a pianist with European concert artists Igor Hmelnitsky, Winifred Burston and Tessa Birnie, Diana has spent many years as an ensemble player and accompanist in Sydney. In 2004 she began studies on harpsichord performance and continuo accompaniment with Monika Kornel, further refining her skills under the guidance of Prof. Lars Ulrik Mortensen. Since exchanging piano for harpsichord, Diana has performed with large and small ensembles throughout Sydney including the Sydney University Grad Choir and Orchestra, the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra, The Tall Poppeas, The Sydney Consort, The Marais Project and others. She has appeared with the New England Bach Festival on several occasions, as well as local festivals such as the Annual Glebe Music Festival, the Willoughby Spring Festival and Manly Arts Festival. A unique recording featuring music for two harpsichords was made with Monika Kornel in 2010. With her ensemble Thoroughbass which she established in 2008, she runs a regular concert series in Mosman.

18 October

Raisa Dobrinsky (piano) and Gregory Elmaloglou (cello)

Sonata No. 1 in B flat major for violone and piano - Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741)

1. Largo (ma non troppo)
2. Allegro
3. Largo (maestoso)
4. Allegro (gaio)

Sonata for violoncello and keyboard No. 3 in G minor - J. S. Bach (1685 - 1750)

1. Vivace
2. Adagio
3. Allegro

Sonata for violone and piano No. 6 in B flat major - Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741)

1. Largo
2. Allegro (no troppo)
3. Largo (doloroso)
4. Allegro (spiritoso)

Raisa Dobrinsky was an outstanding graduate of the Mussorgsky College of Music as well as the Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory, from which she graduated with honours in solo recital, chamber music, accompaniment and teaching.Immigrating to Australia in 1977, Raisa has been teaching part-time at the Conservatoriums of Sydney and Wollongong, allowing time to pursue her career as a concert performer. She has performed regularly with leading Australian music groups and given many solo recitals and radio broadcasts.

Gregory Elmaloglou is a graduate of Lyons Conservatorium, France, where he was born. As a member of the Austral String Quartet since 1959, he undertook two international tours, playing in 15 countries. Later he founded the Trio Australis, and in partnership with Raisa Dobrinksy, has given many concerts and broadcasts. Gergory has made solo appearances at the ABC Prom concerts and Gold Concerts, and has been soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for whom he was the Associate Principal Cellist from 1972 – 1992. He has made numerous television broadcast appearances for the ABC.

25 October

John Keys - UK (organ)

Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin
Richard Wagner (1813-1883) arranged by William Creser

Allegretto (Sonata in G Op.28) - Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Pilgrim's Chorus (Tannhäuser)
Richard Wagner arranged by Franz Liszt

Humoresque (Organo Primitivo) - Pietro Yon (1886-1943)

Prelude and Fugue in G BWV 541 - J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Marche Pontificale - Ch-M Widor (1844-1937)

John Keys, an Honorary Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians, has been Director of Music at St Mary's Church, Nottingham since 1984, and has fostered a flourishing musical life in the Church, as well as following an independent career as solo organist, continuo player, accompanist and conductor. He is also Nottingham University organist and the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Binns organ in Nottingham's Albert Hall.

Born and educated in Chester, John obtained the Diplomas of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in organ playing while still at school. After A-levels he was assistant organist at Chester Cathedral for nearly three years before going up to New College, Oxford, as Organ Scholar.

After graduating in 1981 he went to Geneva to complete his organ studies at the Conservatoire with Lionel Rogg, aided by grants from the Worshipful Company of Musicians and the British Council.

In 1984 he won First Prize at the Fourth Manchester International Organ Competition.

John Keys has played in France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Gibraltar, the Ukraine, Switzerland and Australia, as well as widely in the British Isles. He has appeared as organist, accompanist, continuo player and conductor on Radio Suisse Romande, Télévision de La Suisse Romande, Netherlands Radio, Radio France and for the BBC.

www.JohnKeys.co.uk