HIDDEN CURIOSITIES

Hidden Curiosities is a new Kammerklang series championing existing, under-performed, Australian repertoire drawn from an open call for scores.

Each concert program in this series will be curated independently by guest artists with Artistic Associate Alicia Crossley, and Artistic Director Cameron Lam. All works submitted will be considered for both concerts, and the scores selected will be purchased from the composer or their publisher.

All pieces by Australian composers are eligible for this call, however, priority will be given to works that are not already well known in the existing repertoire.

We strongly encourage underrepresented voices in Australia’s art music community to apply, including but not limited to; women, trans, non-binary and gender diverse people, Indigenous people, and people of colour.

In late 2020, we requested works for soprano solo or soprano and piano. We received over 6 hours of music from 39 composers all over Australia. These works were considered for programming by Amelia Jones with Stefan Cassomenos (Melbourne), and Anna Fraser with Jack Symonds (Sydney) to present in Kammerklang’s 2021 season.

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

Tickets are now available for Hidden Curiosities concerts in Sydney and Melbourne.

Please contact us if you experience any difficulties.

Concerts:

In 2021, Hidden Curiosities is a pair of programs drawn entirely from hidden gems of the Australian art song repertoire. From the same open call for scores, each soprano and piano duo has crafted their own unique program in collaboration with Kammerklang.

Anna Fraser & Jack Symonds perform Vestige in Sydney featuring music by Luke Styles, David Evans, Mark Oliveiro, Diana Blom, Ian Whitney, Robert McIntyre, Sean Quinn, and Anne Cawrse. (see event information)

Amelia Jones & Stefan Cassomenos perform Memento in Melbourne featuring music by Jessica Wells, Philip Eames, Robert McIntyre, Anne Cawrse, Keyna Wilkins, Diana Blom, Caerwen Martin, and Connor D’Netto. (see event information)

The programs, curated by Kammerklang with the performers, showcases not only each duos’ skill, personal aesthetic, musicality but the diversity of art song created in Australia.

MEET THE ARTISTS:

<strong>AMELIA JONES - Soprano, Melbourne</strong>
AMELIA JONES – Soprano, Melbourne

Welsh born Soprano Amelia Jones is a compelling, passionate and nuanced performer known throughout Australia and internationally for her “crystal clear tone”, delivering “pure enchantment” with the help of her “naturally attractive voice” (classikON). Amelia’s innate fascination for interpretation in conjunction with a bold musicality have led her to become a choice vocalist for contemporary Australian composers and international composers, in a live performance and professional recording capacity.

Amelia is the Principal Soprano at Scots’ Church, and is regularly engaged as a solo concert artist, a chamber singer and chorister. Alongside live performance, Amelia has gained praise and recognition internationally for her work as a recording artist for award winning video games and Japanese anime productions. Significant vocal appearances include ‘City of Tears’ from Australian video game Hollow Knight, ‘Falling Through Starlight’ from Japanese anime The Rising of the Shield Hero and several tracks from multi award winning anime Made in Abyss.

<strong>ANNA FRASER - Soprano, Sydney</strong>
ANNA FRASER – Soprano, Sydney

Anna Fraser has gained a reputation as a versatile soprano specialising predominantly in the interpretation of early and contemporary repertoire. Anna is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and New England Conservatory (Boston) and furthered her studies in the Britten-Pears Young Artist Program featuring as a soloist at the Aldeburgh Festival (UK) under the direction of Richard Egarr and Antony Rolfe-Johnson.

As a core ensemble member of the Song Company for over a decade, Anna has had the pleasure of performing in a myriad of traditional and exploratory programming expertly demonstrating the versatility and virtuosity of a cappella singing. Equally at home as a dramatist on the stage presenting opera and historically informed chamber music, Anna is a strong exponent in music education, particularly with Moorambilla Voices and Gondwana Choirs.

<strong>STEFAN CASSOMENOS - Piano, Melbourne</strong>
STEFAN CASSOMENOS – Piano, Melbourne

Melbourne pianist and composer Stefan Cassomenos is one of Australia’s most vibrant and versatile musicians. As recipient of the Second Prize in the International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn 2013, Cassomenos has performed throughout Europe and Asia, and has performed concertos with orchestras in Australia and overseas. Cassomenos is a founding member of chamber ensemble PLEXUS, which has commissioned and premiered over 100 works. Cassomenos’ compositions are regularly performed throughout Australia. Cassomenos is joint Artistic Director of Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, with violinist Monica Curro.

<strong>JACK SYMONDS - Piano, Sydney</strong>
JACK SYMONDS – Piano, Sydney

Jack Symonds is a composer, conductor and accompanist, and Artistic Director of Sydney Chamber Opera. He studied composition at the Royal College of Music, London under Kenneth Hesketh and at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where he received the University Medal. Trained also as a pianist and trombonist, he continues to work regularly as an accompanist and pianist, giving the premiere of many new works as well as frequently conducting his own and others’ music.