Classical Music Flourishing in Annual Competition

THE AUSTRALIAN Concerto and Vocal Competition once again proved to be the quiet achievers on the Townsville event calendar, with a total of 59 performers competing over a period of five days for a total prize purse of $14,000.

As is tradition, two gala concerts – one vocal and one instrumental - ended the competition which presented and celebrated the three finalists in each section. Apart from three years of cancellation between 2019 and 2020, in its 44 years the event has continued to attract classical musicians from all over the world to perform works from concerto and opera repertoire in sections for vocal, instrumental, and school ensembles.

Vocal Competition Gala: Friday 19 July

It was the turn of the sopranos for the vocal finals this year with three sopranos featured in the finals, representing not only different stages of development in careers, but also three different vocal styles – light coloratura, expressive and lyric.

Adjudicated by Queensland baritone opera singer Dr Simon Lobelson pointed out the differences between the three operatic styles – lyric, light coloratura and expressive. This was particularly evident when each (coincidentally) performed the same aria – “Eccomi in liete vesta .. Oh! Quante volte” from Bellini’s adaption of on Romeo and Juliet, I Capuleti e I Montecchi.

Winner of the vocal competition was Brisbane-based lyric soprano Annika Hinrichs, who was clearly the most experienced of the three finalists. Her mature voice was displayed to full effect in four arias by Bellini, Handel, Humperdinck and Massenet, singing in French, Italian and German.

In second place was light coloratura Naomi Yu from Brisbane. She had a bell-like quality that reminded the adjudicator of Beverly Sills in the four arias by Beach, Bellini, Mozart and Moore.

It was clear that third-placed Jacalyn Adcock from Townsville approached her arias expressively in a very similar manner to Maria Callas.  She performed arias by Bellini, Mozart and Bizet as well as audience favourite “O mio babbino caro” from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.

All three singers were accompanied by Sarka Budinska-Boxall.

Instrumental Competition Gala: Sunday 21 July

By sheer virtue of simply what it is, the instrumental section of the competition attracts more competitors and audience. The section was adjudicated by concert pianist Gil Sullivan, who chose three finalists from a field of more than 50 competitors competing for the $7,000 total prize purse.

It was 18-year-old Hannah Kim’s performance of Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No 1 in G Minor that earned her the top prize. A Year 12 student at Ravenswood School for Girls in NSW, her delivery of one of the most popular concertos in solo violin repertoire was exemplary. This was an engaging and committed performance of the piece written in 1866 and renowned as one of the best works of the classical music Romantic period.

This performance earned her the $4,000 first prize, which includes a return appearance to perform with Townsville’s Great Barrier Reef Orchestra.

In second place was Sydney-based pianist Maryann Gou who mastered the broad sweep and bold chords of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No 3 in C Major.  This popular work written in 1921 is characterised by contrasting moods of fluid melody and staccato dissonance, and there was no question on her technical abilities to perform this difficult piece.

My personal highlight however was the third-placed performer, 15-year-old cellist Patrick Phillips who gave an astonishing performance of Antonín Dvořák’s 40-minute Cello Concerto in B minor. The young musician gave a passionate, emotional, expressive and clear interpretation of the work, which was unquestionably a feat of memory and endurance.

The three soloists were expertly accompanied by Ingrid Sakurovs and Crystal Smith.

Review by Trevor Keeling

Images: (top) Hannah Kim & (lower) Annika Hinrichs.