7 December, Darlinghurst — In partnership with St John's Anglican Church, Concerts for All presented its final community concert for 2024. The event, which featured the church's magnificent organ alongside various other instruments, marked a milestone with our largest ensemble of performers and biggest audience of the year. St John's music minister and organist, Samuel Giddy, was a special guest in our programme.
Concert Programme at St John's
The concert featured exceptional musicians:
Eric Zhang (Piano)
Kats-Chernin: Butterflying
Alexandra Shi & David Shi (Piano Duet)
Bach/Duck: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Charlotte Liao (Violin) with Mattina Su
Piazzolla: Nightclub 1960
Isabel Li (Organ)
Bach: Prelude in G major BWV 541
Ayden Armstrong (Piano)
Abreu: Tico-Tico no fuba
Vera Zhang (Violin)
Dvořák: Romantic Pieces 1st, 2nd and 3rd mov.
Enoch Pan (Organ)
Bach: Fugue in D major, BWV 532
Caressa Peng (Harp)
Henson-Conant: Nataliana
Bella Sun (Harp)
Scarlatti: Sonata in A Minor K. 61
Caressa Peng & Bella Sun (Harp Duet)
Trotter: Ballet of the Butterfly
Justin Gao & Isabel Li (Marimba Duet)
Mozart: Rondo alla Turca
Alishia Choi (Vocal) & Camilla Choi (Piano)
Britton: Christmas Wish
Special Guest Performance: Samuel Giddy (Organ)
Ayres: Fantasia 150
The duet performances stood out as highlights of the afternoon. Among the family performances, father-daughter duo David and Alexandra Shi offered a touching rendition of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" at the piano, while sisters Alishia and Camilla Choi presented a heartfelt "Christmas Wish." Harpists Caressa Peng and Bella Sun created a delicate dialogue in Trotter's "Ballet of the Butterfly," and Isabel Li and Justin Gao brought playful energy to Mozart's "Rondo alla Turca" on marimba, even swapping positions mid-performance to add visual excitement to their interpretation.
Towards the end, guest organist Samuel Giddy demonstrated the church's magnificent organ. It had an impressive range: the highest note rang clear, piercing yet full, while the lowest rumbled and sent vibrations through the church walls. Finally, for a full experience of the church organ, Samuel closed the concert with a soaring performance of Paul Ayres' Fantasia 150.
Interactive Learning and Community Engagement
Music Trivia and Hands-On Instrument Experience
The concert opened with our signature music trivia segment where participants identified classical pieces and their composers. Several audience members eagerly joined in, winning holiday-themed music boxes, festive straws, and a special lego violin donated by Funkidviolin.
After the concert, audience members gathered for instrument exploration. The church organ drew particular interest, while others tried the lever harps, marimba, piano, violin, and cello under our performers' guidance. Both children and adults lined up to try different instruments, and several community members offered to volunteer at future events. The festive atmosphere even extended beyond the church doors, where a Christmas bazaar added to the holiday spirit.
What's Next for 2025
Our community concerts continue in 2025 with our diverse mix of performances, interactive elements, and hands-on experiences.
Polish pianist Christopher Malek will lead our first masterclass on 22 February 2025, coinciding with Chopin's 215th birthday. Participants will explore authentic interpretations of Chopin's works, guided by an artist praised by Swan Magazine for his "intimate knowledge of the Chopin repertoire." The masterclass will take place at Master Music Studio, Glebe.
We are currently developing exciting partnerships with community organisations, local councils, and music education networks across Sydney. These collaborations are already taking shape, and we look forward to reaching more communities and creating additional performance opportunities for young musicians in the coming year.
Visit our upcoming events page to know what we have on and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on our initiatives.
Comments