Wind orchestra winds up tempo in world premiere

Young Adelaide composer Aaron Kenny.
Photo by Claire Oremland.
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Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO) principal trumpet Shane Hooton.
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Thursday, 2 October 2008

The ELDERHALL evenings 2008 concert season continues with the world premiere of Brazilian Passacaglia by young Adelaide composer Aaron Kenny.

Showcasing the award-winning Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra directed by Bob Hower, the concert, Connections, will be performed in historic Elder Hall on Monday 13 October.

Aaron says he is thrilled and honoured to have his work performed at the concert: "To have a professional-grade ensemble like the Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra playing one of my compositions is amazing," he says. "It's very exciting and terrifying at the same time."

Aaron first fell in love with music at just five years of age listening to music on television and working out favourite tunes on his grandmother's piano. Now, at 21, he is completing his Honours in Musical Composition at the University of Adelaide.

Aaron describes Brazilian Passacaglia as being "like a mini-concerto for wind orchestra" - full of Latin rhythms, harmonies and colours.

The concert also features the outstanding talents of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra's principal trumpet, Shane Hooton. Originally from Gladstone in Queensland, Shane started playing the trumpet at age nine. He has played with all the Australian symphony orchestras and joined the ASO in 2006.

He says he is looking forward to performing Richard Rodney Bennett's Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra. "Technically it's a real challenge, but the musical rewards are just fantastic, especially the movement dedicated to Miles Davis," Shane says. Bennett is also known for his film music, including Murder on the Orient Express and Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Other pieces featured in Connections include favourites by Grainger and Stanhope, and the evening will finish with Elegy by Camphouse. Composed both as a memorial to those who have fallen in war and a moving tribute to his father, Elegy is a work full of poignancy and power.

ELDERHALL evenings: Connections
8.00pm Monday 13 October
Elder Hall, North Terrace Campus, University of Adelaide
Tickets: $25 adult; $20 concession; $14 student
For bookings and more information contact the Concert Office on (08) 8303 5925
www.music.adelaide.edu.au/events/

ELDERHALL evenings is generously supported by ETSA Utilities and the Helpmann Academy.

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