Helen Thomson | Hannah Sless | Stuart Long
Helen Thomson made her debut as a soloist at ten years of age in the premiere performance of Donald Hollier's In Dulci Jubilo. Since then, her activities have included a stint with The Song Company, touring Gesualdo's Tenebrae Responsories for Holy Week to the Adelaide Festival in 1996; solo and ensemble work with Judith Clingan in the premieres of Nganbra and Adam's Rib? as well as in forthcoming recordings; and a program of solo and duet work with Riley Lee, Grand Master of Shakuhachi. She has been engaged as a soloist by the Australian Chamber Singers (Britten's Hymn to St Cecilia), ANU Choral Society (Faure's Requiem, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Vivaldi's Gloria, Handel's Israel in Egypt and Messiah), and the Canberra Bach Ensemble (in various works, including the highly virtuosic solo cantata, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen). Helen owes a great debt to her singing teachers, Alison Allen, Lois Bogg and her current teacher, Louise Page, as well as to various musical mentors including Judith Clingan, and her mother Val, under whose tutelage she gained her Diploma from the Australian Music Examinations Board.
A graduate of the Canberra School of Music and the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide, Hannah Sless began learning the violin with Alita Larsons at the age of seven. She has played in such professional ensembles as the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, and the State Opera of South Australia. Hannah was contracted to play in the internationally acclaimed season of Wagner's Ring Cycle with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. A keen Chamber musician, Hannah has performed at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, and is a member of the Syzygy String Quartet. She has performed as a soloist with the Canberra Bach Ensemble, the Canberra School of Music Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide New Music Ensemble. Hannah has also had the pleasure of holding a concert master position with the Canberra opera company, "Stopera". Her most recent achievement has been to win first prize in the instrumental section of the North Queensland Concerto and Vocal Competition.
Stuart Long commenced his musical studies in Wellington (New Zealand) in 1990, studying piano with Bruce Greenfield and composition. From 1992 to 1995 he completed a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the Canberra School of Music, studying with Alan Jenkins and Lillian Tan. He is currently pursuing advanced studies with Colin Forbes. Over recent years, Stuart has enjoyed considerable success at the North Queensland Concerto and Vocal Competition. In July 2000, he was awarded first prize in the Australiana Section (performing the Colin Brumby Piano Concerto), and first prize (equal) in the Piano Section (performing the Symphonic Variations by Cesar Franck). Stuart regularly performs in and around Canberra. He enjoys chamber music and frequently accompanies instrumentalists, vocalists and choirs.
15 August 2000