Tribute To A Teacher

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday August 10, 2006

KILMENY ADIE

LAURA McDONALD

Harold Brissenden Memorial Foundation Recital

Saturday: University of Wollongong Creative Arts Theatre

Adults $25, concessions $20

Pianist Laura McDonald is looking forward to taking to the stage this weekend.

It has been a long time since the Sydney-based performer has flexed her fingers for a public performance and, McDonald says, the concert is for a foundation close to her heart.

McDonald will perform music by Mozart, Rachmaninov, Haydn and Liszt at a recital for the Harold Brissenden Memorial Foundation.

Brissenden, who died in June last year, was considered one of the most influential figures in Wollongong's musical life. Of his many career highlights, Brissenden was a music teacher at Wollongong Secondary Technical School and at Corrimal High School, was considered a driving force behind the establishment of the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music and was the first in Australia to learn the Suzuki Method.

Brissenden's most famous student is the Australian Chamber Orchestra artistic director, and former Wollongong resident, Richard Tognetti.

McDonald, who has only recently returned to Australia after living in Europe for 10 years, was a student of Brissenden for violin, and of his wife, Nada, for piano.

"I had a close relationship with both of them," she says. "I did the same concert in Sydney in January and it was a great success, which is why I was asked to do it in Wollongong.

"I wasn't able to get back for the funeral so the January concert was a very moving experience for me. I hope this time it's a little more joyful."

McDonald says the concert, which is being held at the University of Wollongong's Creative Arts Theatre on Saturday night, has a diverse program which will appeal to people with a range of musical tastes.

"I'm playing the Twinkle Variations by Mozart, Musical Moments from Rachmaninov, Haydn's Sonata in C Major and three Liszt works," she says.

"It's a very good program. If someone's musically inclined it's a serious program but as well there's the Twinkle Variations that most people enjoy, and there's some very technical pieces for people who like fast fingers."

McDonald says money raised through the concert will go to the foundation which helps sponsor young violinists study overseas.

Tickets for the Harold Brissenden Memorial Foundation Recital are available from Redback Music in Wollongong and the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music for $25 for adults and $20 concession.

© 2006 Illawarra Mercury

Back to News Index | Back to Home