9^th Edition 2024

In recent years Sydney born composer Alan Holley (b.1954) has been a featured composer at numerous music festivals and received composer profile concerts in Croatia, Serbia, Albania and Australia. The trumpet concerto Doppler’s Web (2005) written for soloist Paul Goodchild, A Line of Stars (2007) and A Shaft of Light (2015) for oboe and orchestra with Shefali Pryor as soloist were commissioned and performed in the Concert Hall of the Opera House by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Loaded with Dream (2011) was commissioned by the Sydney Symphony for performance by the Fellows. In 2018 And the rain received numerous performances by the Australian Chamber Choir in Victoria and Sydney. This choir then commissioned and performed Time Passages in Australia, Denmark, Germany, Belgium and England on their 2019 tours. Three major chamber works were premiered in Melbourne in 2022 – Lyrebird Brass premiered his Goodchild Canzonas, a brass quintet, in the Hanson Dyer Hall and the Melbourne Recital Centre (MRC), Ensemble Three premiered All Demons Run for trumpet, trombone and electric guitar in the MRC, and In Fire Season, a trio composed during the horrendous bushfires in Australia in 2020 was premiered by Johanna Selleck, alto flute, Peter Sheridan, bass flute and Danae Killian, piano.
His works are now published by Kookaburra Music and recorded on HAMMERINGS RECORDS.

Joel Brennan enjoys a diverse career as a performer and teacher. He has performed with orchestras around the globe, including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Australia), Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (Korea), Rotterdam Philharmonic (Netherlands), Winnipeg Symphony (Canada), Malaysian Philharmonic, and Bilkent Symphony Orchestra (Turkey), and has served as principal trumpet of the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra (Japan) and Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra (Netherlands). A proponent of contemporary music and chamber music, Joel has commissioned and premiered dozens of new works, with a particular emphasis on working with emerging composers and those from underrepresented demographics. He is a member of Ensemble Three, a unique trio of trumpet, trombone, and guitar which has been praised as “an inspiring example of forward-thinking classical music culture” and won the 2017 Melbourne Recital Centre Contemporary Masters Award. He is also a member of Lyrebird Brass, a collective of players dedicated to performing the finest brass chamber music. Joel received his bachelor’s degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music before pursuing graduate studies at the Yale School of Music from which he is a recipient of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Awarded a Fulbright Grant 2007, Joel spent a year performing, teaching, and studying in the Netherlands. Deeply devoted to education, Joel is Associate Professor of Music Performance at Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (University of Melbourne, Australia). He has also served on the faculty of Brandon University (Canada) and the Juilliard School’s campus in Tianjin (China) where he worked with students in the pre-college program and graduate school in addition to performing with the Tianjin Juilliard Ensemble. He has been a guest teaching artist at the Australasian Trumpet Academy, Danish/German Brass Academy, and Oberlin Trumpet Workshop. He is the creator of “Poper’s Game,” a unique practice app for trumpet players.

Joel is a Yamaha Performing Artist

Ken Murray has forged a distinctive career as a guitarist, blending elements of performance, composition, teaching, and research. His focus encompasses a dedication to showcasing and recording Spanish music from the early 20th century, collaborating extensively with contemporary composers, and actively engaging in the performance of Brazilian and South American musical genres. In his role as a composer, Murray has crafted a diverse array of compositions for solo guitar and ensemble settings. Demonstrating a dedication to contemporary music, he has participated in premiere performances of over 100 works, collaborating with composers such as Stephen Goss, Dai Fujikura, Leilehua Lanzilotti, Christopher Sainsbury, Katy Abbott, Stuart Greenbaum, and Melody Eötvös. His enduring partnerships involve ongoing collaborations with composers who have created pieces across various genres, including solo guitar, electric guitar and CD, electric guitar and ensemble, guitar and voice, large chamber works, and music theatre compositions featuring the guitar. Murray’s performances and recordings have received recognition on platforms such as ABC FM and international labels like Kairos (Italy), Mode Records (USA), Move, Tall Poppies, and ABC Classics. Murray’s compositions have been performed by guitarists such as Slava Grigoryan, Alex Tsiboulski, Vladimir Gorbach, Tengyue Zhang and Ziggy and Miles Johnston. Guitar ensembles including the Riverside Guitar Ensemble directed by Karin Schaupp have performed his music. Ken’s solo piece Free Range was selected as the set work for the Adelaide Guitar Festival competition in 2020. His pieces are represented in the Australian Music Examinations Board syllabus and his music has been performed in Europe, Asia and throughout Australia. Murray is an integral part of Ensemble Three, alongside Joel Brennan (trumpet) and Don Immel (trombone). Their performances, both in Australia and abroad, reflect a commitment to commissioning new works and contribute to an expanding catalogue of recordings. Ensemble Three has established itself as “an inspiring example of forward-thinking classical music culture in Australia” (CutCommon).

Gianmario Strappati ha conseguito la laurea triennale e biennale in Bassotuba presso il Conservatorio G. B. Pergolesi di Fermo con il massimo dei voti, la lode e la menzione d’onore, specializzandosi inoltre ai corsi musicali dell’Università di Harvard, Berklee College of Music, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (USA), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgio) e Università Sorbona di Parigi (Francia). In veste di solista si è esibito in Inghilterra (Londra, St. Peter Church, British Italian Society, Dante in Cambdrige), USA (Florida State University), Romania (Università di Timisoara), Irlanda del Nord (Titanic Museum di Belfast per i 110 anni dalla tragedia del Titanic, Istituto Italiano di Cultura e Consolato Generale d’Italia di Edimburgo, Consolato onorario d’Italia in Irlanda del Nord), Spagna (Scuola Italiana di Madrid, pat. Istituto italiano di cultura), Albania (Università delle arti di Tirana), Germania (Baviera, Baden Wurttemberg e Sassonia, pat. Consolato generale d’Italia di Stoccarda e Istituto italiano di cultura di Monaco), Moldavia (Organ Hall, Università di musica di Chisinau), Slovacchia, Bulgaria (Festival Internazionale di Haskovo, Bezisten Hall Yambol, State Vidin Philarmonic Concert Hall, Sirak Skitnik Hall della Galleria Nazionale di Sliven), Finlandia (Helsinki, Istituto italiano di cultura), Marocco (Istituto Italiano di Cultura e Ambasciata d’Italia a Rabat), Svizzera (Istituto italiano di cultura a Zurigo, Cattedrale di Aarau), Ungheria (Budapest, Istituto italiano di cultura, Sala Verdi), Grecia (Atene, Auditorium Scuola dell’Ambasciata d’Italia), Repubblica Ceca (Cappella Barocca dell’ Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Praga), Montenegro (Teatro Nazionale di Cetinje, Auditorium Kic Budo Tomovic di Podgorica, Ambasciata d’Italia), Austria ed in Russia al prestigioso Festival “P.I. Tchaikovsky” (eseguendo tra l’altro il celebre Concerto di A. Arutiunian per Tuba e orchestra sinfonica presso il Teatro dell’Opera di Izhevsk), accompagnato dall’Orchestra Filarmonica di Bacau, dall’Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale Bulgara, dall’Orchestra Filarmonica di Udmurtia (Russia), dalla State Philarmonic Orchestra di Vidin – Bulgaria, dall’orchestra da camera nazionale della Moldavia, dalla Dianopolis Chamber Orchestra (Bulgaria) e dall’orchestra sinfonica del Kazakistan, nonché da orchestre d’archi e da camera internazionali. Il 23 marzo 2019 si è esibito al Bachmuseum di Lipsia per le celebrazioni del 334esimo compleanno di J. S. Bach ed il 29 giugno 2019 ha tenuto un recital al Mozarteum di Salisburgo (Wiener Saal), patrocinato dall’Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Vienna. Nel gennaio 2020 ha eseguito su Rai 2 una composizione per Tuba sola in prima mondiale dedicata al cinquantesimo anniversario della nascita di Marco Pantani. E’ stato il primo tubista a vincere il prestigioso Premio Nino Rota, precedentemente assegnato ad artisti come K. Ricciarelli, P. Principe, L. Luttazzi e J. Horowitz e la sua città Ancona lo ha insignito della cittadinanza benemerita. Dal 2018 è “Ambasciatore di Missioni Don Bosco per la musica nel mondo”. Ha tenuto masterclass e recital (in presenza e in streaming) per Università e Conservatori di: USA (Bard College Conservatory of Music New York), Moldavia, Sudafrica, Romania, Albania, Bolivia, Argentina, Perù, Messico, Brasile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Uganda, Costa Rica, Cile, India, Colombia, Paraguay, Kosovo, Macedonia, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Filippine, Indonesia ecc… E’ stato insignito del riconoscimento “Artista dell’anno 2020” dalla rivista americana Christopher Magazine, la quale gli ha riservato la cover di un numero speciale a lui dedicato. Il 5 Maggio 2022 ha eseguito la II Suite per Tuba sola sulla Tomba di J. S. Bach presso la ThomasKirche a Lipsia in uno straordinario evento organizzato dall’Associazione Italiani a Lipsia e. V. L’11 Febbraio 2023 ha tenuto un recital per Tuba e pianoforte presso la Mendelssohn Haus di Lipsia. Nell’Ottobre 2023 è stato Guest Professor e concertista presso la Florida State University negli USA. E’ stato intervistato da riviste ed emittenti radiotelevisive dei 5 continenti, registrando inoltre per la Rai, Sky Classica, CNN, Ici Television, Rogers Tv, ABC (American Broadcasting Company), Radio Capodistria, Radio Vaticana ecc… Ha pubblicato per le case editrici Academia e Micropress (opere quest’ultime distribuite da La Feltrinelli e Mondadori). E’ docente di Bassotuba presso il Conservatorio di Stato G. Verdi di Ravenna

Born in Salzburg, Anna Lang grew up in a family of artists in Upper Austria on Lake Traunsee. At the age of 15 she began her musical studies and is a graduate of the University Mozarteum in Salzburg (Piano Pedagogy), the Music University of Vienna (Master of Arts in Cello) and the Anton Bruckner Private University (Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in Jazz and Improvisation). Among her instructors were Prof. Tobias Kühne (Cello) and Andy Schreiber (Improvisation). Anna Lang is a free-lance musician, performing with the cello and piano, composer and is a instrumental educator in Vienna and Upper Austria. She has performed as a soloist with many orchestras, radio productions on Ö1/”On Stage” or WDR, engagements as a composer and musical interpreter in productions at the new Linz Music Theatre. Additionally, Anna Lang has performed in concert evenings at internationally renowned stages. Anna Lang’s compositions may be heard on “The Dancing Gams” and “Mondgeister” with Pianofortebrass, on “La Folía – Lärmende Lustbarkeit” with the WoodAirQuartet and on “Figuras de baíle” with Sinfonia De Cranaval. Furthermore, the Pianofortebrass Chamberjazzquartet and the WoodAirQuartet  has been selected as an ensemble of the Jeunesse Österreich. With Sinfonia De Carnaval, Anna Lang presents together with Alois Eberl a further highlight to their extensive and diversified programme. They were nominated for the BAWAG P.S.K. Next Generation Award 2015 and were chosen as one of the five best bands in the Jazz Category for the “New Austrian Sound of Music Programm 2018/19” by the Austrian Federal Ministry and Sinfonia De Carnaval are one of the seven selected austrian Bands for “FOCUS ACTS 2019” – The international springboard and top funding of the Federal Chancellery. Sinfonia De Carnaval are guests in Switzerland, England, Iran, Kasachstan, Tajikistan, Croatia, France, Israel, Palestine and Germany.

The trombonist, accordionist and composer Alois Eberl was born in Kitzbühel, Austria, in 1986, where he grew up surrounded by Austrian folk music and classical music. He started playing music together with his father and in the local marching band. At the age of 14, he continued his previous classical training in trombone and accordion at the Tyrolean Music Conservatory and there he discovered his passion for jazz and improvised music. In 2009 Alois completed his studies in Jazz Trombone and classical accordion at the Anton Bruckner University in Linz. Further in 2012 he completed his second bachelor´s degree and in 2016 his master´s degree in classical trombone at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. Among his instructors and mentors were Christian Radovan, Alfred Melichar, Dany Bonvin, Christoph Cech, Dejan Pecenko, Dave Taylor (Workshop) and Elliot Mason (New York City visit). With Sinfonia de Carnaval, Alois Eberl presents together with Anna Lang a further highlight to their extensive and diversified programme. They were nominated for the BAWAG P.S.K. Next Generation Award 2015 and were chosen as one of the five best bands in the Jazz Category for the “New Austrian Sound of Music Programm 2018/19” by the Austrian Federal Ministry and Sinfonia De Carnaval are one of the seven selected austrian Bands for “FOCUS ACTS 2019” – The international springboard and top funding of the Federal Chancellery. Sinfonia De Carnaval are guests in Switzerland, England, Iran, Kasachstan, Tajikistan, Croatia, France, Israel, Palestine and Germany. Alois Eberl performed in international venues like Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Konzerthaus Wien, Domplatz Salzburg, Music Theatre Linz, Brucknerhaus, Porgy&Bess Wien, B-Flat Berlin, ACF Teheran, ACF London, Saalfelden Jazzfestival, Burghausen Jazzfestival, Jazzcafé London, Cathedral of Reims, Jazzit Salzburg, Berlin Philharmonic, Cologne Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic. Besides Sinfonia de Carnaval he also did musical collaborations together with Ray Anderson, James Morrison, Bob Mintzer, Michel Camilo, Wycliffe Gordon, Chuck Findley, Manu Delago, Dave Taylor, Gary Smulyan, Dave Liebman, Thomas Gansch, Martin Grubinger, just to name a few.