AUSTA VIC
AUSTA VIC is the Victorian chapter of the Australian Strings Association.
We run string related events for teachers, players and students of all levels.
We run a variety of events throughout the year. These include performing festivals, masterclasses, music reading days and forums.
Some of our regular events include:
- the Reading Day of new string orchestra music in February,
- the String Orchestra Festival for students in May,
- the String Performers Festival in June,
- the Paul McDermott violin scholarship in June and
- the VCE/IB workshop in Semester Two.
This is just a selection of the range of events we hold for String education within Melbourne and regional Victoria.
AUSTA VIC – President’s Report – February 2025
The report below was originally presented at the 2025 Reading Day on Sunday 9 February:
“All of us at AUSTA are eagerly anticipating the 2025 Golden Jubilee Conference in Sydney this July. It promises to be an unforgettable celebration of our shared passion for all things strings.”
Throughout 2024, AUSTA VIC successfully hosted several in-person events, including the Annual Reading Day, the String Performers Festival, the Paul McDermott Violin Scholarship, and a String Conductors Workshop. We were also thrilled to welcome Barry Green as part of his national tour. Another highlight was the presence of nine Victorian delegates at the European String Teachers Association Conference in Porto, Portugal, where our own Diana Wuli and Marcel Trussell Cullen proudly presented.
Towards the end of 2024 the committee formally farewelled Helen Holt and Carl Williams. Helen and Carl have always given more than was ever expected and made AUSTA a richer and much more relevant body. We wish Carl and Helen well and look forward to seeing them both at future events as attendees. Stephanie-Jane Lewendon-Lowe has also announced her resignation from the committee which will be effective from our reading day in early February. Through her outstanding work and clear thinking, our processes are clearer with a more contemporary look. We look forward to having a formal farewell with Stephie J later in the year.
Our team includes Miranda Bell, Emily Cameron, Diana Wuli, Rachael Anderson, James de Rozario, Peter Fabian, Prue Jury, Andrew Moon, Adele Oppedisano, John Secomb, and Tim Veldman. We are also grateful for the contributions of our regional representatives: Chris Robson, Rachel Levett, Ben Singh, Alison MacGregor, Colin Everson, Carolyne Amery, and Philip Trigg. A special thanks to AUSTA National Administrator Emily Dittman, who is always there when we need her. These individuals are all outstanding individuals and musicians. Congratulations to Alison MacGregor on recently being awarded an Order of Australia Medal.
We also wish to acknowledge the ongoing support, wisdom, professionalism and assistance of our patron Howard Penny and our sponsors who continue to be a huge part of AUSTA VIC. Certain aspects of advertising and connecting with members is being updated and we are excited to inform all about these soon.
Please check out the AUSTA VIC events page for the present 2025 events. More events are under discussion post the conference in Sydney. If you feel that you can suggest, assist, support AUSTA VIC in any way, please contact us!
Andrew Schellhorn
AUSTA Vic President
AUSTA VIC – AGM Report – November 2020
2020 has been a year like no other in living memory. The Victorian chapter of AUSTA was able to start the year in typical fashion with our Reading Day of new String music in early February. By a month later, we were (like the rest of the country) having to quickly rethink what events we could offer in the midst of a pandemic.
In late April, we were able have a well-attended event online with local conductor/music educator Ingrid Martin on how we could still rehearse ensembles while we in the first phase of lockdown. We had hoped to return to live events but Victoria’s pandemic situation took a turn for the worse a couple of months later and we had to revise our plans again to see what was possible for the second half of the year.
Mid-August saw an encore presentation with Ingrid Martin on how we can rehearse ensembles with the restrictions that the state was living under at the time. We then held concurrent forums for both upper strings and cellos on September 1 with different presenters dealing with specific technical elements. Both forums had good attendance and were much appreciated by all observers.
AUSTA VIC ended the year with an online get-together in late November to give teachers and string players an opportunity to debrief and discuss this past year. My thanks go to the rest of the National Executive committee for opening local events to become Nationwide online events to help everyone feel connected. I would also like to thank the Victorian State committee for their support and collective wisdom during these difficult times.
Hamish Paterson
AUSTA VIC President
January 2020 Report
AUSTA VIC has been very quiet over the Christmas break. We held an end of year dinner last November and it was a good way to bring the committee together to celebrate another year of work.
AUSTA VIC is now sponsoring a string prize at the Geelong Summer Music Camp. This prize covers the cost of attending the camp. This event attracts players from regional areas, including people who commute every day from Bendigo and beyond. There are also some players who are billeted by local Geelong families. The string prize now means that there are prizes representing all instrumental families. The GSMC celebrated its 40th anniversary this year and it was a good time to launch the prize.
This will be my last AUSTA National Report as AUSTA VIC President. We are holding our AGM on 9th February where a new President will be appointed. I would like to thank the tireless work of the Victorian Committee for all their work and support over the last 3 years. I am so pleased that we have such an active, experienced and cohesive team.
The next 3 years of AUSTA VIC will be in the hands of another President, however I know that we will continue to engage with our members with proactive events. We will continue to offer instrumental forums, including one focused at new teachers, on top of our popular regular events. We will continue to engage with our regional members and will try to expand on our offerings.
Notices
AUSTA Vic New Music Reading Day 2025 List
AUSTA Vic 2025 New Music Reading Day
2025 New Music Reading Day
Sunday 9 February brought 40 string players and ensemble directors to St Kevin’s College, Glendalough Campus for the New Music Reading Day and AGM. It was a fantastic day of music making and networking, and we are sure everyone walked away inspired and with ideas for the year for their various ensembles.
The repertoire list was a wonderful collection of varied pieces — from atmospheric and movie-like, which would ignite the imaginations of players and listeners, to pieces inspired by different cultures and styles, which would provide great teaching points into many different areas of curriculum.
AUSTA VIC would like to thank St Kevin’s College and staff, in particular Head of Strings Marcel Trussell-Cullen, who assisted in the organising and set up of this day. Thank you also to Prue Jury for conducting the day so seamlessly, and Hamish Paterson for accompanying on piano. Please enjoy reading these notes, please do share with your string network and colleagues noting that AUSTA members have access to great PD and resources throughout the year. Details of composers who were present are included, we encourage you to get in touch with them.
AUSTA VIC look forward to seeing you at our next event.
A list of new works, including comments which were originally presented at the Reading Day by Miranda Bell, can be downloaded by AUSTA members by visiting this page.
AUSTA VIC – 40 Years of Newsletters
The first AUSTA VIC Newsletter was published at the end of
AUSTA VIC – Card Payments
Did you know that AUSTA VIC can now accept card payments at our events?
Events
Past Events
May 2024
June 2024
August 2024
October 2024
December 2024
February 2025
March 2025
