Music for Medicine raises over $6000

By Dr Lyn Phillipson

Cedar Newman (violin) from Wombarra and Alex Yau (piano) from Sydney, took the audience on an exciting musical journey and delivered a concert to remember at the Thirroul Community Centre on 19^th June.

A concert dedicated to raising funds for Medicine san Frontiers, met with incredible support from the community, raising $6448 to date.  The fundraiser was in response to the incredible demands for the services of Medicine sans Frontiers in Ukraine and the ongoing global need for their services.

The music, the performers, and enthusiasm of the audience ensured it was a night of joy and inspiration despite a few technical hiccups. It was fantastic to see a more multi-generational audience at this concert.  A community get together was encouraged at interval, with drinks courtesy of Crown West Cellars in Wollongong and food prepared by local artist Marissa Gunning.

Alex, a graduate of Sydney Conservatorium and the Julliard School of Music in New York, selected two exquisite solo piano works. By Maurice Ravel and Alexander Scriabin; they offered a contrasting mood to the intensity and drama of the program.  Alex’s introductions to the works were informative and entertaining, at one point encouraging us to not only “hear and feel the music but to smell the music”.

Cedar studies with  Goetz Richter (Sydney Conservatorium of Music) and Lucie Robert (Manhattan School of Music, New York).

Alex and Cedar brought to life the passionate and lyrical character of the Brahms, Piano and Violin Sonata No. 2.  Cedar performed Eugene Ysaÿe’s , Ballade, her deep connection to the work, perhaps a reflection, that it was first premiered by her teacher’s teacher, Joseph Gingold, a student of Ysaÿe

The closing work, and perhaps the highlight of the concert, was Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No.1. depicting Shostakovich’s response to the oppression of Stalin’s regime in the 1940s.  It was kept by Shostakovich, in a draw, until after the death of Stalin.  A poignant work for current times.  The work is moody and not short on darker emotions: at times eerily poetic, at times jarring (the Soviet soldiers knocking at doors). Shostakovich also offers release from the shadowy world, as if to say, no matter what … we must find a way to laugh.

If you missed the live version, it is worth listening to the concert online.  A film, that captures all the intensity and colour of the performance, by Dominque O’Donnell with sound by Josh Winestock is available via donation to the Medicine sans Frontieres. Upon donation you will receive a link to the concert.