2008 Concert

Finals Concert

IMAGINING France's romantic Provence region and an ancient Roman necropolis has helped Newtown's Jessica Voigt snare a double musical success.

The saxophonist evoked contrasting playful and sombre scenes to win twice at Saturday night's Geelong Advertiser Music Competition finals concert at GPAC.

Future winners take note -- the music student's recipe for success included three hours' practice a day. The second-year Victorian College of the Arts student won both the Harwood Andrews Regional Prize and the regional people's choice categories.

Canberra flautist Mark Xiao won the national popularity award while Melbourne pianist Stephen Ma won the national Costa Prize with Melbourne violinist Claire Herrick finishing runner-up alongside Mr Xiao.

Ms Voigt performed a movement from Tableaux de Provence, or pictures of Provence, which captured the dances of young playful women.

He second movement described walking past Roman gravestones. ``When I play things I like to make them as contrasting as possible, a faster piece shows range of technique, while a slower piece show tone colour and sound quality,''  Ms Voigt has played saxophone for six years after trying her hand at clarinet and piano for almost 10 years.

The saxophonist said winning came as a surprise after a couple of ``slip-ups'' but perhaps she was the only one who noticed.

``I thought it went all right. I wasn't as happy with the first movement as I was the second.
``Obviously everyone has little slips and things but I think we tend to pick up even the smallest, littlest wrong note and you will make it into the biggest issue.''

Award trustee Wendy Galloway said the competition's large purse and reputation made the finalists' work that much more important. ``It's one of the most important competitions for classical musicians,'' she said.

 

 

 

 

       

 

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