next concert NOVEMBER 15th 2008

Joanna Tondys was born in Poland where she attended the State Music Schools in Sieradz and Zduńska Wola, graduating with her Diploma of Music. After moving to Australia, Joanna continued her studies with harpsichordist Monika Kornel and is currently studying with Neal Peres da Costa at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In 2007 Joanna was awarded an exchange student scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, London with harpsichordist Terence Charlston. Joanna has participated in many music camps and masterclasses in both Australia and Europe with such eminent early music musicians as Rachel Brown, Mark Caudle, Gary Cooper, Jane Gower, Peter Holman, Peter Holtslag, Emma Kirkby, Bill Lyons, Nicholas Parle, Zbigniew Pilch, Johann Plietzsch, Ashley Solomon, Lilianna Stawarz, Elizabeth Wallfisch, Erwin Wieringa and Jan Willem de Vriend.

November 15th Concert

The second concert in the two part series entitled "Six Solos for two Violoncellos compos'd by Sigr. Bononcini and other eminent Authors" is to take place on Saturday NOVEMBER 15th at St Stephen's Church, 189 Church St., Newtown. Tickets will be available at the door - adults $25 and students$20.
Suonare believes the program will prove to be quite exciting as it includes a cello sonata by Andrea Caporale composed for a piccolo cello or possibly a five stringed cello. We hope you are able to attend this concert and thus support Suonare in its endeavour to perform the rich and wonderful baroque cello repertoire!
Suonare will be joined by harpsichordist Joanna Tondys for this November concert. Earlier this year Joanna returned from studying at the Royal School of Music in London. A scholarship from the University of Sydney allowed Joanna to study harpsichord and historical performance practice for six months as part of her Bachelor of Music degree.

First CONCERT for 2008

SUONARE is presenting their first concert for 2008 on SATURDAY 26th APRIL at 8pm, St Stephen's Church, 189 Church St., Newtown. Please scroll down to earlier postings for more information.

CHRIS BERENSEN

Chris Berensen is a freelance performer of early keyboard instruments and is currently completing a Research Masters degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Notable ensembles he has performed with include the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Salut! Baroque, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, and the New Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra of Cologne. His teachers include Dr. Neal Peres da Costa, Philip Swanton, and the composers Damien Ricketson and Simone East. He has also participated in masterclasses with such celebrated early music personalities as Wieland Kuijken, Eduardo Eguez, Lars Ulrik Mortensen, and Genevieve Lacey.

Chris enjoys having broader musical tastes. As a composer, he has explored contemporary and baroque sounds, winning a Musica Viva competition at age 15, and in 2005 he performed his own concerto as part of his Bachelor degree - a first in the history of the Sydney Conservatorium. Chris has performed in over fifty Bach cantatas and both passions with the Sydneian Bach Choir and other ensembles. Chris also has a keen interest in jazz and contemporary popular music, and plays the electric bass with his newly formed trio Lucid3, and the vibrant music ministry of St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Sydney.

2008 has seen the premiere performance of Chris’s new work ‘Huygens’ at the Easter Viol School, as well as performances with Lucid3, the Marais Project, the Sydneian Bach Choir, and with the counter-tenor Tobias Cole as part of Musica Viva’s ‘Menage’ concert series. Chris is also heavily involved with the Musica Viva in Schools programme, and tutoring chamber music in the Sydney Conservatorium's Open Learning Academy.

CONCERTS in 2008

In 2008 SUONARE is focusing on the complete set of six cello sonatas published under the title Six solos for two Violoncellos compos'd by Sigr. Bononcini and other eminent Authors. Sonatas I - III will be presented in April and Sonatas IV - VI in November. Details for the first concert are as follows:

Date : SATURDAY 26TH APRIL 8pm

Venue : St Stephens Church,
189 Church St., Newtown

Tickets : Adults $25
Under 18yrs $15
purchase tickets at the door

Performers : Baroque cellos : Clara Blazer and Karella Mitchell
Harpsichord : Chris Berensen
Voice : Guest artist Inara Molinari