In 2019, we offer the opportunity for soloists to audition for a performance opportunity in Term 2 & 3 with the UNSW Orchestra. All are welcome to apply, from within and outside the UNSW Orchestra. Preference is given to current UNSW students. Soloists are selected by the panel based on performance quality, and appropriateness and difficulty of repertoire.

Congratulations to all the talented musicians who auditioned in February for the UNSW Concerto Auditions. We are excited to announce that we have two winners, Thomas Azoury and Alice Hu.

Thomas Azoury

Thomas Azoury grew up in Canberra, ACT. In his final year of highschool he successfully completed AMEB Associate Diplomas for both the Piano and Clarinet, and would continue to undertake a Bachelor of Music at the Australian National University under renowned clarinettist, Alan Vivian. After graduating, Thomas continued his studies in Melbourne with David Griffiths, Philip Arkinstall and Paul Champion. 2019 has marked the beginning of a new chapter, seeing a return to tertiary education with the commencement of studies in Psychology at UNSW.

Thomas continues to enjoy a varied musical portfolio of orchestral, chamber and solo engagements, and previously has performed with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra and Canberra International Music Festival, been a two-time finalist in the Sydney Eisteddfod’s Musica Viva Chamber Music Competition, and Doctor’s Orchestra Instrumental Scholarship, as well as having been selected to participate in the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp and the Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute in Hobart. 2019 notably continues his longterm collaboration with musical confidant and friend, pianist Andrew Rumsey, in their second performance tour of the ACT and NSW, as well as tooting around the country with Dixieland Jazz group, the Zackerbilks.

When not practicing the clarinet, piano, or catching up on lectures, Thomas keenly practices Judo, competing regularly around the country. He was awarded his first-degree black belt in 2017.’

"Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto has to be one of the most stunningly elegant and beautiful works in the classical repertory. It’s on the bucket-list of every clarinettist to perform with orchestra and having not done this before I couldn’t pass up the opportunity! Being able to realise the score with the full richness of orchestral colour is so exciting, as is the chance to be spontaneous and personal with the music. I’m really looking forward to making this MY Mozart as opposed to someone else’s. Still hopefully within the bounds of taste and style, but let’s perhaps say that we’re going to open up the throttle a bit and have some fun."

Alice Hu

Alice is in her fourth year of studying a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics major) and Music degree at UNSW. Her earliest memory of performance was in the St George Girls High School percussion ensemble where she fell in love with the physicality, variety and comradery of percussion playing. Alice also picked up an interest in composing and went on to do Music Extension in composition for her HSC. She was lead snare in the Arts Unit Millennium Marching Band and has been an enthusiastic member of various other music ensembles including Splash Percussion, the UNSW Orchestra and Wind Symphony as well as Suwitra Jaya, the UNSW Balinese Gamelan.   She has competed twice in the St George and Sutherland Shire Youth Music Awards, earning second place for performance in 2015 and first place for composition in 2018. Last semester, Alice studied at the University of Michigan where she was able to join the percussion studio, learn to play the carillon and take part in the Samba Vencedores, Dominican rhythm ensemble and Javanese Gamelan. She hopes to continue to develop as a musician and is especially honoured to be playing Emmanuel Séjourné’s Vibraphone Concerto with the UNSW orchestra this year.

“Not only do I greatly admire Séjourné, who is such a skilled mallet percussionist, influential composer and educator, but his piece just makes me feel free. Being able to play it with an ensemble that is so close to my heart will definitely be special.”  

See Alice perform Emmanuel Séjourné’s Vibraphone Concerto with the UNSW Orchestra on Friday 9 August and Thomas perform Mozart's Clarinet Concerto with the UNSW Orchestra on Friday November 15.