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Duo wins prestigious music prize

Two third-year classical performance students have combined their talents to take out the University of Tasmania’s Ossa Music Prize and People’s Choice Award for 2022.

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Two third-year classical performance students have combined their talents to take out the University of Tasmania’s Ossa Music Prize and People’s Choice Award for 2022.

Sophia Mitchell and Jamie Willson impressed the judges with their amalgamation of French horn and percussion (specifically vibraphone, marimba and junk percussion) in a chamber ensemble not commonly seen.

Their performance of three pieces at the Recital Hall at the Hedberg on July 14 was a clear winner with the judges, who commented upon the duo’s ensemble rapport, their curation of new works and the extra-musical elements they wove into their clear and distinctive vision for the performance.

Sophia and Jamie drew inspiration from American composer Steven Snowden’s Profiles and decided to commission two Tasmanian up-and-coming composers to write works for percussion and French horn which looked to bring to life the people who have helped make Tasmania the unique place that it is.

Sophia began studying the French horn from the age of eight at Pymble Ladies’ College in Sydney before graduating and accepting a position at the University of Tasmania Conservatorium.

She said Profiles had inspired her to look at her ancestry, which traces back to one of the first convicts to come to Van Diemen’s Land and another convict ancestor, Samuel Free, who became a successful landowner.

These connections formed the foundation for the piece by third-year composition student Emily Knight called Samuel Free.

Jamie, who began his musical journey at the age of five, also looked to his family roots, which included grandparents who were tin miners in the southwest of Tasmania where they worked closely with Deny King. That tale has been translated into Tinny, the composition by UTAS PhD student Dominic Flynn, the story about Deny who was a miner and environmentalist in Melaleuca.

Head of Music at the University, Dr Arabella Teniswood-Harvey, said the three finalists put on amazing performances at the Hedberg, but Jamie and Sophia’s chamber ensemble was a standout.

She said that as part of their prize the two will tour the state, performing at a number of regional venues including Queenstown and Swansea before returning to Hobart.

“The funded tour is a wonderful performance opportunity for these young musicians who will meet difference audiences and play in a variety of school and public venues along the way,” Dr Teniswood-Harvey said.

“It’s an amazing experience and one Sophia and Jamie will never forget.”

The Ossa Prize is named after Tasmania’s highest mountain peak and was established in 2018 by University alumnus Mr Rod Roberts to help students pursue excellence in musicianship. In addition to supporting a young artist to embark on a State-wide performance tour, the prize includes $2,500 to be spent as the winner chooses.  The tour will include a performance in Queenstown in memory of Margaret Stoermer, thanks to support provided by her family.

Jamie and Sophia’s duo was one of three finalists who competed for the prize at a public performance on 14 July at the Hedberg before judges Dr Teniswood-Harvey, the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra’s conductor Christopher Bearman and contemporary percussionist and composer Maggie Abraham, an alumnus of the University’s Music program.

Tour dates:

Queenstown 30 August 7pm – Paragon Theatre
Ulverstone 1 September 7pm – The Wharf
Launceston 2 September 7pm – Annexe Theatre
Swansea 3 September 7pm – Swansea Town Hall
Hobart 10 September 7pm – The Ian Potter Recital Hall, The Hedberg

School matinee performances in each location to be announced early August.

Image: University of Tasmania classical performance students Jamie Willson and Sophia Mitchell at the Ossa Music Prize public performance at the Recital Hall at the Hedberg in Hobart.