Conservatorium students appear at arboretum

Fourteen Central Coast Conservatorium students appeared on the program for the ninth annual Opera in the Arboretum held on Saturday, March 23, in Pearl Beach.

Led by Central Coast Chamber Orchestra ensemble director Olena Zaporozhets, the Conservatorium's premier ensemble has been rehearsing for the concert since Strings Summer School in January.

Soloist Olivia Bell, who is the current Ray Allen scholarship holder at the Central Coast Conservatorium, said it was a particularly proud moment.

Olivia, 15, is currently studying eighth grade AMEB violin with Ms Zaporozhets as well as viola with head of the Conservatorium Strings Program Ms Suzanne Borrett.

Olivia commenced studying a Diploma of Music this year with the Central Coast Conservatorium and is active in the Chamber Orchestra.

Central Coast Conservatorium artistic director Mr Patrick Brennan conducted the Orchestra through a program that included the Summer movement of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, an excerpt from Mozart's Don Giovanni, and Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot.

Ms Zaporozhets also featured as a soloist with Conservatorium vocal tutor and Pearl Beach resident Ms Michaele Archer.

The program for the event was put together by Ms Archer with support from the Central Coast Conservatorium.

Also featuring on the program was Central Coast Conservatorium flute tutor Vanessa Ropa.

Ms Ropa has appeared with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as well as other orchestras in Sydney and internationally.

She performed, along with Sydney based harpist Verna Lee Brown, and the Conservatorium's Chamber Orchestra.

"Participating in such a highly prestigious concert is a wonderful opportunity for our students," said Mr Brennan.

"It is such a wonderful event and the Conservatorium is very proud to support it.

"After so many hours of preparation, it's great to play to an appreciative audience and with such high caliber singers and a prize winning pianist such as Jem Harding," he said.

All profits from the event go to support the Guide Dogs.

Media Release, 26 Mar 2013

Lisa Kelly, Central Coast Conservatorium