Conductors
Jules Cseszkó / Willem van der Vis
Orchestra Manager
Ruth Muir
(03) 9818 0801
Assistant Manager
Nola Meredith
(03) 9857 6578
Contact and bookings via U3A Hawthorn Office
(03) 9821 0282
For U3A Hawthorn Website click here
The orchestra began in mid-1997 as a very small group of musicians, several of whom had worked years before with George Logie-Smith, our first Director. From March 2000 we enjoyed the guidance of Christopher Martin, whose reputation attracted many more players, and we grew to some 55 members, including several ex-MSO members and many enthusiastic and skilled amateur musicians. Our conductors are Gyula [Jules] Cseszkó and Willem Van Der Vis. We give 3 concerts a year and since 2012 have followed our final concert with visits to at least 1 Primary school in the region, choosing schools with little or no music education programs. These have been enthusiastically received, and the players enjoy the experience of interacting with the children. We hope to continue this practice in the future.
To read more of our history click here
See a video of our string quintet recorded 22 August 2015 click here
We are in need of additional viola players for our 2019 concerts. Players should have experience in orchestral playing. We rehearse on Thursday mornings - see our rehearsals page. If this sounds like it might suit you please email webmaster@u3ahawthorn.org.au. Of course, if you are play violin we'd also love to hear from you!
The Players
First ViolinLeader Jaynee Russell-Clarke |
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Second Violin Graeme Barker [Principal], Bibi Aickin, Irene Ayton, Loris Balderson, Margaret Brauer, Prue Brown, Jasmine Brunner, Anne Byrne, Brian Mee, Beth Stengards, Margaret Wu |
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Viola Birgiet van der Valk [Principal], Graeme Croft, Angela Glover, John Hughes |
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Cello |
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Double Bass Earle Hunter [Principal], Bill Clark, Sid Cowling, Nick Rynolds |
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Flute & Piccolo Mary Keusgen [Principal], Annette Sloan, Jo Stewart |
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Oboe Terry Smith [Principal], Elspeth Noxon |
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Clarinet |
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Bassoon Barbara Trauer [Principal], Rob Weiss |
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French Horn Brian Sorenson, Robyn Sorenson, Michele Hancock, David Keeffe* |
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Trumpet Barry McKimm [Principal], Nicholas Day-Lewis, Peter Graham |
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Trombone Michael Cousins, David MacArthur |
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Tuba Naham Warhaft |
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Timpani Bruce Lancashire |
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Percussion Roslyn Evans*, Peter Robb* |
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* denotes guest players |