Pianist Simon Tedeschi presents concert to raise funds for Ukraine. With special guests, Ukrainian singer and bandura player, Larissa Kovalchuk, and flute soloist Sally Walker.

“When she was alive, my grandmother always told me that she volunteered at the Sydney Jewish Museum by sharing her story so that ‘what happened’ would never, ever happen again. Sadly, recent history has shown this to be an idealistic premise.

Nevertheless, I believe it the duty of all free-thinking people to combat extremism, especially of a nationalistic variety. As such, I am organising a fundraising concert for Ukraine, at Camelot Lounge in Sydney, and 100% of proceeds will go to supporting the people of Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s illegal occupation via The United Ukraine Appeal, through Medical and Humanitarian Aid, Rehabilitation Centres and Non-violent Defence.

Joining me will be my frequent collaborator, the extraordinary flautist Sally Walker, and the exceptional Ukrainian soprano Larissa Kovalchuk who plays the bandura, an instrument that dates back to the 6^th century on Ukrainian land. Come and hear traditional folksong and music from our two countries, alongside several works from the classical canon.

I hope you’ll join us for this special evening in support of Ukraine, at this time when more support is urgently needed.

– Simon Tedeschi

Photography Credits (Walker, Tedeschi): Keith Saunders Photography

Date: Thursday 20 October, 2022 at 7:30pm

Venue: Camelot Lounge, cnr 103 Railway Pde and 19 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville
Tickets: $50 plus booking fee.

100% of proceeds from ticket sales to be donated to The United Ukraine Appeal.

Tickets can be bought here.

For more information: camelotlounge.com |     simontedeschi.com | facebook.com/simontedeschi | sallywalker.com.au | facebook.com/sallywalkerflautist | larissakovalchuk.com | theukraineappeal.org

With special thanks to the artists, Camelot Lounge and all our friends and colleagues for sharing and supporting this event. If anyone would like to support this fundraising concert but cannot attend, please consider either buying a concert ticket in any case, as all proceeds from ticket sales will be donated, or donating directly to www.theukraineappeal.org

SIMON TEDESCHI is one of Australia’s most renowned classical pianists. Recipient of the Young Performer of the Year Award, the Creativity Foundation’s Legacy Award (USA), the New York Young Jewish Pianist Award and a Centenary of Federation Medal, he has performed for audiences, royalty and world leaders, from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall via Asia and the Middle East. Acclaimed by respected critics and peers as “true greatness” (SMH), Simon performed his first Mozart piano concerto in the Sydney Opera House aged nine, later studying in the USA and performing with the Colorado, Fort Worth and Illinois Symphony Orchestras. Since returning in 2009, he regularly performs as soloist with all the major Australian symphony orchestras, and tours nationally for festivals, venues and presenters. Tedeschi also dabbles in jazz, and has co-written and toured internationally the Sydney Opera House’ Meeting Mozart show (for children), and a number of shows combining words and music, with Monkey Baa Theatre and with Australian theatre icon, John Bell AO OBE. In addition, Tedeschi is fast gaining renown as a writer of note, with his critically acclaimed literary debut, Fugitive (for Upswell Publishing) released in May 2022; his writing also earned the prestigious Calibre Essay Prize for 2022. With numerous recordings for ABC Classics/Universal Music, Simon’s latest album release is ‘Debussy – Ravel’ with violist Roger Benedict, and upcoming engagements include as soloist with the Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, with violinist and SSO Concertmaster Andrew Haveron, and John Bell.

LARISSA KOVALCHUK, VOICE & BANDURA

Larissa Kovalchuk’s exceptional soprano voice, combined with the gentle sounds of the bandura, has thrilled audiences as geographically distant as her native Ukraine, Western Europe and around Australia. She was born into a family of visual artists and musicians and began her musical training as a child. As she says, – “I sang before I talked”.

Larissa studied voice, bandura and conducting at Kiev Conservatorium of Music and soon became one of the nation’s leading players. She performed in numerous festivals in the Ukraine and Western Europe, including Latvia, Estonia Germany and France. Larissa was a laureate of the 1993 all-Ukrainian Bandura Festival and won international renown at the 1994 “All the World’s Violins“ Festival in France, that was organized by Yehudi Menuhen.

Since moving to Australia, Larissa has made recordings with SBS and ABC, and appeared in the Sydney Opera House, numerous Multicultural and Folk Festivals, Musica Viva and Cafe Carnivale Concerts. Recently Larissa has performed for Canberra International Music Festival, the Woodford Folk festival and in the “Noel! Noel!” concert series with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. She completed her Masters Degree in Education at University of Sydney and now divides her time between performing and teaching at Riverina Conservatorium of Music (Wagga Wagga, NSW).

SALLY WALKER, FLUTE

Known for impeccable technical skill, musicality and versatility, Australian flautist Sally Walker performs on modern flutes and piccolo as well as historical flutes and recorders and has appeared in the London Proms, Salzburg, Lucerne, Tanglewood and Edinburgh Festivals. Grand-finalist in the Leonardo de Lorenzo International Flute Competition (Italy), and prize-winner in the Friedrich Kuhlau International Flute Competition (Germany) she was awarded scholarships from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange for postgraduate study in Germany), Ian Potter Cultural Fund and the Queen’s Trust. Regular Guest Principal with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Principal Flautist with the Omega Ensemble, she is also Lecturer in Classical Performance (Woodwind) at the Australian National University School of Music.

Sally has toured and recorded with the Berlin Philharmonic and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestras, is a former Principal Flute of the Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss, was a member of Kölner Kammerorchester and has performed as Guest Principal Flute with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, NDR Radio Philharmonie Hannover, Kammerakademie Potsdam, Manchester Camerata, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. She has also performed as concerto soloist with orchestras including the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra (on both flute and piccolo), Orchestra Accademia I Filarmonici di Verona and the Klassische Philharmonie Bonn as well as many Australian orchestras. The 2022 season includes a return to Canberra International Music Festival, UKARIA Cultural Centre (Adelaide) and performances with the ACO for ‘The Crowd & I’, and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in its Beethoven Symphony cycle.

“velvety tones.. Walker’s control in the work was astounding… The professionalism and passion played in this work was mirrored in every piece performed. This was a concert that will stay long in the memory of everyone who attended.”

– Canberra CityNews, 2020 (Simon Tedeschi and Sally Walker live performance)

“Walker and Tedeschi tossed French restraint aside in the passionate teasing of Milonga del Serafin which was written especially for Sally Walker in 2001 by Argentinian composer Coco Nelegatti… a truly mesmerising experience… Simon Tedeschi proved himself to be as skilful an ensemble player as he is a soloist and Sally Walker is, I believe, Australia’s best flautist.”

– Sounds Like Sydney, 2021 (Simon Tedeschi and Sally Walker live performance)

“a soulful, restful folk song… her performance was wistful and poignant” – CityNews, 2022 (live review, Larissa Kovalchuk, CIMF).