News

 Several different things in the past month. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and I finished the recording of new music for children. There was also some new fireworks music of mine to record with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. This, together with parts of my Olympics music, is for the next Sydney Harbour fireworks display at the beginning of the New Year.
   Last week saw me make an emergency dash to Brisbane to rehearse a Ravel/Takemitsu programme with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (the scheduled conductor was delayed in Singapore). Then I went to Perth for the Mathy Opera Awards concert on the 28th. There were five competing singers, and the second half included some Tchaikovsky and Puccini with arias sung by a previous winner. The concert went very smoothly, and the decisions made by the panel seemed fair and pleased the audience (the hometown girl won!).
   The band arrangement of “Olympic Fireworks” has been given its first performance by Dale Lonis and the University of Missouri Wind Orchestra. Dale is also rehearsing my new symphony. No firm date for a première yet. Next newsletter I hope to give firm details of my forthcoming trip to the U.S.A.