In a thrilling development for music in Western Australia, Edith Cowan University has appointed five dynamic new staff members to WAAPA’s Classical Music program: the extraordinary Darlington Quartet, and the internationally renowned conductor Jessica Gethin.
The Darlington Quartet will lead WAAPA’s Classical String program as WAAPA’s Quartet in Residence, while Jessica Gethin takes on the newly created role of Head of Orchestral Studies and Conducting.
Darlington Quartet appointed WAAPA’s Quartet in Residence
Famed for their dynamism, energy and superb musicianship, the Darlington Quartet redefines the role of the string quartet in society through their visionary programming and electrifying performances.
This award-winning Australian string ensemble is featured on the soundtrack of the film Breath, based on Tim Winton’s novel; records regularly for ABC Classics; and performs sold-out concerts throughout WA.
Renowned violinists Semra Lee and Zak Rowntree, violist Sally Boud and cellist Jon Tooby are all highly accomplished musicians with extensive performance histories across all aspects of classical music – as soloists, chamber musicians, orchestral section principals and mentors.
The Darlington Quartet will lead WAAPA’s Classical String program, guiding and inspiring students to find their own unique voices, and helping them to establish their professional careers.
“We are beyond excited about joining WAAPA in 2023!” says violinist Zak Rowntree. “We can’t wait to work with the students and participate in the diverse range of performance opportunities that only WAAPA offers. We look forward to the move into the exciting new building in the heart of Perth, and the opportunities that the location and world-class facilities will bring to help our students prepare for a 21st century career in music.”
Jessica Gethin appointed WAAPA’s Head of Orchestral Studies and Conducting
As Head of Orchestral Studies and Conducting at WAAPA, Jessica Gethin will direct WAAPA’s vibrant orchestral program, and inspire and mentor students by providing them with the skills, training and experience they need to create full-time careers in music.
The WAAPA Symphony Orchestra is ECU’s flagship instrumental ensemble, performing an exciting range of orchestral repertoire from Baroque masterworks through to Romantic symphonies, new commissions, concertos, music theatre, opera and ballet. The orchestra provides an invaluable springboard into the music profession for WAAPA’s classical instrumental students.
“I’m thrilled to be joining WAAPA in 2023 in this brand-new position,” says Jessica. “I am excited to bring my global performance experience to the students, further elevating the orchestral program to unite, excite and shape the future of music makers in Western Australia.
“I feel so fortunate to have experienced the culture of excellence at WAAPA as a student, alumna and staff, and have seen first-hand how unique this incredible institution is. My vision is to deliver ECU’s mantra of developing ‘world ready’ students along with the opportunity to drive the new inclusive course as we transition into the new home of WAAPA at Yagan Square.”
WAAPA’s Associate Dean of Music, Dr Jamie Oehlers welcomed the appointments, saying: “This is a watershed moment for classical music in WA. The Darlington Quartet and Jessica Gethin are outstanding musicians, educators and role models, with the ability to inspire and guide students into the modern musical world.
“With WAAPA's new home being built at ECU's City Campus, and a new Bachelor of Music course designed for the musical world of the future, students can look forward to a world-class education in a world-class building. WAAPA Music is an incredibly vibrant place to study, with brilliant staff, great facilities and outstanding students.”
Auditions still open for 2023 enrolments!
There is still time to audition for WAAPA’s 2023 Classical Music courses. Places are available in the Diploma of Music, Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts programs. WAAPA is where you can turn your love of music into a professional career! For more information:
https://www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/courses-and-admissions/our-courses/music/classical-performance
For further information or to discuss interview opportunities, please contact:
Anton Maz, Marketing Manager, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Phone: (08) 6304 6817 / mob: 0404 699 772 / email: a.maz@ecu.edu.au
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BIOGRAPHIES & PRESS QUOTES
Jessica Gethin
Hailed as ‘exuberant’, ‘superb’ and ‘a force to be reckoned with’, acclaimed Australian conductor Jessica Gethin has been praised by audiences and critics alike for her dynamic energy, outstanding musicianship and abounding presence on the podium. Jessica performs with leading orchestras across the globe from Australia to New Zealand, USA and Asia, working seamlessly across a diverse range of genres from symphonic, ballet and opera to contemporary and film score. As one of Australian Financial Review's ‘100 Most Influential Women’ in Australia, Jessica was Chief Conductor of the Perth Symphony Orchestra from 2011-2019, winner of the 2015 Brian Stacey Emerging Australian Conductor Award, Inaugural Fellow at the Institute of Women Conductors at The Dallas Opera, a 2016 Winston Churchill Fellowship recipient and a finalist in the WA of the Year Awards in 2019. An alumna of WAAPA, Jessica’s commitment to foster and inspire the next generation of emerging musicians has contributed to her rapidly growing profile as a formidable and inspiring leader both on and off the podium. Jessica has lectured in conducting and led orchestra seasons at WAAPA since 2009 and is thrilled to be taking on the new appointment as Head of Orchestral Studies and Conducting in 2023.
“Under the baton of Jessica Gethin, a consummate musician who knows how to get the best out of her players… Gethin’s conducting is superb. She is energetic to the nth degree, but not a skerrick of that energy is wasted. And the orchestra responds with dedication and sheer hard work… evident from the opening bars of Bernstein’s Overture to Candide.” – Arts Hub
“At times an enthusiastic and accomplished Gethin almost danced on the podium as she urged her musicians on to ever greater brilliance and gusto.” – The Starfish
“This was one of the most exciting and moving performances of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing; swift, crisp and shapely, with plenty of colour and nuance… In the famous second movement especially, conductor Jessica Gethin controlled the ebb and flow of tension with goosebump-inducing artistry… the standing ovation that followed was more than deserved.” – The West Australian
DARLINGTON QUARTET
Semra Lee (Violin 1)
Semra Lee is the Assistant Concertmaster of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and a regular member of the Australian World Orchestra. Semra has appeared as guest Concertmaster with symphony orchestras around Australia, and performed as a soloist with the West Australian and Darwin Symphony Orchestras. Semra commenced violin lessons aged 3 with her mother, and gained her Bachelor of Music degree at WAAPA. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma from the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam, and honed her quartet skills at the Australian National Academy of Music and the Banff Center for the Arts in Canada. Semra performs across Australia as a chamber musician, and is a founding member of the Darlington String Quartet and the Darlington Piano Trio.
Zak Rowntree (Violin 2)
Zak Rowntree has been Principal Second Violin with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra since 2014. He was born in England and began studying violin at the age of 9, before winning a scholarship to study at the prestigious Chethams School of Music in Manchester. Zak went on to graduate from the University of York and the Royal Northern College of Music, where he fell in love with chamber music, studying with the Lindsay, Fitzwilliam and Sorrel string quartets. He performed regularly in the UK with the BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and English Northern Philharmonia, before moving to Perth in 1997 to take up his position with the WA Symphony Orchestra.
Sally Boud (Viola)
Sally Boud studied viola performance in Perth before moving to Berlin for postgraduate study with Gertrude Rossbacher. In 1999 Sally became a founding member of Australia’s Tankstream Quartet, which toured worldwide and won prizes in many international competitions, including the Osaka International Competition in 2002, the Premio Paolo Borciani competition in 2005, and the Cremona International Competition in 2005. In 2004-05 the quartet was based in Berlin, and studied with the Alban Berg Quartet. In 2006 the quartet was invited to become the ‘Australian String Quartet’, performing all around the world, and premiering works by Australia’s leading composers. Sally left the quartet at the end of 2011 to pursue a busy and varied freelance career, performing with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Sydney and Darwin Symphony Orchestras, and as Guest Principal Viola with the WA, Adelaide, Tasmanian and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras.
Jonathan Tooby (cello)
Jon Tooby is a conductor, cellist, chamber musician and artistic director. A graduate of WAAPA and also the Royal College of Music in London, Jon has performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Halle Orchestra, BBC Symphony, Singapore Symphony, and West Australian Symphony Orchestra. As a young cellist, Jon was awarded both the concerto prize and the chamber music prize at the Royal College of Music in London, and he has been the artistic director and cellist of the Darlington Chamber Music Series since its inception in 2003. Jon is also the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra, and has directed the West Australian Symphony Orchestra on numerous occasions with repertoire spanning from Beethoven to Harry Potter. Jon has also conducted the the WA Opera and WA Ballet orchestras, as well as the WA Philharmonic and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
“Seeing these four musicians perform together was a genuine delight…” – Limelight Magazine
“… superb solo and ensemble skills” – Limelight Magazine
“… achingly romantic elegance, and a brilliant flourish” – The West Australian
Darlington Quartet photo credit: Nik Babic
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