By Aaron Cordy
A CAPTIVATED audience was treated to the String Ensemble from the Goulburn Valley Concert Orchestra (GVCO) in the second Chamber Music Concert on Sunday, August 31. Bruce and Leona Sterling had the joyous family moment of their grandsons, Oliver (15) and Elliot (12) Michael being able to rehearse with the Strings on Thursday and to perform in the concert on Sunday afternoon.
Oliver (violinist) and Elliot (cello) live in London, where they attend the Trinity School in Croydon, which has a renowned music program. They are visiting Australia with their mum, Claire Sterling, (born and raised in Shepparton) who performed in the Mahlerfest with the Australian World Orchestra.
“My husband has always had a bucket list to be able to perform with the boys. And it was just really serendipitous that they happened to be visiting at the time that this Chamber Concert was held,” said Leona. Bruce was extremely proud to be able to perform with them.
“They didn’t know anything about it before they arrived. But they’re pretty competent musicians and so with a bit of practice and rehearsal with Bruce, they worked the items up for the Sunday afternoon’s concert.”
Both boys are well-accomplished musicians, with Oliver having performed in several operas in France, Hungary, England and Germany and his school choir toured China. Elliot is also building an interest in theatre, taking the lead as Nemo in Finding Nemo at his primary school, and Young Duggery in the Trinity School production of The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe.
At the concert, Oliver performed the Sarabande and Gigue from the Partita in D minor for Solo Violin by J.S. Bach. Accompanied by Bruce, Elliot played the third movement of the Haydn Cello Concerto and together, they played the Beethoven Piano Trio, Opus 11. The event was the second concert of the GVCO annual, free Chamber Series, which Leona directs and comperes. Leona plays cello and Bruce, viola, in the String Ensemble.
For the Sterling family, it was a wonderful afternoon of memories, especially for Bruce. For the audience, it was a beautiful afternoon of music-making from the GVCO Strings, ably directed by Peter Read, to be enjoyed by all music lovers.
