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2020 Launchpad Mentees Announced as Musica Viva In Schools Shows Continue

 


Thursday 25 June 2020

Topology announces their 2020 Launchpad Mentorship Program as they continue their virtual Musica Viva in Schools shows.

Musica Viva In Schools has taken its program completely online to support schools during COVID- 19 and beyond. Topology participates enthusiastically in this program providing online performances and teaching resources to Central Queensland and Northern New South Wales primary classrooms. 15 Musica Viva In Schools Topology performances are booked in with more to follow.

Top Up [now known as the Topology Creative Academy] has been operating successfully for over two-decades bringing music and creative empowerment to individuals, schools and communities. Under the Top Up umbrella, the Launchpad Mentorship Program has been providing valuable guidance to emerging composers since 2015.

This year’s Launchpad composition participants each expressed an interest in choral works and Topology are pleased to announce Launchpad mentor, Australian composer and conductor, Isabella Gerometta. Isabella has prepared and directed choruses for a number of events with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, working alongside internationally recognised conductors such as Simone Young and Alondra de la Parra. She has also co-directed a number of concerts for The Australian Voices, including Everyday Requiem in collaboration with Expressions Dance Company in 2018.

Topology Creative Director, Christa Powell (violin) said “Topology believes that everyone is creative. Through Launchpad we are able to provide a tailored and one-on-one year-round mentorship program to nurture and empower emerging composers regardless of their age, place and background. Launchpad guides them, not only through the creative work, but also the professional practice of being a composer. We are thrilled to have Isabella Gerometta guiding our three 2020 participants who will also gain knowledge from in house Topology composers, Dr Robert Davidson and John Babbage, and Topology industry professionals, Melanie Doheny and Gabby Gregory throughout the year-round program. It is also wonderful to still be playing music during these restricted times albeit virtually. We are proud of our award-winning education platform TOP UP and thrive on bringing music to students via our participation within the Musica Viva In Schools tour and our Launchpad program. [We do believe that all] children deserve to experience the power and wonder of music.”

The signature works culminating from the Launchpad 2020 program will be performed by Topology during 2021.

 


Introducing our 2020 Launchpad mentees:

Samuel Carrick is a 2nd year Composition student at the Queensland Conservatorium, with significant experience as a chorister and emerging composer. Sam is passionate about new music, choral music and post-minimalism, working both with acoustic ensembles and producing digital works. Sam has worked with ensembles nationally, and most recently was selected as the Queensland representative for the ASME National Young Composers Project, premiering his piece with the University of Western Australia Conservatorium YCP ensemble. As a chorister, Sam has worked with some of Australia’s premier organisations, and looks to continue expanding his horizons both as a composer and musician.

Francesca Brzoskowski is a classical jazz pianist and composer based in Brisbane. Francesca’s composing range is diverse including film-and-screen, animation sound design, video games, dance, stage and theatre. She has recently also been announced as a winner of the 2020 Australian Artology Fanfare competition where she will be recording her music later this year with the Australian Youth Orchestra.  Her composing style mirrors the contemporary music of film but also modern-day experimentalism music. Francesca continues to establish herself in the Australian music and composing industry this year through new compositions in sound photography, spoken word, theatre and commissions nationally and internationally.

Andrew Udal is a winner of the 2019 ASME Young Composers Competition, which has granted his participation in Launchpad 2020. Based in Bundaberg, Andrew has only been composing for 18 months but already has a few accolades under his belt including 3rd Place in the 2019 Score It! Competition and being the sole Australian Finalist in the 2019 Commonwealth International Composition Award. Andrew has had many pieces performed locally and internationally and has a keen interest in composing game music and film scores.