This is one of four famous and well known Chinese folk tales. Butterfly Lovers dates back to around 700AD when it was first written down. I have had the fortune to conduct the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto composed by two university students in 1959 by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang. One of my performances was with the Carey Baptist Grammar School Symphony Orchestra and the other with The Grainger Wind Symphony.
On Thursday 13th October, I had the pleasure to experience a new version of this tale. The Victorian Opera staged The Butterfly Lovers to a score composed by their Artistic Director Richard Mills. I wrote a short review as part of a
I have had the privilege of being a guest teacher of conducting at Christ deemed to be a university in Bangalore, India. The new music department is based on Western Art Music and I work with Professor Andrey Morozov and professor Travis Ashton-Bell. I started in July 2021. The basis of my teaching is the Saito Conducting Method. Of course I am not in India. I am in the land of “sweeping plains” teaching over Zoom, Google Drive, Google Classroom and OBS. I am learning a lot about using this technology and developing suitable materials. Everyone in India are so supportive and interested. It i both a challenge and at lot of fun!
I am pleased to have given support to provide 12 emerging composers an opportunity to have their work workshopped and performed by The Grainger Wind Symphony conducted by myself.
The process began with a call for submissions from emerging Australian composers back in 2019. But COVID restrictions cause the performance to be postponed to 3 September 2023! The short-listed composers received detailed feedback on how the score and parts could be improved so performers could see their intentions more clearly. It took a lot of hours!
A total of 21 compositions were received, only 12 were selected for performance. After considering the suggestions, composers resubmitted their score and set of parts, which were then printed. Rehearsal commenced and composers were invited to come to a rehearsal for a chat. Some connected via video conferencing technology because they lived too far away. To meet the composer was an important link for every musician when performing their work.
Through the services of Paul, a member of GWS, each composer has received audio recordings of their work in rehearsal and performance. This was important so composers could hear how their work sounded by live musicians.
The concert was Saturday 3rd September 2022 in Salvation Army Box Hill Hall.
Since the concert, several composers have given feedback that they approved for posting publicly. To see the comments, click here.
At the ASME (Australian Society of Music Education) National Conference XXII held in Perth at the University of Western Australia 2-4 October 2019, Roland was presented with the Music: Educating For Life Award, one of six given across Australia.
With the Grainger Wind Symphony and in partnership with the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association Victoria Branch, I am convening 3 Conducting Learning Programs across May-June 2017
Conducting Intensive Program
Public Seminar
Conducting Workshop Program
The Conducting Intensive Program starts 10am Saturday 27th May with one of three conducting classes, podium time in a video workshop on 21 June from 7.45pm, a free seminar Wednesday 28th June at 5pm for 5.30pm-6.30pm and a review class Saturday 1st July from 10am. Clinician is Roland Yeung
The Public Seminar is on Wednesday 28th June 5.00pm for 5.30pm – 6.30pm. I am presenting a one hour seminar on the topic “Music Expression in the Ensemble Rehearsal”.
The Conducting Workshop Program is all on Wednesday 28th June starting with the Public Seminar, a one-on-one conducting tutorial with a conducting mentor, and podium time in a video workshop supported by a mentor that can be selected from the list.
Click here to go to the page with more detail, information sheet, application form, fees and bookings.
Two composers have approached The Grainger Wind Symphony to have their original concert band work performed. The GWS is becoming well known in performing new and recent works. I am privileged to prepare and conduct the first performances.
Andrew Batterham is completing his composition folio for his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Melbourne. We are delighted to assist. The work Concertino for solo tuba and band is commissioned by Sérgio Carolino, tuba soloist, an extremely diverse and inquisitive performer. The work has forays into jazz, funk styles after an opening section couched in common-chord musical language developing traditional material in a slow, soulful way. Our soloist is Per Forsberg, a Swedish tuba soloists now resident in Melbourne.
Nathan Glenn is a young composer very much influenced by video games and film music. He is new to the concert band genre, but has developed his craft quickly. Nathan lives in Melbourne and is a IT developer by profession. His work The Settlers takes up the migrant story and bursts into music with contemporary popular flavours and energy.
The concert is “Made In Melbourne” and is presented on Saturday 21 February 2015 at 8.00pm in St Stephens Anglican Church, Church Street Richmond. The program includes other works by prominent Australian composers Percy Grainger (of course), David Stanhope (Sydney), the late Peter Sculthorpe (Sydney), and Brian Hogg Melbourne.
I am proud and chuffed to have been awarded an Outstanding Professional Service Award by The Council of Professional Teaching Associations of Victoria on the evening of 9the December 2014 at Graduate House, University of Melbourne. The CPTAV is the peak organisation representing professional teaching associations in Victoria. There are 36 member associations that are comprised of subject-specific, discipline based and cross-curricular organisations which represents teachers across all sectors.
I was presented by aMuse President Lynlee Williams to a gathering of 9 other awardees from other professional teacher associations with their partners, council members and officers of member associations. Thanks so much for the honour.
Thanks so much to the aMuse committee lead by Lynlee Williams, and Professional Officers of aMuse, Kevin Kelley and Sue Arney, who deliver exciting, relevant and supportive program to music teachers and generalist primary teachers all over the state of Victoria. It is a privilege to work for and be of service to a wonderful team.
Thanks also to my wife Robyn for her terrific support and love.
During May and August, I worked as a conducting tutor at the Victorian School Music Festival in a segment sponsored by the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association and Hal Leonard Australia. After each group performed, the conductor would be invited to work with me for 20 minutes or so.
The tutorial was held in a small store room just off the performance area in Deakin Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne. There was a laptop on which a video of the conductor’s performance just completed could be played, the conductor, me and our batons.
The following are some general issues that were discussed.
The first bar of a performance is the conductor’s responsibility. The second bar becomes the player’s responsibility. if the first bar is not right, then it may be that the conductor is not giving clear non-verbal gestures.
When replaying the beginnings of each piece, here are some of the technical issues that we identified. The conductor
looked hesitant but not into the character of the music;
looked careful but not leading;
was beating with a strong metre and pulse but the music was legato and flowing;
was beating strong but the music was soft in dynamic and mysterious in character;
subdivided the but should wanted was meant to be singing;
followed the band in that the ictus was reached after they played;
gave beats in at a faster tempo that what the band played in the first bar;
gave a single upbeat which was tense and out of time;
looked down and lost eye contact with the players just as they were about to play; and
held the left hand with palms facing forward in a standard stop gesture during the prep beat and the first bar when they were playing.
Are you doing these too? Set up a video camera or camcorder on a tripod and video yourself in rehearsal and performance. Just have a look at the opening bars of each new section and new piece. Send me your video and I can analyse your conducting and give you suggestions for improvement for a fee, after our initial discussion.
“No single person has had a more significant impact on the music education landscape in Victoria than Roland Yeung.” from the CPTAV award ceremony program.