From Vienna to the New World

This concert offers an unforgettable afternoon of music, featuring some of the most evocative works in the orchestral repertoire.

The program opens with Schubert’s Rosamunde Overture, a piece of lyrical warmth and dramatic intensity. Next, our soloist Jason Xanthoudakis joins the Orchestra for a unique interpretation of Strauss’s Oboe Concerto , performed on soprano saxophone, adding a fresh twist to this reflective work.

The concert closes with Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9(“From the New World”) , a masterpiece blending American and European influences, with its stirring melodies and iconic Largo theme.
The Orchestra welcomes David Medine as guest conductor of this concert.

Soloist: Jason Xanthoudakis, Soprano Saxophone

Jason studied at Melbourne University, where he graduated with a Master of Music, the Victorian College of the Arts with David Thomas, Phillip Miechel and Dr. Peter Clinch, Monash University where he studied with David Griffiths and is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium where he studied with Frank Celata, Mark Walton and James Nightingale. He has also studied in Paris, Amsterdam and London. Jason has won 3MBS Performer of the Year Award as well as many prizes in various music competitions.

Jason has a busy performance schedule including performances with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, as well as frequent solo recitals and concerto appearances with orchestras and wind ensembles in Australia. From 2015 Jason held the position of Clarinet/Bass Clarinet with the NSW Police Band where he frequently performed on both Clarinet and Saxophone.

Jason has performed several live broadcasts on Australian radio, has recorded for ABC Classic FM and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He has arranged/transcribed more than 50 works for Saxophone and Clarinet and is very active in the field of Contemporary Music, encouraging composers to write music for Saxophone and Clarinet and over 20 works have been dedicated to him. For more information about Jason’s activities go to www.jasonxan.com

Conductor: David Medine

David Medine is a violinist, violist, and conductor originally from Tucson, Arizona. He holds a Bachelor’s in viola performance from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master’s in the same from the University of California, San Diego. While earning a PhD in computer music at UCSD, David served for many years as the music directory and conductor of the University’s Chamber Orchestra. During that time he also premiered many works of his UCSD contemporaries, both as an instrumentalist and conductor. Earlier in his professional career, David performed as a violinist and violist in dozens of professional and semi-professional orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. After moving to Australia in 2020, he was for several years the Leader of the Maroondah Symphony Orchestra and continues to serve the Orchestra as an assistant conductor. Apart from his work with MaSO, David is a violinist in the Dandenong Ranges-based Tarella String Quartet.

Concert 4

Conductor: Willem van der Vis