Winter music school hits high notes

Artistic Director Paul Dean rang me last year and invited me to be his plus one at the 2009 Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) Awards night. Southern Cross Soloists had been nominated for their Winter Music School for the most outstanding contribution to Australian music and education. To my dismay I was unable to make the event, which was made even worse when Paul text me to say they'd be pick up the award. 

They returned to Rockhampton last week for their 2010 SunWater & Stanwell Winter Music School, award in tow, and have attracted record numbers and it's biggest program date. This morning Paul and students spoke with ABC Capricornia breakfast presenter Jacquie Mackay: http://blogs.abc.net.au/files/jm---winter-music-school-pkge.mp3

A side of Simon not widley known, until now...

I recall the first time Simon and I met five years ago... i was told two things before our meeting; Simon was a child prodigy with a remarkable talent for playing the piano, yet he was approachable and non-elitist. To me this seemed a little 'yin and yang', but upon meeting Simon I realised this was an apt description. Simon spoke of performing on the Opera House stage aged 9 and meeting and performing for Pavarotti aged 13, yet he was as equally excited to tell me about his shows at the local RSL's. So I wasn't surprised when Simon sent me a video of him performing in Cambodia, on a make-shift piano, swatting bugs in-between movements (see video below). This trip and performance was for one of the many charities that Simon is involved with.  

Here he spoke with The Australian newspaper about such charity work and what it means to him: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/simon-tedeschi-hearing-a-different-beat/story-e6frg8n6-1225885716673