Justin Beere

AMAZING!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who has helped in achieving this goal! I am so very grateful! This has made an enormous difference in getting me to Banff! I am very excited and most appreciative!

Although we have reached the target there is still 12 days to go and pledges are still very welcome!

Bon Voyage Melbourne: Bonjour Canada!

In July and August of this year, The Banff Creative Centre is hosting its annual international Masterclass and Festival Orchestra Programs. These programs offer young musicians the chance to work with some of the finest professional musicians, artists and conductors from around the world over a seven-week period, providing intensive lessons, masterclasses, career development seminars, chamber music and a four-week orchestral season.

I am one of a few fortunate clarinet applicants to have been offered a place to take part in this educational and creative program. This project not only provides the necessary professional development and training in my growth as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician but also the opportunity to travel abroad and be immersed in an array of different cultures and performance languages. This will undoubtedly generate situations and environments that will unveil useful insights and practical advice to draw on in the future. It will also be my first time to travel overseas!!

Attending this program will enable me to build a network of professional contacts and engage with possible future colleagues. Primarily this endeavour allows me the opportunity to gain tutelage and guidance from two internationally respected clarinettists, James Campbell and Todd Palmer, as well as exposure to numerous other international woodwind and string specialists.

Want to know a little bit about me…?

I recently completed post-graduate study on clarinet at the University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music on an orchestral woodwind scholarship. There I studied with clarinettist Paul Dean and former solo clarinettist of the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Kenyon. I have performed as principal clarinettist with the Tasmania Discovery Orchestra, Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute, Gold Coast Symphony Orchestra, and respective conservatorium orchestras. I have also appeared with the Australian, Queensland and Tasmanian Youth Orchestras programs and performed as soloist with the Hobart Chamber Orchestra, the Jan Sedivka Camerata and Tasmania Discovery Orchestra. I hold a B.Mus. with distinction from Queensland University of Technology (2007) an Honours degree from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (2009) and a Grad.Dip.PMus. and Grad.Dip.Mus. from the University of Tasmania (2010-11).

Currently, I am on full scholarship at the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne, studying with the principal clarinettist of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, David Thomas.

Where is the money going?

The funding will greatly assist with some of the costs involved with:

1. Course fees – $1,556

2. Travel expenses (including flights and transfers) – circa $2,800

3. Private lessons - $400

Anything you can give would be so greatly appreciated! Instead of treating yourself to a coffee or sweet at your local café, support this incredible opportunity with only $3 or $5. However, if you’re feeling particularly generous then larger donations are most certainly welcome!!!

If you would like to know more about Banff Festival orchestra please visit their website.

Image courtesy of Pia Johnson

P.S Please forward my project on to anyone who may be able to help if you are not able to support me at this time and keep up to date with my progress on Facebook.