14-year-old violinist Christian Li to make history at the 30th Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Exciting young musicians to perform in Townsville at 2021 AFCM
Fourteen-year-old violin prodigy Christan Li, 22-year-old violinist Grace Clifford, 24-year-old pianist Kevin Chow: remember their names because they are three truly outstanding young Australian musicians and in a coup for audiences, they will all perform at the 30th Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) in Townsville.
The three young musicians join 37 other music makers for the internationally acclaimed 10-day Festival, which this year features 133 works, 112 composers, four world premieres and five Australian premieres across the 10 day event held from 23 July to 1 August.
"It's incredibly exciting to be able to welcome these superb young musicians to AFCM in July. Grace, Kevin and Christian will each bring their own special talents to the Festival and as we look towards the future, I'm very sure that chamber music will be an integral part of their performing lives and it will be wonderful to follow their individual journeys for many years to come," said AFCM Artistic Director Kathryn Stott.
"When 14-year-old violinist Christan Li performs, he will make history as the youngest ever artist at the AFCM. He's used to making history though – he rewrote the books in 2018 when at just 10 years old, he became the youngest performer to win the junior category of the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition. He is also the youngest ever signing to Decca with his debut album out in August."
"Already invited to prestigious international festivals like Verbier in Switzerland, Melbourne-born Christian blew my socks off with his performance of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' at the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition and proved himself such a born communicator. I'm thrilled he is coming to AFCM!"
Winner of the Australian Young Performer of the Year Award in 2014 when she was just 16, now 22-year-old Adelaide-born violinist Grace Clifford has already performed in Boston, Chicago and New York and with most of Australia's leading symphony orchestras. This year she will make her debut with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Musica Viva and returns to AFCM after a stunning debut performance in 2018.
Grace said, "I am so happy to be returning to AFCM. It's special because it is Kathy's last year as Artistic Director, and she has put together a wonderful program. It's meaningful to me also to have the chance to play chamber music with Australian musicians whom I have looked up to and listened to from childhood. I remember the warmth of the Townsville audiences and the passion of AFCM organisers and volunteers. I think it will mean even more to everyone involved, audience and musicians, to be able to communicate and share music after the last year."
Kathryn noted, "Grace's debut in 2018 made a lasting impression on all of us and was particularly memorable for her great depth, maturity and integrity, and to have her back at the festival again, will be something very special."
Performing this year at the AFCM as part of his ABC Young Performers Award, 24-year-old Melbourne-born pianist Kevin Chow. After completing his studies at the Melbourne Conservatorium, Kevin has been studying at Yale University with Peter Serkin, Boris Slutsky and Boris Berman and will be returning to Australia specially to perform at the AFCM.
Kathryn said, "I felt very strongly that the Festival should offer opportunities to young prize-winners of competitions if the circumstances were right. Kevin has a deep love of Chamber Music and so coming to the AFCM and introducing him to our audiences is absolutely what we should be about."
"We are thrilled to welcome these three brilliant young people to Townsville. To witness their performances alongside our other extraordinary musicians, will add such wonderful opportunities for exhilarating music making."
Over 30 music-filled years, the AFCM has forged a stunning reputation as one of the best chamber music celebrations in the world, one that attracts leading music makers and music lovers from all corners of the globe.
"One of the very special, almost unique things about AFCM is seeing musicians from all over the country (and the world) come together, often for the first time. This leads to excitement and spontaneity for both the musicians and the audiences."
Whilst the last 12 months has presented its challenges, Kathryn Stott has created an extraordinary program for the 2021 Festival. The artist line-up is led by the return of legendary Australian pianist and toast of the world's great concert halls, Piers Lane (and former AFCM Artistic Director), international didgeridoo star William Barton returning to the Festival to celebrate the milestone 30th anniversary, and soprano and composer Deborah Cheetham with an important world premiere music event. They are joined by Kirsty McCahon (double bass), Zoë Black (violin), Tobias Breider (viola), Mark Gaydon (bassoon), James Crabb (accordion), Lloyd Van't Hoff (clarinet), Timothy Young (piano), Natsuko Yoshimoto (violin), Daniel de Borah (piano) and a raft of fellow musical makers, representing the best of Australian talent from across the country.
Imagery https://www.dropbox.com/sh/abz9b71lm5q91nk/AABy8an2kWNsn8R9zHI6LaTaa?dl=0
Christian Li
Melbourne's 14-years-old Christian Li began violin at five, and is now studying under Dr. Robin Wilson, Head of Violin at the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne. He came international attention when in April 2018 he became the youngest-ever joint Junior 1st Prize-winner at the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition in Geneva, performing with the Geneva Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London. He also received the Audience Prize and the Composer Award.
He made his solo orchestral debut at nine with the Australasian Orchestra and made his solo concerto debut at 10, performing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with Orchestra Victoria. In 2019 debuted with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestraat the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House and with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra at the Sydney City Recital Hall and the Melbourne Recital Centre, all to great acclaim. He also gave UK debut recitals at the Cheltenham, Harrogate and Gower International Festivals and performed in Tel Aviv and Norway.
In July 2017 he won First Prize in the violin category of the Young Artist Semper Music International Competition in Italy and gave many solo and chamber music performances as part of the Semper Music International Festival and Summer Academy. In June 2017 Christian was selected to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York in the American Protégé Showcase 10-year Anniversary concert. He plays on a rare 3/4 Size violin made by Dom Nicolo Amati in 1733, on generous loan from Reuning & Son Violins Boston, and a rare 19thC bow made by Pierre Simon on loan from Florian Leonard Fine Violins London. Christian also enjoys reading, swimming and soccer.
Grace Clifford
At just 22 years of age, Adelaide-born Grace Clifford has performed concertos with the Sydney Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Tasmania Symphony, West Australian Symphony, Adelaide Symphony, and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, and recently made her debut with the Malaysian Philharmonic at the invitation of conductor Mark Wigglesworth. This year she will make her debut with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Musica Viva. She's performed in Boston, Chicago and New York was a fellow at Ravinia's Steans Music Institute in 2017 and 2018, with performances including the world premiere of Timo Andres' piano trio, written in honour of the 30th anniversary of RSMI.
Last season Grace gave a recital with pianist Joseph Liccardo for the Union College Concert Series in Schenectady NY, as part of Curtis on Tour and was accepted to Kronberg's Chamber Music Connects the World program in 2020. She's currently a graduate student at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, studying with Miriam Fried on a Presidential Scholarship. Grace holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Pamela Frank, Ida Kavafian, and the late Joseph Silverstein. She graduated with the Joan Hutton Landis Award for Academic Excellence. In 2014, at the age of 16, she was awarded the Australian Young Performer of the Year Award following her performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the Adelaide Symphony. She also received the awards for best Recital, Chamber Music round, and the Audience Choice Award.
Kevin Chow
Kevin Chow completed his Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music studying piano with Glenn Riddle. He has recently completed a Master of Music degree at Yale University under full scholarship and fellowship, studying with Peter Serkin and Boris Slutsky and is currently in the Master of Musical Arts program at Yale studying with Boris Berman.
He's performed extensively throughout Australia and also given recitals in China, America, Thailand, Morocco, Greece, New Zealand and Indonesia. Highlights include performing for HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwell in Melbourne. He's participated in masterclasses with Paavali Jumppanen, Boris Berman, Lang Lang, Alessio Bax and Leslie Howard and as a keen chamber musician, has worked with the New Haven New Music Initiative. He was a finalist in the 2018 ABC Young Performer of the Year, performing Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No 2 with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House and has also performed with the Thailand Philharmonic, Morocco Philharmonic Orchestra, Fremantle Symphony and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Symphony Orchestras.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music
23 July to 01 August 2021 | Townsville, North Queensland
TicketShop: 1800 449 977 | Holiday Packages: 1300 799 342
www.afcm.com.au | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | #afcm2021
AFCM principal partners include: Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Arts Queensland, and Townsville City Council. The Australian Festival of Chamber Music is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, and features on the It's Live! In Queensland events calendar, which is expected to deliver $215 million for the state's economy in the first half of 2021.
