Concert Series
CGSS Concert Series: 2024
Young Winners and Friends
November 30: 7:30 pm, Mosman Art Gallery
The Classical Guitar Society presents a mixed concert featuring the winners of each age-section of the Guitar Sections of the Sydney Eisteddfod: Thomas Wang: winner of the 12 years and under Eden LI: winner of the 15 years and under Thomas Smith: Winner of the 18 years and under (the CGS sponsored section) and Aram Tontian: winner of the open age section. The concert will also feature performances by The Sydney Guitar Collective, the SoR ensemble, and Trio North, who will premiere Alison Skarratt’s ‘Warrumbungles Night Sky’. Join us for what promises to be a wonderful evening of inspired solo and ensemble music making- hope to see you there!
About the Eisteddfod winners
Aram Tontian:
Aram is a 14-years old young guitarist. He has been studying classical guitar with Darryl Rule about 5 years ago and with Dr. Vladimir Gorbach under the Rising Stars program at Sydney Conservatorium of Music since last year. Some of Aram’s achievements in Sydney Eisteddfod include 1st place in 2021 Classical Guitar 12 and Under, 1st place in 2022 Classical Guitar 15 and Under, 3rd place in 2022 Alf & Pearl Pollard Memorial Instrumental Awards for Performance Excellence invitational event encompassing a broad range of instruments, and 1st place in this year’s Classical Guitar open age category.
Aram enjoys exploring music and loves playing music as it connects people in many ways. He also plays violin, electric guitar and jazz guitar for his school orchestra and bands. When Aram has time, he loves to play video games and golf.
Thomas Wang:
“ My name is Thomas Wang and I’m the recent winner of the 2024 Sydney Eisteddfod Classical Guitar Under 12 competition. My classical guitar journey started back in 2021 when I was only eight and wanted to pursue my dream in music. Music gives me passion and joy, whenever I hear or see it performed in public. It fascinates me by all of the different notes and keys and I can visualise music with the vivid imagination it creates in my mind. My childhood dream is that one day I will become the world’s best classical guitar player to play in the Sydney Opera House. I practice a lot and I always look up to my idol Tommy Emmanuel (although he is a acoustic guitar player 😀). He is the one who inspired me to play guitar.”
Thomas Smith
“Commencing his guitar studies at age six, Thomas first learnt rock music at Big Music and then switched to Classical Guitar at age 9 under Graeme Clarke for two years and then continued his Classical Guitar studies under Giuseppe Zangari at St Aloysius College. Thomas has a passion for classical guitar music with favourite composers being Tarrega & Villa-Lobos and is now studying for his diploma. He is currently in Year 12 at St Aloysius’ College, Kirribilli where Thomas is coming to an end of his school career and hopes to study the guitar informally in the future.”
Eden Li:
Eden Li, recently turned 13, brings technical skill beyond his years to an exciting sensibility exploring classical guitar repertoire.
Diligent study, with Joseph Littlefield and Giuseppe Zangari in Sydney Guitar School, has been rewarded with first places in Sydney Eisteddfod under 12 in 2023 and under 15 this year 2024, and third place under 18 also in 2024, and AMEB CMus in 2023.
Eden’s dream of selection for the Sydney Conservatorium High School became reality in 2024’s year 7 intake. He now studies piano, oboe, solo and ensemble, orchestra and choral performance. Recently, Eden sang in choir for Deborah Cheetham Fraillon’s “Eumeralla, a War Requiem for Peace” at Sydney Opera House.
All tickets $25: available here.
Upcoming concerts:
Past concerts:
August 30: Ziggy and Miles Johnston: Suites and Sonatas
August 3: Jesse Flowers: A Song and Dance
May 4: CGS Orchestra & Friends
7:30 pm, Mosman Art Gallery
March 23: Matt Withers & Callum Henshaw, Here and Now
February 9: Andrew Blanch & Emily Granger, Suite Magica