Meet our Conductors for Debut Concert
Eric Ho
(he/him)
Eric’s passion for music has driven him to pursue a career in music education, along with the occasional musical theatre gig here and there. Eric is one of our more experienced in-house conductors, with his enthusiasm for conducting leading him to develop his craft as assistant conductor of the John Mallinson Youth Band, under the tutelage of Joseph Yu. He has also completed his performance studies at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne with a Master of Music (Performance Teaching) under the tutelage of Phil Arkinstall. Whilst clarinet is his weapon of choice, Eric has been known to pick up the oboe or jump on keys for the occasional gig.
Can you tell us a bit about the piece you shall be conducting?
“I will be conducting Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens. It's about Death waking up skeletons to dance the night away until the morning breaks! I hope our audience gets swept away in the festivities of the dead and enjoys the party. There is a particular moment at the very end of the piece that I hope really stays with everyone, when the dancing is done and the sun emerges once more.”
What are you most excited about for this concert?
“To play under my fellow conductors who are getting up on the podium for the first time.”
What advice would you give to someone who would like to conduct but has never done it before?
“Jump in with both feet and do it. Find someone who can give you advice along the way but the most important thing is to try it for yourself. If you are so lucky to be in an ensemble, ask your music director if they'll let you try it out and hopefully they'll say yes. There's no better place to learn than in front of actual, live musicians.”
Misha Machlak
(he/him)
Misha has been playing violin for most of his life and has always loved being involved with orchestras. While he works days and nights as a meteorologist, he plays violin in numerous orchestras around the city, including the Victorian Youth Symphony Orchestra, Stonnington Symphony, Melbourne Sinfonia and the Australasian Orchestra. He is no stranger to the podium, having conducted VYSO in several rehearsals and performances and directing his own ensemble, the Bluestone Ensemble.
Misha is looking forward to premiering his own composition, SN (Snow) which explores the emotions felt when doing snowsports, including freedom, excitement and fear, and is inspired by the mechanical rhythms of ski chairlifts.
Willow Rodwell
(he/him)
Willow, our double bass player, is conducting and premiering one of his original compositions! He is a self taught composer of 5 years, and this piece marks his first orchestral work. The driving beat and powerful melodies reflect the wide array of alien representations in media, creating a foreboding and goofy character.
“EMBARK!!!
On an ASTRAL ADVENTURE to the STARS and BEYOND to where the MARTIANS call their ABODE. LEFT is RIGHT and RIGHT is WRONG, forget EVERYTHING you KNOW, It WON’T help you. You… YOU, have NOTHING. The aliens have SCHEMES.”
Witness the GRANDEUR of the VICTORIAN YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and the PREMIER PERFORMANCE of ALIEN SCHEMES for symphony composed by Willow Rodwell!
Mars Thomson
(he/him)
“I shall be conducting Farondole from L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2, which is a compilation of background music from a play. The Farandole specifically is a great dance scene! My favourite moment is the jovial horns at the end of the piece - the grand finale, the closer of our programme! I hope that the audience dances along. If I had to describe this concert in one word, it would be - Fun!”
“I wanted to have a go at conducting because it seemed like a good idea to try. My favourite moment of rehearsals has been how supportive everyone has been of their beginner conductor (me) and helping me get through it. From watching the other conductors I have learnt that I can be tough on the brass. The advice I would give to someone who wants to try out conducting is to go to the toilet before your first rehearsal!”
I am playing bassoon in this concert but usually I play clarinet!
Jen Hanna
(she/her)
Jen is a flutist and music teacher who also plays some piano, as well as other wind and string instruments. She is passionate about engagement, connection and creativity through music, especially in ensembles and groups, and how music makes people think and feel. Jen has a Master of Music in Musicology from the University of Melbourne, and is currently studying a Master of Teaching.
“I was excited for the opportunity to learn orchestral conducting, because, while I've had some lessons and experience conducting bands and ensembles through work, I haven't conducted an orchestra before! It's quite different and has required me to extend my skills, which I am looking forward to taking further in my music. I chose to conduct Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony because I remember enjoying playing it in orchestra more than ten years ago, and I like the rich emotions and deep tone colours that it explores.”
Emily Woods
(she/her)
Having played cello for 20 years, Emily is a lifelong lover of music. Whilst she appreciates the classics, her favourite music to play is film scores. This is her first foray into orchestral conducting and she is very keen to see and hear the music from a different perspective.
Why did you decide to have a go at conducting?
“It is such a rare privilege to have access to the feedback of an entire orchestra whilst learning to conduct. That, combined with the chance to learn from experienced teachers and mentors, was an opportunity I could not pass up!”
What has been the biggest thing you’ve learnt about conducting through your experiences rehearsing for this concert?
“It has taken me a while to learn that, just as you need to project your sound when you play, so must you project your conducting in such a way that it translates to the back rows of the orchestra. Sometimes you need to go bigger and wilder than you think!”
What are you most excited about for this concert?
“I am so excited to see everyone’s hard work come together, and to celebrate the many conducting debuts that will be showcased.”
Annabeth Hicks
(she/her)
“I decided to try out conducting to get a more full understanding of an orchestra, and I thought it would be a fun experience learning something new.”
“Pastorale is a movement representing lush pastures through the use of strings and woodwinds to help your mind wander through the rolling hills. The brass elevates the piece with a sense of nobility through its grand entrances. I chose to conduct pastorale as I have always had a love for nature and this movement encapsulates why I love it so much.”
What has been the biggest thing you’ve learnt about conducting through your experiences rehearsing for this concert?
“Conductors have so much to think about! I never realised just how much until I started myself. The hardest thing for me would have to be communicating articulations on one hand and keeping a steady beat on the other.”
What are you most excited about for this concert?
“I'm both really excited about conducting for the first time in front of an audience as well as playing some pieces I've never had the chance to play with the VYSO.”
Zoe Savage
(they/them)
Zoe is new to the world of conducting but is absolutely here for it! Having first conducted with the Engineering Music Society a year ago, they are doing it again, and this time with VYSO (and their own baton!!). Zoe completed their BMus in 2023, studying flute in Nipaluna/Hobart, and are currently undertaking a Master of Teaching here in Naarm. They are deeply passionate about music-making for and with the community, and on their quieter days can be found expanding their house plant collection, sitting by the creek, or indulging in a slightly-too-long nap.
Zoe will be conducting the second movement of Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite No.2 . This Intermezzo movement is a Provencal folk song, filled with dark and melancholic lyricism – a somewhat stark contrast to its surrounding movements.