Clarinettist Lloyd Van T Hoff Is the 2015 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year
Clarinettist Lloyd Van’t Hoff is the 2015 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year
Hobart, Saturday 7 November 2015
Media kit
Media interviews and images
Trudy Johnston 0402 485 902,
For immediate release – 7 November 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
Tonight Lloyd Van’t Hoffwon the prestigious Grand Final of the 2015 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards. In a stunning performance with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra,the 24 year old Brisbane clarinettisttook out the awardunder the baton of Johannes Fritzschat Federation Concert Hall in Hobart.
Lloyd Van’t Hofftackled the Copland Clarinet Concerto in a gripping performance for the 2015 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards.
Lloyd studied clarinet at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and won the Postgraduate Award. After graduating with Honours in 2011, he began studies with David Thomas at the Australian National Academy of Music, where he completed an ANAM Fellowship as a member of the award-winning Arcadia Wind Quintet and was awarded the prestigious Director’s Prize. In 2013 Lloyd travelled to Europe as Principal Clarinet of the Australian Youth Orchestra, and in the same year was the recipient of the AYO Accenture Australia Scholarship.
He has performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, he has performed the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with Orchestra Victoria at the Melbourne Recital Centre.
CEO of Symphony Services International, Kate Lidbetter, says that such dedication to the pursuit of excellence pays off.
“The Grand Finalists were all extremely talented this year, with all three performers having already achieved many significant milestones in their young musical careers. However, there can only be one overall winnerof the Awards and tonight Lloyd’s performance ofCopland’s Clarinet Concertowas simply outstanding,”says MsLidbetter.
“We are delighted that Lloyd Van’t Hoff joins the prestigious list of previous winners, many of who are now household names. For the past 71 years the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards has been the foremost competition for emerging musicians in our country.”
“The Awards are significant as they provide young Australian performers with a launching pad into the classical music world at the international level, as well as the opportunity of playing with a major symphony orchestra. Moreover, many of our previous winners have chosen to put their prize money towards pursuing further studies, which develops their talent while opening doors to other opportunities,” adds MsLidbetter.
Lloyd Van’t Hoff says that winning the Grand Final is an honour, especially having competed against such an incredible field of young Australian talent.
“I’m sincerely humbled to be considered for this incredibly significant accolade within Australia’s classical music landscape, and even more delighted to be named the winner of this year’s ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards.
“I’m really looking forward to what this might mean for my journey into the future and would like to extend my gratitude to the ABC and Symphony Australia for providing this fantastic opportunity to many young Australian musicians.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in organising these Awards, especially Symphony Australia, the ABC, and of course Maestro Johannes Fritzsch and the entire Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra,” adds MrVan’t Hoff.
As this year’s ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year winner, Lloyd Van’t Hoff receives $25,000 cash as well as the ABC Sir Charles Moses Young Performer’s Trophy, performance opportunities with one of the Australian state Symphony Orchestras, a professionally recorded and produced CD, a feature interview in Limelight magazine, media training and a photo shoot.
The prize pool of the Awards has expanded since the new ‘mini festival’ format was introduced in 2013 and as the result of a generous bequest by Dr Gregory Byron Triffitt. The other two Concerto FinalistsLily Higson-Spence and ChrisCartlidgewin $10,000 each and $6000 is awarded to each of the following categories: Best Chamber Music PerformanceChris Cartlidge;Best RecitalLily Higson-Spence;Best Performance of an Australian workChris Cartlidge and the Triffitt Prize,Lloyd Van’t Hoff,a new prize named in DrTriffitt’shonour.
The Nelly Apt Scholarship for 2015 was awarded to Lily Higson-Spence. Lily receives a travel scholarship of up to $5,000, return transfers from Tel Aviv and a further half scholarship to attend the International Summer Mastercourse at the KeshetEilon Music Centre in Israel.
The People’s Choice winner will be announced on ABC Classic on Monday 9 November.
“We would like to congratulate all eleven Finalists of the 2015 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards. It’s has been inspiring to experience this level of talent and proficiency in Australia’s young musicians,” says MsLidbetter.
Prizes awarded:
$25,000ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year Lloyd Van’t Hoff
$10,000 eachConcerto Finalist (x2) Chris Cartlidge, Lily Higson-Spence
$6,000 Best Chamber Music Performance Chris Cartlidge
$6,000 Best Recital Lily Higson-Spence
$6,000 Best Performance of an Australian Work Chris Cartlidge
$6,000 Triffitt Prize Lloyd Van’t Hoff
$6,000 People’s Choice announced Monday 9 Nov
Voting for the People’s Choice prize will open at 7:30pm Saturday 7 November and closes on Sunday 8 November. Christopher Lawrence will announce the winner during his Mornings show on ABC Classic FM on Monday 9 November.
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ABOUT the 2015 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards
Symphony Australia is proud to collaborate with the ABC in presenting the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards. Throughout its 71 year history, the competition has been renowned for its ability to identify and nurture talented young Australian musicians.
In 2013 a new format for the competition was introduced, including a new chamber music round and the presentation of all finals rounds in a festival format. These finals include recital programs, chamber music and concertos with one of Australia’s state symphony orchestras; with numbers of contestants reducing as each round is performed.