News

Lyndelle Lawrence
Public relations editorial intern

Andy Firth's agile fingers and sustained notes were two of three highlights during his Evensong performance at Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church this past Saturday (May 2). The clarinettist's repertoire, which consisted entirely of original compositions, served as the third highlight.

Andy has performed clarinet and saxophone with many of Australia's major symphony orchestras as a jazz and classical soloist. He is also one of a small number of Australian artists to have performed a concert under their own name at Carnegie Hall in New York. Andy plays the jazz clarinet solos on the movie, "Australia", is a former MO Award winner for "Best Jazz Instrumentalist" (2006) and is leader of the saxophone big band, Sax to the Max. And he is a sessional lecturer at Avondale College.

Accompanied by pianist Sharon Raschke, Andy began with "The intent to invent suite," a multi-movement work in the classical style filled with countless phrases of rapid runs. His next piece, "Siciliano," written as a lullaby for his nephew, was a pleasant contrast with its lilting melody line in hushed tones. "The black spaniel rag," a ragtime that included simulated barks on the clarinet, painted a mental picture of a frantic dog. His last piece, "Chromatic waltz," was itself a dance between the clarinet and piano with interweaving melodies between the two instruments. Overall, his light, often humorous, but virtuosic, deep and contemplative music is a reflection of Andy's character: witty and brilliant yet down-to-earth.

Soprano Amber Lewis, a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching student at Avondale, supported Andy. She effortlessly alternated between vocal styles, from the operatic "Panis angelicus" and "Where'er you walk," to the lighter praise song "Precious Jesus."