Camerata’s next executive director must have had a big smile on his face at the recent season opening concert at QPAC.
Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra – announced just prior to the concert that the role vacated by Michael Sterzinger (who has moved to QSO) would be taken up by highly regarded arts leader, producer, and educator, Dr Jay Byrnes, who will be Camerata’s fourth executive director.
Byrnes joins Camerata from his current position as executive producer at Piano Plus Australia (Sydney International Piano Competition) and after five years as producer of the Orange Chamber Music Festival.
Camerata chair Dr Pamela Greet says the appointment is an exciting and innovative one.
“We are very excited for the addition of Dr Jay Byrnes’ experience, talent and creative energy to our great team,” says. “With Jay Byrnes joining Brendan Joyce at the helm, you can expect only more wonderful, adventurous and innovative music and experiences from Camerata.”
And there he was – Jay Byrnes that is – in the audience at the QPAC Concert Hall. He must have had a big smile on his face (like the rest of us) because it was a gorgeous concert, which would have made him think, boy, have a joined the right outfit.
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Camerata’s new executive director Dr Jay Byrnes
The Concert Hall was abuzz that evening for Camerata & Brendan Joyce: Schumann, with an audience that has been building and building. The state governor was there, the arts minister was there, everyone was there. Who would want to miss Camerata’s first concert for the year?
Having the right program mix is part of their magic. The opening piece was Fanny Mendelssohn’s exquisite Overture in C, H265. This is not gratuitously seeking gender equity by any means because Fanny Mendelssohn was a formidable talent who was overshadowed by her brother Felix. The gender norms of her time are no longer relevant, however, and it was lovely to hear this piece.
And then it was time for Brendan Joyce to take centrestage as soloist for Robert Schumann’s Concerto for Violin, Op. 129 (Cello Concerto). It was originally written for cello and later for violin. Joyce’s playing was superb. He’s leader and artistic director of Camerata, which is a pretty democratic outfit without a conductor. Nice to see Joyce shine and he plays with such warmth and passion.
Schumann’s music was imbued with some poignancy due to his struggles with mental health and his eventual death in an asylum. Reading the program notes added a bittersweet edge to things, a sadness that is transmuted to beauty in his music.
The final piece was the rather interesting Sinfonietta by Francis Poulenc, who grew up in jazz-era Paris, although this piece was composed in 1947 as a commission for the BBC.
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Ah, but between the second and last piece for the night was a sweet spot – the Wild Card Mystery Guest Segment – a regular feature of Camerata concerts. Joyce introduced the guests, two young blokes he’s met at a party recently. He heard them play and sing at this shindig and thought – why not? If that sounds dodgy, it wasn’t.
It was a moving and heartwarming performance …
Pianist Mac Johnson, 18, and singer Jensen White, 20, are both UQ students and they were amazing presenting two songs – Roger Quilter’s Love’s Philosophy and Schubert’s Du Bist die Ruh. Who doesn’t love a bit of Schubert lieder.
It was a moving and heartwarming performance and it made me wonder how you get an invite to these parties that Joyce attends. They sound like fun.
The audience was rapt and it must have been lovely for Byrnes to experience the love in the room for Camerata, self-described as “your chamber orchestra”.
Byrnes has delivered festivals, competitions, tours and recitals, and is perfectly poised to take up the helm alongside Joyce as Camerata surges towards its fifth decade in 2027. Joyce says he’s delighted with the appointment.
“I’m super happy that Jay happens to be somebody we’ve met previously through our performance with him as soloist at the Orange Chamber Music Festival in 2023,” he says. “I saw first-hand then his passion, hard work and wonderful manner with people. He and his wife Carmen are also pioneering types, which I think aligns well with Camerata as a trailblazing idea and ensemble.
“Jay is a fine musician, an experienced producer and a talented and fearless leader and I’m optimistic about the next chapter at our beautiful company.”
Byrnes is equally chuffed.
“I look forward to working alongside Brendan Joyce and the talented orchestra and team with continued ambition to empower artists, inspire audiences and enrich communities through music,” he says.
It’s going to be a good year for Camerata. We could all feel that in the Concert Hall the other evening.