Musicians in tune for Larry’s big birthday

Edward Neeman, left, and Larry Sitsky. Photo: Peter Hislop

by Helen Musa

Canberra’s music community is gearing up for a 90th birthday celebration for our most famous composer, Larry Sitsky, who moved to Canberra in late 1965 to become head of keyboard studies at the ANU’s School of Music and made his home here.

A highlight of the evening will be a new biography of Sitsky by Jeanell Carrigan and Rita Crews, at which Sitsky will speak. 

Pianist Edward “Teddy” Neeman is organising the concert, to be held, naturally, in the Larry Sitsky Recital Room at the School of Music.

After an introduction by head of school Adrian Walter, Neeman will be joined by many other musicians, including fellow pianists, Aaron Chew, Alistair Noble, Vivienne Tran and Joy Lee.

In a pre-recorded “appearance”, star pianist Michael Kieran Harvey, will play Sitsky’s The Witch of Endor. 

Oboist David Nuttall, bassoonist Ben Hoadley and clarinettist Jason Noble will join the pianists to perform a mixed repertoire of works by Sitsky himself, arrangements of Russian miniatures by Vladimir Rebikov and Leff Pouishnoff and, in tribute to the Armenian influences on Sitsky, his works Maherq: fantasia no. 6 and Zuqerq for clarinet and bongos.

Larry Sitsky birthday concert, ANU School of Music, August 26.

First published at Canberra City News, August 20, 2024