OBOE NEWS

From Alisons Studio

March 2017
CONTENTS
Welcome to new students
Joseph tour
Oboist shortage
National Chamber Music Contest
Elite oboe Trio 2018
Akari Ouchi

EXAM ENTRY DATES

ABRSM practical exam entries close:
17 May August session
4 August November session
A WARM WELCOME TO MY NEW STUDENTS all sixteen
of you!
Emily Grant, Casey Lam, Cloris Gong, Angela Wang, Jesse Niu, Adam Perry, Lisa
Qian, Ryder Snowdon, Christopher McGillivray, Joshy Van Rixel, Aidan DLima,
James Xu, Blaine Wu, Leo Larsen, Chelsea Snell, Scarlett Hur

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT

Thank you all for your patience and flexibility during the past few weeks.
Hannah, Zoe and Francesca came and sat in the pit during performances in
Auckland and gained an insight into a very different world of oboe playing! Doing
the same performance repeatedly (including 3 performances on Saturdays and 2
on Sundays) can be quite challenging but we also have a lot of fun

OBOISTS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY - JOIN A YOUTH

ORCHESTRA/BAND NOW!
There are SO many opportunities for continuing to play your oboe and having a
lot of fun, once you leave school. I have had enquiries from FIVE different
orchestras in the past few weeks, all of whom are desperately seeking an oboist
either for a concert, or for a permanent position in an ensemble.

The secret is to join a group other than your school ones BEFORE you leave
school. My experience is that if you are not already part of another group when
you leave school, you no longer have lessons, practice slips, confidence drops...
and your oboe fades out of your life even though you may have been Grade 8
level. However those students who are already in a band or orchestra have a
hugely satisfying hobby which is also very social and lots of fun.

Groups currently looking for oboists include Aotea Youth Symphony Orchestra,
Auckland Wind Orchestra, West City Concert Band, North Shore Youth Symphonic
Wind band. Google these groups to get more information.

NATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC CONTEST

This exciting contest is coming up in the second week of June and many of my
senior students have already been practising for a couple of months. I will be
arranging a concert for these groups over Queens Birthday Weekend to which
you will all be invited!

ELITE OBOE TRIO 2018 YOU COULD BE PART OF IT!

I have entered a number of oboe trios for the Chamber Music Contest and two
have got through to the National level. Given there are around 500 entries
nationwide, this is an incredible achievement. Next year, for the first time in a
number of years, I will have NO students who have already passed Grade 8.
Sadly this is not because of lack of talent but because many of my senior
students are not achieving at the level they are easily capable of because of
insufficient practice

All is not lost! If you would like to be considered for Alisons Amazing Oboe
Trio 2018, now is the time to start working harder. You must have:
Passes Grade 6 or 7 with distinction by the end of 2017
Be coming to lessons having done the work you have been set
Be practising regularly
Be completely reliable and well organised

WELL DONE AKARI

Akari Ouchi is now in Year 13 and is planning to study Performance Oboe at
Auckland University next year. She has been very proactive in seeking out and
following up opportunities. Her achievements in the past few months have been
extremely impressive. She has:
Attended the Wellington International Oboe Summer School and played
for some of the worlds top oboists.
Won the 1st Oboe position in the NZ Secondary Schools Symphony
Orchestra and attended their holiday course in Christchurch in the April
holidays.
Been accepted on the NZSO Mentoring Scheme for 2017 with lessons
from Robert Orr and free tickets to NZSO concerts.
Won a place in the oboe section of Auckland Youth Orchestra
Played in the Advanced Master Class at the NZDRS Festival

A baby chocolate fish for everyone who comes to their lesson and tells me they
have read this far!! Simple questions about content may be asked LOL

Finally, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact
me.

Warm regards,
Alison

281A Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn Ph: 3788853 Mob:

0211394299
Email: alisonmjepson@gmail Bank account: A M Jepson
060199 0101967 02
Website: www.alisonjepsonoboe.com Facebook: Alisons
oboe students