AUSTRALIAN STRING QUARTET

ANNUAL REPORT 2020

OUR VISION

To be a string quartet for all Australians

OUR PURPOSE

Creating chemistry and amplifying intimacy through experiences that connect people with music

OUR PRIORITIES

— Great music for all

— Creativity elevates the everyday

— Australian stories resonate

— Partnerships unleash potential

— A quartet for the digital age

OUR VALUES

Diversity, Respect, Excellence, Creativity, Generosity

AUSTRALIAN STRING QUARTETCONTENTS

03 Australian String Quartet

04 A Message from the Chair – A Year in Review

05 A Message from the Chief Executive – Thank You

07 2020 Highlights – Key Statistics

08 Artistic Review

10 ASQ Live

10 Live Performance Programs

13 Mornings at UKARIA

14 Elder Hall Concerts

15 Close Quarters

16 Collaborations

17 Commissions & Guest Artists

19 ASQ Festivals

20 ASQ Digital

24 ASQ Community

25 ASQ Learning

26 Our Supporters

28 Governance

29 Our Team

30 Key Stakeholders

The Australian String Quartet acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands across Australia, on which we are proud to work and perform. We acknowledge their ongoing spiritual relationship with country, and we pay our respect to their ancestors, and to Elders past, present and emerging.

The Australian String Quartet celebrates Adelaide as a UNESCO City of Music.

THANK YOU

In a year like no other, the Australian String Quartet’s 2020 season was a story of creativity and resilience. With an action-packed program of performances scheduled to take place across Australia and abroad, the ASQ’s live performance program ground to a halt in March 2020 as the nation was plunged into lockdown in response to the emergence of the global COVID-19 pandemic. As the concert halls closed their doors, new opportunities for creative expression took rise via the ASQ’s digital engagement platform.

In 2020, we celebrated artists and artisans with our ASQ Live at UKARIA web series, Australian composers in our new commissioning and recording project ASQ Encore and took audiences on a choose-your-own adventure through Beethoven’s opus 18 quartets in partnership with design studio Sandpit.

Despite our challenging operating context, we were well-equipped to pivot our artistic delivery from ASQ Live to ASQ Digital, in line with our 2020-2024 “Future Forward” strategic plan. From our home base in South Australia, we were also extremely privileged to explore an exciting range of hybrid projects in the second half of the year.

Our success as an organisation is testament to the tenacity and commitment of our hard-working team, and the generosity of our community of supporters who faithfully support our creativity, innovation and risk-taking. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our family of ASQ supporters. From the invaluable support of our board, led by Chair Nicholas Callinan AO, our staff and volunteers, our Patron Maria Myers AC, our instrument partner UKARIA, the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music, and our valued network of private donors, foundations, corporate partners and supporters, every contribution has played a vital part in our continuing success.

In our 35th year, we were honoured to receive an Arts South Australia Ruby Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation or Group. As Australia’s only nationally funded string quartet, we are truly grateful for the operational funding that we receive through the Australia Council for the Arts, and the South Australian Government through Arts South Australia. In addition to this foundational support, the COVID-19 subsidies received from federal and state government have literally kept our boat afloat and assured our journey amidst the uncertain waters of 2020.

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVEA YEAR IN REVIEW

How an organisation responds to adversity can reveal much. The year 2020 was as adverse as it gets and I am pleased, proud – and relieved – to report that it has shown the mettle of the Australian String Quartet, the resilience, the creativity and the dedication of our people and the wonderful and generous support from all of you with whom we engage as audiences, sponsors, donors, and friends.

As the challenges of the year rolled out and when nothing was certain, the quick and generous support from government agencies and through the JobKeeper allowance, gave us hope we could survive if we could keep our people together. The University of Adelaide, itself hard hit, and our major sponsor, Clayton Utz, both responded not only with their continuing support but also directly in helping develop plans to deal with our situation. Most importantly, the generosity and understanding from all of you, our audiences and donors, kept us going as we cancelled events and cast around to maintain a presence in the ever-changing operating environment. The result for the year was we were able to keep presenting our music and, with enforced savings on travel, venue hiring and performance costs, we survived financially.

Throughout the year, our musicians, management and board of directors responded with energy and innovation. We were fortunate we had already been experimenting with new delivery formats and in the lockdowns, we put maximum effort into this activity. With support from our performance partner UKARIA and backed by both the expertise and financial support of our board, we were able to successfully launch live-streamed performances which reached appreciative online audiences around Australia and even overseas.

Working within states’ travel constraints, we focused particularly on regional audiences, and we were able to launch a new festival. We also made the most of opportunities to commission, perform and record new Australian compositions as we fulfilled our commitment to deliver music-making of the highest calibre to Australian audiences.

The individuals in the ASQ team were wonderful in meeting the challenges. The musicians, initially separated by the lockdowns, acted swiftly during a brief travel window to get together and worked intensively to deliver an impressive artistic output through the channels available. During the year they welcomed Michael Dahlenburg as the new cellist as the previously

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRannounced departure of Sharon Grigoryan came into effect. Our management team, led by Angelina Zucco, facing situations that changed by the day, were outstanding in their dedication and amazing in their adaptability and resilience in navigating the crisis. Our directors were called on both as a board and as individuals and all responded generously in supporting the initiatives.

The future of the performing arts has been significantly changed by the pandemic. It is far from clear what the future holds. But the ASQ has proven itself to be resilient and adaptive and we have confidence that we can respond to the emerging future. We are most grateful to all of you for your support and encouragement.

Nicholas Callinan AO Chair Australian String Quartet

At the heart of the organisation, our musicians and artistic directors – Dale Barltrop, Francesca Hiew, Stephen King, Sharon Grigoryan (until November 2020), and Michael Dahlenburg (from November 2020) – inspire the artistic vision that keeps us all sailing in the right direction. We are extremely grateful for their dedication to continuing the legacy of this very special organisation and extend our special thanks to cellist Sharon Grigoryan, who concluded her tenure with the organisation after seven faithful years of service. We welcomed our new cellist and creative co-conspirator, Michael Dahlenburg to the ASQ family and look forward to introducing him to our national audiences in 2021.

2020 reminded us all that live music is one of the simple pleasures in life. It is a great privilege to be at the helm and to play our part in keeping the music alive. We thank you for sharing this adventure with us. We could not do it without you!

Angelina Zucco Chief Executive Australian String Quartet

PHOTO: SHANE REID

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39 18MUSICAL WORKS PERFORMED

WORKS BY AUSTRALIAN COMPOSERS

8 NEW WORK PREMIERES

10 WORKS RECORDED

ANNE CAWRSE A Room of Her Own

ALICE CHANCE Nose-Scrunch Reel

JOE CHINDAMO Meows and Muses

ROSS EDWARDS String Quartet no 4 Ridley Gold

HOLLY HARRISON Swoop

LAUREN MCCORMICK String Quartet no 1 The Red Quartet

HARRY SDRAULIG Swirl

ROMA WINMAR Waalwaliny

ANNE CAWRSE A Room of Her Own

ANNE CAWRSE Skittled

ALICE CHANCE Nose-Scrunch Reel

JOE CHINDAMO Meows and Muses

BRYCE DESSNER Impermanence

ROSS EDWARDS String Quartet no 4 Ridley Gold

HOLLY HARRISON Swoop

MATTHEW HINDSON String Quartet no 3 Ngeringa

HARRY SDRAULIG Swirl

PAUL STANHOPE String Quartet no 3

2020 HIGHLIGHTSKEY STATISTICS

19,860TOTAL ATTENDANCE

7,884LIVE PERFORMANCE ATTENDANCE

11,976ONLINE ATTENDANCE

66TOTAL EVENTS

55LIVE PERFORMANCES

11ONLINE PERFORMANCES

400,000+RADIO/TELEVISION BROADCASTS REACH

11TV BROADCAST

RADIO BROADCAST

Clockwise from left: Sharon Grigoryan, Stephen King, Dale Barltrop, Francesca Hiew (seated). Photo: Jacqui Way

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2020 was shaping up to be another jam-packed year of exciting music making for the ASQ with our National Season tours, ASQ Festivals, Australian Anthology recordings, and international performances slated for China, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom. It was a year to celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday, to showcase new Australian music, and premiere our much-anticipated collaboration with Sydney Dance Company featuring a newly co-commissioned score by Bryce Dessner – Impermanence.

By the end of the first quarter, we had performed Beethoven’s first six string quartets alongside four works by First Nations composers at the Perth Festival. We toured Project Ludwig – an interactive collaboration with experience design studio Sandpit – and performed John Adams’ Absolute Jest with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. Other highlights included the first of our UKARIA morning concert series, our National Season performance Beethoven Dessner in Canberra, and a pop-up performance in Tatzu Nishi’s A Doll’s House, in Rundle Mall for the Adelaide Festival. Rehearsals in Sydney were in full swing for Sydney Dance Company’s Impermanence season, when suddenly the wheels fell off. Little did we know that the emergence of COVID-19 in Australia would lead to the cancellation of 80 ASQ performances before year-end.

As we retreated to our respective homes for lockdown, we invited our community to join us on a digital journey through our ASQ at Home With You and Philip Glass project. A visual tapestry of human responses to the power of music, this beautiful video, edited by Samuel Jozeps, was shared through the ASQ’s social media platforms and is our most watched video to date. Among other digital experiments during this season, we presented an online version of our Dunkeld Festival of Music using some of our favourite recordings with introductions from the inimitable The Hon Barry Jones AC, and released a mindfulness podcast series with meditation practitioner, Rainer Jozeps for our partners at Clayton Utz.

The disruption to our hectic touring schedule afforded time for reflection, conversation and research, as we re-imagined a way forward through the pandemic. Our big questions revolved around how to further our role to create chemistry and amplify intimacy with the tools available to us. What practical support could we offer to independent artists in our sector? How could we keep our community engaged and at the heart of what we do? And, how could we help foster a culture that places value on the work of artists via digital media?

Over this time, our artistic endeavours focused on three key projects, ASQ Encore – a commissioning initiative to support eight Australian composers, the creation of the ASQ’s own Live + On Demand platform, and development and delivery of ASQ Live at UKARIA – a brand new music and human-interest web series pilot, filmed live at UKARIA, Mount Barker, SA and hosted by the wonderful Johanna Allen.

ARTISTIC REVIEWDuring the year, our work at the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music featured live and live-streamed performances from Elder Hall, including the premiere of String Quartet no 1 The Red Quartet by student Lauren McCormick, and the world premiere of Anne Cawrse’s A Room of Her Own, commissioned by the Elder Conservatorium of Music with support of the John Bishop Memorial Commission. Importantly, we were also able to continue teaching and workshop activities online with students from the University of Adelaide and Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM).

As live venues began to reawaken, we were thrilled to return to larger concert formats such as the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Legato performance with Sharon and Slava Grigoryan and Konstantin Shamray, in the newly refurbished Her Majesty’s Theatre. We were also privileged to deliver a regional tour to the south-east of South Australia, culminating in a sell-out inaugural ASQ Weekend of Music in Robe. The year concluded with a farewell concert, streamed nationally with support from Clayton Utz, and a dinner for Adelaide supporters to farewell our much-loved cellist, Sharon Grigoryan, and celebrate her seven wonderful years with the Quartet.

We are so proud of what we achieved together in 2020. Whilst the challenges were immense, there were many silver linings that sparkled due to the generosity of our faithful supporters. From all of us at the ASQ, we extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to you all, for your incredible support.

Dale Barltrop, Michael Dahlenburg (from November 2020), Sharon Grigoryan (until November 2020), Francesca Hiew, Stephen King Co-Artistic Directors

From left: Stephen King, Sharon Grigoryan, Dale Barltrop, Francesca HiewPhoto: Jacqui Way

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LIVE PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS

“THE ASQ PLAYED WITH THEIR USUAL VITALITY AND CHARM, AND THE INTERACTIVE ELEMENT WAS A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY TO ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE.”Melanie Walters, The Advertiser, 3 March 2020 (on Project Ludwig)

“IMPECCABLE TUNING, EXCELLENT BALANCE AND FINE DYNAMIC CONTRAST AND CONTROL FEATURED THROUGHOUT”Ian McLean, Canberra CityNews, 10 February 2020

A family enjoying Project Ludwig at SAHMRI Adelaide. Photo: Sam Jozeps

ASQ performing Project Ludwig at the State Library of New South Wales. Photo: Sam Jozeps

ASQ AT PERTH FESTIVAL—QUARTET & COUNTRY*15 - 16 FebruaryFour performances, 1,126 total attendance

Perth Sat 15 February, 11am and 5pm Perth Sun 16 February, 12pm and 4pm

William Barton Square Circles Beneath the Red Desert Sand Beethoven String Quartet opus 18 nos 1-6 Dr Lou Bennett AM Jaara Nyilamum Dr Lou Bennett AM dirt song (arr. Iain Grandage) Stephen Pigram Walganyagarra Buru Stephen Pigram Mimi (arr. Iain Grandage) Roma Winmar Waalwaliny

Performed with William Barton, Lou Bennett, Stephen Pigram, Roma Winmar

Venue Winthrop Hall, University of Western Australia (WA)

ABSOLUTE JEST6 - 7 March Two performances, 2,180 total attendance

Perth Fri 6 March, 7.30pm Perth Sat 7 March, 7.30pm

Beethoven Coriolan Overture op 62 Adams Absolute Jest Beethoven Symphony no 7 in A major op 92

Performed with West Australian Symphony Orchestra

Venue Perth Concert Hall (WA)

*Roma Winmar’s Waalwaliny commissioned by Ulrike Klein AO for Perth Festival 2020. The other Quartet & Country works commissioned by the Klein Family Foundation. Quartet & Country is a commissioning project between the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival and its 2016 – 19 Artistic Director, composer Iain Grandage, UKARIA and the Australian String Quartet.

At the heart of our work, ASQ Live is an umbrella for all our diverse performances and live events including national touring, appearances in festivals, residencies and performance collaborations. With the support of our New South Wales and Victoria Tour Partner, Clayton Utz, we delivered a pleasing range of programs in a challenging year. With touring curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canberra was the only city to enjoy a National Season performance in February (Beethoven Dessner) at the National Gallery of Australia. We were delighted to be a part of the Perth Festival, with four inspiring programs over two epic days contrasting Beethoven’s early quartets with Australian works from the Quartet & Country commissioning project. Also in Perth, we performed in Absolute Beethoven with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and conductor Ludovic Morlot. Continuing the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, we presented Project Ludwig, an interactive journey through Beethoven’s six opus 18 string quartets where the audience decides the outcome. Developed with experience design studio Sandpit, Project Ludwig toured to Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

BEETHOVEN DESSNER9 February One performance, 175 total attendance

Canberra Sun 9 February, 2pm

Beethoven String Quartet in A major op 18 no 5 Bryce Dessner Aheym Beethoven String Quartet in F major op 18 no 1

Venue Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia (ACT)

PROJECT LUDWIG24 February – 2 March Six performances, 544 total attendance

Melbourne Mon 24 February, 6.30pm Sydney Wed 26 February, 6.30pm Brisbane Thu 27 February, 6.30pm Adelaide Sun 1 March, 2pm and 4pm Adelaide Mon 2 March, 6pm

Beethoven String Quartet opus 18 nos 1-6

Venues Melbourne Recital Centre (VIC), State Library of NSW (NSW), Museum of Brisbane (QLD), SAHMRI Building (SA)

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As custodians of UKARIA’s matched set of sublime Guadagnini instruments, we are privileged to perform at this remarkable venue, on Peramangk country in the Adelaide Hills. An annual series of events at UKARIA, our Mornings with the ASQ concert series is a special opportunity for audiences to hear the Australian String Quartet, and the 18th century Guadagnini instruments in a purpose-built concert hall set amongst beautiful gardens.

We performed three concert programs at UKARIA in 2020, featuring masterworks by Beethoven and Schubert and Matthew Hindson. A special farewell concert for cellist Sharon Grigoryan was held in November and live-streamed to a national audience with the generous support of our partner Clayton Utz.

MORNINGS AT UKARIA

Sharon Grigoryan, dressed by Bianca Spender, at UKARIA for the live-streamed farewell concert in November

MORNINGS AT UKARIA 7 February – 13 November Five performances, 584 total attendance

Mt Barker Fri 7 February, 11am Mt Barker Fri 9 October, 11am and 1pm Mt Barker Fri 13 November, 11am and 1pm*

Beethoven String Quartet in G major op 18 no 2 Beethoven String Quartet in B flat major op 18 no 6 Beethoven String Quartet in E flat major op 74 Harp Hindson String Quartet no 3 Ngeringa Schubert Quartettsatz in C minor D703 Giovanni Sollima Sonnets et Rondeaux Schubert String Quartet in D minor D810 Death and the Maiden

Venue UKARIA Cultural Centre

*This performance was live-streamed with the support of our partner, Clayton Utz.

“A GORGEOUS CONCERT THAT MARKS ASQ CELLIST SHARON GRIGORYAN’S DEPARTURE AND REAFFIRMS ONLINE DELIVERY AS A KEY PART OF THE FUTURE OF CONCERT PRESENTATION”Chris Reid, Limelight Magazine, 14 November 2020

ASQ performing at UKARIA Photo: Sam Jozeps

Dale Barltrop plays a 1784 Guadagnini Violin, Turin, Francesca Hiew plays a 1748-49 Guadagnini Violin, Piacenza, Stephen King plays a 1783 Guadagnini Viola, Turin, Sharon Grigoryan* plays a c.1743 Guadagnini Violoncello, Piacenza, ‘Ngeringa’

* In November 2020, Michael Dahlenburg joined the Australian String Quartet as its Cellist

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CLOSE QUARTERSELDER HALL CONCERTSThe Elder Conservatorium continued its popular lunchtime concerts, adapting to a live-streamed format in 2020. As the Elder Conservatorium’s Quartet-in-Residence, the ASQ presented two programs at Elder Hall, including a premiere performance of Elder Conservatorium Honours student Lauren McCormick’s first string quartet, The Red Quartet. To provide additional support to the Elder Conservatorium’s livestreamed program, individual members of the Quartet also performed in two further programs. Stephen King performed with Konstantin Shamray (piano) and Sharon Grigoryan performed with Slava Grigoryan (guitar). We are proud of our long-standing partnership with the University of Adelaide.

ELDER HALL LUNCHTIME CONCERTS 24 July – 18 September Two performances, 1,250 total attendance (Online)

Adelaide Fri 24 July, 1pm (live stream) Adelaide Fri 18 September, 1pm (live stream)

Beethoven String Quartet in G major op 18 no 2 Beethoven String Quartet in B flat major op 18 no 6 Lauren McCormick String Quartet no 1 The Red Quartet (World Premiere) Ravel String Quartet in F major

Venue Elder Hall, University of Adelaide (SA)

BEETHOVEN SOLLIMA CAWRSE 17 October One performance, 150 total attendance

Adelaide Sat 17 October, 8pm

Anne Cawrse A Room of Her Own (World Premiere) Beethoven String Quartet in E flat major op 74 Harp Giovanni Sollima Sonnets et Rondeaux

Venue Elder Hall, University of Adelaide (SA)

Beethoven Sollima Cawrse at Elder Hall, University of Adelaide. Photo: Sam Jozeps

Close Quarters at Community, Lot Fourteen, Adelaide Photo: Sam Jozeps

Since 2015, our Close Quarters performances have been held in unexpected places, from a bike shop to a florist as well as bars, galleries and museums. Not your average classical music concert, our award-winning Close Quarters gigs further our goal to break down the perceived barriers to classical music. The programs are sixty minutes and feature shorter works and movements of magnificent string quartet music. Despite the need for physical distance in 2020, our Close Quarters concerts continued where possible throughout the year.

CLOSE QUARTERS 6 February – 11 November Three performances, 135 total attendance

Adelaide Thu 6 February, Wheatsheaf Hotel Adelaide Tue 20 October, Community, Lot Fourteen Adelaide Wed 11 November, Hellbound Wine Bar

Selected excerpts from Beethoven String Quartet opus 18 nos 1-6 Beethoven String Quartet in E flat major op 74 Harp Anne Cawrse A Room of Her Own Alice Chance Nose-Scrunch Reel Holly Harrison Swoop Ravel String Quartet in F major Harry Sdraulig Swirl Schubert String Quartet in D minor D810 Death and the Maiden Shostakovich String Quartet in F major op 73 no 3 Giovanni Sollima Sonnets et Rondeaux

Venues Wheatsheaf Hotel (SA), Community, Lot Fourteen (SA), Hellbound Wine Bar (SA)

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COMMISSIONS

In 2020, the ASQ commissioned a total of eight new works by Australian composers, along with one co-commission with Sydney Dance Company, Impermanence by Bryce Dessner. Our ASQ Encore project saw us commission eight contemporary Australian composers to write miniatures for string quartet, supported by The Robert Salzer Foundation and a collective of donors through the Australian Cultural Fund. Of these works, four were premiered and recorded in 2020: Meows and Muses by Joe Chindamo, Swoop by Holly Harrison, Nose-Scrunch Reel by Alice Chance and Swirl by Harry Sdraulig. These recordings were enabled with generous support from the Thyne Reid Foundation and this project will be continued in 2021.

A new work from Adelaide composer Jakub Jankowski, which will be delivered and premiered in the second half of 2021, was commissioned by the ASQ with generous support from Peter and Margaret Janssens in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. We were fortunate to premiere a new work from Ross Edwards, his String Quartet no 4 Ridley Gold, commissioned by Ronald and Therese Ridley in honour of their 50th wedding anniversary. We premiered A Room of Her Own by Anne Cawrse (inspired by Virginia Woolf’s seminal text, A Room of One’s Own) at Elder Hall in October. A Room of Her Own was commissioned for the ASQ by the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music with the support of the John Bishop Memorial Commission

GUEST ARTISTS

Across our program for the year, we were fortunate enough to perform alongside a number of guest artists including Russian-born Adelaide-based pianist, Konstantin Shamray, winner of the 2008 Sydney International Piano Competition and virtuoso guitarist, Slava Grigoryan. Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Principal Cellist, Simon Cobcroft, stepped in to perform for Sharon Grigoryan during our ASQ Live at UKARIA series as we implemented our risk management strategy for illness during the pandemic. For this series we were also pleased to welcome guest artists and artisans for our A More Musical Life interviews including Hans, Maggie Beer, luthier Jim Redgate and multi-disciplinary artist Peter Drew. The series was hosted by talented performer Johanna Allen.

ASQ and Konstantin Shamray in rehearsal for Legato, a part of the Music @ The Maj concert series Photo: Sam Jozeps

COMMISSIONS & GUEST ARTISTSCOLLABORATIONSWe were privileged to partner with some fantastic Australian artists, arts practitioners and industry partners throughout 2020. A commissioning series initiated by Iain Grandage and first performed at the Port Fairy Music Festival, Quartet & Country returned to the stage for the Perth Festival, where we performed with First Nations composers Dr Lou Bennett AM, William Barton, Stephen Pigram and Roma Winmar over four concerts.

In partnership with experience design studio Sandpit, we developed Project Ludwig, an interactive journey through Beethoven’s six opus 18 string quartets. With a game board style introduction to the music through scores and conversations with the Quartet, participants were able to direct the performance outcome resulting in a brand-new Beethoven quartet experience, performed live by the ASQ. The project was shortlisted for a Ruby Award (Best Work, Event or Project for Young People) and programmed in Adelaide Festival Centre’s children’s festival, DreamBig, in 2021.

Returning to Perth in March, we joined the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, led by French conductor Ludovic Morlot, for Absolute Beethoven.

Our collaboration with Sydney Dance Company, Impermanence (directed by Rafael Bonachela with a newly commissioned score by Bryce Dessner) had begun in early March when rehearsal and performance seasons were postponed due to the escalating COVID-19 situation. Whilst the premiere of the work was disrupted, we were pleased to be able to complete a studio recording of the score for commercial release in 2021.

We received invaluable support from our partners and worked closely with South Australian companies I-Nex and Cul-de-Sac Creative for the development and launch of our ASQ Live + On Demand platform, and its debut web series ASQ Live at UKARIA. In November, we celebrated the return of live music to the recently renovated Her Majesty’s Theatre, with Adelaide Festival Centre’s Legato, as part of the Music @ The Maj concert series.

Stephen King, Francesca Hiew and Dale Barltrop with Sam Haren (far left) and Jude Henshall (centre) from Sandpit in a technical rehearsal for Project Ludwig Photo: Sam Jozeps

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Whilst our annual Dunkeld Festival of Music could not proceed in 2020, we created an online festival experience called Digital Dunkeld. Released over the weekend the Festival is usually held in March, Digital Dunkeld featured five playlists of highlights from the festival program. Pre-concert talks were included from the enlightening and highly engaging Hon. Barry Jones AC, as well as members of the Quartet.

Having postponed our Dungog and Margaret River Festivals, it was exciting to perform a weekend festival in Robe, SA, in November. With the leadership and support of board member Janet McLachlan the festival was booked out before it was even launched! This festival also incorporated a local Robe community concert and a concert in Meningie. There was some wonderful music, shared meals and experiences that helped everyone feel that a corner had been turned and hopes for a more normal 2021 were well founded.

ASQ FESTIVALSDIGITAL DUNKELD April – June (online) 121 total viewers

A curated program of recorded music featuring works by Barber, Beethoven and Schubert, with introductions by the Quartet and The Hon. Barry Jones AC.

ROBE WEEKEND OF MUSIC 7 – 8 November Two performances, 125 total attendance

Robe Sat 7 – Sun 8 November 2020

Beethoven String Quartet in E flat major op 74 Harp Matthew Hindson String Quartet no 3 Ngeringa Schubert String Quartet in D minor Death and the Maiden Giovanni Sollima Sonnets et Rondeaux

Venues St Peter’s Anglican Church and Robe Institute (Robe, SA)

ASQ performing at St Peter's Anglican Church, Robe, SA Photo: Sam Jozeps

Photo: Jacqui Way

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ASQ DIGITALA priority of the ASQ’s strategic plan is to embrace opportunities to re-imagine the way we experience, make and share music by investing in the growth of our digital capabilities and innovation. In 2020, we developed our ASQ Live + On Demand web platform, with digital partner I-Nex, and seized the opportunity to release Australian works for our Australian Anthology recording initiative, as well as a new project entitled ASQ Encore.

Other digital initiatives included a beautiful video response from our audience entitled ASQ with You and Philip Glass, and a mindfulness podcast series guided by meditation practitioner Rainer Jozeps, developed specifically for the workplace with our tour partner Clayton Utz. The ASQ also appeared in the Melbourne Digital Concert Hall’s Passport Series in August.

MELBOURNE DIGITAL CONCERT HALL 28 August One performance, 138 total attendance (live)

Ravel String Quartet in F major Schumann Piano Quintet in E flat major op 44

Performed with Konstantin Shamray (piano)

ASQ AT HOME WITH YOU AND PHILIP GLASS 8 May Online video, 11.2k views

Philip Glass String Quartet No. 3 Mishima (excerpt)

Performed with Aki, Jorge, Keeley, Lawson, Libby, Lucie, Niamh, Rainer, Sam, Sarah and Saravy.

ASQ 15-MINUTE MEDITATIONS Presented by The Uncommons, Clayton Utz

Beethoven String Quartet in F major op 135 David Paterson Quartettsatze Debussy String Quartet in G minor op 10 Ross Edwards Gallipoli Philip Glass String Quartet no 3 Mishima Katie Noonan A Song of Hope (Jandai Spoken Version – Kaleenah Edwards) Katie Noonan A Song of Hope (sung version) Nigel Westlake String Quartet no 3 Sacred Sky

To celebrate the launch of our ASQ Live + On Demand platform, we created a live-streamed web series called ASQ Live at UKARIA. Filmed at the iconic UKARIA Cultural Centre in the Adelaide Hills, the series mixed human interest programming and live performance with a splash of broadcast excitement. The series was a backstage pass for the audience, hosted by the charismatic Johanna Allen. The series featured a raft of world-class South Australian guest artisans including luthiers, street-artists, chefs and entrepreneurs and was supported by project partners UKARIA, I-Nex, Jumpgate VR and Cul-de-sac Creative. Additional corporate support was received from Audi and David Jones, who generously provided clothing for the artists throughout the series.

“THE ASQ’S PERFORMANCES IN THIS WELL-CONCEIVED CONCERT WERE OUTSTANDING – SPIRITED AND COHERENT…”Chris Reid, Limelight Magazine, 14 November 2020

ASQ LIVE AT UKARIA 9 August – 20 September Eight webisodes, 5,194 total viewers

Mt Barker Sun 2 August, 3pm Mt Barker Sun 9 August, 3pm Mt Barker Sun 16 August, 3pm Mt Barker Sun 23 August, 3pm Mt Barker Sun 30 August, 3pm Mt Barker Sun 6 September, 3pm Mt Barker Sun 13 September, 3pm Mt Barker Sun 20 September, 3pm

Joe Chindamo String Quartet no 1 Tempesta Joe Chindamo Meows and Muses (World Premiere) Dvořák Piano Quintet in A major op 81 Ross Edwards String Quartet no 4 Ridley Gold (World Premiere) Matthew Hindson String Quartet no 3 Ngeringa Mendelssohn String Quartet in F minor op 80 Mozart String Quartet in C major K 465 Dissonance Shostakovich String Quartet no 3 in F major op 73 Paul Stanhope String Quartet no 3

Guest Artists and Artisans Konstantin Shamray (piano), Johanna Allen (presenter), Maggie Beer, Mandy Brown, Peter Drew, Steve Hailstone, Hans, Ulrike Klein, Khai Liew and Jim Redgate

Venue Ukaria Cultural Centre (SA)

ASQ filming Live at UKARIA Photo: Sam Jozeps

ASQ Digital promotional image Photo: Jacqui Way Creative direction: Cul-de-sac Creative

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AUSTRALIAN ANTHOLOGY The Australian String Quartet’s Australian Anthology project records and releases contemporary Australian works for string quartet, and is part of the ASQ's ongoing mission to celebrate the legacy of Australian composers. The recordings are released digitally, across major streaming platforms, ensuring new Australian stories are being told worldwide. In 2020, we released seven works from contemporary composers including Nigel Westlake, Joe Chindamo, Kate Moore and Lou Bennett.

William Barton Square Circles Beneath the Red Desert Sand Dr Lou Bennett AM Jaara Nyilamum Joe Chindamo String Quartet no 1 Tempesta Charles Edward Horsley String Quartet no 1 Kate Moore Cicadidae Stephen Pigram Walganyagarra Buru Nigel Westlake String Quartet no 3 Sacred Sky

ASQ ENCORE A new initiative in 2020, ASQ Encore is a commissioning and recording project for up to ten Australian composers to write miniatures for string quartet, to be performed live around the country and recorded for world-wide distribution alongside our Australian Anthology project.

ASQ Encore has been partly funded through the Australian Cultural Fund’s ACF Boost crowdfunding platform, with every dollar raised matched by the ACF itself. The funds raised have directly supported our engagement of Australian composers to write the works and for the ASQ to record them, with generous support through the Thyne Reid Foundation and Robert Salzer Foundation. This project will continue in 2021 as we release these recordings through streaming platforms.

The composers that are part of ASQ Encore project are Alice Chance, Joe Chindamo, Sebastian Collen, Holly Harrison, Matt Laing, Kate Neal, David Paterson, and Harry Sdraulig.

ASQ DIGITAL

“I BELIEVE CICADIDAE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING RECORDING RELEASES OF RECENT YEARS.” Alex Raineri, The Music Trust, 26 February 2021

Australian Anthology Illustrations: Jim Tsinganos Australian Anthology Creative Direction: Cul-de-sac Creative.

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ASQ COMMUNITYAt the heart of the Australian String Quartet is our ASQ Community. As part of a family of music lovers from all over Australia, we strive to provide a shared experience that connects people with string quartet music – and with each other. In 2020, we implemented new initiatives to engage with our community, and to reach a wider community.

Our digital communications continued through focused emails and social media. Our capacity to reach audiences across Australia and the world increased exponentially through the development of our ASQ Live + On Demand platform. This platform became an important tool that ensured a broader reach for the performances we were able to hold, and gave our national audience a chance to farewell cellist Sharon Grigoryan in a special live-streamed event.

Our in-house box office system continues to grow, with the support of our partner I-Nex, and allows us to flexibly manage the ASQ’s offerings and provide a consistent consumer experience. In 2020, we have conducted research and development for our ASQ+ membership offering, which will transition from the traditional subscription offering, as arts visitation habits change. This will ensure greater accessibility to more people within our wider community, including international audiences.

ASQ Performing at Tatzu Nishi's A Doll's House (Adelaide Festival) Photo: Shane Reid

ASQ LEARNINGMany of the learning opportunities in 2020 evolved into online experiences with the Quartet. Even our weekly streams of ASQ Live at UKARIA took on an educational bent, revealing much of the creative process behind the quartet performance and also other SA creatives revealing why music and creativity are so meaningful in their lives.

Our partnership with the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide found new ways to continue as before. We delivered tutorials to the sections of the Conservatorium Orchestra from their own homes. We taught technical and repertoire classes and chamber music classes online focusing on the seminal quartets of Franz Joseph Haydn and Béla Bartók. This involved a very different approach for us incorporating playing examples from many quartets over time and exemplifying different approaches and exploring rarely heard works.

With the string players from the Australian National Academy of Music we were able to perform for their chamber music class via video link and discuss the work we had been undertaking. It was the first live music making that they had experienced for many months, and it became quite a moving experience for all. We were also able to undertake some individual lessons when restrictions eased.

ASQ Viola Stephen King with the Raindance Trio (L-R: Tahlia Williams, Paris Williams and Jack Overall) Photo: Shane Reid

“WE LOVE CHAMBER MUSIC, BUT WHAT MAKES THE ASQ SO VERY SPECIAL IS NOT ONLY THE VERY HIGH STANDARD OF THE MUSIC BUT THE CLOSE PERSONAL CONTACT WE HAVE WITH THE MUSICIANS AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM”Beth and Clive Trott

As part of the Perth Festival, we presented open rehearsals to students and festivalgoers at the University of Western Australia. This involved music and performances with William Barton on the digeridoo and Roma Winmar singing and sharing her stories. Again, this was a very moving educational experience.

From June, when it became possible, we continued to work with the Adelaide based Raindance Trio in person as part of our ASQ Alchemy program. They presented a concert at Cummins Historical House in November with a challenging program including a new work by Adelaide composer Anne Cawrse. The trio received coaching and guidance from Quartet members and management advice from Sophie Emery, ASQ Operations Manager.

COMMUNITY CONCERTS 3 March - 14 November Five performances, 780 total attendance

Adelaide Tue 3 March, 12.30pm Meningie Fri 6 November, 5pm Robe Sun 8 November, 2.30pm Port Noarlunga Sat 14 November, 4pm and 7pm

Beethoven String Quartet in E flat major op 74 (Harp) Bryce Dessner Impermanence (excerpt) Matthew Hindson String Quartet no 3 Ngeringa Schubert Quartet for Strings in D minor D810 Death and the Maiden Sculthorpe Jabiru Dreaming (excerpt) Giovanni Sollima Sonnets et Rondeaux

Venues A Doll’s House by Tatzu Nishi, Rundle Mall (SA), St Luke’s Lutheran Church Meningie (SA), Robe Institute (SA), Port Noarlunga Arts Centre (SA)

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$10 ,000 +Mr Philip BaconNicholas Callinan AO & Libby CallinanRichard Harvey AM & the Late Tess HarveyPeter & Lyndsey HawkinsMargaret & Peter JanssensThe Stuart Leslie FoundationGlenda & Greg Lewin AMMichael Lishman & Deidre WillmottJohn McBain AO & Penelope McBainDavid McKee AO & Pam McKeePauline MenzAllan J Myers AC & Maria J Myers ACLady Primrose Potter AC-CMRIPatricia H Reid Endowment FundThyne Reid FoundationBernard Ryan & Michael RoweIan Wallace Family BequestWright Burt Foundation

$5 ,000 – $9 ,999Jahn BuhrmanCav. Maurice Crotti AO & Tess CrottiHelen & Michael GannonJoan LyonsPeter & Pamela McKeeMrs Diana McLaurinSusan M RenoufAnonymous (4)

$2 ,000 – $4 ,999R & K AllenDr Margaret ArstallRic Chaney & Chris HairBruce & Bronwyn CooperMark de RaadMargaret FlatmanRichard FrolichNonie HallJanet & Michael HayesMr Hartley HigginsKeith Holt & Anne FullerJohn Griffiths & Beth JacksonRoderick and Elizabeth KingKerry LandmanAnnette MaluishJanet McLachlanTony & Margaret PagoneRosalind-Ruth M PhelpsBrenda Shanahan Charitable FoundationDrs Paul Schneider & Margarita SilvaNigel Steele ScottAnonymous (1)

$1 ,000 − $1 ,999Neil Archibald & Alan R Dodge AMJohn Arthur OAM & Angela ArthurLyndie & Tim CarracherCaroline & Robert ClementeMr James Darling AM & Ms Lesley ForwoodGeoff & Anne DayRoss & Sue DillonJohn Funder & Val DiamondRoss & Jen GalleryColin Golvan AM QC & Dr Deborah GolvanNoel & Janet GrieveAngela GrutznerSusan & Daniel HainsNick HaysDr Penny Herbert in memory of Dunstan HerbertJ D HeydonJanet Holmes à Court ACBarbara JarryNeil & June JensKevin & Barbara KaneMr Robert KenrickDr Kathryn Lovric & Dr Roger AllanDavid & Anne MarshallJames McLeod OAMHelen & Phil MeddingsKerrell & David MorrisPaul O'DonnellCatherine Parr & Paul HattawayMs Eda Ritchie AMJill RussellJeanette Sandford-Morgan OAMBill Shannon & Paula WinchesterProf Jennie ShawAntony & Mary Louise SimpsonAndrew Sisson AOHugh Taylor AC & Elizabeth Dax AMSue TweddellMarg & Tom WilkinsonLyn Williams AMWendy Williams in memory of TonyAnnie & Philip YoungAnonymous (11)

$500 − $999Lillian & Peter ArmitageBernard & Jackie BarnwellDebbie BrowneJohn & Christine ChamberlainJohn & Libby ClappThe Late John Clayton & Libby ClaytonJane DoyleBill & Penny FowlerProf Robert GilbertGerard & Gabby HardistyAndrew JohnstonBarry Jones AC & Rachel FaggetterJenny Legoe & Christopher Legoe AO QCPeter LovellJ K MarksRobyn Martin-WeberH E McGlashanTony & Elizabeth MinchinMaria O'DonnellThe Rev'd Dr Philip RaymontSusan RennieAnita Robinson & Michael TingayPeter RushTrish & Richard Ryan AOSuzanne StarkChristopher StoneGary & Janet TilsleyDiana WilliamsAnn and Alan WilkinsonJanet WorthMaria Yakimov & Stefano CarboniFay ZaikosAnonymous (15)

DONORSThe Australian String Quartet would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the following donors for their ongoing support along with those donors whose very important contributions either remain anonymous or were less than $500 in 2020. Every gift makes a difference to what we are able to achieve.

The following donations reflect those made between 1 January and 31 December 2020.

OUR SUPPORTERS

An ASQ supporter with Francesca Hiew Photo: Sam Jozeps

Private giving remains a key factor in our continuing success through a growing group of donors and foundations who generously support the purpose and vision of the organisation, including our Major Supporters, Instrument Partners – UKARIA, Player Sponsors, and donors who support specific projects such as the ASQ’s Live + On Demand digital initiatives; ASQ Encore and major commissioning initiatives; recording initiatives and regional touring. Despite the challenging operating environment, the ASQ’s financial year donation appeal exceeded budget, with over $150,000 in donations received. We were incredibly grateful to receive a further $230,000 in general donations, including those received from our generous supporters in lieu of ticket refunds for cancelled events. Continued and generous support from foundations supporting both the operations of the organisation, as well as specific projects, enabled our activities in 2020 to flourish. This incredible show of good will has sustained the organisation through a period of unparalleled disruption to its ordinary operations which saw the cancellation of over 80 events and lost performance revenue in the order of $300,000. We also acknowledge the generous support received from our key stakeholders and partners in delivering our 2020 calendar of activity.

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The ASQ Board of Directors is responsible for the sound governance of the organisation and provides an umbrella of support to ensure that the ASQ continues to thrive. From strategic planning to financial and legal compliance, our Board played an active role to ensure the long-term viability of the organisation, placing financial sustainability of the organisation as a key priority through effective stewardship and sound governance. Leading by example, our Directors in 2020 demonstrated a strong personal commitment to the organisation, attending board meetings held via video conference and hosting the annual Strategy Day with all staff members. The Board held additional meetings as required, as well as providing significant financial and in-kind support to the organisation. The Board composition reflects a skills-based Board with geographic representation from across Australia and all share a passion for classical music and a commitment to the arts in general.

In 2020, the ASQ’s Audit and Risk Committee met three times to support the management team with risk and compliance matters, including overseeing the superannuation remediation. This committee met quarterly and is comprised of two Board appointed representatives and an independent member, Greg Rundle.

GOVERNANCENATIONAL BOARDNicholas Callinan AO – Chair (VIC)Alexandra Burt (WA)Bruce Cooper – Deputy Chair (NSW)John Evans (SA)Janet Hayes (SA)Janet McLachlan (SA) Marisa Mandile (VIC)Paul Murnane (NSW)Susan Renouf (VIC)Suzanne Stark (QLD)

ARTISTIC DIRECTORSDale Barltrop – Artistic Director | Violin 1Sharon Grigoryan – Artistic Director | Cello*Francesca Hiew – Artistic Director | Violin 2Stephen King – Artistic Director | Viola

*From November 2020 Michael Dahlenburg commenced his position as Artistic Director | Cello

MANAGEMENTSophie Emery – Operations ManagerAlison Growden – Executive AssistantSamuel Jozeps – Marketing and Communications ManagerHelen Kearney – CRM and Marketing AdministratorLeigh Milne – AccountsMichelle Richards – Development ManagerAngelina Zucco – Chief Executive

PATRONMaria Myers AC

LIFE MEMBERJeanette Sandford-Morgan OAM

AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEEJohn Evans – Chair (SA)Janet Hayes (SA)Greg Rundle (SA)

QUEENSLAND ADVISORY COMMITTEESuzanne Stark – Chair (QLD)Ben Croft (QLD)James Rimmer (QLD)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA AMBASSADORSAlexandra Burt – Chair (WA)John Jens (WA)Julie Mews (WA)Sara Macliver (WA)Maria Yakimov (WA)

VOLUNTEERSLeonie SchmidtJulia StringerDenise TobinRoslyn Whately

OUR TEAM

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PATRON

MARIA MYERS AC

National Season 2020 creative – Photography by Jacqui Way. Design & art direction by Cul-de-sac Creative. Printed by Print Solutions SA.

OFFICIAL PARTNERSMajor Partner

Major Supporters

ALLAN J MYERS AC & MARIA J MYERS AC

NICHOLAS CALLINAN AO & LIBBY CALLINAN

Government Supporters

INSTRUMENT PARTNER

OTHER PARTNERS

Leader Sponsor

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

Violin Sponsors

MELBOURNE COLLECTIVE: DEBBIE BROWNE JAHN BUHRMAN LIBBY CALLINAN CAROLINE CLEMENTE PERRI CUTTEN

MARGARET FLATMAN HELEN GANNON ANNETTE MALUISH SUSAN RENOUFDEBORAH GOLVAN

Viola Sponsors

PHILIP BACON MRS JOAN LYONS & MRS DIDY MCLAURIN

Sydney Accommodation Sponsor

Canberra Accommodation Sponsor

National Wine Sponsor

Project Partner

NATIONAL SEASON PARTNERSQueensland

Co-presenting PartnerNew South Wales & Victoria

Tour PartnerCanberra

Co-presenting Partner

ASQ performing Project Ludwig at SAHMRI Photo: Sam Jozeps

SUSAN RENNIE

Quartet–in–Residence The University of Adelaide

SA 5005 Australia

T 1800 040 444 (Freecall) F +61 8 8313 4389 E asq@asq.com.au

W asq.com.au

AustralianStringQuartet

@ASQuartet

@australianstringquartet

Australian String Quartet

Photography by Jacqui Way Design by Cul-de-sac Creative