Southern Cross Soloists

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A Dazzling Decade of Music

Southern Cross Soloists was formed in 1995 and quickly became one of Australia’s most respected and successful chamber ensembles, establishing an international reputation for ground-breaking performance.

The group features six of Australia’s leading musicians. Director and clarinettist Paul Dean and bassoonist Leesa Dean are former Principal players with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Tania Frazer joined the ensemble in 2001 after being the Principal Oboist of the Israel Symphony Orchestra. Lyric Soprano Margaret Schindler lectures at Griffith University’s Queensland Conservatorium of Music as does horn player Peter Luff who is also Head of Brass. Pianist Kevin Power pursues a freelance career and is Chorus Master and Director of the Queensland Choir.

The group’s unique combination of oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, piano and soprano allows a variety of music in many genres to be performed. Repertoire ranges from Baroque Cantatas through the standard (and not so standard) classical and romantic compositions for winds and piano, to works combining voice and instruments, in particular songs with instrumental obbligato.
Southern Cross Soloists has a strong commitment to commissioning and performing Australian music.

CDs already available include Australia (2004), LIVE (2002), Russia (2000), NINA! (2002) and Concert Sampler (1998).

Southern Cross Soloists maintain a busy, year-round schedule performing, recording, broadcasting, teaching, undertaking master classes and touring.

What happened when?

	1994
•	Paul Dean devised the idea to start the players from a wind octet which had been formed, into a separate chamber group. Decides on piano quintet with soprano. Margaret Schindler was asked to join the group for a tour of Canada. Negotiations begin with Overture Concerts, Vancouver for a tour of Canada by the as yet unformed “wind and something group” directed by Paul Dean.
	1995
•	In August, the “wind and something group” form as oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, piano and soprano, and carry the name Winds of the Southern Cross.
	December 1995
•	Debut performance by the newly formed Winds of the Southern Cross at the ABC Music Studios, Ferry Road, West End, Brisbane. Program featured Bach, Schubert, Frankel and Beethoven.
	1996
•	Winds of the Southern Cross perform at many venues throughout South East Queensland, establishing their unique concert presentation and programming initiatives. Negotiations for the Canadian tour now firm for January 1998.
	1997
•	Winds of the Southern Cross continue to perform throughout South East Queensland, broadcast nationally for ABC FM and present their first Subscription Series of Concerts.
•	Their first CD, Concert Sampler featuring live performances from their 1997 Subscription Series is released in time for the Canadian Tour.
•	The first commissioned work for the ensemble written by Wilfred Lehmann to the poems of Oodgeroo of the tribe Noonuccal is performed.
	1998
•	In January, Winds of the Southern Cross perform the first of their 33 Overture Concerts on a remarkably successful seven week tour across Canada. Twenty standing ovations; thirty return invitations; audiences in excess of 20,000 and two sellout pressings of the Concert Sampler CD, all confirm the group’s potential to become one of Australia’s most successful musical exports. The Soloists’ highly successful 1998 American and Canadian tour created an international following. Named as “Australia’s new musical constellation”, they played to capacity houses with many invitations to return in 2003.
	February 1998
•	Winds of the Southern Cross perform in the Merkin Auditorium in New York before an audience including New York agents, and the concert is one of the best ever by the ensemble.
	August 1998
•	The Winds of the Southern Cross play their debut performance for Musica Viva Australia in Armidale.
•	The ensemble continues to grow throughout the year, with the players building an enviable reputation with national broadcasts and many sellout concerts throughout South East Queensland.
	December 1998
•	John Gingrich Artist Management in New York decides to sign up the Winds of the Southern Cross!
	1999
•	With new marketing help the Winds of the Southern Cross change their name to Southern Cross Soloists to better describe the makeup of the ensemble.
•	The group becomes Ensemble in Residence at the Queensland Conservatorium and at the 1999 Queensland Biennial Festival.
•	The Subscription Series is now held in the Conservatorium Theatre and subscription numbers increase by 150%.
•	Southern Cross Soloists perform their first tour for Musica Viva Australia playing regional Queensland Centres, Darwin, Alice Springs, Lismore and Coffs Harbour.
	2000
•	Release of the first CD in the group’s International CD series, Russia.
•	Southern Cross Soloists team up with resident chef Geoff Metcalf and visiting chef Dean Yorkston to create a unique event in the exquisite surroundings of the Hidden Creek Winery in Ballandean.
	2001
•	Tours for Musica Viva Countrywide completed and first performance in Sydney to great acclaim in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Opera Opera publication.
•	Oboist Tania Frazer moves from the Israel Symphony Orchestra to Brisbane to join the Southern Cross Soloists.
•	Southern Cross develops a partnership with the Australian Youth Orchestra, becoming the mentors for the Young Australian Concert Artists, a program Southern Cross Soloists helped create and which still continues.
	2002
•	First appearance in Asia with a highly successful visit to Korea with over 4000 people attending six concerts.
•	Southern Cross Soloists develop the inaugural Bangalow Music Festival, with amazing success.
•	Numerous concerts performed as part of the Brisbane Festival.
•	A partnership is formed with Major Player Enterprises, Rockhampton, which developed into the Regional Education Master classes and Concert Package.
•	Release CDs: Live and Nina!
	2003
•	Highly successful international and concert tour to New Zealand in July for Chamber Music New Zealand. Highly successful international tour to United States in October.
•	The formation of a new Subscriber’s Committee and Advisory Board gives the ensemble the vehicles to help the group move forward and ensure its future growth.
	2004
•	The group’s first performances in Perth, including residency at the Hale School, were enthusiastically received with an invitation to return in 2006.
•	Sara Bannon engaged as the group’s Manager, their first paid employee.
•	Southern Cross Soloists Publications release for sale the first printed versions of some of the group’s arrangements, coinciding with appearances by the group at the International Double Reed Conference in Melbourne.
•	Australia, the second CD in the group’s International Series, is released.
	2005
•	Tenth Birthday celebrations begin.
•	Working towards sell-out Subscription Series in Brisbane and a highly successful 10th Birthday Sentimental Journey Dinner Concert at Ferry Road Studios.
•	Tours to Townsville, Rockhampton and Cairns.
•	Another sell-out Bangalow Music Festival, with international guest artists.