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30th August 2008
Competition Finals
Kendall School of Arts, Kendall
Enquiries & Bookings:   Secretary Mavis Barnes,  mbarnes@tsn.cc 02 6559 4339

31st August 2008
Celebration Concert
Kendall School of Arts
Enquiries & Bookings:   Secretary Mavis Barnes,  mbarnes@tsn.cc 02 6559 4339

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KENDALL
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INFORMATION
Kendall National Violin Competition
C/- Chair, String Unit,
Sydney Conservatorium
Building C41
Sydney University NSW 2006

Application form can be downloaded from
Entry Form page

Competitor Coordinator
Ms Fran Bec
Ph 02 6582 0868

President
Elaine van Kempen
Ph 02 6559 6888

Kendall National Violin Competition
PO Box 86 Kendall 2439

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KENDALL NATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION FINAL

Graham Caldersmith & Jiajing Wang

Jiajing Wang
Winner - 2008 Competition and the Caldersmith Violin
Winner - Peter Lee memorial award
Winner - Gil Appleton award for Best Performance of Bach
Winner - Reba Chappell Audience Choice award

Christina Morris
Winner - Kendall Services & Citozens Club Best Performance of an Australia piece award

Tessa Ho
Timberlay International Travel Scholarship

About the Competition

One of the most exciting events on the Australian music calendar is the annual Kendall National Violin Competition.

The Competition’s history dates from 1999 when renowned Australian luthier Graham Caldersmith made the generous offer to donate a concert violin each year as a prize. Young violinists (maximum age 23 on 1 January) who are citizens or residents of Australia are invited to compete for this fine instrument which is made from Australian timbers.

Kendall, on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, has a history of timber milling as well as many areas of scenic forest preserves and nature reserves. The village is named for Australian poet, Henry Kendall, who was also the first NSW Inspector of Forests. In recognition of this most appropriate use of Australian timber, Forests NSW, a division of the Department of Primary Industry, has sponsored the Competition since its inception. Supporting sponsorship is received each year from AST Floors of Kempsey who also endow the annual TimberLay International Travel Scholarship.

Many of the approximately 150 young violinists who have competed to date, particularly past winners and finalists, have gone on to major achievements in Australia and overseas.

The Competition is administered by a small committee of volunteers under the Artistic Directorship of Goetz Richter, Assoc. Professor of Violin and Chair of the Strings Unit at the Conservatorium of Sydney.

Since 2004, semifinals have been held as public performances in Sydney. The final is always held in Kendall, the home of the Competition.

Luthier Graham Caldersmith varnishing his 100th violin

Goetz Richter

Kendall School of Arts