Lunchtime Concert: Samantha Mailer, Flute & Thomas Azoury, Piano

Biography: Australian flautist Samantha Mailer has performed in concerts in Australia, Scandinavia, Russia, the United Kingdom and Italy, and live on ABC Classic FM, ArtSound FM and Sydney Live 2GB 873AM. Samantha divides her time performing regularly as flute soloist and chamber musician. Following a Masters of Music degree at the Australian National University, Samantha travelled to participate in master classes and private study with the leading flautists around the world. This included a short residency at the prestigious Oxford Flute School, and a contract with the Rome Festival Orchestra. Her philanthropic work sees Samantha regularly performing at fundraising events and charity concerts, as well as being an active committee member of the Flute Society of NSW. Samantha works as Principal Flautist with Sydney Independent Opera, Sydney Contemporary Orchestra, Western Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Rockdale Opera Company and is a Preferred Player with the Australian Discovery Orchestra, Melbourne. Thomas Azoury grew up in Canberra, completing Associate Diplomas in both the Piano and Clarinet whilst at school. He continued to undertake a Bachelor of Music at the Australian National University with Alan Vivian, and pursued further musical studies in Melbourne with David Griffiths, Philip Arkinstall and Paul Champion. Thomas has performed widely through a varied portfolio of orchestral, chamber, solo and accompanist musical engagements, having performed with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra and the Canberra International Music Festival. He has been a finalist in the Sydney Eisteddfod’s Musica Viva Chamber Music Competition, and the Doctor’s Orchestra Instrumental Scholarship, as well as having been selected to participate in the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp and the Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute in Hobart. Programme: Salut D’Amour Op.12 Edward Elgar (1857-1934) Sonata in A Major (Arr. for Flute and Piano) Cesar Franck (1822-1890) i. Allegretto ben moderato ii. Allegro iii. Recitativo-Fantasia: Ben moderato iv. Allegretto poco mosso