Camerata Academica of the Antipodes

{{Infobox musical artist | name = Camerata Academica of the Antipodes | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | alias = | origin = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | genre = [[Baroque music|Baroque]] | years_active = {{Start date|2014}}–present | label = | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|camerataantipodes.com.au/}} | current_members = * Imogen Coward * Leon Coward * Taliésin Coward | past_members = }}

'''Camerata Academica of the Antipodes''' is an [[Australian Chamber Orchestra|Australian chamber orchestra]] and vocal ensemble formed in 2014. It was founded by three Coward siblings, Imogen, Taliésin and Leon, who are all multi-instrumentalists and composers, together with various friends. Their main genre is the [[Baroque music]] of Vivaldi, Handel and Corelli but includes other eras and styles, and their own compositions.

== Background ==

The Coward siblings, Imogen, Taliésin and Leon were home-schooled by their parents up to university level.<ref name="Masson">{{cite interview |last=Masson |first=Sophie |author-link=Sophie Masson |title=''2BR02B'': the journey of a dystopian film–an interview with Leon Coward |website=Feathers of the Firebird |url=https://firebirdfeathers.com/2016/10/19/2br02b-the-journey-of-a-dystopian-film-an-interview-with-leon-coward/ |date=19 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223010139/https://firebirdfeathers.com/2016/10/19/2br02b-the-journey-of-a-dystopian-film-an-interview-with-leon-coward/ |archive-date=23 December 2016 |access-date=30 January 2022 }}</ref><ref name="BSECS Sept 2014">{{cite web | last1 = Harries | first1 = Timothy | last2 = Vergison | first2 = Jenny | title=''Critiks'' Reviews: Music – Camerata Academica of the Antipodes | publisher=[[British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies]] | url=https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes/ |date=19 September 2014 |access-date=30 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129080321/https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes/ |archive-date=29 January 2022 }}</ref> Their mother, Ann Coward, is of Greek-Australian descent and they attended [[Greek Orthodox churches in New South Wales|St George Greek Orthodox Church]], [[Rose Bay, New South Wales|Rose Bay]].<ref name="Coward Ann">{{cite web | url = https://ocpsociety.org/news/arts-food-wine/ | title = Arts, Food & Wine – News – Untitled12 | last = Coward | first = Ann | editor = Imogen Coward | publisher = Orthodoxy Cognate | date = January–February 2014 | access-date = 31 January 2022 | archive-date = 31 January 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220131063418/https://ocpsociety.org/news/arts-food-wine/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Each sibling has completed a PhD in musicology.

Imogen (born {{birth based on age as of date |16 |2003|||noage=1}}), at 16 years-old, was studying for an external degree at the [[University of New England (Australia)|University of New England]].<ref name="Pritchard">{{cite web | url=http://www.hea.asn.au/hea/resources/disp_res.asp?type=4&id=31&view=print | title=Homeschooling Through High School and Beyond | last=Pritchard | first=Rhonda | publisher=Home Education Association | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030513021939/http://www.hea.asn.au/hea/resources/disp_res.asp?type=4&id=31&view=print | archive-date=13 May 2003 | access-date=31 January 2022 | url-status=live }}</ref> Leon (born 1991) studied at the [[Julian Ashton Art School]] and at the University of New England, and graduated with a first class honours [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in 2013. He completed his PhD study in 2017, writing his dissertation on creating a new method for analysing film design. He used that method in the development of the film, ''[[2BR02B: To Be or Naught To Be]]'' (2016).<ref name="Masson"/> Since 2017 Leon has been a judge for the Sydney Indie Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sydney Indie 2017 – It’s a Wrap! |publisher=Sydney Indie Film Festival |url=http://sydneyindiefilmfestival.com/festival/sydney-indie-2017-its-a-wrap/ |access-date=30 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129080319/http://sydneyindiefilmfestival.com/festival/sydney-indie-2017-its-a-wrap/ |archive-date=29 January 2022 }}</ref> At the age of 14 Leon promoted good reading for children and asked a local book store if he could organise events on their premises.<ref name="Hathorn"/>{{rp|31}} Between 2005 and 2008, he organised visits by Australian children's authors to that book store. He met [[Libby Hathorn]] through these events, and later illustrated her book ''Vietnam Reflections'' (2010).<ref name="Hathorn">{{Citation | author1=Hathorn, Libby |author-link1=Libby Hathorn | author2=Coward, Leon | title=Vietnam Reflections | year=2010 | publisher=Pax Press | isbn=978-0-646-51493-2 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bookdepository.com/Vietnam-Reflections-Libby-Hathorn/9780646514932 |title=''Vietnam Reflections'' : Libby Hathorn : 9780646514932 |website=Book Depository |access-date=29 January 2022 |archive-date=29 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129041843/https://www.bookdepository.com/Vietnam-Reflections-Libby-Hathorn/9780646514932 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was a presentation gift to the [[Australian War Memorial]] and won the 2010 Poetry Prize at the Inaugural Woollahra Library Word Festival.<ref>{{cite web | title=Awards Listings |website=Libby Hathorn: Author & Poet | url=http://libbyhathorn.com/libby-hathorn-biography/awards-listings/ |access-date=30 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017234645/http://libbyhathorn.com/libby-hathorn-biography/awards-listings/ |archive-date=17 October 2016 }}</ref>

== Formation ==

Academica of the Antipodes were founded by the Coward siblings with fellow musicologists and multi-instrumentalists in 2014 in Sydney.<ref name="acmf.com.au">{{cite web | title=Camerata Academica of the Antipodes and the ACMF |publisher=Australian Children's Music Foundation (ACMF) | url=http://acmf.com.au/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-and-the-acmf/ |date=11 March 2015 |access-date=30 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307185751/http://acmf.com.au/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-and-the-acmf/ |archive-date=7 March 2016 }}</ref> Imogen is the director of the orchestra and has focussed on violin, viola, cello and vocals, Taliésin mainly delivers violin, vocals and guitar, while Leon provides violin, viola, piano and baritone bass vocals.<ref name="Masson"/> Their first performance was on 31 August 2014 at St. Alban's Church Hall, [[Epping, New South Wales|Epping]].<ref name="BSECS Sept 2014"/><ref>{{cite news | title=Greek-Australian musicians supporting charities |newspaper=The Greek Australian Vema Monthly National Bi-lingual Newspaper | publisher=St Andrew's Orthodox Press |date=August 2014| page=18}}</ref> The concert raised funds for Australian [[Children's music|Children's Music]] Foundation (see [[Don Spencer#Children's entertainment|Don Spencer]]) and Brissenden Foundation.<ref name="BSECS Sept 2014"/> Internationally the ensemble established their "distinctly recognisable culture and ethos" of the "performer as co-creator."<ref name="BSECS Sept 2015">{{cite web | last = Harries | first = Timothy | title = Camerata Academica of the Antipodes, August 2015 | website = Criticks | publisher = British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies | url = https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-august-2015// | date = 14 September 2015 | accessdate = 20 February 2018 | archive-date = 21 February 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180221035521/https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-august-2015/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Compositions==

Coward first premiered selections from his music for ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]'' at the [[Tate Liverpool]]'s major exhibition ''Alice in Wonderland'' (November 2011 - January 2012) which celebrated the 150th anniversary of Carroll's book,<ref>{{cite conference | title = The Endurance of Wonderland | date = 19 November 2011 | conference = "Alice in Wonderland" Postgraduate Symposium| location = Tate Liverpool, United Kingdom }}</ref> and later premiered "Beautiful Soup" in Sydney,<ref>{{cite web | last1 = Vergison | first1 = J | last2 = Black | first2 = A | title = Camerata Academica of the Antipodes: Corelli, Purcell, Mozart and Vivaldi | website = Criticks | publisher = British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies | url = https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-corelli-purcell-mozart-and-vivaldi// | date = 25 January 2016 | accessdate = 20 February 2018 | archive-date = 20 February 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180220212442/https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-corelli-purcell-mozart-and-vivaldi/ | url-status = live }}</ref> which scholar Timothy Harries described as "logical, as though it was 'always meant to exist'."<ref name="BSECS Jan 2015"/>

Coward has written music for piano, strings, and voice, and performs his own piano works. His compositions have been positively received by Australian and international audiences, and regularly critiqued in the British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies publication ''Criticks''. Esther Lie described his work as "full of new invention," leading audiences "into a world full of colour."<ref name="BSECS Jun 2016">{{cite web | last=Li | first=Esther | title=Camerata Academica of the Antipodes: Corelli, Vivaldi, Telemann and Wieniawski’s ''Legende'' | website=Criticks | publisher=British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies | url=https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-corelli-vivaldi-telemann-and-wieniawskis-legende// | date=27 June 2016 | accessdate=20 February 2018 | archive-date=21 February 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221035436/https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-corelli-vivaldi-telemann-and-wieniawskis-legende/ | url-status=live }}</ref> His compositional style has been frequently described as "Chopin-esque,"<ref name="BSECS Sept 2014"/><ref name="BSECS Sept 2015"/><ref name="BSECS Jan 2015">{{cite web | last = Harries | first = Timothy | title = Camerata Academica of the Antipodes concert: Corelli, Purcell, Bach, Nachez, Gilbert and Sullivan | website = Criticks | publisher = British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies | url = https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-concert-corelli-purcell-bach-nachez-gilbert-and-sullivan// | date = 21 January 2015 | accessdate = 20 February 2018 | archive-date = 19 February 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180219152509/https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-concert-corelli-purcell-bach-nachez-gilbert-and-sullivan/ | url-status = live }}</ref> "Neo-Romantic",<ref name="BSECS Sept 2014"/> and exhibiting "a love of nineteenth-century music."<ref name="BSECS Jun 2015">{{cite web | last = Vergison | first = Jenny | title = Camerata Academica of the Antipodes concert: Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann, G&S | website = Criticks | publisher = British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies | url = https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-concert-handel-vivaldi-telemann-gs// | date = 16 June 2015 | accessdate = 20 February 2018 | archive-date = 21 February 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180221035509/https://www.bsecs.org.uk/criticks-reviews/camerata-academica-of-the-antipodes-concert-handel-vivaldi-telemann-gs/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Coward frequently engages audiences' imaginations before performing, such as describing ballet sequences for '"Two Kings" suite and "Imaginary Pas De Deux".<ref name="BSECS Sept 2015"/><ref name="BSECS Jun 2015"/>

===Original works===

* "Beautiful Soup" (lyrics from ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]'' by [[Lewis Carroll]]) - Piano & String Orchestra (2014), later re-arranged with Vocal Ensemble (2017) * "Sans Souci" - Piano (2017) * "Melody" - Piano & String Orchestra (2016) * "Lament" - Piano (2015) * "Imaginary Pas de Deux" - Piano (2015) * "Trio" - 2 Violins & Piano (2013) * "Consolation" - Piano (2013) * "Nocturne" - Piano (2013) * "The Embrace" - Piano (2012)

===Arrangements=== * [[Giuseppe Cenci]]. "[[La Mantovana]]" arranged for String Orchestra (2017) * [[Arthur Sullivan]]. "Glee" from ''[[The Mikado]]'' arranged for String Orchestra (2014) * [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]]. "Lacrimosa" from [[Requiem (Mozart)|''Requiem in D minor'', K.626]] arranged for Solo Piano (2013)

===Film scores=== * ''[[2BR02B: To Be or Naught To Be]]'' (2016)

==Books== * ''Vietnam Reflections'' written by Libby Hathorn, illustrated by Leon Coward (Sydney: Pax Press, 2010)

==Awards== Sydney Indie Film Festival (Sydney, Australia) * (2016) Won—Best Sci-Fi Short / ''[[2BR02B: To Be or Naught To Be]]''

WILDsound Fest (Toronto, Canada) * (2017) Won—Best Film / ''[[2BR02B: To Be or Naught To Be]]''

KaPow Intergalactic Film Festival (California, USA) * (2016) Won—Best Sci-Fi Short / ''[[2BR02B: To Be or Naught To Be]]''

The Montreal International Wreath Awards Film Festival (Montreal, Canada) * (2016) Nominated—Best Picture / ''[[2BR02B: To Be or Naught To Be]]''

[[Octocon#Golden Blasters|The Golden Blasters Science Fiction Short Film Awards (The National Irish Science Fiction Film Festival)]] (Dublin, Ireland) * (2016) Nominated—Best Film / ''[[2BR02B: To Be or Naught To Be]]''

Fantastic Planet Film Festival (Sydney Australia) * (2016) Nominated—Best Film / ''[[2BR02B: To Be or Naught To Be]]''

[[Miami Short Film Festival]] (Miami, USA) * (2016) Semi-Finalist / ''[[2BR02B: To Be or Naught To Be]]''

Best Short Fest (San Diego, USA) * (2016) Semi-Finalist / ''[[2BR02B: To Be or Naught To Be]]''

== References ==

==External links== * {{Official website|camerataantipodes.com.au/}}

[[Category:Baroque music groups]] [[Category:Australian classical music groups]]