On a golden autumn afternoon at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Box Hill, the 2025 Leslie Barklamb Showcase Concert celebrated emerging flute talent with flair and finesse. This annual event featured last year’s scholarship winners performing the set pieces for the upcoming competition.
The perfomances included Daniel Yu’s spirited take on La Carnaval de Venise, Elizabeth Ungvari’s confident reading of Taktakishvili’s Sonata in C, and Ingrid Liang’s expressive Tango No. 3 by Piazzolla. Terrence Cheng delivered a dazzling interpretation of Liebermann’s Sonata Op. 23, drawing cheers from the audience, while Edward Merlino closed the solo program with a lyrical, expressive performance of Mel Bonis’s Sonata in C# Minor.
The Victorian Flute Ensemble, directed by Carolyn Grace, performed engaging renditions of Libertango and Steel City, before inviting all flautists in the audience to join in the traditional massed ensemble. A standout moment was the gorgeous arrangement of Joe Hisaishi’s Rain, which shimmered in the church’s resonant acoustics. The concert concluded with Johann Strauss’ Pizzicato Polka, delivered with crisp articulation and cheerful energy.
The Showcase Concert presented a beautiful afternoon of music, highlighting the depth of young talent in Victoria’s flute community.