Lady Southey and St John’s Toorak invite you to a soiree & cocktail party at the beautiful heritage listed ‘Cranlana,’ 62 Clendon Road, Toorak

Tuesday, 14 June, 6.00pm until 9.00pm

Canapes and beverages will be served, and guests will be entertained by two fine singers and accompanist, whose biographies are included with this invitation. Net proceeds from the evening will be directed towards St. John’s music programme.

Numbers are limited to ninety guests, so those wishing to attend should reply promptly to St. John’s Church Office along with payment, as payment will not be accepted at Cranlana. Parking is along Clendon Road. Credit card payment is acceptable – M/C and Visa

Cost $65 per person. RSVP Friday, 3 June 2016. Dress: Cocktail attire Please send payment with acceptance slip to St John’s Church, 86 Clendon Road Toorak 3142 [email protected] Ph 9826 1765

I/we will be able to attend the cocktail party at ‘Cranlana’ 62 Clendon Road Toorak, on Tuesday 14 June 2016, from 6.00pm to 9.00pm

Name/s ………………………………………………………………

Amount enclosed…………………………Cheque/cash enclosed

Credit card details …………………………………………………. Expiry ……………

Or you may credit St John’s general account at Westpac 033-086 871931 – ‘Cocktail Party’

Biographies of musicians

Alan Cook, Conductor

Alan Cook was born in and began musical studies at the organ. He spent a number of years as organist, choirmaster, and piano teacher in Melbourne, followed by a post-graduate diploma in at the Victorian College of the Arts as a repetiteur and conductor. In 2004, he won the Ian Potter Trust Scholarship and a grant from Acclaim Awards to further his studies in Italy, he studied conducting with Mº Bruno Aprea of the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome, attended international masterclasses, and conducted Italian opera masterpieces such as Aïda, Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci and L’Elisir d’Amore in Italy and accompanied a recital at the Puccini Festival, at the home of Giacomo Puccini. Upon moving to Barcelona, Alan worked as accompanist and coach, including with soloists of the Gran Teatre del Liceu. Alan also conducted various orchestras in Ukraine and Russia. He conducted the Kharkov SO, and was Principal Guest conductor of the Poltava SO, Ukraine, and of the Murmansk Philharmonic Orchestra, Russia. Recent programmes include Shostakovich, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and Dvorak. In 2014, Alan returned to Australia to take up the position of General Manager and Assistant Artistic Director of More Than Opera and in 2016, is directing the Melbourne Chamber Choir. Current projects include assistant music director for CitiOpera on Ariadne auf Naxos (Strauss), Tchaikovsky 9 Sacred Pieces with the Melbourne Chamber Choir and a programme with orchestra of Spanish art songs with Spanish soprano, Patricia Caicedo.

Rebecca Rashleigh

Born in Melbourne, Australia. Rebecca studied her Bachelor of Music Performance at the Victorian College of the Arts and Music, (2009). Rebecca has performed such roles as: Blonde: The Abduction from the Seraglio (2016), Gretel: Hansel and Gretel (2015), Lauretta: Gianni Schicchi (2015), Micaela: Carmen (2014), Wendy: Contact!: A Netball Drama (2011 & 2012), Frasquita: Carmen (2009), Belinda: Dido and Aenaes (2009) Papagena: Die Zauberflöte (2008) and Suor Genovieffa: (2007). She has also performed with Opera Australia, Victorian Opera, Melbourne Opera and Lyric Opera. Rebecca has also won a number of awards and last year was rewarded Opera Scholars Australia's Opera Scholar of the Year. This Year, Rebecca is excited to be performing the roles of Sofia in Lyric Opera's il Signore Bruschino and Pamina in The Australian International Opera Company's China tour of Die Zauberflöte.

Stephanie John

Having only just graduated from a full-time Music Theatre course in 2015, Stephanie has been busy, playing Mary Poppins in the much loved musical adaptation Mary Poppins (Babirra Theatre). Previous theatre highlights include Merrily We Roll Along, (directed by Pip Mushin) where she played another Mary, and was nominated for Best Female Actor at the Victorian Guild Theatre Awards. Other roles include Liliane La Fleur in Nine, for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. She has performed in a workshop for the Victorian Opera; as a soloist for the MTO; and in the Award-winning Melbourne Fringe show 1938: An Opera. Stephanie is also currently part of a 1950’s tribute show called At The Hop, which tours around Melbourne.