Friends of the APO Inc - Meet The Artist

The morning will commence with a programme of music from Steve Logan APO timpanist.
A dynamic performer with a diverse musical background, Steve was appointed Principal Timpanist of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in 2016. In addition to his performing at the APO, Steve is a member of the Antipodes Percussion Project. He has spent two seasons as principal timpanist of the Santa Monica Symphony, and has played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on both timpani and percussion.

He has performed with many other professional orchestras including the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Fresno Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, the Mansfield Symphony, the Youngstown Symphony, and The Debut Orchestra, to name a few. In addition, he served as Principal Timpanist of the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, CO for the 2015 season. He can be heard on the soundtracks of several commercials, television shows, and feature films, including The Red Cape and The Fifth Horseman, both recorded at the Clint Eastwood Scoring Stage at Warner Brothers Studios in Los Angeles. Solo appearances include performances with the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra and the Ryle Wind Symphony at the Kentucky Music Educator’s Association Conference.

Steve received a Master’s Degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University where he was a student of Matthew Strauss. He also received a Master of Music Performance Degree and an Artist Diploma from the University of Southern California, where he studied with Joe Pereira, Principal Timpanist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Jim Babor, Percussionist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University. He is an alumnus of the National Repertory Orchestra, Texas Music Festival, Aspen Summer Music Festival, American Youth Symphony, and the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp. Steve played for us and talked about his career at our July MTA in 2017. A lot has happened in four years and he has a great video on the APO website at https://www.apo.co.nz/about/meet-the-orchestra/steven-logan-section-principal-timpani/

The music will be followed by an interview with Benjamin Morrison, soloist in Korngold’s Violin Concerto in the Bayleys Great Classics: On the Danube concert on Thursday 8 July.
Benjamin Morrison was born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1986 and moved to Austria in 2007. Morrison is a first violin member of the Vienna Philharmonic in Vienna and a member of the Vienna State Opera. He began his studies with Professor Stephen Larsen, winning local and national competitions such as the New Zealand Chamber Music Competition in 2003 and the National Concerto Competition in 2004. In 2006 Morrison moved to Wellington to study with the New Zealand Symphony's Concertmaster, Vesa Matti-Leppänen, gaining orchestral experience in The New Zealand Symphony as well holding the position of The National Youth Orchestra's Concertmaster.
In 2007 Morrison moved to Graz, Austria to continue his studies in violin performance with Professor Yair Kless and Chamber music with Professor Stefan Goerner at the Music University of Graz. In Austria Benjamin has built a career as a soloist and chamber musician, as well as leading many Chamber and Orchestral ensembles. He has been a Prize winner in Austrian National Competitions such as "Martha Debelli" and "Gradus ad Pernasum" as well as being a prize winner in international competitions such as The Michael Hill International Violin Competition (2011) and the International Brahms Competition (2013).

Benjamin has two instruments as his main performing instruments, one made by his father, David Morrison in 2006 and a Gagliano made in 1770. Born in Christchurch in 1986, Benjamin is the sole Kiwi member of the Vienna Philharmonic.

There will be a light lunch to end the morning.