 Profile
Sextessence was formed in 2005 by Roger Young with the idea of combining a range of of musical styles into one show. Being based around a string quartet with vocalist and percussion, Sextessence performs works by Piazzolla, Stephane Grappelli, Robbie Lakatos, as well as Jazz standards and Cabaret songs. As an arranger and composer, Roger uses Sextessence as a vehicle for showcasing the talents of its members. All of whom are able to turn their hands to any style of music he puts in front of them. Jazz, funk, rock, Tango's, Originals, you name it. Having just sold out two shows at Queens College, Melbourne University, Sextessence is now working on their debut CD which will include Cabaret and jazz originals (composed by Roger Young and Craig Young) as well as fresh takes on popular favourites.
Roger Young - Violin
Roger began his studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music where he won numerous prizes including the 4MBS Chamber music Award and the Ronald C Davis Violin Compeptition for Financially Disadvantaged Male Violinists. (what male student couldn't do with a bit more beer money). He then went on to study at The Royal Academy of Music, London, where he manged to combine his classical studies with jazz before returning to Brisbane to join the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra. He has since performed with Kiss, Diesel, John Farnham, Ben Folds and recently joined Nigel Kennedy on stage during his "Four Seasons" tour to jam through Jimmy Hendrix's "Purple Haze". He is currently a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Sarah Curro - Violin
Sarah Curro graduated in1994 from the Queensland, where she was the winner of the Conservatorium Medal for Excellence. She subsequently studied, and then taught at the Hong Kong Academy for performing Arts, and from 1999-2002 was a member of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. In Australia, she has performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and has been guest associate concertmaster for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria. Her interests have also seen her working alonside Hong Kongs top DJ's playing electric violin. Currently she is a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Jason Bunn - Viola
Jason Bunn has been active in the musical life of Melbourne for many years. He has played on recent recordings for Renee Geyer, the John Butler Trio and Dan Brody, written string charts for Motor Ace and Sub Audible Hum, and appeared on stage with Diesel in May at the Espy and Northcote Social Club. Jason can often be found on stage at the Stork Hotel in North Melbourne, with a variety of bands and singer/songwriters. He also works regularly with singer Ali McGregor in "Opera Burlesque", a cabaret show which performed in the Speigeltent in Melbourne and Adelaide in 2005/06. He also performs with Andrea Keeble (Stroll, Cosmo Cosmolino) and Helen Mountford (My friend the Chocolate Cake, Not Drowning Waving) in a project called the Ad Hoc String Collective, dedicated to performing string works by local Melbourne artists.
Rohan de Korte
Born in Melbourne, Rohan began playing the cello and basketball at the age of 5. In 1994 he went to war torn Croatia to study with Prof. Valter Despalj and 1995 moved to Germany where in 2000 he completed his Artistic Diploma in Cello performance with Distinction from the Cologne Hochshule fur Musik. Rohan has won many major prizes such as the 3MBS FM performer of the year and the Riverina Summer School for Strings National Cello Competition. He now works as Assistant Principal Cellist with Opera Victoria and as a Principal Cello teacher at the Australian National Academy of Music.
Evan Pritchard - Drums/Percussion
Equally at home behind a drum-kit or in the percussion section of an orchestra, Evan’s unique versatility and musical awareness lends itself beautifully to the dynamic arrangements of Sextessence. Whether it’s bongo lessons in Cuba, timpani study in Germany or drum-kit in his home town of Melbourne, Evan has travelled the world in pursuit of percussion Nirvana. From humble beginnings drumming in a bush band, to performing with some of the world’s great orchestras and soloists, his career has witnessed many musical highlights, without a doubt the pinnacle being playing the triangle on tour in the US and Europe with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
Repertoire List
- Tea for two
- You are the sunshine of my life
- Mr Grappelli
- Minor Swing
- The name of life
- Jaco
- Purple Haze
- Hysteria
- Quiet now
- Sting
- Take five
- Milonga del angel
- Verano Porteno
- Moon pie
- Mack the knife
- Chrysanthemum
- Blame it on the boogie
- Schindlers Liste
- Gatemouth Blues
- Bus Ride To Geelong With A Stopover In Brazil
- Fiddler's groove
- A Night In Tunisia
- Crawl We Must
- Merchants Groove
- Maria, Maria
- When I fall in love
- ( Vocal )
- What a wonderful world
- Moon over Bourbon St
- Funny Valentine
- Let's make salad
- Libertango
- Don't change a hair for me
- Fly me to the moon
- Kissing a fool
- Stitched up
- Let there be love
- Spinning wheel
- Sweet georgia brown
- My Yard
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