SALLY WALKER | BREATHTAKING MASTER

A hotbed of talented artists, University of Newcastle (UoN) draws to our city internationally acclaimed artists such as flautist Sally Walker to the School of Creative Arts. Hailed as “a young master of both the early wooden as well as the silver flute…atmospheric, fine musicianship” (Hamburger Rundeschau), Sally was Grand-finalist in the Leonardo de Lorenzo International Flute Competition (Italy), won 2nd Prize in the Friedrich Kuhlau International Flute Competition (Germany) and was awarded prizes from the DAAD, Ian Potter Cultural Fund and the Queen's Trust. After living in Germany, Walker decided to make Newcastle her home and dedicate her international experience to UoN. “Newcastle is thriving artistically. There is a plethora of activity and I cannot keep up, as much as I like to support all creative activities... I think that enlightened initiatives such as Renew Newcastle and Newcastle NOW provide fantastic opportunities for performing artists and I have watched the number of artisan markets increase greatly in the last five years. Our students and staff (at UoN) are often performing in these initiatives. I didn’t have so much exposure when I was studying in a large metropolitan city. Jazz at the Grand, Classics on the Boardwalk, This is Not Art Festival, Newcastle Youth Orchestra, Orchestra Newcastle and the list goes on. Since I have been here, I have collaborated with photographers, writers, wine-makers (of course musicians too) and venues as diverse as the Newcastle Conservatorium Concert Hall to Inner City Winemakers.” say Sally Since she has been at the University of Newcastle, her community engagement has seen initiatives come to light such as; “From Vienna to the Hunter” where star flautist Walter Auer (Principal Flute of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) featured as guest and attracted a number of interstate flautists. She has also organised Community Flute Days along with members of the Newcastle Flute Society with guest international features. Check out Sally's coming US tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra at www.aco.com.au

Photos by Miranda Lawry (Head of Photomedia at the University of Newcastle School of Creative Arts)