Our second episode of the season will feature performances from baritone Saxon O’Donnell and pianist Kane Chang. They will perform programmes including music from Schubert and Chopin, Vaughan Williams and Weissenberg before they each receive on air feedback from mentors Dean Sky Lucas and Nicholas Dinopoulos. Continue reading to learn more about Saxon and Kane.

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Baritone Saxon O’Donnell

Saxon commenced singing in an elementary school choir in USA and from then onwards loved to sing. On moving to Hobart he began classical singing lessons with Suzanne Ortuso.

At ten years of age Saxon won first prize in ‘Vocal Solo- 10 years & under ‘in the Hobart Clarence Eisteddfod competition. In 2019 he was awarded the ‘City of Clarence, The Mayors Encouragement Award’.

Saxon has been awarded distinctions in AMEB examinations (Australian Music Examination Board) and was the recipient of the AMEB McCann’s Music Award for the most promising candidate in Southern Tasmania, 2019

In 2021 Saxon was featured in an article in the Tasmanian Mercury newspaper entitled ‘Stage set for a bright future’. In this extensive article he was interviewed about his developing career by Journalist Linda Smith.

In 2021, Saxon received 1st place in 15&16 years vocal performance solo and art song at the Hobart Eisteddfod and in the same year he received a highly commended at the Sydney Eisteddfod.

Saxon is a ‘Bel Canto Young Opera’ soloist and appears regularly in recitals and concerts.

Early in 2022 Saxon was awarded a scholarship to sing in the St David’s Cathedral Choir in Hobart directed by Thomas Rimes. Saxon performs weekly with the choir and as a Bass soloist at times.

On 25th April this year Saxon sang at the 2022 ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Hobart Cenotaph.

On 3rd August Saxon sang live on ABC Hobart radio ‘Evenings with Christopher Lawrence’ program.

Saxon is to be featured in an August edition of the Hobart Mercury newspaper about his developing voice.

Saxon will perform:

• R.Vaughan Williams: The Vagabond
• F.Schubert: An die Musik
• P.Tosti: La Serenata
• K.Moss: The Floral Dance

With associate artist William Schmidt

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Pianist Kane Chang

Since he gave his first recital in the age of 13, Kane Chang decided to make music his lifelong career. In 2009, he moved to Melbourne from China and continued to learn piano with Glenn Riddle. In 2019, Kane completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours at the University of Melbourne, and in 2021, commenced training at the Australian National Academy of Music with Timothy Young.

As a performer, Kane has performed for radio and online broadcasts across Australia, China, and Hong Kong. The highlight of his early career was performing Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto with the New Goldberg Orchestra in 2016. He has also performed in masterclasses with reknowned pianists including Dan Shaoyi, Daniel Herscovitch, Alexandre Dossin, Julie Haskell, and Konstantin Shamray.

Kane will perform:

• C.Trenet (arr.A.Weissenberg): En avril à Paris
• F.Chopin: Piano Sonata Op.58, mvt. I: Allegro Maestoso

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