FREDERICK SHADE

He was appointed as Principal Piccolo in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 1977 and has also acted for extensive periods in the First Flute chair. He is also a Tutor at the Faculty of Music, University of Melbourne. In addition to his performing work he is an active teacher and examiner. He has been a member of various boards and committees dedicated to raising the standards of teaching and performance in Australia, and in syllabus development at all levels. He was national President of the Australian Flute Association from 1986 to 1988.

Frederick Shade has commissioned numerous works from Australian composers for the flute, piccolo and for wind quintet, including two concertos for piccolo and orchestra, both of which have received critical acclaim. He has edited several volumes for Allans Publishing including Ernesto Koehler's Flute Studies Opus 33 and Mozart Flute Sonatas No.4 in F (K.13) & No.5 (K.14). His most recent publication, 40 For Flute (1997), is an album of graded unaccompanied flute solos from beginner to professional level. All three publications are being used on the AMEB syllabus. His CD "The Magic Flute of Frederick Shade" (Screenthemes ST 5004) contains a selection of works recorded in recital.

He was invited to perform and participate at the National Flute Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, in August 1998. He performed the piccolo concerto he commissioned from the Australian composer Michael Easton.

Retirement from the MSO

Final Concert, Friday, 20th December, 2002. From the program:

I have spent twenty eight years performing with the MSO, and it has been an exciting time. There have been so many highlights that it is hard to chose some. Those that come immediately to mind are the tours to Japan with Maestro Iwaki, the Elton John Tour, and the recent tours to Europe and China with Markus Stenz. And I musn't forget our performances in the presence of great composers such as Aaron Copland and Olivier Messiaen, as well as first performances of Australian works. A definite highlight with the orchestra was giving the premiere performances of piccolo concertos written by Barry McKimm and Michael Easton. A crucial part in all of these experiences is having an appreciative audience, and this the orchestra has had throughout the years.

I have also had the good fortune of playing with a fantastic flute section; the way we have worked together professionally and personally has made my life in the orchestra something truly special. The orchestra is going from strength to strength and the new players being appointed will take the orchestra to even greater heights. I've had a wonderful time. I'm going to do more teaching and, hopefully, performing as a soloist. I also look forward to spending more evenings and weekends with the family!

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Orchestral profile

Frederick Shade has been working in the Piccolo chair of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for 25 years. After working casually with the orchestra for three years, he was appointed in 1977. He also commenced tutoring at the University of Melbourne and the Victorian College of the Arts about the same time.

He has been instrumental in setting up tributes to his late teacher, Mr Leslie Barklamb, a former second flute with the orchestra. There is a practise studio at the Southbank Centre, the home of the MSO, named after him, the Australian Music Examinations Board of Victoria present a flute award in his name, and his CD "The Magic Flute of Frederick Shade" is also dedicated to his teacher.

Fred enjoys "working as a member of a team in a world-class orchestra", particularly those moments of glory of a piccolo solo. A few composers who come readily to his mind as writing well for the little instrument include Rossini (his overtures), Berlioz (Symphony Fantastique), Mahler and Shostakovich, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikowsky and Shostakovich. They all have spectacular piccolo parts.

His most profound musical experiences with the MSO are many and varied. They include the performance of Stravinsksy's three ballets at which their Chief Conductor Hiroyuki Iwaki conducted the entire program from memory; performances with Charles Mackerras (1984 - Tristan and Isolde); Aaron Copland in the 1970s; Olivier Messiaen in 1988; performing Barry McKimm's Piccolo Concerto in the Myer Music Bowl in 1990 in the presence of 18,000 people; and more recently performing Mahler No. 8 ("Symphony of a thousand") in the Royal Exhibition Building as part of the Centenary of Federation celebrations (May 2001) with their Chief Conductor Markus Stenz. (This historic occasion reminded him that some of his forbears, the Little family of Ballarat, who were all musicians, performed in the same building at the turn of the century.)

Other highlights include the orchestra's overseas tours - Japan and Korea in the 1980s and 1990s with Iwaki, and the European Tour (the orchestra's first) in 1999 with Stenz. Touring Australia with Elton John, John Farnham and Frank Sinatra were also memorable.

Fred Shade enjoys working in the orchestra because "my colleagues are great to work with - the woodwind section is second to none, it is supportive and encouraging. The very high standard of musical and technical excellence in this section is a great incentive. It is a daily challenge to maintain one's level of experience and performance, to be at one's best at every performance; but I love the challenge."