Tribute unveiled at World Theatre - FULL ARTICLE
Excerpt from Sumpton’s Gold Rush Gazette - Friday 2nd of August 2024
Norma Ross and musician Lloyd Van't Hoff at the Lloyd Van't Hoff tribute unveiling held at the Charters Towers World Theatre
On Wednesday July 24, local community group Friends of the World Theatre held the unveiling of a print tribute in honour of local musician Lloyd Van't Hoff. Lloyd Van't Hoff began his music journey in Charters Towers and now works and travels internationally as a clarinettists, chamber musician, collaborator & educator.
The tribute was unveiled during his visit to Charters Towers with the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. He was also reunited with Mrs Meg MacKenzie, one of Lloyd's music teachers when he was learning music in Charters Towers as a young student.
The written tribute to Lloyd Van't Hoff that was unveiled and is currently showcased at the World Theatre can be read here.
Tribute showcased at the Charters Towers World Theatre
Friends of the world theatre
Norma Ross
Lloyd considers himself lucky to have been part of a community that loved music, and remembers the beautiful, terrifying, exhilarating experience of playing his first public concert on the stage of the World Theatre. He was eleven and it was the Eisteddfod! Lloyd credits his two music teachers in Charters Towers, Claire Petherick and Megaera MacKenzie, as his earliest musical inspirations. “Without them, I would not be where I am today.”
Lloyd was born in Darwin and began his musical journey at Millchester State School and Charters Towers State High School. He then moved to Brisbane to complete high school, after which he began an undergraduate study at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, studying under the tutelage of Paul Dean & Floyd Williams. He furthered his studies at the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne before commencing a Masters of
Music Degree at the prestigious Yale School of Music.
Lloyd enjoys a career as one of Australia’s most vibrant clarinettists, chamber musicians, collaborators & educators. He came to prominence as the winner of the Grand Prize and Sir Charles Moses Trophy, along with the Triffitt Prize in the 2015 Symphony Australia ABC Young Performers Awards. He made his concerto debut in 2014, performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with Orchestra Victoria and has since featured as a concerto soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. A regular performer at chamber music festivals in Australia and around the world, Lloyd has appeared as a chamber musician at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Musica Viva Festival and the Huntington Estate Music Festival in Australia; Norfolk Chamber Music Festival in the USA; the International Festival of Modern Music in Beijing; the Menuhin Festival in Switzerland; the young Euro Classic in Germany, the Grafenegg Summer Music Festival in Austria and the Banff Centre in Canada.
In 2015, the Arcadia Winds Quintet, of which Lloyd is a founding member, was announced as Musica Viva Australia’s inaugural FutureMakers, performing at major chamber music festivals all around Australia, touring mainland China and making an appearance at the BBC Proms Australia Chamber Music Series. This ensemble has demonstrated a commitment to fostering new music by Australian composers.
Taking time out from the glittering lights of the world stages, Lloyd is a regular visitor to Charters Towers. The Australian Festival of Chamber Music comes to Townsville every year. The festival includes an outreach program which provides opportunities for an emerging ensemble to perform in theatres throughout the region. As Director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music’s Winterschool Outreach Program, Lloyd accompanies a quartet of musicians to the World Theatre each year. It is not only theatres and festivals that benefit from Lloyd’s musical talent. He is committed to touring schools across Australia to engage students in workshops as well. “To share my love of music to the younger generation is important to me. It is me going full circle”, he said.
“We are so privileged that Lloyd returns to his former home to impart his experiences and help inspire and grow our next generations of musicians”. (Megaera MacKenzie).
Limelight Magazine has lauded Lloyd for his life affirming music-making.
Claire Petherick: “Lloyd is a remarkable person. He is always humble and appreciative, a hard-worker who is community minded and ready to give back.”
What does Lloyd say about the many accolades he is given…
spectacular brilliance, charisma and sensitivity?
“I’m grateful for all the adventures that my freelance career has taken me on so far. I’d love to keep learning, exploring and living my life through this portfolio career, all whilst sharing my musicmaking with audiences all around the world.”
Perhaps Lloyd’s own approach to music and life can be called the Vegemite Philosophy! “Finding the right butter to Vegemite ratio on toast is essential for growing a healthy love for the condiment!”
Lloyd began learning music and became a musician in a remote place called Charters Towers: (Yale University School of Music 2021).