My first performances for 2025 are at the Sydney Festival with Bach Akademie Australia from 9-11 January. It’s one of my favourite times to be in Sydney - and in the height of what is usually a very warm summer I like to escape into the cool of the concert hall or theatre when I can!

The two performances are at Walsh Bay (The Nielsen, Pier 2/3 home of the ACO) and form part of a myriad of events being held at ‘The Wharf’ as part of the Festival.

From the Sydney Festival website

When Galileo’s father, Vincenzo, was composing in the 16th century, the heavens were thought to have their own music, audible to the soul. Even today, the ‘heavenly dance’ of the stars and planets evokes a sense of inevitable destiny, elegant precision and timeless mystery. Those same qualities can be heard in the intricate creations of Johann Sebastian Bach, and it’s one of the reasons his music continues to resonate. 

The music of Bach – perfect and universal – is the connecting thread in a compelling program that looks to the heavens for inspiration. Voices and instruments will dance and resound in music from the high Renaissance to our own time, from Europe to the Pacific and First Nations Australia – with the Morning Star as our guiding light.

It’s the kind of concert for which Madeleine Easton and the Bach Akademie Australia have become known: intellectually satisfying, emotionally rewarding and thrilling to the senses. 

PROGRAM

J.S. Bach Sinfonia and Chorus from ‘Himmelskönig, sei willkommen’ – Cantata, BWV 182 
Tomás Luis de Victoria O magnum mysterium 
J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue No.1 in C major from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2
Vincenzo Galilei Highlights from ‘The Well-Tempered Lute’, arr. for string quartet
J.S. Bach Highlights from the Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
James MacMillan O Radiant Dawn
Troy Russell Clans, arr. for solo violin
J.S. Bach Aria and Chorale from ‘Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern’ – Cantata, BWV 1 

I am over the moon to announce that I will be debuting with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for not one but two projects in their 2024 Season.

In August I will give the WORLD PREMIERE of Katy Abbott's new commission for the MSO 'Hidden Thoughts: Stories of Awe' – a 40-minute work for Orchestra, Soprano, Baritone and Narrator helmed by Maestro Benjamin Northey. You too can contribute to the work with your stories of awe via the MSO website below. To be part of such an important premiere in Hamer Hall really is a huge honour.

From the MSO Website

Friday 09 August 2024 - 7:30pm at Hamer Hall

Saturday 10 August 2024 - 7:30pm at Hamer Hall

Featuring

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Northey conductor
Sunny Kim vocalist
Andrew O'Connor bass-baritone
Pamela Rabe narrator

Program

Katy Abbott* Hidden Thoughts III: Stories of Awe**
Max Richter The Four Seasons Recomposed

*MSO Composer in Residence
**World premiere of an MSO Commission

About this performance

This dynamic program opens with the third piece in Katy Abbott's award-winning Hidden Thoughts series. Based on the stories of anonymous participants, this piece sets individual stories and the collective voice to music, capturing and delivering the very human experience of awe. The stories tell of unexpected encounters, of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, of being moved by music, art, nature, kindness and courage. Collective effervescence, spiritual awakenings, the delicacy and complexity of nature and the infinitesimal self within it.

If you’d like to contribute a story to Hidden Thoughts III, please complete a short anonymous survey at: bit.ly/stories-of-awe

Ground-breaking composer Max Richter’s minimalist-inspired music is equally at home in the concert hall as it is on screen, having featured in Arrival, and episodes of Black Mirrorand The Last of Us, among many others. His innovative fresh take on Vivaldi’s Four Seasonstopped the classical charts in 22 countries in 2012, and continues to awe devotees of the original and new fans alike.

Duration: approx. 2 hours including interval

From the Song Company Website:

Celebrating the wealth of Australian music commissioned and performed by The Song Company over its illustrious 40-year history.

14-30 June
Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra (more to come…)

Drawing inspiration from the iconic masterpiece by Peter Sculthorpe, The Stars Turn captures the essence of The Song Company's vibrant history, showcasing our rich tapestry of collaborations with some of the brightest stars of Australian music. From the mesmerising Elena Kats-Chernin to the intricate textures of Nigel Butterly and Katy Abbott, this program is a snapshot of The Song Company's musical milestones.

The Stars Turn also casts its gaze toward the future, with the next generation of composers whose talents light up the musical sky. Experience the innovative soundscapes of Alice Chance, Sonya Holowell and Chris Williams, and the debut of a mesmerising new work by Angus Davison.

Don't miss this extraordinary celebration of Australian musical creativity, past, present and future. Secure your tickets now and be part of this luminous constellation of sound.

I will be (re)joining The Song Company for three major projects in its 40th Anniversary Season in 2024 - and the first of these is Superbloom with guest director Jane Sheldon.

Touring from 1-10 March in Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Sydney, and to the Orange Chamber Music Festival.

From The Song Company Website:

"Superbloom" is the phenomenon in which the desert landscape receives an unusual season of rain such that the next spring brings forth carpets of rare displays of flowers. Immerse yourself in this magical and musical "Superbloom" - a program of rare works for unaccompanied voices that draws parallels between the stark beauty of the arid desert and the lush abundance brought by the wet season.

Acclaimed Australian-American soprano and composer Jane Sheldon makes her Guest Directorial debut with The Song Company. Her artistry has created a musical journey that connects historical compositional giants such as Hildegard von Bingen and Carlo Gesualdo with contemporary composers Rebecca Saunders, Chaya Czernowin and James Weeks. Plus, be among the first to experience a brand-new work composed by the talented Jane Sheldon herself.

The Song Company has been captivating audiences with adventurous programming for 40 years. Join Australia's world-class vocal ensemble for this unforgettable experience that celebrates both the resilience of the desert and the creativity of the human spirit.

Superbloom Tour Dates & Ticket Links

Newcastle
Fri 1 March, 6pm
Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, Newcastle

Wollongong
Sat 2 March, 3pm
St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Wollongong

Canberra
Sun 3 March, 3pm
Wesley Music Centre, Ainslie

Sydney
Thu 7 March, 7pm
Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House 
 
Orange
Sat 9 March, 11am
Orange Chamber Music Festival 
Holy Trinity Church, Orange

Chatswood
Sun 10 March, 3pm
Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Church, Chatswood

I’m delighted that my first engagement for 2024 is part of the Sydney Festival’s Temperament Series - a 5-day mini festival of J.S. Bach held at The Neilson, home of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

From the Sydney Festival website

TEMPERAMENT SERIES

JS Bach is a true avant-gardist. Temperament – a week-long celebration and deconstruction of Bach – pays homage to the revolutionary advances his music enabled and its influence on modern composers.

This series features an exceptional group of local and international artists and ensembles including Bach Akademie Australia, Korkmaz Can Sağlam, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Andrew Bukenya, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Benjamin Skepper and Ensemble Apex.

"Bach truly is the master of rhetoric and the Bach Akademie Australia the masters of persuasion and joy."

PROGRAM

Under violinist and founder Madeleine Easton, the ensemble's focus on mastery, authenticity and originality of interpretation makes it the ideal companion for the journey of Bach’s remarkable life, from beginning to end. Bach’s earliest cantata (his 'Actus Tragicus', circa 1708) is a perfect place to start, an introspective and innovative funeral cantata. In his splendid Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, written a decade later, we hear what is arguably the first ever keyboard concerto ever written. From Bach’s later life in Leipzig, comes his motet 'Lobet den Herrn’, one of his most joyful works, and his cantata 'Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats', a narrative of faith and hope in six captivating movements. Played in intimate, acoustically excellent surroundings, JS Bach: A Life in Music promises spiritual depth, instrumental brilliance and choral splendour.

TIMES

Tue 23rd Jan, 07:30pm

Wed 24th Jan, 02:00pm

TICKETS & INFO

Welcome to Baroquefest! Australia's boutique baroque music festival in the heart of central western New South Wales. 

We are proud to present Baroquefest 2023, celebrating the music of JS Bach with Bach Akademie Australia. Violinist and Director Madeleine Easton will lead you on a journey through the music of JS Bach from his first composition to his last; your Baroquefest will be rich in musical colour as you enjoy historic Canowindra, fine wine and cuisine!

“With thoughtful, well-researched performances and an elegantly constructed program, Easton and Bach Akademie Australia offered an opportunity to really dig down deep into Bach’s words and music – a profound and rewarding experience.” — Limelight Magazine

Bach Akademie Australia is dedicated to performing the works of J.S. Bach. It was established in late 2016 by Australian violinist Madeleine Easton who has recently returned after 19 years of living and working in Europe. Its aim is to enrich and enhance the musical life of Australia. The ensemble's focus on mastery of performance, authenticity and originality of interpretation brings the music of J.S. Bach to life. Bach Akademie Australia is also focused on forging close links with academic institutions around the country in order to establish educational and learning opportunities for young musicians.

I am delighted to be making the trip out to Baradine and Dubbo again this year (having missed the August camps being in the United States) for the always engaging, connecting, and grounding Moorambilla Voices Residency Camps and Gala Concerts.

In addition to the usual concerts there are also many open-air activities and cultural events as part of a mini festival just across the road from the theatre.

Taken from the Moorambilla Voices Website

Experience the fantastic choirs of Moorambilla Voices as they celebrate regional Australia and the youth that inhabits it in the iconic Moorambilla Gala Concert Series! Each year Dubbo Regional Theatre & Convention Centre will host four concerts. Each 80-minute concert will leave you mesmerised and uplifted. Feel firsthand the power of the Japanese Taiko Drums, listen to the beauty of the angelic voices of our regional choirs and MAXed OUT company as they join with senior choreographers, photographers, Taiko percussionists, a Chamber Orchestra and Visual Artists. Led by Founder and Artistic Director Michelle Leonard OAM, join them as they celebrate the inspiring beauty and capacity of the region.

(SOLD OUT) MOORAMBILLA VOICES RIVERSONG 2023: MARKS ON COUNTRY

DUBBO: 23 & 24 September 2023 at the Dubbo Regional Theatre & Convention Centre

Experience the Moorambilla Magic in this joyful celebration of Country, connection, contemporary art and choral music, choreography and installation visual art.
Celebrate the energy, tenacity and enormous capacity of our region’s children. 
Feel the power and energy of our magnificent rivers interpreted through Japanese Taiko Drums, dance, and the voices of our four regional youth choirs, all woven together with a word-class Chamber Orchestra.

The program was informed by the annual 2023 Artistic and Cultural Immersion Program, inspired by the stories, relationships and Country of the Gamilaroi,Yuwaalaraay and Yuwalayaay language groups of the Gomeroi Nation starting from the head of the Castlereagh River at the magnificent Warrumbungles connecting through to the wonders of the Narran Lakes.
  
Performed by four youth ensembles that represent 21 LGAs of North West NSW.

Following the concerts join us across the road at Victoria Park for spectacular FREE light and fire sculptures. 

MOORAMBILLA VOICES RIVERSONG 2023: FIRE! SAND! LIGHT!

In addition to our two sold-out performances of ‘Marks on Country’ at the Dubbo Regional Theatre, we are proud to share our FREE community ‘FIRE! SAND! LIGHT!’ festival which will take place over the weekend – Friday 22-24 September in Victoria Park – opposite the theatre. 

I am very excited to announce that I'll be travelling to San Francisco in August for the American Bach Soloists Academy. I'll be undertaking two weeks of intensive work with their faculty culminating in concert appearances – before a little working holiday zipping around the United States.

This was originally an opportunity I won in 2020 (we all know what happened that year) so it feels wonderful to finally be able to take it up three years later. It's been almost a decade since I was last in the U.S. so I'm very much looking forward to this unique professional development opportunity as well as catching up with some old friends!

Presented in association with Musica Viva Australia (NSW Touring) Vocal Detour are looking forward to taking For The Beauty of The Earth to Bellingen and Coffs Harbour as part of the Muse Festival.

https://www.bellingenmuse.com.au/event/vocal-detour/

CONCERT DETAILS HERE

In a time where our travel options are somewhat restricted, many of us have turned to reconnecting with nature and a more ‘close to home’ getaway. In this performance, Vocal Detour will take you on a journey to different countries and different times, in a celebration of plants and animals, the various seasons, and the natural beauty that surrounds us.

From 16th Century Paris to spring in Italy, European winters to Australian summers, music by Renaissance masters Lassus and Schütz are complimented by Australian works from Kevin Barker, Martin Wesley – Smith, Gordon Hamilton and Brooke Shelley.

A program as varied in style as in genre, the sumptuous harmonies and complexity of 5 part madrigals are juxtaposed with smooth jazz harmonies and will leave you uplifted and connected with nature.

Biography
Anna Fraser, Soprano, Hannah Fraser, Mezzo-soprano, Andrei Laptev, Tenor, Mark Donnelly, Baritone, Andrew O’Connor, Bass-baritone

Vocal Detour is a newly formed Australian vocal ensemble dedicated to engaging and educating its audience in the world of a cappella music. Its members are amongst the most accomplished ensemble singers in Australia and are well versed in a wide variety of styles and genres. In addition to concert, festival, and recording projects, Vocal Detour is also highly committed to nurturing and enriching the choral landscape at both a school and community level via its highly adaptable Education Program.

MOORAMBILLA RIVERSONG22:

Moorambilla Voices 17th Annual Gala Concert 6:30 pm Friday 16th and Saturday 17th of September under the stars at the magnificent Lazy River Estate, Dubbo. 

Experience firsthand the joy, power and connection to Country made famous in the Netflix documentary WIDE OPEN SKY by the children’s choir Moorambilla Voices.

Hear the children collectively lift your heart and spirit in song as they sing about our shared connection to Country and our magnificent river systems. Feel first-hand the power of the Japanese Taiko Drums as they thunder into the night sky, witness spectacular fire sculptures, glorious large lantern sculptures and children dancing with joy on a truly magnificent stage with stunning screens supported by a world-class chamber orchestra and guest artists.

This year’s program will feature music that draws its inspiration from the community of Collarenebri and their unique connection to the river. Feel at peace and calm as we connect you to this glorious place in an immersive concert designed to uplift and inspire as the Wambuul River meanders slowly by.

Featuring Moorambillas’ Four fabulous Regional Choirs with over 300 singers on stage showcasing the energy and capacity of this third of NSW. Prepare yourself to be inspired by the passion, talent and creativity our region's children and youth have to offer.

RIVERSONG 2022 will feature regional Artists Frank Wright (Walgett), Ceramicist Melissa Kelly (Gilgandra), and author Cathie Colless (Come-by-Chance), as well as music created by extraordinary composers Elena Kats-Chernin, Alice Chance, Josie Gibson, Andrew Howes and Kevin Barker, supported by Wiradjuri choreographers Amy Flannery and Ella Havelka, with Jye Uren, surrounded by Photographic works from Noni Carroll and extraordinary animation all under the artistic direction of Michelle Leonard OAM with a world-class chamber orchestra! This concert of new Australian work shaped by the wonderful members of the Collerenibri community is not to be missed. Feel the power of riversong as we sing under the stars with fire sculptures, lanterns and laughter.

This is MOORAMBILLA RIVERSONG@LAZY RIVER 2022 - bring the family!

Visit our WEBSITE 

VESPERS BY MONTEVERDI REGIONAL TOUR 

Taken from the Pinchgut Opera website

We are thrilled to perform our acclaimed concert, Monteverdi’s Vespers, when we embark upon our first regional tour in 2022, thanks to support from Create NSW.

Monteverdi’s Vespers blends the grand traditions of Venetian sacred music with the new world of the Baroque: opulent choruses, dramatic solo arias and duets, and some of the most ambitious instrumental music the world had ever heard.

First performed in Sydney and Melbourne in 2021, we are proud to take this extraordinary work to Armidale and Newcastle.

ARMIDALE

FRI 29 JULY 7:00PM | SAT 30 JULY 2:30PM 
ARMIDALE TEACHERS' COLLEGE

The first stop on Pinchgut Opera's much-anticipated regional tour of the spectacular masterpiece of sonic grandeur, Monteverdi's Vespers. 

Pinchgut Opera presents Monteverdi's Vespers in partnership with Create NSW and the New England Conservatorium of Music. 

EVENT PAGE

BOOK TICKETS

NEWCASTLE

MON 1 AUG, 7PM
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL

Pinchgut Opera is pleased to be making its debut at the Newcastle Music Festival in 2022 with Monteverdi's Vespers. 

Tickets to our performance at Christ Church Cathedral will go on sale shortly. 

Pinchgut Opera presents the program in partnership with Create NSW and Newcastle Music Festival. 

EVENT PAGE

BOOK TICKETS

I am excited to return to the rugged beauty of Tasmania for a project at the Festival of Voices (Hobart) which features the music of Franco-Flemish Composer Pierre de Manchicourt. A small group of vocalists will perform these works (which were recorded in January 2021) for what in many cases will be the first time they have been heard live since the composer wrote them in the 16th century.

New works by Australians Brooke Shelley and David Drury will also be given their Tasmanian Premiere.

6 & 8 July at 7:30pm and 6:00pm

St David’s Cathedral, Hobart

Click here for tickets and information

City Scapes - Elizabeth Murdoch Hall - Wednesday 18 May - 6pm

Wander through the sounds of city streets through the ages – as composed by Orlando Gibbons and Luciano Berio.

The program also includes Aaron Copland’s gritty Music for a Great City and two works inspired by Atlanta, Georgia: Jennifer Higdon’s City Scape, and Michael Kurth’s Everything Lasts Forever.

Song Company perform with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

This concert is part of Metropolis New Music Festival 2016.

Presented by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Melbourne Recital Centre

GO INTO THE CITY - THE SALON - Thursday 19 May - 6pm

A one-hour recital program building on The Cries of Melbourne – a newly-created collaborative work by local composers made up of street recordings from Melbourne and composed vocal cries.

Go into the City features poly-textual motets from medieval Europe juxtaposed with contemporary commentary, including political caricature from Tim Hansen’s satirical song cycle Howls from the House.

The history of composed “cries” stretches back to Clément Janequin’s Cris de Paris in the first half of the 16th century, and since then, Orlando Gibbons’ depiction of the street cries of London; in the 1970s Luciano Berio continued the tradition with his own London cries, originally written for the King’s Singers and reworked for the Swingle Singers. In this hour-long sequence (following their concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra), The Song Company dig down even earlier – to a Parisian strawberry-seller in the 13th-century Montpellier Codex – and layer the brand new city textures of The Cries of Melbourne with fragments of passion, parody, riot and ruin from Paris, Tournai, Canberra, and London.

This concert is part of Metropolis New Music Festival 2016.

Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre and The Song Company