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Music Shoalhaven presents 'Birds of a Feather'
Saturday 4 May 2025, 2.00 pm
Nowra School of Arts, Berry St, Nowra NSW 2541
Photo by John Swainston
The beauty of music lies in its power to unite and uplift people of all ages. It's a universal language everyone can sing. For musicians, it is the wind beneath our wings lifting us to soar high in the clouds, the drumbeat of our hearts and the branch on which we love to flock.
Highlands Music Collective's 'Birds of a Feather' program will take you on a musical journey of birdsong's chirps, tweets and caw-caws. From Vivaldi's intricate trills to the merriment of Mozart's birdcatcher Papageno, from the serene and haunting beauty of Pablo Casals and Herman Beeftink to the dramatic flair of film composer Nino Rota. The program's centerpiece is 'When Feathers Fall', written by Australian composer John Spence. It is a heartfelt tribute written after the loss of his dear friend, Wendy Feathers, and will be accompanied by Emily Dickinson's beautiful poem "Hope... is the thing with Feathers".
Highlands Music Collective
Myee Clohessy, violin
Annabel Wouters, flute (2025 Eva Pascoe Award winner)
Catherine Barnett, cello
Luke Bowen, piano (2024 Eva Pascoe Award winner)
Program
Antonio Vivaldi - Trio Sonata in D major RV. 84 for violin, flute, cello
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - 'Papageno' (the bird-catcher) duets for violin and flute
Amy Beach - 'Pastoral and Caprice, The Water Sprites' Op. 90 for flute, cello and piano
Pablo Casals - 'Song of Birds' for solo cello
John Spence * - 'When Feathers Fall' for flute, violin, cello and piano
Herman Beeftink - 'The Raven' for flute and piano
Nino Rota - Trio for flute, violin and piano
* We proudly support Australian composer John Spence, Head of Music Theory and Composition at Wollongong Conservatorium of Music and tutor at Chevalier College
Highlands Music Collective presents
'Blue is the Air' with Nick Russoniello
Friday 23 May 2025, 6.30 pm
Bowral Memorial Hall
Photo by Jacqui Manning
Nick Russoniello redefines boundaries with his limitless virtuosity on the saxophone. He combines lyricism, inventiveness, daring and unbelievable breath control—all topped off with panache and a sense of fun!
Limelight Magazine
"An exceptional performer and soloist - you almost have to laugh in astonishment at some of what he delivers, and it’s gripping when he joins forces..."
And join forces, he will!
HMCollective's Artistic Director, Myee Clohessy, grabbed Nick during his nationwide 'Air Mass' tour to return to Bowral for a unique one-off concert at the stunning Bowral Memorial Hall. Together, they have created Blue is the Air, combining breathtaking music for saxophone and strings. Opening with 'Blue Silence' for string quartet, the Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin seeks the sound of silence for her son, who is troubled by voices in his head. Nick Russoniello's 'Air Mass' takes us on a journey exploring the deep dark notes of the baritone saxophone up to the glorious high register of the alto sax, played over audience-generated sounds, loop pedals, body percussion, and much more. To add some Chick Corea charm into the mix are six quirky miniatures from his whimsical 'Children's Songs' album, cleverly arranged for saxophone and string quartet by Ian Stewart and Australia's Julie Simmonds.
This is one concert you don't want to miss!
Program
Elena Kats-Chernin - Blue Silence
Nick Russoniello - Air Mass
Chick Corea - Children's Songs (arranged by Ian Stewart and Julie Simonds)
Highlands Music Collective
Myee Clohessy, violin
Kate Malone, violin
Rachel Miller, viola
Catherine Barnett, cello
EventPro, light design
Nick Russoniello
You name it, he's done it!
This highly accomplished and dynamic saxophonist, composer, ensemble leader, and educator has appeared as a soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian World Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra and Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra. Nick has won the ABC Symphony Australian Young Performer of the Year Award and the Fine Music Kruger Scholarship and was a finalist for the Australian Freedman Fellowship. Nick has appeared at the Sydney Festival, the Royal College of Music (London), Musica Viva Australia, ABC Classic FM, Conservatorio di Milano (Italy), Strasbourg Cité De La Musique (France), and the Australian Digital Concert Hall. In 2015, Nick performed at the Bowral Autumn Music Festival with the Acacia Quartet at the invitation of Myee Clohessy, the festival's Artistic Director from 2015 - 2023.
We proudly support Australian composers Nick Russoniello and Elena Kats-Chernin.
N.B. Doors will open at 5:40 pm.
You'll be welcomed with complimentary wine and nibbles before the concert starts at 6:30 pm.
Concert duration approx. 70 mins.
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