Meet the Composer

As spring arrives the flowering cherry blossoms brighten clear blue skies. Although short lasting, these blooms are best enjoyed outside with a picnic lunch.

This Sunday 21 September, 1.30pm at Glebe Justice Centre, local composers Christine Draeger and Paul Smith join us to discuss their musical influences and style. We will premiere two works written for members of the Sirius Chamber Ensemble, including Christine Draeger’s Variations on a Patriotic Love Song for wind quintet, and Paul Smith’s The Death of Baldr for flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, cello and piano.

Christine Draeger is a represented composer at the Australian Music Centre. She has written works for solo flute, flute and piano, flute quartet and theatre pieces. She has also written a flute tutor Practical Studies for the Advanced Flautist with Rosamund Plummer. Other works by Christine included in this concert are Aubade (2011) flute and piano – written for Melissa Coleman; Two Fires Suite (2005) for flute solo – written for the Two Fires Festival of Arts and Activism; as well as Into Forever (2013) for oboe and piano.

Paul Smith has recently completed a Doctorate of Creative Arts exploring Japanese visual aesthetics and music at the University of Western Sydney where he also works as a lecturer and tutor in musicology. He also works in and around Sydney as a singer and composer as well as a supervisor and lecturer for the University of New England. Other works by Paul included in this program are Chasing Cherry Blossoms for two sopranos, flute, clarinet, bassoon and cello – inspired by hanami and spring in Japan; as well as I Dream of Purple Lakes for soprano, clarinet and piano.

Performers – Sirius Chamber Ensemble – Mel Coleman (flute), Ian Sykes (clarinet), Alison Evans (bassoon), Julia Zeltzer (french horn), Claire Howard Race (piano)

With guests Alex Fontaine (oboe), Ezmi Pepper (cello), Taryn Srhoj (soprano) and Jermaine Chau (soprano)

Tickets available at www.classikon.com
$30 Adults/ $20 Concession/ $10 Children
BYO food and drink, tea and coffee provided