We are looking forward to working on some exciting projects this year, and in celebration of International Women’s Day (8 March) this week, we wanted to highlight upcoming performances featuring works by female composers from diverse backgrounds spanning from the 19th Century to today.
Lunchtime recital
We begin our celebration of female composers with a lunchtime recital at St Stephen’s Uniting Church on Friday 17 March with music by African-American composer, Valerie Coleman and Australian composer, Miriam Hyde.
Melissa Coleman (flute), Ian Sykes (clarinet) and Claire Howard Race will perform ‘Portraits of Langston’ (2007) by Valerie Coleman and the ‘Trio for flute, clarinet and piano’ (1948) by Miriam Hyde.
Valerie Coleman is a Grammy-nominated flautist and composer based in New York City. For her significant contribution to classical music as a performer, composer and educator Coleman was named Performance Today’s 2020 Classical Woman of the Year. Her works have won numerous chamber music awards and are performed by orchestras around the United States. ‘Portraits of Langston’ is a 6 movement work based on the poems of Langston Hughes, which can be performed with a narrator.
Miriam Hyde, AO, OBE (1913 – 2005) had a distinguished career as a classical pianist, composer, music educator, and poet. Hyde was named International Woman of the Year (1991-92) for service to music, bestowed by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge. She was honoured with two awards from APRA/Australian Music Centre Classical Awards (2002/2004) for her services to Australian music. Long-known for her many compositions for piano, Hyde also composed numerous songs, chamber music and other orchestral works. Her ‘Trio for flute, clarinet and piano’ was written for flautist Constance Pether.
Friday 17 March, 1.10-1:50pm at St Stephen’s Uniting Church, 197 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Performers: Melissa Coleman (flute), Ian Sykes (clarinet) and Claire Howard Race (piano)
Andrián Pertout 60th Birthday Concert
In August, we will be collaborating with Alan Holley to celebrate the Melbourne-based composer Andrián Pertout’s 60th birthday. Program to include works by Andrián Pertout, Alan Holley and Johanna Selleck. Program and booking details to be advertised soon.
Concert details:
Friday 11 August, 1.10-1:50pm, Friday Music at St Stephen’s Uniting Church
Sunday 13 August, Church Street Studios, Camperdown
Happy International Women’s Day
Later in the year, we will announce more details about our concert showcasing all female composers from different countries and centuries to honour the diversity of classical and contemporary chamber music we can enjoy today.
sirius chamber ensemble 