Australian Composers’ Concert

Six Australian Composers Showcasing their Compositions

Co-curators Carol Dixon and Benjamin Bates present the second Australian Composers’ Concert, featuring six composers showcasing their compositions from solo piano to full symphonic orchestra, including five premieres. Our first concert held in April 2016 was a huge success – we had a full house and we didn’t have enough seats, so we borrowed from another building.

Concert at 2pm on Sunday 8 April 2018
St Stephen’s Anglican Church, 360 Church St, Richmond VIC

Our esteemed composers and their compositions are

Carol Dixon
Concerto no. 1 for Harpsichord and String Orchestra (Premiere)
Melbourne Composers’ Chamber Orchestra
Robert Dora – conductor
Geoff Urquhart – harpsichord

Carol writes music that explores meaning and human experience; this first concerto evolves from a journey that faces and overcomes a life trial as it progresses through the three movements. She wrote it for her partner who has undergone some demanding challenges in recent years.

Benjamin Bates
Suite in A Minor
Prelude and Fugue, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Minuetto and Trio, (Gigue).
Melbourne Composers’ Chamber Orchestra
Robert Dora – conductor
Emma Knight – flute
Geoff Urquhart – harpsichord

A “Neo-Baroque” style piece in 6 movements dedicated to Gyula Cseszkó and his chamber orchestra La Fraternita di Solisti.

Kitty Xiao
Ultramarine to Indigo (Premiere)
Performed by Nimbus Trio:
Jessica Laird – Alto Flute
Chloe Sanger – Violin
Kitty Xiao – Piano

The well-established Nimbus Trio were so cool in our last concert, we asked them to play again this year. It’s great to be including an electronic music piece amongst our acoustic repertoire.

Natasha Lin
Voyage (Premiere)
Ghost
Natasha Lin, pianist.

Concert pianist, Natasha Lin, also performed at the first concert, but this time she returns as the composer. Natasha enjoys improvising at the piano.

Interval with afternoon tea and a chat with the composers and performers

Robert Dora
Lex Overture
Melbourne Composers’ Orchestra
Robert Dora – conducting his own work

You may have noticed Robert is conducting all of the works, but lo and behold, he is a composer as well! A person of many talents and projects, Robert is developing as a reputable Melbourne conductor. The name ‘Lex’ is Latin for Law, and this piece was dedicated to Melbourne Lawyer’s Orchestra.

Julian Yu
Slavic Dance (Premiere)
Melbourne Composers’ Orchestra
Robert Dora – conductor

Recently returned once again from several orchestral performances in his homeland, China, Julian is one of our more famous and prolific composers. You may have heard his pieces in other orchestras and concerts.

Benjamin Bates
Symphony no. 1 (Premiere)
Melbourne Composers’ Orchestra
Robert Dora – conductor

Ben’s Symphony no. 3 was premiered in the first Composers’ Concert. Now he’s added a full brass and percussion section in this larger work, written as far back as 1993 and finally about to be premiered.

Please find our event on facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/events/169027713707405/?ti=cl

Tickets – Get in early!

Early Bird before 1 April:
Adults $22.00
Concession, Seniors and Students: $17.00

At the door and online from 1 April:
Adults $25.00
Concession, Seniors and Students: $20.00

Free Entry for children under 12
(This may have been why we had a full house in 2016).