To Listen To Sing – Ensemble Offspring

Oberon welcomes Ensemble Offspring back to the Malachi to perform To Listen, To Sing, a musical celebration of stories reflecting culture, country and connection from almost 10 years of Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples Composers.

Our To Listen To Sing concert program, while not featuring the composers themselves on stage, shines the spotlight on a whole raft of brand new music with works for flute, clarinet, cello and percussion and is a true celebration of a weaving of western art music and the oldest surviving culture on earth.

Ngarra-Burria:First Peoples Composers has built bridges for Indigenous musicians to step sideways into instrumental chamber composition over the past 9 years, completely changing the Australian landscape of art music composers and importantly giving a new voice to First Nations composers. Guided by Artistic Director Dharug composer, Dr Christopher Sainsbury, Ensemble Offspring and guest mentors, Ngarra-Burria supports a cohort of composers to develop and premiere new chamber works over a two year program.

Our concert features alumni of the Ngarra-Burria program including prominent First Nations Composers; Brenda Gifford (Yuin), Nardi Simpson (Yuwaalaraay), Eric Avery (Ngiyampaa, Yuin, Bundjalung and Gumbaynggir) and James Henry (Kamilaroi-Yuwaalaraay, Yorta-Yorta and Yuin).  In 2022 Ngarra-Burria received the Classical:Next Innovation Award and the ABC Classic album ‘To Listen To Sing’ was nominated for a Best Classical ARIA Award.

Generously supported by Live Music Australia.

Performers

Claire Edwardes (Artistic Director, percussion)
Lamorna Nightingale (flutes)
Jason Noble (clarinets)
Rowena McNeish (cello)