Melbourne Youth Orchestra Kicks Off a Month of Music
28 September 2004
The Melbourne Youth Orchestra will kick off a month of exciting music performances at the Eastbank Centre on Saturday 2nd October.
The Council’s Manager for Performing Arts and Conventions, Mr Rob Robson, said the orchestra features over 80 of the best young musicians in Victoria between 16 and 25 years old.
“Shepparton is very lucky to host this talented orchestra for the whole weekend, with a recital on the Saturday night and a special workshop with the Goulburn Valley Concert Orchestra on Sunday 3rd October,” Mr Robson said.
“The recital will feature a performance of Mahler’s 1st Symphony, ‘The Titan’, a huge musical work not often performed because of the rarity of such a large orchestra.”
“Also, a talented young pianist from Melbourne, Amir Farid, will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concert No. 4 in G Major with the orchestra.”
“Shepparton audiences will remember Amir from his performances on the new Steinway at Eastbank as part of the Australian National Piano Award some weeks ago, where he was a finalist.”
“Amir is seen as one of the ‘next big things’ in the world of concert piano, so this is an excellent opportunity to experience his talents again.”
The music will continue at Eastbank throughout the week, with performances from Orchestra Victoria on Wednesday 6th September and Thursday 7th September, and the Royal Australian Navy Band on Sunday 10th October.
The Melbourne Youth Orchestra will perform at Eastbank at 8.00 pm on Saturday 2nd October.
For more information on any shows at Riverlinks venues, or to book tickets, visit the Riverlinks Box Office in the Eastbank Centre, 70 Welsford Street, Shepparton, or phone 5832 9511.
School Holiday Fun with Sid the Serpent
14 September 2004
Greater Shepparton children can experience the special excitement of professional opera designed and sung just for them, with performances of OzOpera’s ‘Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing’ at Eastbank this coming Monday.
The Council’s Manager of Performing Arts and Conventions, Rob Robson, said the show is an excellent opportunity for young children to be introduced to the wonderful and exotic world of opera.
“OzOpera presents performances with great singing, exciting sets and colourful costumes, while educating children about different musical styles,”
Mr Robson said.
“‘Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing’ is about a dancing circus snake who desperately wants to sing. Wherever the circus travels, Sid tries to learn a different style of singing, including opera, music-hall, rap and swing, failing miserably each time.”
“When Sid realises he is able to sing in his own unique style, he learns to appreciate his own talents.”
To celebrate the performances of ‘Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing’, Riverlinks is holding a Family Fun Day on Monday 20th September.
“Families can enjoy face painting with Crackles the Clown, colouring activities and music, and join in the creation of a giant snake mural that will decorate the walls of Eastbank.”
‘Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing’ will be performed at the Eastbank Centre at 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm on Monday 20th September.
“Thanks to a special partnership with Deaf Children Australia, the 2.00 pm performance of ‘Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing’ will also be Auslan interpreted,” Mr Robson added.
For bookings or more information, please contact the Riverlinks Box Office on 5832 9511. The Box Office is open from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm on weekdays and 10.00 am to 4.00 pm on weekends.
Australian Theatre Stars Come to Riverlinks
14 September 2004
Veterans of the Australian stage and screen, Barry Otto and Jacki Weaver, will come to WestSide Performing Arts Centre this month to perform the Reg Cribb play, ‘Last Cab to Darwin’.
The Council’s Manager of Performing Arts and Conventions, Mr Rob Robson, said it is exciting to have performers of such high calibre visiting the venue.
“It is testament to the quality of our facilities and support of our audiences that seasoned performers like Jacki Weaver continue to return to perform on our stages,” Mr Robson said.
‘Last Cab to Darwin’ follows the story of Broken Hill cab driver Max (Otto) on the first and last great journey of his life. Diagnosed with cancer, Max leaves his hometown to discover the Australian outback.
“It explores themes including the changing identity of Australia, the difficulties faced in the outback, and the controversial debate surrounding euthanasia.”
“Despite the serious nature of the topics explored, ‘Last Cab to Darwin’ has equal elements of comedy, compassion, adventure and sadness,” Mr Robson added.
“The play also stars Justine Saunders, Sean Taylor, Alan Dukes, Kirsty Hillhouse and Michael Tuahine as a cast of characters that Max meets on his journey up the middle of Australia.”
‘Last Cab to Darwin’ will be presented by Riverlinks and Pork Chop Productions at 8.00 pm on Friday 24th September and Saturday 25th September, at the WestSide Performing Arts Centre.
For more information or to book tickets, please contact the Riverlinks Box Office on 5832 9511, or visit the Box Office at the Eastbank Centre, 70 Welsford Street, Shepparton.
New Exhibitions Opening This Week at Shepparton Art Gallery
1 September 2004
Two new exhibitions will officially open at the Shepparton Art Gallery in the coming week.
An amazing new photography exhibition by Arthur Wicks, ‘Global Images: Notes from the Solstice Voyeur 1975 – 2002’, and a striking textiles exhibition by
Sara Thorn, ‘Dreams of a Golden Thread’, which will be officially opened on Saturday 11th September by Sarah Bond, Exhibition Manager, Craft Victoria. Both exhibitions will be open to the public from Saturday 4th September.
Shepparton Art Gallery Director, Ms Leanne Willis, said the two exhibitions were very different, but both exquisite.
“The first exhibition features a series of photographs, taken by Arthur Wicks, a sculptor and photographer, who has photographed world events in a bid to create global images for the last 20 years,” Ms Willis said.
Arthur Wicks’ role as the ‘Solstice Voyeur’ extends over more than two decades. His photographs of Guerilla Bay on the South Coast of NSW became the first global collage. A sequence of images of New York City, taken later from the World Trade Centre, also create an interesting combination.
“‘Global Images: Notes from the Solstice Voyeur’ shows us the earth from a completely different viewpoint, and is not an exhibition to miss.”
In a contrast, Sara Thorn’s textile exhibition features very beautiful fabrics, a result of the artist’s research into the textile traditions of Asia and Italy.
“Sara Thorn is interested in ceremonial and historical cloths from many different traditional cultures, and this has led her to study varied textile and ornamentation techniques,” Ms Willis said.
Sara Thorn is an artist and designer of textiles and fashion. Over the last 20 years, Sara created the fashion labels Abyss Studio, Funkessentials and Galaxy.
In the late 1990s, she moved to Europe where she worked with various international designers. On her return to Australia in 2000, Sara re-established her own label, Sara Thorn.
The Shepparton Art Gallery will be showing Sara Thorn’s “Dreams of a Golden Thread” and Arthur Wicks’ “Global Images: Notes from the Solstice Voyeur” until Sunday 10th October.
For more information, please contact the Shepparton Art Gallery Director, Leanne Willis, on 5832 9861 or 0419 385 126.
Admission to the Shepparton Art Gallery is free and it is open 7 days a week from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. The gallery is located in the Eastbank Centre, 70 Welsford Street, Shepparton.