The rain did not stop a fantastic turnout for Piano Music from the Heart, the third concert in the Music and Tea at the Gallery series.
The audience was treated to delightful and inspiring performances from two very young, accomplished pianists, Sophia Bae (age 10) and Elsa Li (11), students of Natalia Ricci at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s Rising Stars Program. Sophia entertained the audience with her descriptions of the works, including describing Haydn as “a very cheeky composer”.
The program opened with local violinist Emma Huang and pianist Elisabeth Stevens; they performed de Beriot’s Scene de Ballet, one of Emma’s favourite pieces. A work combining virtuosity with emotional intensity, Emma described it as “a flight of fancy, depicting an imaginary ballet scene.”
A Diverse and Intergenerational Audience
The audience for this concert spanned multiple generations. Twenty preschoolers from Planet Early Childhood Learning Centre in Coledale attended, making the journey on public transport, an adventure! The children explored the art exhibitions before taking front-row seats on cushions and a comfortable red rug. Concert host Ann Lehmann’s expertise as a music therapist and teacher ensured they felt included, stayed attentive and had the opportunity to ‘wiggle’ when they stood to applaud each work. For many of these children, it was their first concert.
Of equal amazement on such a wet day was the effort made by the CRAM Foundation to have their clients attend the concert. Incredible enthusiasm is shown by these audience members with diverse disabilities. Their ability to tune into the rhythm and pitch of the music and join in with the music in their own way is inspiring.
Thank you to Wollongong Art Gallery for creating a space and time in which music can be shared in a truly inclusive environment.
November 3’s concert will feature local singer-songwriter, Shalani Thomas.
You can hear Shalani’s A Song For Alice on Soundcloud. A wonderful song about her grandmother’s journey to Australia with beautiful reflections on her life and our changing world.
The final concerts for 2022 will be at Wollongong Art Gallery on 3 Nov and 8 Dec. Free, donations appreciated. Contact inspiremusicaust@gmail.com