“Rubiks Collective achieves the impossible. The vocal quartet is living, breathing proof that new compositions can be invigorating and inspiring, not merely intellectually niche.” – Sydney Morning Herald
Rubiks is one of Melbourne’s most dynamic contemporary art music ensembles, reimagining classical music for the modern era. Directed by Tamara Kohler (flutes) and Kaylie Melville (percussion), Rubiks showcases bold cross-art collaborations, shares untold stories and champions gender equity in the arts . Since debuting in 2015, Rubiks has been hailed as “a formidable contribution to Australia’s growing community of contemporary music makers” (Partial Durations) and commended for their “incredibly personal, strangely spiritual and ultimately deeply touching” performances (Limelight).
Rubiks’ appearance at the 2025 Festival is supported by Peter Wise.
Kate Neal is an artist with over 20 years’ experience as a composer, arranger, teacher, artistic director and collaborator. In 2020/21 Neal premiered Sentiment Logistics with Sal Cooper, a TURA No Borders commission, as well as new works for Golden Gate Brass, Muses Trio and sound design for the RISING featured theatre work The Dispute. A new solo cello work Old Silences (with animation by Sal Cooper) also premiered in Brisbane and was to feature at the 2021 Art Music Awards. In 2018 Neal premiered, and in 2022 toured, ‘While You Sleep’, a 50min work for string quartet and visual media in collaboration with Sal Cooper. Neal currently (2023) teaches Interactive Composition at the MCM, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music.
Sal Cooper is an interdisciplinary artist who has been practising for fifteen years with a focus on screen-based works. Her wide ranging cross-platform practice covers independent filmmaking, hand drawn and stop motion animation, installation and performative events.The integration of music within the context of moving image is a central part of her practice as can be seen in her ongoing collaboration with composer Kate Neal under the title Flight Risk. This collaboration has given rise to a body of commissioned material including major theatrical/performance works, concert pieces and music videos as well as work for cinematic settings.Sal was co-artistic director of While You Sleep (2018, 2022). Further works include The Commuter Variations (2019) a work for solo piano and animation that was commissioned by The Melbourne Recital Centre, and numerous short films and experimental videos that continue to be screened around the world.
Gerard Van Dyck is an artist based in Melbourne/Naarm. His dance/choreography career saw him create and perform in dozens of original works touring most of Australia’s theatrical stages. He co-founded KAGE, a leading dance theatre company with Kate Denborough in 1997, which spanned 21 years. Gerard’s solo work THE COLLAPSIBLE MAN (2001) toured extensively across Australia and won multiple awards. He has worked with BalletLab, Polyglot, Nat Cursio, Sandra Parker, Danielle Micich, Clare Dyson, Eleventh Hour Theatre, Wits’ End, Legs on the Wall, Kate Neal, Sal Cooper, and desoxy Theatre. Gerard has taught dance, movement, partnering, and choreography at numerous dance institutions, studios, festivals and high schools across Australia. As a sculptor he designs and builds geometric tensile paper structures.
Gemma Kneale – cello | Tamara Kohler – flutes | Kaylie Melville – percussion | Jacob Abela – keyboards
Photo credit – WILK