C18-1 The Bundian Way
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Saturday, 7 May 2022
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Kambri Cultural Centre
University Ave, Acton ACT 2601
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In Association with
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With Support From
Presented in association with Kambri at ANU and supported by the Graeme Wood Foundation
The 360 km route from Mount Kosciuszko down to Twofold Bay near Eden crosses some of the nation’s wildest, most remarkable landscapes. From the highest part of this continent to the ocean, the Bundian Way is a track as much as a meeting place, a path to reconciliation.
This signature multi-media event involves new work by Kate Neal, Brenda Gifford, Eric Avery and Damian Barbeler. Instigated by Damian Barbeler, the 75 minute performance is immersive, with images from the track and music which captures the many aspects of nature and culture of the south east of Australia. Featuring John Blay himself reading from the book that captures the track, the performance will be followed by a Q+A with John Blay, the author of ‘On Track’.
Program
Brenda Gifford, Walimbaya (Return)
Eric Avery, new work
Kate Neal, new work
Damian Barbeler, Scenes from the Bundian Way
Artists
Eric Avery, violin/voice
Anna McMichael, violin
Ben Ward, double bass
Jason Noble, clarinet
Louise Devenish, percussion
With John Blay, narrator
Generously supported by Arn Sprogis and Margot Woods, Peter and Margaret Janssens and Andrew Blanckensee through A Major Lift.
ARTIST Learn more about the artist
Artist Jason Noble, clarinet
Jason Noble is one of Australia’s most versatile clarinettists – experimental to classical – a soloist and core member of Ensemble Offspring. Jason has performed at festivals locally and internationally, from Warsaw to London, Shanghai to Kabul, and all major cities across Australia. “His expertise and virtuosic playing give new insights into the versatility of the bass clarinet” (Sounds Like Sydney)
Artist Ben Ward, double bass
Ben Ward is a musician, working predominantly on the lands of the Gadigal and Bidjigal, whose practice has recently focussed on altered tunings, texture and improvisation. Outside his work on the double bass with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra he is inspired by the wonderful community of musicians in Sydney. Place and history are currently important foundations of his artistic thought. A recent highlight is an ongoing collaboration with cellist Freya Schack-Arnott which has produced an album “in landscape” (2020) and which has a set of upcoming releases for nyckleharpe, synthesised sounds, double bass and cello.
Artist Anna McMichael
Anna McMichael is an Australian-born violinist who returned in 2010 to live in Australia after 17 years in Holland performing in many of the major European ensembles and orchestras.
She grew up in South Australia and studied violin with Marie Roberts, Beryl Kimber and William Hennessy. In 1990, Anna was awarded first prize in the string concerto final of the Australian Broadcasting Commission National Instrumental and Vocal Competition.
In Australia, Anna performed as a concerto soloist with the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and Queensland Symphony Orchestra. She was awarded a Queen’s Jubilee scholarship in 1993 to study with Vera Beths at the Royal Conservatorium, the Hague in The Netherlands where she graduated cum laude in 1995. Anna also followed lessons with Alexander Kerr and baroque violin with Elizabeth Wallfisch. As well as her performance studies, Anna has a Master’s Degree in Historical Musicology from King’s College, London and a Doctorate from Sydney Conservatorium.
Anna is coordinator of Strings at the Sir Zelman Cowan School of Music, Monash University.
Artist Oliver Shermacher
Australian born clarinettist Oliver Shermacher completed his Bachelors at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under Francesco Celata, and his Masters at the Freiburg Hochschule für Musik with Kilian Herold and Anton Hollich. He is currently living between Germany and Australia, performing as soloist, chamber musician and orchestral clarinettist. He was recently awarded the highly prestigious recognition of the 1st Prize and Audience Choice at the 2022 Aeolus Competition in Düsseldorf, one of the world’s most significant competitions for wind instrumentalists. Oliver won the Freedman Fellowship in 2018 and reached the Grand Finals of the 2018 ABC Young Performers Award, also receiving the Audience Choice award. Oliver has performed as soloist with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Apex Ensemble and was the Artist in Residence with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra for their 2021/2022 Season, having premiered the Alice Chance Clarinet Concerto with the orchestra in 2022. Oliver has played as Principal Clarinet with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia Orchestra, Freiburg Philharmonisches Orchester and with the Australian World Orchestra on Bass Clarinet. Oliver is a passionate composer, theatre maker and new music enthusiast with a focus on the intersection between theatre and solo performance.
Artist Eric Avery
Eric Avery is a Ngiyampaa, Yuin, Bandjalang and Gumbangirr artist. As part of his practice Eric plays the violin, dances and composes music. Working with his family’s custodial songs he seeks to revive and continue on an age-old legacy – continuing the tradition of singing in his tribe – utilising his talents to combine and create an experience of his peoples culture.
Artist Louise Devenish
Dr Louise Devenish is a percussionist whose creative practice blends performance, collaboration and artistic research. As a soloist and with ensembles Decibel, The Sound Collectors Lab and Intercurrent, she develops new works exploring performance, notation and collaborative creativity, performing around Australasia, Europe, North America and UK. She has collaborated on solo and ensemble recordings released on HatArt, Listen/Hear, Immediata, Innova, Tall Poppies and room40, and her work has been recognised by numerous awards and grants including a Churchill Fellowship. Louise is Percussion Coordinator at Monash University, where she is undertaking an Australian Research Council Fellowship (DECRA) in artistic research, creating new works with artistic teams of collaborators working across music, visual arts, digital arts and spatial design.