Phoenix Collective Quartet Premieres Whitwell Composition

Phoenix Collective Quartet (PCQ) presents ‘Enlightenment’, the third in their 2022 concert series, exploring ideas of liberty, progress and individualism. The work of Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Sally Whitwell each represent different facets of these ideas and responses to them: Mendelssohn, a gifted product of post-Enlightenment Europe; Shostakovich, who was frequently the victim of repressive authorities; and Sally Whitwell, a representative and commentator on our own time whose new piece Toward will receive its world premiere at this concert.There are concerts in Canberra and on the Central Coast as well as in Sydney.

The Phoenix Collective Quartet is a premier string quartet performing concerts in Sydney, Canberra, the Central Coast and regional NSW. Its members come from the ranks of national and international orchestras such as Opera Australia Orchestra, Canberra Symphony, Sydney Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, Kammer Philharmonie Köln, Boston Symphony, and Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

PCQ are a dynamic and versatile ensemble, performing concerts by candlelight in Sydney and Canberra for international event company Fever, lunchtime concerts for the vulnerable and homeless at Wayside Chapel and featured string quartet at the 2022 National Folk Festival, PCQ are a dynamic and versatile ensemble.

The program: Sally Whitwell Toward World Premiere/ Mendelssohn String Quartet Op.13 No.2/ Shostakovich String Quartet Op.73 No.3
Canberra: 10th June – Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest 7pm
Central Coast: 12th June – Greenway Memorial Chapel, Green Point 2.30pm

Sally Whitwell is a solo performer, pianist and composer, who has recorded five albums to date with ABC Classic, garnering between them 8 ARIA nominations and 3 wins. She is known particularly for her interpretations of the piano works of American minimalist Philip Glass, her debut album Mad Rush led to invitations to premiere Glass’s Etudes for Solo Piano at the Perth International Arts Festival, Center for the Art of Performance UCLA, and at Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Sally is also principal pianist with Gondwana Choirs with whom she has toured throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia. She has been commissioned to write for many vocal ensembles including Adelaide Chamber Singers (2020 Composer in Residence), The Consort of Melbourne, The Australian Voices, Divisi Chamber Singers, The House That Dan Built, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Moorambilla Voices, Brisbane Birralee, and Juice Vocal (London).

Sally has created new works for ensembles which include Phoenix Central Park, Ensemble Offspring, Acacia Quartet, Plexus Ensemble, Homophonic, Emily Granger (harp) and Alicia Crossley (recorders). A new work ‘Starwalker’ commissioned by guitarist Matt Withers will be released on ABC Classic in late 2022. Sally’s newest recording is a vocal chamber music work, a pride-flag themed song cycle Spectrum, and was recently released by Divisi Chamber Singers. She is currently working on a short film musical Sparky, and a new setting of the poetry of Gwen Harwood for Katie Noonan and the Australian Vocal Ensemble.