Meet The Composers With Sirius Chamber Ensemble

Sirius Chamber Ensemble’s annual Meet the Composer concerts have become increasingly popular as an informal way to hear new music and to learn from the composers themselves about what influences their music. This year, Sirius Chamber Ensemble are delighted to have Melbourne-based composers, Eve Duncan and Dr Houston Dunleavy to discuss their work alongside performances of a selection of their compositions.

Eve Duncan recently composed an opera The Aspern Papers, with David Malouf’s libretto, based upon a story by Henry James set in Venice. In other recent works she applied the non-musical mathematics of coastal architecture into music. Her awards include the International Music Prize for Excellence in Composition (Greece), Recital Music Double Bass Composition Competition (England) and the International Modern Music Award for Composition (Vienna). She received her Doctor of Creative Arts (Western Sydney University) with Bruce Crossman and Clare MacLean, Masters in Music (University of Melbourne) with Brenton Broadstock, and Honours in Music Composition (Latrobe University) with Anthony Briggs.

Houston Dunleavy holds a PhD in composition from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a Master of Music in composition and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has held positions in Composition at the University of Wollongong, the Australian Institute of Music (Head of Composition and Production) and The Australian National University. His music has been performed in many countries and he has been Guest Artist as composer or conductor at over 30 Universities and international festivals. He has conducted over 40 operas and music theatre works, including new works, and has conducted a wide range of choral and instrumental works. In addition to being Academic Director of The Australian Guild of Music Education, he performs with his group “Third Rail”, is Artistic Director of The Southern Cross Philharmonia Orchestra, and Director of Music at St. Oswald’s Anglican Church, Glen Iris, Victoria.

The programme:

Eve Duncan:
• Madonna and Child with Goldfinch for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin and cello/ • Aer Turas for flute, clarinet and cello*/ • Little Botanicus for clarinet, cello and piano/• The Submerging City for cello and piano/• Alexander’s Elements for flute, clarinet and bassoon
Houston Dunleavy:
• Sideling Hill for flute and piano*/• Mourning Song & Morning Dance for violin, cello and piano*/• Fireball for clarinet and piano*
* Premieres

The Performers: Ian Sykes (clarinet), Alison Evans (bassoon), Sonia Wilson (violin), Steve Meyer (cello), Jeanell Carrigan (piano) and Taryn Srhoj (soprano).

Tickets: $30 Adults, $20 Concession, $10 Child

Bookings or at the door.