McClelland Gallery

THE BACH PROJECT

Michelle Nicolle has forged a reputation nationally and internationally as a celebrated and creative jazz vocalist-musician. Together with Geoff Hughes on guitar, Tom Lee on bass, and Ronny Fenella on drums, the Michelle Nicolle Quartet (MNQ) has established itself as one of Australia's leading contemporary jazz ensembles since 1999, developing a truly unique approach to the interpretation of jazz standards, contemporary pop songs, and now with the release of their 9th album, the music of J.S. Bach. One of the great improvisers of his time, Bach is a perfect fit for the MNQ’s arrangements which showcase his compositional mastery and add a new flavour to the improvisational focus in these great works.

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LUMINOUS GEMS

Acclaimed Melbourne string quartet Quartz are a confluence of Australian musical talent and outstanding technique, performing sensitive interpretations of great masterpieces that are both innovative and unique. Violinists Kathryn Taylor and Philippa West, violist Merewyn Bramble and cellist Zoe Wallace frequently collaborate with sought-after Australian artists, in refreshing concerts of classical and contemporary repertoire.

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PERSPECTIVES

Melbourne ensemble PLEXUS brings together the talents of three of Melbourne's most vibrant and versatile musicians, Monica Curro (violin), Philip Arkinstall (clarinet), and Stefan Cassomenos (piano). The name PLEXUS reflects this ensemble's devotion to supporting and engaging an ever-growing network of exceptional artists across a variety of disciplines. Since launching in 2014, PLEXUS has commissioned over 110 new works. PLEXUS seeks to involve both Australian and overseas writers, film-makers, actors, directors, poets, choirs, and visual artists, as well as guest instrumentalists and vocalists, as part of its ongoing commitment to synthesising creative links across multidisciplinary artistic networks.

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SONGS OF HEART AND SOUL

The Consort of Melbourne is Melbourne's premier vocal ensemble, comprising eight of this city's finest chamber singers under the artistic direction of Steven Hodgson. Typically performing “a capella” (unaccompanied) with one singer per part, The Consort of Melbourne champions both historic and contemporary repertoire, bringing 1000 years of vocal music to life with an intimacy and verve that leaves audiences spellbound. Their programmes include celebrated masterpieces heard alongside lesser-known gems, exploring the full expressive potential of human voices combined.

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A FEAST OF SONG

Multi-faceted vocalist and composer Shauntai Sherree Batzke joins forces with pianist Stefan Cassomenos for a feast of song. Effortlessly inhabiting the worlds of opera, inspirational soul and gospel, classical composition, and theatre making, Shauntai has appeared as a soloist for Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Victorian Opera, Sydney Opera House, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Short Black Opera, and Arts Centre Melbourne. She was the featured composer at the 2019 Port Fairy Spring Music Festival premiering her critically acclaimed song cycles drawing on Wiradjuri heritage and First Nations languages. Join Shauntai and Stefan as they continue their long and celebrated association with a powerful journey across style, space, and time.

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MOVING PICTURES

After forging stellar careers as individual artists, violinist Zoë Black and pianist Joe Chindamo quickly established themselves as a formidable force upon forming a duo just over a decade ago. Embodying the true essence of restless creativity and discovery, they are constantly evolving, challenging themselves and their audiences, and earning the highest respect from their peers and critics alike along the way. Their music has been described as edgy, emotionally charged, and unique.

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NOSTALGIA: HOMAGE TO PIAZZOLLA

First concert of the My Music at McClelland series, featuring a spectacular array of Argentinian masterworks including music by Piazzolla, Gardel, Mores, and Ziegler, performed by superb cultural treasures Nicholas Dinopoulos and Andrea Katz.

Expertly brought together by curator extraordinaire Monica Curro, this is a truly unique series where awesome art, mind-blowing music and gorgeous natural surroundings come together.

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