Wonderful Warren Culture
WHEN it comes to culture in the bush, you couldn’t go past the lineup of incredible talent coming to the Warren Chamber Music Festival which will be staged from Friday to Sunday, May 7 to 9.
Performers include Frances and Nick Evans who left the big smoke to move back to the family farm near Warren.
The classically trained clarinettist and violinist love to share their passion for music by performing and teaching in Warren, Gilgandra and Dubbo and they’ll be performing in this inaugural event alongside superstars of the Australian music industry.
Frances Evans is the artistic director of the festival.
“This will simply be one of the most significant cultural events of the year, in the State,” she said.
Professional musicians of this calibre don’t often come this far west and there’s real passion behind this push to get some of the nation’s best talents out west.
The participating musicians believe that it is critical that rural audiences get the best – not only because that’s the way it should be for equality of access to vital cultural events, but because the bush needs a boost.
The festival has commissioned
a new work from Australian composer Fiona Loader and Macquarie Conservatorium students under the tutelage of Nick Evans will perform alongside renowned brass band Pacific Brass in a free concert 11am, Saturday, May 8.
The opening concert kicks off on Friday, May 7 at 6.30pm and organisers believe the spectacular acoustics of the Warren Catholic Church will take the breath away from both the trained and untrained listener.
Each concert has something for everyone, and the ticket prices are one of the bargains of the century, with adults paying just $15, while children under 12 get free entry.
The musicians are looking forward to mingling with the locals after the concert and enjoying
warm and welcoming country hospitality in Warren and Collie, according to Mrs Evans.
“It is a special feeling, a privilege, to be inviting such generous and successful professional musicians out to the west,” she said.
“Due to so many wonderful professionals accepting our invitation we can perform substantial works including Copland’s Appalachian Spring, Elgar’s Serenade for Strings, Arthur Foote’s A Night Piece for Flute and String and music for Organ.”
Principal Organs has sponsored the festival with a fabulous Makin Organ. It has been installed into the church and programmed to match the acoustics of the space perfectly.
“This is a unique opportunity, on our very own doorstep, to get dressed up and enjoy a top-quality cultural arts experience. No need to go to Sydney or Melbourne. It is coming to us,” she said.
Frances Evans told Dubbo Photo news that due to the far-reaching impacts of COVID, the Arts industry has had a complete shake up.
“Never has it been more important to artists to nurture their own nation; its students and its audiences,” she said.
“Performing in concert halls from London to Leipzig is simply not possible. The major symphony orchestras around our nation are programming regional tours.
“This is critical to the future of the Arts in our nation and one of the positive consequences of the pandemic.”