The western town that’s inspiring young musicians
A CORE group of people in a small western town have moved beyond its current situation and, instead, imagined the future they desire for their community.
Two years ago, a small committee of music lovers came together to create the Warren Chamber Music Festival (WCMF) which celebrates classical music. The inaugural three-day, four-concert event was a spectacular success.
An incredible 13 world-class chamber musicians were engaged along with a renowned brass band to create what was described as “regional Australia’s cultural event of the season”.
Falling miraculously between two Covid lockdowns, more than 600 tickets were sold and about 200 people turned up to the free outdoor concert, including visitors from across the state and beyond.
A ‘Tackling Tough Times’ grant of $20,000 from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal broke the back of the event’s costs. Outback Arts kicked in $5000, and Warren Shire Council, Warren Services Club and Warren Rotary also helped out financially.
Artistic Director Frances Evans (nee Wilson) reflected on that unwavering community support to make the town a better place to live.
“The support that we received from the community and those that travelled to attend the festival was incredibly encouraging,” Mrs Evans said. “Rural families still part with hard-earned money to enrol their children into music lessons.
“Many parents and grandparents enjoyed piano lessons in their youth and country folk are educated and culturally aware – many are well travelled and love the opportunity to hear classical music.
“The chamber music festival reminded us all that we can have access to affordable and worldclass performances if only we are willing to tap into the funding available to bring the Arts out west,” she said.
“Musicians and Arts practitioners based in the city are crying out to tour the west and see the landscape.
“Every musician loved Warren and its people. Touring to rural NSW seemed to truly be a gift for the performers!”
Out of this enormous support and success, the Warren Chamber Music Festival has created Education Week, which will be staged from May 3-7 this year in the town.
Education Week aims to create an immersive and inspiring environment, providing no less than 12 opportunities for music making and learning, and opens with a free street performance by local Wayilwan students learning music through the “Our Place: Connecting to Country Through Music” program.
Other key performers include a local school choir, school band, and instrumental students who study privately.
There are three unique educational school concerts, one kinesthetic hands-on music workshop for residents at Calara House Residential Aged Care Accommodation, one performance lecture including composers Fanny Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann and Rebecca Clarke, and two evening concerts featuring headline act Ensemble Offspring.
A new work has been commissioned and it will have its world premiere on Saturday, May 7, during the 7-8.30pm concert.
It will include up to 40 instrumental students enrolled in learning instrumental music across the Central West, learning instruments including clarinets, flutes, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, violins and violas.
Head to the website for ticket purchases and all the details.
PUBLIC TICKETED EVENTS: Official Opening of the event and concert: Wednesday, May 4th, at 6pm. Performance Lecture: Friday, May 6, at 4pm. Concert: Friday, May 6, at 7pm. Concert: Saturday May 7.