Artistic Partners
Synergy Percussion is one of Australia’s finest and most versatile music percussion ensembles. They have performed at festivals throughout Europe, Asia and the United States, as well as of Australia’s mainstage recital and performance venues.
Synergy “Synergy is the finest contemporary music group in Australia, and I am proud to be associated with it”, Peter Sculthorpe, 2008
Synergy is a world of sound with percussion at its heart. The group continues a journey which began 35 years ago, touching audiences with the beauty and expressive diversity of percussion today. With an enviable international reputation as one of Australia’s finest and most versatile music projects, synergy has performed at festivals throughout Europe, Asia and the united states, as well as most of Australia’s mainstage recital and performance venues. Core members – Timothy Constable, Alison Pratt, Bree van Reyk and Joshua Hill are all award-winning and internationally acclaimed exponents of new music in their own right.
The performing style transcends accepted wisdom about percussion music. Synergy is both subtle and a tour de force, descriptive, emotional, melodic and rhythmically athletic. Unique musical architectures are sculpted from such elements as the whisper of crumpled cloth, infectious beats, the delicate beauty of a tiny bell, or the engulfing sounds of large drums, cymbals and gongs. Synergy is at home on world music stages, contemporary/experimental art venues, pop and rock concerts, and opera and recital stages. Its expansive vision of percussion, together with the exceptionally wide musical experience of the members, has allowed the group to work together with a diverse and exemplary family of artists from around the world.
Collaborators include Fritz Hauser, Hossam Ramzy, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Aly N’diaye Rose, Trilok Gurtu, Jose Vicente, Kazue Sawai, Dave Samuels, Evelyn Glennie, Riley Lee, Taikoz, Michael Kieran Harvey, Sydney Dance Company, Meryl Tankard And Regis Lansac, Akira Isogawa, Grainger String Quartet, William Barton, And The Leigh Warren Dancers, The Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras.
Synergy has commissioned over thirty works by Australian and international composers. The group commissions internally, and works by ensemble members have been performed internationally to high acclaim.
Recent performance highlights include the Tongyeong international music festival in Korea 2011. Synergy presented 'Hommage à Steve Reich' in celebration of the composer's 75th anniversary. Synergy launched the 2011 Youtube Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House and mentored the percussion group in the lead up to the week-long series of concerts, watched by over 33 million people worldwide.
Other performance highlights include performances at the French bicentenary in Paris 1989, the Huddersfield contemporary music festival 1990, ‘synergy with synergy’ – a collaboration with Sydney dance company which toured Japan and Taiwan 1989, Festival of Asian arts Hong Kong 1994, Wellington International Festival of Arts 1994, premiere Carl Vine’s Symphony No. 5 “Percussion” with Sydney Symphony, performances as focal group at the global cultural diversity conference in darling harbour attended by Boutros Gali, Taipei International Percussion convention 1996, Stockholm International Percussion Event 1998, Budapest Percussion Festival 1999, Singapore Festival of the Arts 1999, World expo Hanover 2000, Melbourne Festival 2001, La Batie Festival Geneva/Basel 2001, Warsaw Percussive Arts Festival 2001 And 2005, Brisbane Biennial Festival 2001 And 2003, ‘Mulan’ – With Sydney Dance Company, Shanghai 2005, Commonwealth Games Arts Festival (Percussion Spectacular, Myer Music Bowl) Melbourne 2006. Synergy has performed at the opening of several major venues including the Australian Museum 2001, the Singapore Concert Hall 2005, the Shanghai Arts Centre 2005.
Synergy Percussion members who work with Moorambilla MAXed Out Company:
- Timothy Constable AD
- Joshua Hill
- Mark Robinson
The MAXed OUT Company for high school students has a three year partnership to create new work with Synergy Percussion and composer Luke Byrne for performance at the Moorambilla Festival. Internationally renowned for their dynamic performances and musicianship. www.taikoz.com
LEICHHARDT ESPRESSO CHORUS - Choir in Residence 2006 - 2011
Leichhardt Espresso Chorus is a non auditioned choir from Sydney’s inner west and is delighted to be back at the Moorambilla Festival for its fourth year as choir in residence. In this role they work closely with both the regional adult and children's choirs, as well as co-commissioning much of the new Australian music featured at the Festival.
The LEC is committed to the creation of new Australian music for adults and children and seeks to deliver each performance as a shot of musical caffeine. LEC's 10th anniversary year in 2008 saw the premiere of Seven Deadly Sins by Dan Walker, interspersed with Mozart's Vespers; a Midwinter Messiah, performances on TV's Battle of the Choirs with the Coonamble Crooners, and the annual Carols on Norton in Leichhardt.
The LEC was honoured to be awarded the inaugural 2008 National Music in Communities Award for their work with the Moorambilla choirs and the communities of far western NSW as well as the inner west of Sydney.
Continuum Sax - Ensemble in Residence - 2012
Moorambilla Voices is please to announce that reknown ensemble Continuum Sax will join us in 2012 as Artists in residence
Continuum Sax, Australia's foremost Saxophone quartet, performs a unique repertoire that explores the intriguing, exciting and expressive world of the saxophone. Their concerts have been enjoyed by a wide range of audiences, including performances at the 2010 ISCM World New Music Days, the 2008 Restrung Festival, the 2005 Melbourne International Festival of Single Reeds, and the 2002 Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Conference. Continuum Sax has often featured on ABC Classic FM, for whom they have presented Sunday Live and performed for the Australia Day outdoor broadcasts from Hyde Park (2008 and 2009).
Their repertoire has been developed through engagement with leading Australian and international composers. Rosalind Page, Damien Ricketson, Brian Howard, Robert Davidson, Stuart Greenbaum, Paul Stanhope, Barry Cockcroft, and Matthew Hindson, amongst others, have contributed works that exploit the sonic dexterity and rhythmic fluency of the quartet. Continuum Sax has presented Australian premieres of compositions by Elena Firsova, Franco Donatoni, Salvatore Sciarrino, Gavin Bryars, Perry Goldstein, Rolf Gehlhaar and Jacob TV.
In addition to their performance schedule, the quartet is active in education, having performed and workshopped student compositions for MLC School's Australian Music Days, and presented composition and performance masterclasses for Newcastle University. In 2008 Continuum Sax recorded a large number of educational works for reedmusic.com.
Continuum Sax has released two CDs, CONTINUUM (2001) and ICON (2005). Their recording of Matthew Hindson’s Videogame Dreaming is due to be released in 2011.
Continuum Sax is managed and supported by the New Music Network.
There appearance in 2012 is through funding and support of the New Music Network.
Continuum Sax is presented by:
http://www.newmusicnetwork.com.au/
