The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra's Voyage of Musical Discovery music education series was established and designed by the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra and its founding artistic director and world-renowned educator, the late Richard Gill.
The Voyage of Musical Discovery is equal parts concert and demonstration. It comprises three separate programs, closely aligned with the NSW music curriculum. Co-artistic directors, Rachael Beesley and Nicole van Bruggen present each Voyage featuring musicians of the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra in the first half, and a contemporary guest artist or ensemble in the second half.
By placing Australian music written in the last 25 years alongside earlier Classical and Romantic works, young listeners are shown the many compositional link s and similarities in structure, tonality, rhythmic function, orchestration and modes of expression.
Since 2018, over 6,000 secondary school music students from Greater Sydney, Brisbane, and regional NSW and Queensland have attended the Voyage of Musical Discovery education programs. Each Voyage comes with a downloadable Education Kit, written by musician and educator Charles MacInnes.
The 2023 series of three Voyages in Terms 1, 2 and 3 shines the spotlight on female composers and can be bought individually or as a subscription.
Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, photo credit Robert Catto
Design & Innovation
Monday 13 March, 6.30pm
City Recital Hall, Sydney
Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra
MOZART | Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581 (1789)
Anna Fraser | Soprano
Sally Whitwell | Piano
Katy B Plummer | Video Installation Artist
Sally WHITWELL | Pictures at an ExHERbition | WE ARE ALL ASTONISHINGLY WISE
The first Voyage of Musical Discovery of 2023 introduces, demonstrates and explains key concepts of design and innovation in music across the centuries. Witness core elements of composition, performance and musicology align in contemporary creative practice, in works presented by the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, and composer/pianist Sally Whitwell and guests.
Sally Whitwell, photo credit Maja Baska
Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, photo credit Robert Catto
Cultural Narratives
Thursday 1 June, 6.30pm
The Concourse, Chatswood
Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra
Louise FARRENC | Nonet in E flat major, Op.38 (1849)
Acacia Quartet
Alice CHANCE | Sundried Quartet
The second Voyage of Musical Discovery of 2023 charts the links between music, culture and narrative, from music from the early Romantic period performed by the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra to storytelling in new music composed for the Acacia Quartet by Alice Chance.
Acacia Quartet, photo credit Holly Bradford
Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, photo credit Robert Catto
Musical Identities
Monday 7 August, 6.30pm
City Recital Hall, Sydney
Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra
MENDELSSOHN | Symphony No.3 in A minor, Op.56 Scottish (1843)
Ensemble Offspring
Nardi SIMPSON | Of Stars and Birds | Burruguu (Time of Creation)
Fiona LOADER | Lorikeet Corroboree
Brenda GIFFORD | Gambambara (Seasons) | Bardju (Footprints)
The third Voyage of Musical Discovery of 2023 reveals the multiple identities of composer and performer and the links between them. The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra and Australia’s musical trailblazers Ensemble Offspring will explore common threads in music from the past and in the latest works by Fiona Loader, Brenda Gifford and Nardi Simpson.
Ensemble Offspring, photo credit Keith Saunders
“We teach music because it is unique and good. We teach music so that children can make their own music. We teach music because it acts in a unique way on the heart, mind, soul and spirit of the child, stimulating thought and imagination in very special ways. These are the real reasons for teaching music.”