Caesura Ensemble Presents: Line

Caesura Ensemble presents its sixth concert, Line: an intimate and dramatic exploration of contrasting types of musical lines.

Parturition* (2024 rev. 2026) - Audrey Ormella

Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, Op. 57 - Carl Nielsen // Soloist: Austin O'Toole

Symphony No.5 in Bb Major, D. 485 - Franz Schubert

*World Premiere

Conductor: Tim Doubinski

The concert begins with a world premiere from accomplished emerging Sydney-based composer, Audrey Ormella. Parturition is a deeply emotional work, dedicated to Ormella's mother as it expresses "the traumatic and dramatic circumstances" of her birth. The work sensitively unfolds and explores the full dramatic and textural possibilities of the string orchestra as both a homogeneous sonority, and intricately detailed soloistic lines.

The concert then turns to feature Austin O'Toole, Caesura Ensemble's principal clarinet since our first concert in 2024, in Carl Nielsen's virtuosic and unrestrained Clarinet Concerto. The work shifts between angular acrobatics, and almost surreal moments stillness throughout.

We then conclude with the much-needed warmth and playfulness of Franz Schubert's Fifth Symphony. The work is unquestionably a sublime masterpiece of the early Romantic period that looks ahead to the giants of the latter 19th century. Simultaneously, it also pays a joyful homage to the beauty of the Classical period, particularly the symphonic style of Mozart.

This evening promises an unforgettable emotional journey with some of Sydney's finest young instrumentalists, book now!

About the featured soloist:

Austin O’Toole is an emerging clarinettist based in Sydney's inner-west. He has been trained by renowned tutors Peter Jenkin, Deborah De Graaff and Frank Celata. Austin's journey first saw him perform as the principal clarinettist of the Arts Unit Orchestra from 2018-2021, including multiple performances at the Opera House and Town Hall. From 2022-2025 he was the principal clarinettist of the Sydney Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and concertmaster of the Wind Symphony. He performed as associate principal clarinet in the 2024 program of The Orchestra Project. In 2025, he won the Sydney Conservatorium’s Clarinet Concerto Competition and was runner-up in the Woodwind Concerto Competition. Austin was the 2021 school captain of the Sydney Conservatorium High School and currently serves as a choral scholar at St. Stephen's Uniting Church and Inner West Voices. He recently graduated with First Class Honours from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Performance).

About the featured composer:

Audrey Ormella is an emerging composer based in Sydney, Australia. Her practice is inspired by the mangroves and birds of her local river, personal emotional narratives, and conceptual thinking. Early opportunities have led to commissions and performances from Coro Innominata, Leichhardt Espresso Chorus, Trinity College Choir from the University of Melbourne, and by performers Anna Fraser and Jane Sheldon. A 2024 highlight was the inclusion of her short piece in the Goldner String Quartet’s “Goldner Variations” as part of their final performance season. Audrey enjoys working with unique colour combinations, having previously written for pipa and violin duo, as well as baryton and two solo sopranos. In 2026 a new chamber work will be premiered at the Sydney Opera House as part of Ensemble Offspring’s 2026 Hatched Academy. Audrey acknowledges the Wangal and Gadigal people, whose cultures, histories and voices are embedded in the lands she lives and works on.