Introduce your children to the magic of live music with Orchestra Victoria!

The water in the Yaba River is low, the country is in a drought, the waterbirds are hungry. Bila the Spoonbill knows he must do something to help. A rain dance could be the answer. But will Bila be able to bring together the waterbird mob? And can he lead them in a grand enough dance to make the rain fall again?

Hear Rebbeca Chapman’s story of empathy, community and perseverance come to life through the sounds of wind, string percussion instruments at this special Musical Storytime composed by Tim Gray.

This relaxed, interactive performance invites children to participate in the storytelling and discover the sounds of different musical instruments. This is a perfect first musical experience for young people aged 5-8. Young (and young at heart) readers and music-lovers will be singing and dancing all the way home.

About the Author:

Rebbeca Chapman is a proud Wiradjuri woman, who was born near the banks of the Murrumbidgee Bila (river). She spent her early years on Country, before beginning a life of travel, living all over Australia and even the world. Now, she has finally settled down, and lives on Wonnarua Country not far from the banks of the river Coquun. There, she has made her home with her husband, Tristan, her newborn daughter, Sabriel, and their rescue dogs.

Rebbeca is a trained English and Drama teacher, who uses her skills as an educator to share her knowledge and connect young people with Aboriginal culture. In her spare time, she draws, writes, paints and weaves. Being a bamali (aunt) and creating stories for her wundayans and gibayans (nieces and nephews) is her most treasured inspiration.

Rebbeca also enjoys birdwatching. Her favourite bird to spot is the Australian Royal Spoonbill!

About the Composer:
Tim Gray is a Gumbaynggirr/Wiradjuri man who studied at Eora College in 2010-11, 2013 and 2016. He was trained in classical piano up to grade 5 and has always loved film music - his inspirations are John Willliams, Ennio Morricone, John Carpenter, and Hans Zimmer, to name a few. Tim is an accomplished singer/songwriter who has released 2 albums with reggae fusion group Green Hand Band, in which he plays the keyboard. He sings in a group called Voices Carry, lead by Sydney choral director Tania Bowra. He came out of the emerging artists program at Gadigal/Koori Radio and is the presenter of Koori Radio show Social Change. He is a board member of Tribal Warrior Corporation as well as a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel for City of Sydney.

About Orchestra Victoria:

Orchestra Victoria is a world-class opera and ballet orchestra. With a rich history performing with opera, dance and musical theatre companies, Orchestra Victoria is dynamic and versatile, with expertise in an incredible breadth of repertoire from contemporary to classical.

The performance partner of The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia and Victorian Opera, the company is committed to true collaboration, breathing life into performance on and off the stage and screen.
– We Bring the Music

Orchestra Victoria is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body and by the Victorian Government by Creative Victoria. Orchestra Victoria’s performances in Shepparton are supported by the The Sir Andrew & Lady Fairley Foundation.