Cedar Newman & Rio Xiang | St Jude's Bowral

Emerging Concert Artists - Sharing the Joy of Music

*Please note the scheduled mezzo-soprano had to cancel as of the 17th June and is replaced by Cedar and Rio.

ECHOES OF US

C. Franck, Sonata for Violin and Piano

Rio Xiang, Piano Improvisation,

H. Ernst, Last Rose of Summer

Rio Xiang has won many international piano competitions and performed solo with multiple orchestras overseas. He recently placed second in the 2024 Australian National Piano Awards. Rio is also a phenomenal improviser at the keyboard, which serves as a gateway to his prolific composing. Rio has studied overseas and under the tutelage of Natalia Ricci at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Cedar Newman is well known to Southern Highland audiences and was the inaugural recipient of the Eva Pascoe Award for young instrumentalists. Cedar studies at the Manhattan School of Music with Prof. Lucie Robert and is grateful to be supported by the President's Scholarship. Cedar has performed recital programs and in chamber groups and orchestras in Australia, North America, and Europe.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

These works engage the piano and violin in rich dialogue. As with good conversation, sensitive listening shapes the quality of the musical response. The Franck Sonata was a wedding gift and is thought to echo the emotional journey of a human love story through the interplay of the violin and piano.

EMERGING CONCERT ARTIST SERIES

The Series nurtures the next generation of musicians and brings inspiring, innovative and memorable music to regional communities. InspireMusic Australia runs THE ECAS in collaboration with St Jude's Music Association and Wollongong Art Gallery. Inspire Music is a registered not-for-profit. 

UPCOMING CONCERTS

August 6 | WIND IN THE REEDS 

Gahyun Lee, oboe & Dr Jeanell Carrigan A.M. piano

September 3 |  HORIZONS 

Sydney Conservatorium String Ensemble. 

October 1 | PIANO MUSIC FROM THE HEART 

Elsa Li, piano & Sophia Bae, piano (First featured in October 2022)

November 5 | TIMELINES  

Matthew Zengoski guitar with Nigel Jones guitar

December 3 | JAZZ STORIES 

Tom Hains Quartet