Hamish Strathdee X Contra Guitar Duo (Brisbane)

Hamish Strathdee presents a recital of contemporary Australian guitar music, centred around three world premieres and two new arrangements for guitar duo, created in collaboration with composers. The program highlights the guitar as a versatile and evolving instrument, and reflects Strathdee’s keen interest in developing new repertoire.

The first half focuses on solo works, including the world premieres of Harry Sdraulig’s Sonata for Guitar and Elizabeth Younan’s Fantasia No. X, both of which are written for Strathdee, alongside Paul Ballam-Cross' This Wide Quietness.

After the interval, Strathdee is joined by Emma-Shay Gallenti-Guilfoyle to form Contra Guitar Duo. Together, they will perform a set of works that have been reimagined for guitar duo through collaboration: Tristan Coelho’s Forest Stories and Lachlan Skipworth’s Ocean Pulse. The recital concludes with the world premiere of Holly Harrison’s new work, written for Contra, Bee’s Knees, a three-movement work (Bee’s Knees, Golden Hive, and Flight Path (Beeline)) that brings the program to an energetic close.

Hamish Strathdee

Harry Sdraulig

• Sonata for guitar - World Premiere

  • Moderately

  • Lively

  • Moderately slow

Paul Ballam-Cross

• This Wide Quietness
  

Elizabeth Younan

• Fantasia No. X for solo guitar - World Premiere

- Interval -

Contra Guitar Duo

Tristan Coelho

• Forest Stories arr. for guitar duo
  

Lachlan Skipworth

• Ocean Pulse arr. for guitar duo

Holly Harrison

• Bee's Knees - World Premiere

  • Bee's Knees

  • Golden Hive

  • Flight Path (Beeline)
    

Performer Biography:

Classical guitarist, Hamish Strathdee, is regarded as an "excellent young Australian performer" (Limelight Magazine). Hamish's debut recording, Impressions of Spain, has received critical acclaim, hailed as "an excellent debut” (Classical Guitar Magazine) and his playing has been described as being of “the highest standard” (Soundboard Magazine) and with a “gloriously warm and rich” sound (Classical Guitar Magazine). 

Hamish has performed to audiences across the globe as a soloist and as part of the Contra Guitar Duo, with highlights including; the Melbourne Guitar Festival and World Expo Dubai, as well as engagements at Hamburgische Staatsoper and the Darmstädter Gitarrentage and a number of international TV and radio appearances. Hamish has received numerous prizes in international competitions including: 2nd Prize in the London International Guitar Competition and 3rd Prize in both the Stuttgart and Aalborg International Guitar Competitions.