The beauty of music lies in its power to unite people of all ages. A universal language everyone can sing. For musicians, it's the wind beneath our wings lifting us to soar higher and the branch on which we love to flock together.

Highlands Music Collective's opening concert for 2025 will showcase the brilliant talents of the Eva Pascoe Award winners, flautist Annabel Wouters (16) and pianist Luke Bowen (19), joined by HMCollective's Artistic Director/violinist Myee Clohessy and cellist Catherine Barnett.

Our instruments will mimic the chirps, trills and caw-caws of birdsong, spanning from 17th-century Italy to 21st-century America. The program's centrepiece is When Feathers Fall, written by local Australian composer John Spence as a heartfelt tribute in memory of his dear friend, Wendy Feathers.

We invite you to join us for Birds of a Feather as we joyfully soar into the new year!

Highlands Music Collective
Myee Clohessy, violin
Annabel Wouters, flute (2025 Eva Pascoe Award winner)
Catherine Barnett, cello
Luke Bowen, piano (2024 Eva Pascoe Award winner)

Program
Antonio Vivaldi - Trio Sonata in D major RV. 84 for violin, flute, cello
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - 'Papageno', (the bird-catcher) duets for violin and flute
Amy Beach - 'Pastoral and Caprice, The Water Sprites' Op. 90 for flute, cello and piano
Emily Dickinson - 'Hope... is the thing with feathers' recited by Anne Donaldson
Pablo Casals - 'Song of Birds' for solo cello
John Spence * - 'When Feathers Fall' for flute, violin, cello and piano
Herman Beeftink - 'The Raven' for flute and piano
Nino Rota - Trio for flute, violin and piano

* We proudly support Australian composer John Spence, Head of Music Theory and Composition at Wollongong Conservatorium of Music and tutor at Chevalier College

N.B. Doors will open at 5:40 pm.

You'll be welcomed with a glass of complimentary wine with nibbles before the concert starts at 6:30 pm.
Concert duration approx. 70 mins.

Highlands Music Collective is grateful for Creative Partnerships Australia's support through the Australian Cultural Fund.

We are also thankful for our corporate sponsor Highlands General Practice and our generous Tier Donors and Friends of HMCollective.