HMCollective presents 'Birds of a Feather' (are Better Together!)

The beauty of music lies in its power to unite people of all ages. It's a universal language everyone can sing! For musicians, it is the wind beneath our wings lifting us to soar high in the clouds, the drumbeat of our hearts and the branch on which we love to flock.

Highlands Music Collective's opening concert for 2025 will showcase the brilliant talents of the winners of the Eva Pascoe Award - flautist Annabel Wouters (17) and pianist Luke Bowen (21), joined by HMCollective's esteemed Artistic Director/violinist Myee Clohessy and cellist Catherine Barnett.

Their instruments will mimic the chirps, tweets and caw-caws of birdsong from the Italian master of trills, Antonio Vivaldi, and the merriment of Mozart's birdcatcher Papageno through to the serene and haunting music by Pablo Casals and Herman Beetfink to the excitement and drama of film composer, Nino Rota.

The program's centrepiece is 'When Feathers Fall', written by local Australian composer John Spence as a heartfelt tribute to the loss of his dear friend, Wendy Feathers. The beautiful poem "Hope... is the thing with Feathers" by Emily Dickinson will set the atmosphere as Anne Donaldson recites the words.

Please join us for 'Birds of a Feather' as we soar into this new year with great hope, joy and inspiration. Let us lift your hearts, too!


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)
Anne Donaldson, poetry
Emma Dunnage, design

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 also thank Highlands General Practice, our corporate sponsor, our generous Tier Donors and Friends of HMCollective, and our kind volunteers.