On Wings of Peace

The Westside Orchestra is delighted to be joined by former Concertmaster with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra 
Warwick Adeney to perform The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

He will also perform a world premier of So Exclusively is this bird a Tenant of the Air, written for the orchestra by young Brisbane composer Alys Rayner.

And we welcome back guest conductor Nicky Griffith.

The concert is on a theme of peace brought by birds, and also features composers from Respighi to George Shearing and Bob Marley! Such is the timelessness of the inspiration brought by our feathered friends.

We hope you enjoy this final concert for 2024.

MORE ABOUT OUR ARTISTS

Warwick Adeney 

Warwick Adeney trained at Queensland Conservatorium where he learnt from Dr Anthony Doheny, was a member of the Ambrosian Quartet, and emerged as the Gold Medal graduate of 1984. 
 
He joined Queensland Theatre Orchestra and was appointed concertmaster in 1989. Warwick played many solos, including the memorable Lark Ascending with Sir Neville Marriner, and directed many concerts. 

In 2001, after amalgamation of orchestras in Queensland Warwick served (initially as co-concertmaster with Alan Smith) under conductor Michael Christie and then Johannes Fritzsch, Alondra de la Parra and Umberto Clerici before retiring in 2023.

Married to Michele, a fellow musician, Warwick is blessed with nine children, all of whom learn a variety of instruments. 
 
The violin Warwick plays is a Venetian instrument from the early 18th century, possibly by Carlo Antonio Testore. 

Nicky Griffith

Nicky Griffith is a conductor, multi-instrumentalist and music teacher. She is the Assistant Conductor of Queensland Youth Orchestras and directs the Instrumental Music – Strings Program at Varsity College. Nicky is a popular engagement at workshop events for young musicians across the Gold Coast and has appeared as guest conductor of the Queensland Youth Symphony at QPAC, the Cadenza Chamber Players and in rehearsals for the UQ Symphony Orchestra. 

Since 2012, Nicky has contributed to more than 40 musical theatre productions in South-East and North Queensland as musical director, conductor, cellist, bassist, or technical engineer. She musically directed and conducted Hot Shoe Shuffle in 2021 (Savoyards), was assistant musical director and guest conductor of Oklahoma! in 2019 (Savoyards), assistant musical director of Les Misérables in 2022 (Lynch & Patterson) and was musical director and conductor for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (HOTA).  

Currently studying a Master of Music Studies in conducting at the Queensland Conservatorium and a recipient of the Griffith Award for academic excellence, Nicky holds a Postgraduate Certificate of Music Studies in conducting from the same university, as well as a Bachelor of Music (Honours) and Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Queensland.

Alys Rayner

Alys Rayner is a Brisbane-based composer in love with the music of spoken voice. Working closely with local musicians and artists, she has a passion for writing chamber music and digging for poems to wend into compositions. Her most recent project has been collaborating as speaker/composer with Brisbane's Riverbend Ensemble for the work "Three Poems of Christopher Brennan" (2023).  She was the 2020 Composer in Residence for The Australian Voices.