SONGS OF LOVE AND LOSS | Concerts Across the Lawn

Concerts Across the Lawn -  A Musical Experience in Nature 

We respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country, Elders past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

An accidental stage and sound pod nestled against the Illawarra escarpment was discovered during COVID-19. Sit around tables or relax on couches; enjoy light refreshments and the company of friends and music lovers.   Spaces are strictly limited. ENTRY IS BY DONATION for the artists. Booking Essential.

SONGS OF LOVES & LOSS | MOLLY RYAN soprano & JOANNE LI piano 

Molly Ryan and Joanna Li have performed concerts and recitals at the Sydney Conservatorium and The University of Sydney. Together they have performed in master classes for Christian Mueller and David Miller.

Soprano Molly Ryan is completing her Bachelor of Music Performance (Classical Voice) at the Sydney Conservatorium, studying with Maree Ryan AM. During her studies, Molly has been the recipient of various scholarships and awards, including the PATIM Fund scholarship, the Helen Myers Scholarship, the Florence Mary Verga-Smith Award and the Henderson Travellers Scholarship, which afforded her the opportunity to perform in opera scenes at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, United Kingdom. Additionally, Molly was recently named the winner of the 2023 Demant Dreikurs Song Scholarship Competition.

Molly’s performed operatic roles include Theodora in Theodora (Handel), Die Hexe in Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdinck), Piacere in Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (Handel), La Princesse in L’enfant et les sortilèges (Ravel), Belinda and Second Witch in Dido and Aeneas (Purcell), Susanna in Il Segretto di Susanna (Wolf-Ferarri), Maguelonne and Armelinde in Cendrillon (Viardot) and Autumn, Mystery, Fairy and Soprano soloist in The Fairy Queen (Purcell).

Her concert repertoire includes soprano soloist in Messiah (Handel), Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven), Krönungsmesse (Mozart), Missa in Angustiis (Haydn), Missa Cellensis (Haydn), Magnificat (Vivaldi), Requiem Op. 48 (Faure), BWV 191 (Bach) and Hierusalem (Dyson). Molly has performed as a soloist with the North Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, Illawarra Choral Society, Manly Warringah Choir and Orchestra, Radio Community Chest, Bel A Capella, Hobart’s Allegri Ensemble, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Ecumenical Choir, Concordia Ensemble, Musgrove Opera and St Paul’s College Chapel Choir where she also sings a soprano choral scholar..

Joanna Li is an Australian pianist who was originally from Beijing, China. She finished her Diploma of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in
2020. In the same year, she received the Kathleen and Allison Short Scholarship from the University of Sydney. She continued her musical journey, specializing in collaborative piano under Dr Jeanell Carrigan AM. At the end of 2022, she completed her Bachelor of Music (Performance).  In January 2023, Joanna went to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for the Winter School program under the George Henderson Scholarship, received the Rosemary Valentine Memorial Prize and commenced her Master in Collaborative Piano.

Joanna began her musical journey at the age of 4 with her grandmother, who was an opera singer. During her studies in China. she joined a number of nationwide piano competitions, including the CCTV piano competition. After migrating to Australia in 2008, she started learning the Suzuki method. In July 2016, Joanna visited Matsumoto, Japan, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Suzuki Methods. In 2020, she was lucky enough to perform in a masterclass with British classical pianist Graham Johnson OBE. In June 2021, Joanna performed in a masterclass with Australian pianist Amir Farid at Musica Viva Sydney. She has also been involved in several productions made by Concordia Ensemble, a Sydney-based opera company.