1000 Years of Music: Luminescence Chamber Singers to tour Central West & Orana

6 members of Luminescence stand smiling in front of a dark brown building (image by Hilary Wardhaugh)

Following a successful 2022 tour with Omega Ensemble, Music in the Regions returns to NSW’s Central West and Orana regions, featuring vocal ensemble Luminescence. A six-piece ensemble, Luminescence champions the unbound expressive potential of our original instrument - the human voice.

Since 2015, Luminescence has performed extensively in Canberra and the surrounding regions, presenting an annual concert program as well as appearing for a range of festivals, collaborations and special events. Performance highlights have included appearances at the Sydney Opera House (2023), the National Museum of Australia (2022), and the National Gallery of Australia (2023), as well as appearances for the Enlighten Festival (2018), Four Winds Festival (Bermagui, 2019; 2020; 2022), and the Bowral Autumn Music Festival (2023). Since 2017, Luminescence has appeared annually at the Canberra International Music Festival, working closely with long-time collaborator and mentor Roland Peelman, and performing in more than 20 festival programs alongside many of Australia's finest musicians.

Recent accolades have included a 2022 Canberra Critic’s Circle Award for Ave Regina: God Be With The Mother, a 2022 CAPO Award, and a 2022 ABC Classic FM Commission. In May, Luminescence premiered Pictures at an ExHERbition - a collaboration with composer/pianist Sally Whitwell and the National Gallery of Australia. Recently released recordings of new music by Whitwell, sung by Luminescence, are now included in a number of NGA audio-guides.

Music in the Regions General Manager and Producer, Ian Whitney said: “I’m very excited to present Music in the Regions’ first vocal tour. This program includes music from the 12th to the 21st centuries and will be a magical experience for audiences in the Central West and Orana.”

Veronica Milroy of Luminescence said: “Luminescence are thrilled to be bringing the sounds of our original instrument - the voice - to regional NSW, and to be partnering for the first time with Music in the Regions. This will be a particularly exciting tour for me, finally being able to perform in my home region with the ensemble. Through ensemble singing, we give voice to human experiences of all kinds; from the grandest concert halls to the smallest community centres.

In Drawing Breath Luminescence Chamber Singers explore first breaths, last breaths, and music as diverse as the vast compass of human life and feeling in between: from Machaut and Gesualdo, to Pink Floyd, and newly commissioned works by Australian composers Brenda Gifford, Connor D’Netto, and Dan Walker.

Luminescence will perform Drawing Breath at:

CONDOBOLIN: Saturday 4 November 4pm, at the Condobolin Community Centre in partnership with the Lachlan Arts Council.

FORBES: Sunday 5 November 3pm, at, and in partnership with, Club Forbes.

WELLINGTON: Wednesday 8 November 7pm, at the Wellington Arts Western Gallery in partnership with Orana Arts.

STUART TOWN: Thursday 9 November 7pm, at the Stuart Town School of Arts Hall in partnership with Orana Arts.

KANDOS: Friday 10 November 7pm, at, and in partnership with, the Kandos Museum.