Inaugural tour success for Music in the Regions
New independent touring organisation Music in the Regions has wrapped up its successful inaugural tour across NSW’s Southern Tablelands, delighting audiences in a wide range of regional venues in Goulburn, Gunning, Braidwood, Young, Temora and Cowra, and leaving them hungry for more classical music experiences in the future.
Acacia Quartet take to the tracks at Temora for the inaugural Music in the Regions tour.
Music in the Regions Executive Director, Janine Collins, said the response from locals and visitors who attended the Music in the Regions series of concerts, which began on March 2 and was led by Acacia Quartet, one of Australia’s most dynamic and versatile musical ensembles, was truly heartwarming and impactful.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the reception Music in the Regions received on our first tour, both from our concert partners and also the audiences who were enthusiastic, deeply moved and oftentimes on their feet demanding encores from Acacia Quartet,” Ms Collins said.
“One particular standout moment occurred in Temora where Acacia Quartet played at the local historic railway precinct and literally moved members of the audience to tears. They were completely overwhelmed by the exceptional quality of the performance and this magical cultural experience that was totally unexpected in a regional setting.”
Concert attendee and Braidwood resident Louise McKendry agreed saying, “Both myself and my young daughter thoroughly enjoyed the performance. It was a fantastic experience and it’s great to have shows like this being brought to small rural towns like Braidwood. My daughter who is 10-years-old and learning violin was captivated by the classical and contemporary pieces.”
Currently ensemble-in-residence at the Orange Regional Conservatorium, Acacia Quartet presented a program that combined work by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Alexander Borodin along with the sought-after young Australian composer Alice Chance. In Braidwood, the Quartet were joined by local guest cellist Rachel Johnston.
In addition to the Temora Railway Precinct, Acacia Quartet played in a range of other unique local buildings that were transformed into classical music venues, including a historic courthouse in Gunning and the heritage Southern Cross Cinema in Young. The Quartet also took part in the official launch of Music in the Regions and Hume Conservatorium’s Creative Precinct in Goulburn, as well as workshops and professional development sessions to stimulate regional creativity.
Acacia Quartet at Gunning’s Old Courthouse where the audience packed a courtroom to listen to the performance.
Acacia Quartet cellist Anna Martin-Scrase said: "It was such a joy to finally be playing live music again after two years of cancelled programs. To bring our music to new audiences in regional NSW made it even better. There were so many memorable moments, from meeting people after the concerts, to speaking with students at workshops, and especially playing in quirky venues like Temora's historic train station.”
In a model that will be repeated in future programs across NSW, the musicians involved in 2022 will return to these same communities every year for the next three years. This will help strengthen relationships with audiences, extend opportunities for local artists and open the door for other musicians by establishing new touring routes throughout the state.
Speaking at the launch at Hume Conservatorium in Goulburn, Chair Naseema Sparks AM, said the concept and driving force behind Music in the Regions came when a gap in classical music touring to regional NSW was identified.
“A subsequent feasibility study showed a lack of consistent touring of classical music ensembles to smaller towns and communities within our extensive state. The study also identified a lack of touring and concert opportunities for regionally based musicians and, importantly, a lack of a sustainable model to build audiences for classical music in regional NSW, without people having to travel hundreds of kilometres to enjoy it,” Ms Sparks said.
“From the success of our first tour, which I am proud to say featured all regionally based musicians, we can safely say we are at the end of the beginning in our vision to create positive cultural change for regional NSW communities and musicians. I look forward to meeting local audiences enjoying Music in the Regions concerts in the near future.”
A very appreciative audience mingles at Young’s Southern Cross Cinema before Acacia Quartet’s performance.
Bob Spiller, Secretary of Gunning Focus Group, which partnered with Music in the Regions to bring Acacia Quartet to Gunning’s Old Courthouse, said: “It was a delight to be invited to partner with Music in the Regions in a three-year project that aims to bring Opera House standard musicians to places like Gunning in regional NSW.
“The Music in the Regions project fits wonderfully well with our Council’s plan to position Gunning as an arts and cultural hub, attracting visitors to the village from surrounding regions. This will surely benefit both music lovers and performers alike.”
According to a post-concert audience survey conducted by Music in the Regions, 100 percent of attendees said they rated their concert experience as ‘excellent’ and would like to see more classical music concerts in their area in the future. Of these, almost one-third (32 percent) of respondents said they had never been to a classical music concert in their area before.
The survey also revealed audience sentiment regarding the Music in the Regions initiative, with two-thirds (66 percent) of respondents saying the best aspect of the program was the chance to hear classical music in regional locations, 53 percent saying it provides people in regional areas with an opportunity to enjoy cultural experiences, and 40 percent saying Music in the Regions gave them the chance to experience music in regional venues they wouldn't otherwise be able to.
Music in the Regions will announce the details of its second program, which will take place on the NSW Mid-North Coast, in the coming weeks.