Music in the Regions to bring the classical sounds of guitarist Andrew Blanch and harpist Emily Granger to the NSW Mid North Coast

Harpist Emily Granger and guitarist Andrew Blanch will tour the Mid North Coast in May. Image: Keith Saunders

After a successful inaugural tour across the Central West and Southern Tablelands, new touring organisation Music in the Regions (MitR) will continue to bring high quality classical music performances to regional NSW audiences, with its next series of concerts taking place along the Mid North Coast from Saturday 14 May, 2022.

MitR has been seed funded by Create NSW to extend the reach of classical music into regional areas, and to create opportunities for musicians and audiences while developing new touring routes and activating interesting new venues.

For this tour, which will stop in Coramba (near Coffs Harbour), Nambucca Heads, Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Tuncurry, celebrated guitarist Andrew Blanch and harpist Emily Granger will pair up for Suite mágica, where the extraordinary combination of guitar and harp will be applied to a selection of works that display the energy, versatility and beauty of these much-loved instruments.

Suite mágica will showcase Blanch and Granger sharing some of the finest music from their explorations, including exciting new commissions by Australia’s leading composers, arrangements of popular favourites, and more.

In addition to ticketed concert performances, MitR will co-host several community events including an invitation only performance for the Bowraville Rural Fire Service, and Blanch and Granger will also play with a local ukulele group in the village of Sawtell.

Speaking about the tour, Emily Granger said, “Andrew and I are delighted to join forces with Music in the Regions to bring the unique sounds of the classical harp and guitar to regional NSW. We are both passionate about getting out of the urban centres to bring Sydney Opera House standards to regional community halls.

“Andrew and I have been collaborating for over two years since meeting at The Banff Center for Arts and Creativity and have commissioned four new Australian works for our duo and have arranged classics like Ravel and Granados. Our program is full of joy and virtuosity that we just cannot wait to hit the road and share with audiences in May!”

Andrew Blanch and Emily Granger performing on stage. Image: Australian Digital Concert Hall

MitR Executive Director Janine Collins said, “We are thrilled to bring this exceptionally talented duo to a range of unusual venues in spectacular locations along the NSW Mid North Coast such a heritage community hall, an historic church and even a golf club.

“Our recent MitR inaugural tour with Acacia Quartet in the Central West and Southern Tablelands was a smash hit, and we were warmly supported by our wonderful concert partners and appreciative audiences who were enthusiastic, deeply moved and often on their feet demanding encores.

“We are confident audiences who experience the magic of Blanch and Granger will similarly be captivated by the exceptional quality of their world class performance, reinforcing our belief that people living in regional settings are hungry for rich cultural experiences close to home.

“We are also firmly committed to facilitating unique performance opportunities for emerging and established classical musicians and chamber orchestras, especially after the significant impact to the music industry over the past two years caused by the pandemic.”

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.

Andrew Blanch and Emily Granger will perform Suite mágica at:

·      Coramba Community Hall, Saturday 14 May at 2pm - BOOK HERE

·      Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club, Tuesday 17 May at 7pm

·      Oddfellows Hall, Kempsey, Wednesday 18 May at 7pm

·      Community of Christ Church, Tuncurry, Friday 20 May at 7pm - BOOK HERE

·      Long Point Vineyard, Port Macquarie, Sunday 22 May at 2pm - BOOK HERE

Click here to read more about Andrew Blanch, Emily Granger and Suite mágica.