‘THE FRENCH SAXOPHONE’: A FINAL 2022 TOUR TO REMEMBER

Nexas Quartet and Music in the Regions General Manager and Producer Ian Whitney at Nundle Woollen Mill. Photo: Sally Alden

Music in the Regions’ final tour for 2022 saw the acclaimed saxophone group Nexas Quartet bring their delightful French-themed music program ‘The French Saxophone’ to regional audiences at Nundle, Gunnedah and Barraba in the North, Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter and Gloucester on the Mid North Coast. 

Starting on 5 November, Nexas Quartet packed their saxophones and journeyed north along country roads to Nundle where the first concert took place outdoors beneath the trees of the picturesque Woollen Mill Grounds. 

Presented in partnership with Upper Peel Landcare Group, the Nundle audience were delighted by the Quartet’s renditions of pieces by famous French composers Claude Debussy and Alfred Desenclos, Australian composer Lyle Chan, and the jazz-influenced ‘An American in Paris’ by American composer George Gershwin. One attendee even knitted her way through the concert with wool purchased from the venue!

From Nundle, Nexas Quartet next headed to Gunnedah, an area which has recently been affected by the extensive New South Wales flooding so we are very grateful to our partner Gunnedah Conservatorium for their warm hospitality, support and commitment to hosting this concert at Gunnedah Shire Band Hall. Following Gunnedah, Nexas performed for the residents of Manilla’s Manellae Lodge and even joined in celebrating the birthday of one of the residents.

Nexas Quartet perform ‘The French Saxophone’ program at Barraba’s Playhouse Hotel. Photo: Ian Hutton

That evening, an intimate and warm performance took place at Barraba’s Playhouse Hotel, where owner Andrew Sharp added a special French-themed touch to the room with a montage of Parisian locations projected behind the Quartet as they played. A lovely dinner was provided following the concert, where Nexas Quartet and Music in the Regions’ General Manager and Producer Ian Whitney mingled with guests, enjoyed friendly conversation and had a great view of the lunar eclipse.

Of the concert, Andrew commented: “The performance was of a remarkably high standard. We've had quality concerts here before, but not many featuring such high quality music. Thank you so, so much for giving Barraba such a splendid concert!”

From Barraba, the group next journeyed to Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter, where they took part in two community engagement events focused on students - one at the music-focused Richard Gill School and one at the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music (UHCM), our partner and also venue for the Muswellbrook concert.

Nexas Quartet perform at The Atherstone Room in Muswellbrook’s Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music. Photo: Supplied by Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music

At Richard Gill School, 25 young students connected with the Quartet for a fun program including an arrangement of the theme song for the children’s cartoon ‘Bluey’, while at UHCM a masterclass saw Nexas perform their repertoire with drums and a rhythm section alongside Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Summertime. The next evening, Nexas performed in the Atherstone Room at UHCM, where the audience, which included several students from the masterclass, requested an encore and were thrilled when the group obliged. 

The final stop at Gloucester on 12 November saw one of our largest audiences of the tour, with concert partner Gloucester Arts and Cultural Council Inc. bringing the local Citizens Centre to life with an enthusiastic audience who requested and received an encore, indulged in a delicious afternoon tea and provided Music in the Regions with a tour grand finale to remember.

Music in the Regions would like to thank our partners, supporters and audience for their wonderful support in the lead up to and during the Nexas Quartet ‘The French Saxophone’ tour, and look forward to announcing our new program for 2023 very soon.