This is a benefit concert presented by the Wesley Music Foundation, which has a special focus on the development of talented young musicians. Proceeds will support Tegan's harp studies in Canada.

Tegan Peemoeller

Katherine Warren

What: Harp & Voice Concert

When: Saturday 7 May at 7.30pm

Where: Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest (cnr Sydney Avenue)

Tickets: Adults $20, concession $15, full-time students $10 and children $5. No bookings required.

Enquiries: Wesley Music Centre.
Ph: 02 6232 7248

'I hardly dared check on the harp once we got it back – I let it acclimatise in the cold room first and got myself a cup of tea – but when I checked the tuning it was bang on pitch – not a bit sharp and seemingly unconcerned!...' Read more from Alice here

Arparla is touring and teaching across Australia and Asia in March 2011.

Australian tour dates
10 March 1.10pm Perth, WA: St. George's College Chapel
12 March 3pm Perth, WA: St. Paul's Chapel, Mirrabooka
16 March 7pm Sydney, NSW: Humph Hall
21 March 8.30pm Woodend, VIC: St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Woodend Winter Arts Festival

Further information:
www.arparla.it
info@arparla.it

The duo will be launching their second CD,  Le Grazie del Violino, on the Stradivarius label (STR 33881). It is a collection of 17th century Italian instrumental music including works by Marini, Pandolfi-Mealli, Selma, Uccellini, Frescobaldi, Merula and Fontana. These pieces are highly experimental, but seek to represent the expressive affects (the graces) and human passions.

The collection is unique in that it is the first CD where the Arpa Doppia (the Baroque double harp) is exclusively used as the continuo instrument and the solo works for keyboard have never been recorded before on the harp. 

Alice has been using her field recorder to record the unique sounds of her vast surroundings, such as icebergs breaking, the icy Antarctic winds creating eerie aeolian effects as they blow through the harp strings, and the calls of Antarctica's natural inhabitants, elephant seals and penguins! Upon Alice's return, composition students at the Australian National University will be able to use this material to inspire and create new works. Read more on Alice's blog here.



The inspiring Alice Giles can now add 'Antarctic Explorer' to her extensive and varied resume. Alice is the recipient of an Australian Antarctic Division Arts Fellowship to travel on the ‘Aurora’ to the Mawson Base in February and March 2011. Alice has the distinction of being the first Australian professional musician to perform in Antarctica (and as far as we know the first harpist!) and her musical presentation at the Mawson Base will celebrate the Centenary of the First Australasian Antarctic Expedition.

This project has a special personal connection for Alice as her grandfather Dr Cecil T. Madigan, was a member of the First Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-1914.

Alice will be performing, videoing and recording music composed especially for this project by Australian composers, as well as music connected to her grandfather's experience of Antarctica, such as well-loved hymns, gleaned from his 100 year old diaries.

You can follow Alice on her voyage as she is documenting this unique experience by blogging regularly from the ship. Her blog is interactive so you can ask her questions about her journey. We are interested to hear about how her electro-acoustic blue harp and her Andrew Thom lever harp, which the HCA team have nicknamed 'Muddy Waters' (because it's also blue), hold up in the icy, sub-zero temperatures!

Jason Azem, Production Manager and Harp Technician at Lyon & Healy Harps in the US, will be coming to Australia in late March to Early April 2011 to provide regulation and repair services to Australian harpists. Regulation is a maintenance service designed to keep your harp in the best possible playing condition. Jason hopes to visit Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra and Brisbane on this trip (depending on interest).

If you would like to get your harp regulated or repaired by Jason, please contact him directly to register your interest (contact info below). A standard regulation is US$350.

Melbourne harpist and ANAM student, Jessica Fotinos performs with flautist Lina Andonovska and Orchestra Victoria, in the stunning acoustics of Elisabeth Murdoch Hall.

Here is Fabrice Pierre performing the beautiful slow movement of the concerto with flautist, Patrick Gallois, and Sir Neville Marriner conducting the Orchestra Della Svizzera Italiana :

If you have an event that you would like our members to know about, or a review, article, or news, which you think would be of interest to the Australian harp community, please email us.