By Robert Harris
Good news from The Galston Concerts – “We’re back” – recommencing Sunday afternoon, 27 March, in Galston Uniting Church. The ‘reunion’ will commence with an organ prelude c. 1.30pm, featuring the Galston Uniting Forster and Andrews heritage pipe organ – a visual treat and a musical treasure, fully restored to better-than-ever quality.
The main concert program, starting 2pm, will showcase prize-winning next generation young performers – strings, piano, trumpet and woodwinds – in a ‘look to a brighter future’ theme.
Two of the performing groups – Bartholdy Piano Trio and Piccolo String Quartet – were winners of The Galston Concerts Awards at Musica Viva Australia’s 2021 Strike A Chord national championships for secondary school ensembles.
Music featured will also have links to the ‘young talent’ lineage with Classical composers like Josef Haydn (a member of the Vienna Boys Choir in his early years) and the super-talent prodigy Felix Mendelssohn (his Midsummer Night’s Dream music brought teen-age fame).
The finale on 27 March will feature a Disney medley performed by the Clarinet Quintet of The Castle Hill RSL North West Wind Ensemble – a perennial winner of State and National Championships – a presentation to the Musical Director of the NWWE, James Brice, who was honoured in the 2022 Australia Day awards.
NSW Health and Uniting Church HQ guidelines will allow ‘house full’ capacity.
While there’s no singing (or dancing) planned for this first program health regs will allow for lots of applause and ‘bravos’ from the crowd. However, to reduce ‘crowd contact’ the concert will finish 3-ish, without an interval.
Galston’s famous post-concert afternoon tea will be delayed until future programs, after COVID trends have further improved.
To book for 27 March concert and to join audience and newsletter database please contact the Galston Uniting office on 9653 2039 or Robert Harris on 0428 248 348.
