AVANT GARDENS ESCAPADES
The Future Is Wild… It takes you into a world of secrecy, surprise and play! Avant Gardens Escapades centres the next generation of performers and composers, with a film legend to boot!
DETAILS
Saturday 20 February 4pm, Glebe
Sunday 21 February 4pm, Glebe
PROGRAM
ANDREW HOWES Lyrebird Concerto movt. 1 (2024, rev. 2026)
soprano saxophone, piano
THOMAS MEADOWCROFT Old Rags (2025)
piano, backing track
ELIZABETH JIGALIN Interrobang (2026)
alto saxophone, piano
JOHN WILLIAMS Escapades from Catch Me If You Can (2002)
alto saxophone, piano, vibraphone
BEN ROBINSON Expansion (2017)
alto saxophone, backing track
BOBBY GE Variations for Wolds Below (2022)
alto saxophone, piano, percussion
HOLLY HARRISON Swivel and Swerve (2024)
soprano saxophone, piano
Concert Duration: 70 minutes followed by complimentary drinks and canapes
LISTEN
PERFORMERS
Alice Morgan (saxophones)
Ronan Apcar (piano)
Claire Edwardes (Artistic Director, percussion)
DESCRIPTION
The Future Is Wild… and Escapades takes you into a world of secrecy, surprise and play. Our Avant Gardens season opener celebrates the next-gen of performers and composers, alongside the iconic sound-world of legendary film composer John Williams.
Eclectic and bursting with energy, Escapades features two of our recent Hatched Emerging Performers: saxophonist Alice Morgan and pianist Ronan Apcar, alongside percussionist Claire Edwardes.
Lush, shimmering and thrilling new musical worlds unfurl in works by Andrew Howes, Thomas Meadowcroft, Liz Jigalin, Ben Robinson, Holly Harrison and Chinese-American composer Bobby Ge, alongside the instantly recognisable sound-world of John Williams.
Presented in a private, secret setting revealed only at the last minute, Escapades is an invitation to take a chance, get curious and discover something unexpected. Avant Gardens concerts are richly varied, intimate and highly personal experiences - quite unlike any other. They’re about taking risks, getting curious and experiencing new music in a setting that feels like it belongs entirely to that moment.
These concerts sell out fast, so take a chance and make sure you’re in the room when it all happens. Trust us - it’s going to be wild!
What can you expect from an Avant Gardens concert experience?
These social salon concerts take place in the lovely private homes of generous Ensemble Offspring supporters, so we only share the exact address with concert-goers the week of the event in our pre-concert information email. When you arrive you will be warmly welcomed by the Ensemble Offspring team. Throughout the concert you’ll learn more about the music as the musicians and composers share stories and background on the works. After the concert, we invite you to join the musicians, composers and our wonderful hosts for a chat, a glass or two of wine and a selection of delectables.
“...a wonderful demonstration of what Avant Gardens invites you into: a warmth and intimacy absent in grander venues; an ushering in of new Australian music to its audience at eye-level; direct and welcoming.”
“... beautifully intimate house concert… accompanied by friends catching up, and discussions of the delightfully eclectic program.”
“There is no doubt Ensemble Offspring’s audience are now eagerly awaiting the next iteration of Avant Gardens.”
“Concerts via the forum of a salon make listening to music special. One does not feel part of an audience such as being in a concert hall…but rather in a small personal space amongst friends listening to music…”
“...a performance full of extreme dynamic ranges and textural variety, with nuances appreciated best in the intimate setting. And, as always, there was the typical Ensemble Offspring energy of fun and lightness balanced with the tension and detail each piece required.”
DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM
Accessibility Information
The Avant Gardens concerts take place in the private homes of some of Ensemble Offspring’s generous supporters. Some homes may have steps, limiting wheelchair access, but ambulant or mobility-restricted attendees can enter with extra time and assistance. If you have accessibility requirements, please reach out to the friendly Ensemble Offspring team by emailing admin@ensembleoffspring.com.
SUPPORTED BY
Ensemble Offspring is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
Thank you to our Avant Gardens hosts for their generous support of Ensemble Offspring.
Photo: Alice Morgan by Keith Saunders
