NGARRA-BURRIA 2024
Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples Composers 2024 Showcase
Each year, Ngarra-Burria: First Peoples Composers – our award-winning collaborative First Nations artist development program – brings exciting new artistic voices into the spotlight.
DETAILS
Wednesday 30 October 6pm, Eugene Goossens Hall, ABC Ultimo Centre
DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM
PROGRAM
Musical Acknowledgement of Country
Gary Wattling – Lotte* (2024)
Adam Manning – Canvas* (2024)
Will Kepa – Ailan Opping (2020)
Brenda Gifford - Bardju (Footprints) (2017)
Nardi Simpson – Of Stars and Birds (2020)
Gabriel Fromyhr – Impromptu Afternoon* (2024)
Adam Manning – Music for Clapsticks and Vibraphone* (2024)
Nicole Smede – Djeera Gadhu (Ocean Stories)* (2024)
James Henry – Dreamscapes (2023-24) First Nations Composer in Residence Commission
Movt. I Big Swell
Movt. 2 Hydrofoil*
Movt. 3 While I’m Sleeping*
* World Premiere
PERFORMERS
Claire Edwardes (Artistic Director, percussion)
Jason Noble (clarinets)
Lamorna Nightingale (flute)
Ronan Apcar (piano)
Sonya Holowell (voice)
Nicole Smede (voice)
DESCRIPTION
Ngarra-Burria was founded in 2016 by Dharug composer Dr Christopher Sainsbury and Moogahlin Performing Arts, and is currently a partnership between Ensemble Offspring, Australian Music Centre and Yil Lull First Nations Studio at the Australian National University. The program builds bridges for Indigenous musicians to further develop their composition skills and connect with the art music sector.
Guided by lead mentor Dr Christopher Sainsbury and guest mentors, the program supports a cohort of composers to develop and premiere new chamber works for Ensemble Offspring over two years. In 2022 the program received the Classical:Next Innovation Award and in 2023 our ABC Classic album ‘To Listen To Sing’ featuring alumni from the program, was nominated for a Best Classical ARIA Award. Past participants in Ngarra-Burria include James Henry, Nardi Simpson, Brenda Gifford, Eric Avery and Mark ‘Munk’ Ross.
Photography by Oliver Miller
“Too Deadly”
“The bridges it has built between forms, genres, stories and generations are already reshaping the future of Australian music. And we are all the richer for it.”
“A team of incredible composers, mentors, and Ensemble Offspring’s musical interpreters, coming together to empower First Nations Voices”
“Ensemble Offspring’s program showcased not only the unique styles and arrangements of the compositions, but also gave a sense of the importance of storytelling for First Nations people.”
“While Australia has been debating the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in parliament, a dozen First Nations composers have been given their own voice…”
REVIEWS
Accessibility Information
The Eugene Goossens Hall is fully wheelchair accessible via a ramp on the left side of the entrance stairs. 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.
