Music fans in Gosford were treated to a musical mash-up with works from Beethoven to Bernstein, Tim Minchin’s Matilda to Pixar’s The Incredibles at the Central Coast Conservatorium’s Term 2 Premier Ensembles Concert.
There was a full house at the concert at Gosford Anglican Church in Mann Street, Gosford, on 1 July featuring the Central Coast Symphonic Wind Orchestra, Primary Wind Ensemble, Central Coast Youth Orchestra and Children’s Choir.
A highlight of the concert was the Conservatorium’s Youth and Children’s Choir moving performance of Jon Forman’s Only Hope (arranged by Jonathan Miller), accompanied by Conservatorium student Bayden Tham on cello and featuring young soloist XXX.
The Primary Wind Ensemble (aka the Superband) conducted by Kevin Smith, played Our Kingsland Spring by Samuel R Hazo, a West Side Story medley by Leonard Bernstein and arranged by Jay Bocook and an uplifting tribute to ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin, arranged by Paul Murtha.
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed Andall D Stanridge’s Deus Ex Machina and music from The Incredibles 2 by Michael Giacchino, arranged by Paul Murtha.
The Youth Orchestra performed the fourth movement of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.
They also sang Tim Minchin’s When I Grow Up from the musical Matilda.
Special guests, Central Coast vocal ensemble Ebb & Flow also performed five songs, accompanied by Di Gardiner on percussion, cellist Bayden Tham and Lilli Naulu on piano.
Uncle Gavi Duncan, a local elder from the Darkinjung community, gave a Welcome to Country and performed with his didgeridoo, to mark the start of NAIDOC Week. Gavi, who has been playing the didgeridoo for more than 40 years, was taught to play the ancient instrument by people from Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpenteria.
