Performance - News and events

Events | Featured projects | Call for entries | Announcements

Events

63rd Annual Australian Jazz Convention - Lismore, New South Wales

26-31 December 2008

Lismore played host to the memorable 60th Convention in 2005 and is gearing up again to welcome back the musicians and delegates for the 63rd Convention in 2008. This year's event will be held over six days, featuring 220 musicians on seven stages. Various venues.

Deepen the conversation: a life in circus - Brisbane

11 January 2009

Ever wanted to run away with the circus? Hear from those who have. Circus folk share tales of life under the big top and tell of the trials and tribulations, highs and lows of life on the road, performing for circus lovers the world over. State Library of Queensland Auditorium.

Doch and the Circus - Brisbane

22-24 January 2009

This year, Doch are joined by an ensemble of Australian circus artists to perform as Doch and the Circus adding new twists to the old arts. Combining high-spirited musical hi-jinks, you can expect to see high altitude aerials, awe-inspiring acrobatics and the hypnotising Roue Cyr. QPAC.

Circus Sunrise - Melbourne

14 November 2008 - 26 January 2009

Circus Sunrise encompasses all of the traditional circus skills with a programme that includes aerial acts, hand balancing, juggling, wild west cowboys, daring trapeze, and clowns. The younger artists are 15th generation circus performers, continuing a tradition of entertaining audiences around the world since 1648. Waterfront City under the Southern Star.

The Awfully Big Adventures of Peter Pan - Brisbane

7-31 January 2009

Based on J M Barrie's famous book about the boy who refuses to grow up, The Awfully Big Adventures of Peter Pan is an adaptation of one of the world's most beloved classics, which follows the adventures of Wendy, John and Michael Darling and, of course, Peter Pan. This re-telling of the story of Peter Pan, adapted for the stage by Tim O'Connor, features design by award-winning Josh McIntosh, with a cast of Brisbane's finest actors. QPAC.

Walking Whale Circus - Melbourne

1 January - 1 February 2009

The National Institute of Circus Arts presents the Walking Whale Circus. See our evolutionary oddities as they perform amazing aerial acts and acrobatics like never before. Be stunned by fish that walk, and gasp at lizards that fly, in this spectacular family show. Melbourne Museum.

Just Add Water Seminar - National

10 January - 1 February 2008

American vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams will be coming to Australia for the first time in January 2009 to conduct performance seminars for songwriters and artists with Just Add Water Seminar (JAWS 2009). Renee Grant-Williams client roster reads like a who's who of contemporary super stars including Keith Urban, Miley Cyrus, Christina Aguilera, Kenny Chesney, Carry Underwood, Shemie Austin, Garth Brooks and many, many more. Various locations.

Questions Without Notice - Perth

3-7 February 2009

Questions Without Notice is a multi-art form performance using contemporary dance, live-feed video and a constantly evolving sound score to explore life's big questions. Playhouse Theatre.

Opera in the Ruins - Norfolk Island

23-27 February 2009

Norfolk Island's infamous ghosts will be serenaded by angelic choruses during the 15th annual Norfolk Island Opera in the Ruins Festival in the island's historic convict ruins. The headline act will be Brisbane's boutique opera company Operatif, featuring soprano Jennifer Parish, baritone Stewart Cameron, mezzo Dorothy Williams and guest tenor Benjamin Fifita Makisi accompanied by pianist Lynne Sterling Jordan.

Australian Songwriters Conference - Woy Woy, New South Wales

5-8 June 2009

The Australian Songwriters Conference is unique in that it will be open to all songwriters, regardless of age, location, songwriting experience or genre. Songwriters do not need to be members of existing organisations, and the conference seminars, workshops and other activities will be relevant to both performing and non-performing songwriters. Ettalong Beach Club.

Australian String Quartet 2009 season - National

10 March - 30 October 2009

The Australian String Quartet unveils its 2009 National Season - a program of big romantic works, music by Australian composers and guest artists including internationally acclaimed Australian violist and composer Brett Dean and the 2008 Sydney International Piano Competition winner. The 2009 program encompasses well-loved works from the Central European tradition; from Beethoven to Haydn, Bartok, Arriaga and Schumann, as well as music from some of Australia's best-known and regarded composers. The current membership of Sophie Rowell and Anne Horton, violins, Sally Boud, viola, and Rachel Johnston, cello was established in 2006.

Australian Ballet 2009 Season

January - December 2009

With the debut of the famed Ballets Russes in Paris in 1909, a treasure trove of Eastern European fables and exotica came to the West. Firebird and other legends is three spellbinding Ballets Russes works to mark the centenary of their explosive debut. This marks the beginning of the Australian Ballet 2009 season.

Featured projects

Circus artifact preservation roundtable - Monaco

17 January 2008

Fédération Mondiale du Cirque will host a Roundtable meeting to bring together experts and collectors from around the world to discuss the latest technologies for preserving and exhibiting posters and other circus artifacts.

9 Ways To Ride The Digital Music Wave

August 2008

9 Ways To Ride The Digital Music Wave is a free online resource which outlines the nine ways to make the most of music online. The e-book covers a bundle of information including questions to ask distributors, ways to promote your music, useful online marketing and promotion tools, blogs and MySpace, and the importance of being a music professional.

Anticipating change in the major performing arts

July 2008

This report commissioned by the Australia Council uncovers some significant trends likely to affect the future health of Australia's major performing arts companies. It looks at trends such as rapid development in the Asia region and shifts in the demographics and leisure time of Australians.

Call for entries

There are currently no calls for entries listed.

Announcements

Dance Plan 2012

December 2008

The Dance Plan 2012, a four-year action plan for the Australian dance sector, has been produced by the Australia Council for the Arts and Ausdance. The plan lays out the ambitions of the Australia Council and Ausdance for a more vibrant, diverse and dynamic dance sector by 2012, and the some of ways that this can be achieved by developing the sector, increasing investment from a range of sources, increasing participation and education opportunities, and providing sustainable career paths.

New South Wales hip hop artist wins 2008 Poetry Slam

5 December 2008

A hip hop artist and poet from New South Wales has won this year's Australian Poetry Slam competition, held at Sydney Opera House. Poetry slam is a style of performed poetry which takes its influences from rap and hip hop. After the 18 state and territory finalists performed on topics such as going to the dentist and football, there was a tie between Omar Musa from Queanbeyan, south-east of Canberra, and Mark Lloyd from Western Australia. Mr Musa ultimately won the $5,000 prize and the chance to compete internationally.

New life for Dame Nellie's unheard recordings

3 December 2008

Previously unheard recordings from one of Australia's best-known opera singers, Dame Nellie Melba, are being released today. The metal masters lay forgotten in an archive in Germany for almost 100 years until they were discovered last year.

Dream comes true for one-time Pinocchio

27 November 2008

Kevin Jackson, a 24-year-old from Perth, has won the 2008 Telstra Ballet Dancer Award. His prize was a $20,000 cheque, presented by Sarah Murdoch, a former aspiring ballerina and board member of the Australian Ballet. The $5000 People's Choice Award was won by Amy Harris from Ararat in Victoria.

Mr Richard Hickox

25 November 2008

The Australian music community and opera lovers are mourning the sudden death of Richard Hickox, Music Director of Opera Australia. Mr Hickox had been music director of Opera Australia since 2005, following a distinguished conducting career in the United Kingdom. He conducted many memorable performances for Opera Australia, including his final performances of Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd in September and October this year, which were unanimously acclaimed by critics and audiences.

ANAM closes after 12 years

20 November 2008

The Australian National Academy of Music, a 12-year-old institution, farewells students and staff, packs up its headquarters in the old South Melbourne town hall and exits the stage. Arts Minister Peter Garrett signed a memorandum of understanding with University of Melbourne establish a new Australian Institute of Music Performance. It will receive $2.5 million a year in funding, the same amount given to ANAM. This week, ANAM will present its final performance.

Geoffrey Rush accepts new role as MSO Ambassador

October 2008

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has announced that Geoffrey Rush, internationally-renowned actor, has accepted a new role in 2008 as 'MSO Ambassador'. As a long-time Melbourne resident and classical music lover, Geoffrey Rush regularly attends Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performances. Managing Director Trevor Green said 'We're honoured that a man of Geoffrey's calibre shares our passion for orchestral music and as such, has accepted a role as an "MSO Ambassador".'

Ten bands to hit the road thanks to government grants

October 2008

Ten Australian bands and musicians will hit the road on tours of regional and rural Australia thanks to $91,000 in funding through the Contemporary Music Touring Program, Arts Minister Peter Garrett announced. The touring programs supported in this funding round cover a mix of styles, with venues in every state and territory, including regional communities, given the opportunity to see some great live acts. Among the highlights of the Contemporary Music Touring Program tours are: Killaqueenz from NSW, making their debut national tour ahead of releasing their first album, Out Through Grindin'; Sacha Ion and the Voodoo Economics, a Victorian band, set to tour WA, the NT, SA and Queensland; and Queensland's Kate Miller-Heidke band touring to support the release of their second full-length album.

Virginia Taylor and Anne Gilby appointed to the Music Board

19 September 2008

Minister Peter Garret has announced the appointment of Ms Virginia Taylor and Ms Anne Gilby to the Australia Council's Music Board. Flautist Ms Virginia Taylor has been prominent on Australia's music scene since the late 1980s. Ms Taylor is currently Head of Woodwind and a senior lecturer at the Australian National University's Canberra School of Music. Ms Anne Gilby's oboe practice spans early and modern instruments. She has played as guest principal oboist with all major Australian orchestras as well as prominent orchestras overseas, and is currently a lecturer in the Monash University music department.

Playing Australia - $2.9 million funding

19 September 2008

$2.9 million in funding for performing arts companies will enable live performances across regional Australian. Regional audiences have the opportunity to see the new works. Highlights of Playing Australia's funding round includes construct by the late Tanja Liedtke, investigates concepts around 'building'. Teuila Postcards by Polytoxic Dance Company will take Polynesian dance to 14 venues in five states, with 35 performances and The Grimstones, a gothic fairytale, features puppets devised by circus and performance artist Asphyxia.

Brian Lucas appointed to Dance Board

19 September 2008

Minister Peter Garret has announced the appointment of Mr Brian Lucas to the Australia Council's Dance Board. Mr Lucas is highly regarded as both a solo performer, and also for his extensive work in creative development and mentoring initiatives. Mr Lucas has been artist-in-residence at the Brisbane Powerhouse since 2001. He has created works for the Victorian College of the Arts, the Queensland Ballet and the Brisbane Fringe.

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu for 22nd Annual ARIA Awards

10 September 2008

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu who has received four ARIA Award nominations (plus 1 ARIA Artisan Award nomination) for his stunning debut solo album Gurrumul. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is nominated in the categories of Best World Music album, Best independent release, Best male artist and the coveted Album of the year. The Sydney Morning Herald described Yunupingu thus 'Listen to Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and you will surrender to the greatest voice this continent has ever recorded.'

22nd Annual ARIA Awards nominees announced

10 September 2008

Emerging Australian artists dominate this year's nominees: vocalist Gabrielle Cilmi is nominated for 6 awards including Single of the year and Best female artist; Sam Sparro is nominated for five ARIA Awards. Geoffrey Gurumul Yunupingu has received four ARIA Award nominations. Also receiving four ARIA Award nominations are The Veronicas, Electronic duo The Presets, Angus and Julia Stone, and rock 'n' roll trio The Living End. Kasey Chambers and partner, Shane Nicholson, have received two nominations.

Key online resources

• KULCHA - Multicultural Arts of Western Australia
• Music Hub
• MusicAustralia - Australia's Music: Online, in Time
• West Australian Music Industry Association Inc
• Australia Dancing - National Library of Australia
• International Guild of Disabled Artists & Performers (IGODAP)
• The Aussie Bands Music Page
• Jazz Australia
• AusStage: Gateway to the Australian Performing Arts

Collection resources and online publications

• Currency Press - Performing Arts Publisher
• MusicFestivalsAustralia.com
• The Music Network
• Parnassus' Den
• Theatre Alive
• Theatre Australia
• The Arts Centre collections
• Fools Paradise - an audio-visual exploration of twelve years of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Institutions and government organisations

• Devising Celebration - a resource for teachers who wish to devise their own celebratory performances and event theatre.
• Music in Australia: A Statistical Overview
• National Networked Facility for Research in Australian Music

Peak bodies and associations

• Music NT
• The Australian Script Centre - collects, catalogues, promotes and distributes unpublished Australian plays.
• Venue Resource of Original Music (VROOM)
• Music Council of Australia

People

• Barry Humphries
• Australian comedy

Featured websites/projects

• Questacon - Strike a Chord