“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

 According to Art Piece gallery owner Nadine Abensur, who is creating the Baroque dinner for the concert, the Byron Music Society has set the standard for classical music performance in the region since its foundation by Margo Dodds over 20 years ago.

Byron Music Society is pleased to announce Nicholas Routley as its new President. Nicholas is an acclaimed pianist, conductor and composer who moved to the Northern Rivers region in 2009 after retiring from his post as Associate Professor in Music at the University of Sydney. He was founder director of the Sydney Chamber Choir for thirty years.

Routley will be steering the Society towards a vibrant future – his plans  include broadening the geographical base to include other neighbouring shires, involving the local community at all levels, and, perhaps most enticingly, to increase the occasions on which classical music is matched with wonderful food.

Nicholas Routley, the new President of the Byron Music Society.

Says Abensur, the author The Cranks Bible and a half dozen other cookery books: “These amazing dinners after several of the concerts during the year will only be available to concert patrons. And you won’t get a better dinner in this region!”

Visitors to the website –  byronmusicsociety will see that the number of concerts presented over the course of 2016 has been expanded to eight, and the venues extended to include Lismore. In the concert series they will be  highlighting many of the professional musicians and singers resident in our region, all of whom have performed internationally. Our wonderful performers this year, with one exception, all live in an area between Brisbane and the Northern Rivers.

The single exception is the conductor Richard Gill. Gill has been at the forefront of new classical music in Australia, of youth participation in music, and of choral music for several decades. He comes to the Society at the end of the year to conduct a People’s Messiah, in which any singer or choir form the region will be invited to participate.

Now that’s something to consider!

For more information on the Beyond Baroque Alchemy Vox Caldera dinner and concert feauring the music of Monteverdi, Schutz and Mozart go to: byronmusicsociety

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Says Vicki Brooke: “Gretel Farm is hosting a collaboration with Muses Trio – violin, cello and piano – a group of women of exceptional calibre and verve performing works by women to celebrate the week of International Women’s Day.  During the afternoon local artist, food writer and creative director of ArtPiece Gallery, Nadine Abensur, will be in discussion with the musicians and Nadine has curated an exciting pop up exhibition of celebrated local artists as part of the programme.”

Contemporary classical musician English cellist Louise King.

Louise King is an exciting example of an independent contemporary classical musician. A refined English cellist with extensive international experience and training, she is an inspiring concert artist, teacher, recording artist, adjudicator and event producer. As Artistic Director of Cello Dreaming she runs a busy private teaching studio, produces and presents community and professional concerts, workshops, collaborative performance projects, mentors emerging young musicians, and is Music Director for the Southern Cross Soloists Winter Music School and tutors for the Australian and Queensland Youth Orchestras.  Louise moved to Australia in 2003 after working extensively throughout the UK, Europe and Asia, and now works as a freelance musician performing with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Topology, The Queensland Orchestra, Southern Cross Soloists, Endeavour Trio, Tulipwood Quartet and Chamber Orchestra. Louise records and performs as session musician for singer songwriters such as Katie Noonan and international touring artists such as Il Divo and Josh Groban. She enjoys collaborating with composers, choreographers and artists to create new performance works for her instrument.  cellodreaming

Pianist Therese Milanovic teaches around the world.

Therese Milanovic is in demand as both performer and pedagogue. She has performed with Topology since 2009, including collaborations with the Brodsky String Quartet, Grant Collins, Brisbane Festival, Queensland Music Festival, national tours, performances in Indonesia and Singapore, and a tour of the Netherlands and Belgium with the Kransky Sisters. Previous performance highlights with Collusion include ABC broadcasts, Musica Viva Country Wide and In Schools touring. In 2009, Therese completed her training with the Golandsky Institute in New York to become the first certified Taubman Instructor in Australia, the subject of her completed PhD, and is now Associate Faculty with the Golandsky Institute (USA). She teaches at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Young Conservatorium and privately, including Skype lessons, reaching pianists across Australia and internationally. topologymusic.com  theresemilanovic

Topology member Christa Powel.

Christa Powell is a busy freelance musician. When she’s not playing with Topology, she plays a wide range of chamber music, her long-held passion. She also plays orchestral music with the Queensland Orchestra, and gigs with bands and teaches violin in her private studio and as guest at various education institutions. Christa studied at the University of Queensland (BMus Hon 1991) with Elizabeth Morgan, in London (1991 – 1993) with Emmanuael Herwitz of the Melos Ensemble and at the Queensland Conservatorium with Carmel Kaine, obtaining her Master of Music in 1996. In London, she played with the Olyver Gypsy Ensemble. topologymusic

DATE:  Sunday 13 March

TIME: 3pm – 5 pm

TICKETS:  $45 music lover, $35 concession and early birds (before 10 March), $30 Byron Music Society members, $20 student, $100 family.  All tickets include afternoon tea during interval.

RSVP & BOOKINGS: ESSENTIAL by 10 March.  You can book EITHER online at musestrio.com   OR by direct credit to Gretel Farm BSB 032 505 A/C No 184075 – please include your name so we can identify your booking.

ENQUIRIES: 0425 243 860

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Nadine Abensur’s Garden Show concept has been such a success that the gallery owner had to postpone the opening twice.  “It was originally intentded to feature just four artists,” says Abensur, “but it’s literally blossomed, and we’ve got over 20 local artists in the show.  I love the fact that we have experienced artists such as as Rose McKinley, Robyn Sweaney and Emma Walker alongside the budding talents of Byron School of Art student Sharon Whittle, and papercut artists Sabine Brosche.”

As well as the artwork on the walls Abensur asked visitors to bring along a flower to place in the gallery, and the result was an organic flower installation, which spilled out into the street, and over the table where Abensur’s own floral contribution, a massive cyndrical floral cake, and the extraordinary creations from Melon as Anything (melonasanything.com) – along with peach-infused champagne, kept the floral theme happening.

It’s been a busy year for Northern Rivers artists and Verandah Magazine and Art Piece Gallery would like to congratulate Celia Morgan for being named a finalist in the Wynne Prize(with a landscape painting, first shown at art piece gallery); Robyn Sweaney for being highly commended in The Paddington Art Prize; Hilary Hermann for First prize in painting in The Coraki Art Prize; Di Ingram for First Prize in drawing in The Coraki Art Prize; Sharon Wittle for Second Prize in drawing in The Coraki Art Prize.

Art Piece Gallery is in Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby.  Phone: 6684 3446. For more information about these and other artists in The Garden Show, go to artpiecegallery

To see more of Melon as Anything’s edible sculpture work and details on their wedding and event catering call: 0431 565 414 or go to: melonasanything

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Zom Osborne, Beetledance, pen on paper, 59cm x 64cm

Nadine Abensur, of the beautiful Art Piece Gallery in Mullumbimby has gathered together a new exhibition, Playing on the Edge, with three Northern Rivers artists whose drawings are both intriguing and mysterious, writes Candida Baker. Abensur has also put together a superb menu for anyone wanting to attend her upcoming Spring Supper to celebrate the opening of the exhibition this week.

Sometimes in life you meet someone – and you know, absolutely, that they are heading in the right direction, that everything is pointing towards a destiny that they are imagining and creating for themselves.

Artist Oksana Waterfall is one of those people. I had the privilege of meeting her at Lismore TAFE some years ago when she was studying visual art, and it was obvious from her fierce determination and talent that she was heading for a lifetime career in the arts. Since then Waterfall has been widely exhibited, and has won numerous awards for her quirky and original drawings. In her current work Waterfall delves deep into the objects of childhood memories.

When I think of Mandy Nolan’s art, it’s her vivid paintings that spring to mind, but in this exhibition, Playing on the Edge, the Byron shire based comedian shows us not only her more whimsical side, but her politer side, with endearing illustrations that could easily grace a children’s book. In her drawings Nolan allows herself the rare luxury of allowing her hand to roam freely in a kind of “unconscious doodling or fiddling” when she feels she has something a little more whimsical or softer to say. Or unusually for the normally raucous Nolan, because there are (believe it or not) occasions when she doesn’t want to say anything at all.

Zom Osborne lives in the rainforest, and her connection to and love of nature is obvious in all her work.  Osborne’s work has that great artistic skill of being both appealing and unsettling at the same time. While she is intrigued by the connections we make with each other and the objects we acquire during our lives, Osborne is touched by the energies she senses in the unseen and the immaterial.

Art Piece Gallery, Mullumbimby

Playing on the Edge: Oksana Waterfall, Zom Osborne and Mandy Nolan

Thursday 9^th October

Open to the public 6.00 pm – 7.00pm

Then

Sit down dinner with the artists from 7.30 pm

$68.00 per head

Bookings essential

6684 3446

 Spring Supper Menu

 The fresh flavours of spring brought to you from Nadine Abensur’s kitchen and garden

Antipasti on the table to start

Asparagus Tart with roasted cherry tomatoes

Market fish with roasted fennel and black olive salsa

Rosemary roasted potatoes

Chargrilled vegetables with an orange and pistachio salsa

Rocket and Pecan Salad with Goat’s cheese and rosebud infused dressing

A berry meringue

and a chocolate surprise

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