Life has been very busy over the past few weeks with many performances, including some premieres.

Pictured above: Graham Howard, Katy Abbott, Rachelle Elliott and myself.

(Photo by Zoe Anderson, used with permission of Orchestras Australia)

An Infernal Machine was premiered by the Tamworth Youth Orchestra (conductor Anne Hoy) in Melbourne at the national forum of Orchestras Australia. It was subsequently further performed in Melbourn at the amazing hall at Scotch College, and then given its NSW premiere at the Annual Showcase in Tamworth. The concert at Tamworth was attended by a particularly large and appreciative audience. Performances given by youth orchestras are notable for their willingness to really ‘get into’ the music – and this was certainly the case with the Tamworth Youth Orchestra. Tamworth is doing great things in the field of development of interest in classical music.

Pictured above are fellow composers Graham Howard, whose flute concerto was performed, and Katy Abbott, who received two premieres at the Orchestras Australia forum in Melbourne. Also pictured is the manager of Orchestras Australia, Rachelle Elliott.

Pictured above: the Tamworth Youth Orchestra cond. Anne Hoy.

(Photo by Zoe Anderson, used with permission of Orchestras Australia)

Subsequent to this performance was the premiere of Flash Madness by The Queensland Orchestra, conducted by the wonderful Australian, Nicholas Milton. The Queensland Orchestra, as always, played extremely well. It’s amazing what a professional orchestra is capable of.

Also performed this week were movements 2 and 3 of my Violin Concerto with soloist Thomas Talmacs and the Sydney University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by George Ellis. Even a dodgy amplifier didn’t hurt this marvellous performance too much.

The next big performance on the list is the premiere of House Music with flute soloist Marina Piccinini and the London Philharmonic Orchestra given in London on 13 December 2006.