Classic flavour for music festival return

SACRED music will take centre stage across the Geelong region next month with the return of the Windfire Music Festival.

Music at the Basilica will host the 14th edition of the annual event starting next week that will tour the Bellarine and Surf Coast for concerts in addition to shows at its traditional home, Basilica of St Mary of the Angels on Yarra Street, Geelong.

The Geelong Chamber Orchestra, an initiative of young Geelong violinist Jamie Parker that handpicked some of the region’s finest classical musicians , will star in this year’s opening event.

Joy Lee (harpsichord) and Geelong soprano Lee Abrahmsen will join the orchestra in a concert called Classical Echoes: A Journey through Centuries.

Geelong’s internationally-renowned lutenist Rosemary Hodgson will sing 17th century English love songs at her former school Sacred Heart College’s chapel along with vocalists Vivien Hamilton and Helens Ekins.

Local string trio Trio Stellar and 16-year-old clarinet player Emily Treloar, quintet Lyrebird Brass Ensemble and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music students are also on the event program.

The Excelsis Choir will sing choral favourites ahead of its tour of the Philippines, while modern masterpieces and works composed for Venetian orphanages will feature in a show from Melbourne Women’s Choir.

This year’s festival will go coastal with free lunchtime concerts at Queenscliff, Point Lonsdale, Drysdale, Barwon Heads and Torquay.

The event’s Jane Bashirudin stated that the event should have wide-ranging appeal.

“Once again we are hoping that there will be something to cater for every taste.”

“We really hope people will come and listen to some good music in some lovely coastal churches.”

This year’s Windfire Festival will run from October 6 to 15 at various locations across the region.

For more information, head to musicatthebasilica.org.au and tickets are available at trybooking.com.au