String of classical concerts to serenade Surf Coast

A LOCAL violinist is reviving the classical scene in and around the Surf Coast, setting up a string of performances throughout the year.

French-born musician Olivier Bonnici started a classical string orchestra with his wife in Torquay back in 2019 but the global pandemic put a halt on performances for the past two years, until now.

Mr Bonnici will facilitate four classical performances this year beginning on March 19, offering a serene musical escape to attendees at Torquay’s St Luke’s Anglican Church.

“As life has been flowing more or less normally again, it’s a joy to be able to prepare for and give concerts once more,” Mr Bonnici said.

“In fact, music is a potent cathartic to help process the shock this pandemic has been, at so many levels, for both audiences and performers.”

Mr Bonnici’s love of classical music began at the age of 14 and followed him all the way to Australia.

“I can remember listening to a Mahler symphony played by the Orchestre des Pays de la Loire, in France, and having a profound epiphany,” Mr Bonnici said.

The region’s exciting new acapella vocal octet, DeCanto, will wow audience members with songs from the Renaissance all the way to the Beatles on August 13.

“That music spoke to me of life, of truth, I simply had to investigate. I knew from that moment that I would devote my life to the violin and never looked back since.

“Music and the violin have taken me from France to Oxford, England, where I met my wife, also a violinist, and finally to Australia.

“Once in Torquay, where my wife and I live, I decided to gather our professional musician friends to create ‘The Musicians of the Great Ocean Road’, with a vision to bring what we offered in Oxford to Torquay and the Surf Coast.

“St Luke’s lovely historic setting provides a great venue for such concerts, with its resonant acoustics.”

Trio Océanique featuring Olivier Bonnici (violin), Siobhan O’Shaughnessy (cello) and Jenny Ingram (viola) will perform works by Beethoven, Mozart and Dohnanyi on March 19 at St Luke’s Church.

Musicians will offer one hour-long Sunday afternoon concerts, each beginning from 3pm at four different point in the year; starting this month and returning June 18, August 13, and October 22.

The music itself will consist of a wide range of programs, ranging from Baroque musicians such as Bach, to Romantic composers such as Tchaikowsky.

One of the concerts in the series will also feature an acapella vocal octet.

Tickets to attend each concert are $20 ($15 concession).

Entry is free for children under 12, and tickets are cash at the door only.