In 2003 I was the featured composer of the Vale of Glamorgan Festival in Wales. Curated by John Metcalf, this festival of new music focuses on contemporary chamber music written by living composers, taking place over a week in predominantly regional centres of southern Wales.
Upon my return to Sydney I realised that there was no regular festival of contemporary art music in Sydney - a strange situation for a city of our size.
The Aurora Festival will take place from 27 April to 8 May 2006 in Western Sydney. I strongly believe that the large population base (over 2 million) of Western Sydney is just as entitled to experience high quality contemporary art music as those living closer to the coast.
The Festival’s motto is Living Music. All the composers of music in this festival are active, working musicians. The performers are Australian artists of the highest calibre, and concerts will take place in fine venues focussing on the larger Western Sydney region.
I strongly believe that the Aurora Festival will become an landmark event in the musical calendar of the entire Sydney region. The fact that it will be based in Western Sydney is even more important. The involvement and enthusiasm of Western Sydney arts organizations, sponsors, the Australia Council, NSW Ministry for the Arts and most of all, members of the community has been nothing short of staggering.
Matthew Hindson
Artistic Director, Aurora Festival
Please join us, and enjoy the music!
We also welcome our featured composers, Terry Riley and Michael Daugherty from the US, and Stuart Greenbaum from Melbourne. Each of these composers creates strong, invigorating, engaging music and it is wonderful that these composers both Riley and Greenbaum are able to be with us for this festival.
Presented by Aurora New Music and ABC Classic FM
in partnership with Campbelltown Arts Centre and Riverside Parramatta
with concerts broadcast on ABC Classic FM
Terry Riley, Michael Daugherty, Stuart Greenbaum, Henryck Gorecki, Peter Sculthorpe, Somei Satoh, Caroline Almonte, John Adams, John Corigliano, Julian Yu, Peter MacNamara, Louis Andriessen, Steve Reich, Ekki-Sven Tüür, Brian Ferneyhough, Matthew Hindson, John Metcalf, Michael Finnissey, Elena Kats-Chernin, Anne Boyd, Elliott Gyger, Graham Hair, Garth Paine, Michael Atherton, Queen, Kamran Ince, Mark Isaacs, Kerry Andrew, Claire Maclean, Ross Edwards, Kim Cunio, Ji-Yun Lee
