BY JASMINE MIDDLETON
In the wake of devastating bushfires around our country, Australian musicians have refused to stay quiet.
In response to this national emergency – and even in the face of adversity from our unsupportive government – the Australian arts community is banding together across all genres to offer their support for bushfire fighting and relief services.
In classical music alone, it is already shaping up to be a huge line-up of artists. From large-scale events like the Sidney Myer Free Concert with the MSO, to across the globe in London with Australian musicians and guest conductor Simone Young, to local musicians helping out in their community, there’s a plethora of concerts to attend. And here they are (with a few non-classical gigs crept in there, too).
Can’t find one near your city? Maybe that makes room for you to offer your talents, too!
Paganini Lost
21 Jan | 7pm
Clifford Leaman, Duo Obax, and Peter de Jager
Tempo Rubato, VIC
Supporting: Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund
Bushfire Relief Dinner
25 Jan | 6pm
Brisbane Chamber Project featuring soloists soprano Leanne Kenneally and baritone Jason Barry-Smith
Wild Canary Restaurant, Brookfield, QLD
Supporting: Australian Red Cross and WIRES
Red Cross Disaster Relief
27 Jan | 1.30pm
Featuring local Perth ensembles
St Mary’s Church, WA
Supporting: Australian Red Cross
NSW Bushfire Fundraiser Concert Series
27 Jan | 3.30pm (first concert)
The Chamber Project and Joshua Batty, including artists such as oboist Diana Doherty
Soultrap Bar, NSW
Supporting: NSW Rural Fire Service
Music for Our Country: Australian Bushfires Fundraiser Concert
30 Jan | 7pm
Featuring Australian performers (including composer Elena Kats-Chernin, ABC Classic presenter Tamara-Anna Cislowska and Indigenous composer and multi-instrumentalist William Barton), as well as musicians from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
City Recital Hall, NSW
Supporting: The Australian Red Cross and WIRES Wildlife Rescue
The Bush Concert
1 Feb | 1.30pm
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Grainger Studio, SA
Supporting: South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management
Fire Aid
1 Feb | 6pm
The Waifs, John Butler and San Cisco
Fremantle Arts Centre, South Lawn, WA
Supporting: WIRES Wildlife Rescue, NSW RFS, and VIC Bushfire Appeal
Sidney Myer Free Concert: Around the World with the MSO
5 Feb | 7.30pm
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, VIC
Supporting: The Australian Red Cross
Melbourne’s Opera Community Bushfire Relief Gala
7 Feb | 7.30pm
Featuring a selection of Victoria’s leading singers and musicians
Athenaeum Theatre, VIC
Supporting: Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund
Bushfire Relief Concert
8 Feb, 9 Feb | 7pm
Ipswich City Orchestra
Graceville Uniting Church, NSW
Supporting: Red Cross Bushfire Appeal
16 Hr Music Marathon for Our Firies
29 Feb | 7 am – 11 pm
Featuring 40 + musicians from Melbourne and Sydney
Tempo Rubato, VIC
Supporting: The Country Fire Association
Australian Bushfire Benefit London
1 Mar | 4.30pm
Featuring orchestra and choir of Australian musicians with Simone Young as guest conductor alongside Jessica Cottis, Lotte Betts-Dean, and Toby Thatcher.
Dukes Hall, Royal Academy of Music
And in the digital world… Homo vs Scomo
Josh Belperio
Supporting: Red Cross Bushfire Appeal
Are you a classical musician who is organising a performance? Drop us a line, and we’ll add your bushfire benefit to our map: editor@cutcommon.com
Featured image: Fairy Duff, public domain. Wildlife: Big Blue Ocean via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Sun: Rob Russell via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
