The Riverside Guitar Ensemble directed by Karin Schaupp, features Queensland's finest young guitar virtuosos in a spectacular large guitar ensemble. The ensemble has recently played to sold out houses at Queensland Conservatorium and Tyalgum Festival and is building a following for their vibrant stage presence, their virtuosic precision and their wonderfully varied programming.
The ensemble is based at Queensland Conservatorium and plays on standard guitars, soprano guitars and bass guitars, thus allowing them to explore a wide range of music. From Tangos to Australian birdsong, prepare to be taken on a musical journey with some unexpected twists and turns.
Tapping into the past and present of Arte Flamenco, guitarist Gerard Mapstone and multi-instrumentalist Shenton Gregory are among the most evocative acts touring today. Presenting a fearless approach to music they simultaneously embrace and explode traditional frameworks of flamenco and classical guitar. Quoting from the greats, their music is conceived between the visceral of the Spanish and conceptual of the contemporary, offering their music as an act of freedom from a total availability to the moment, to improvised and original music that strike the deepest chords.
This concert is not presented a recital of guitar and violin, but more a union of both artists to make the stage a space of music creation, totally open to the improvisation of the work in common that they have already developed from their friendship.
Shenton Gregory aka 'Shenzo Gregorio' who was classically trained, has reached new heights as an improvisor, composer, director, and actor. From two-time ARIA award winning world music group 'Monsieur Camembert' to composing music for award winning theatre, not to mention his world first high flying act 'Shenzo's Electric Stunt Orchestra', featuring musicians hung from wires, playing upside-down and literally flying around the venue, it has to be seen to be believed. Shenzo is a full time member of Sydney string quartet Four Play String Quartet, recently back from Carnegie Hall. Shenzo appears with many festival favourites like Circle of Rhythm, Totally Gourdgeous, Dale Caña Flamenco Company and has directed for WOT-Opera, and Opera Australia.
As composer and director of the Dale Caña Flamenco Company Gerard Mapstone is rising as one of Australia's leading classical and flamenco guitarists. Throughout his international career numerous collaborations and supports have included Tomatito, Estrella Morente, Cindy Lauper, Buena Vista Social Club, The Gypsy Queens and Kings, Pierre Bensusan, Queensland Chamber Orchestra, The Victorian Orchestra, Opera Australia, Shenzo's Electric Stunt Orchestra, Doch Gypsy Orchestra and the Balkan gypsy group Fanfare Ciocarlia.
Karin Schaupp is one of the most outstanding guitarists on the international scene. She performs widely on the international stage as a recitalist, concerto soloist and has given countless recitals in Australia, Europe, Asia, the US, Mexico and Canada. Karin's playing receives the highest acclaim from critics and audiences alike and she is held in great esteem by her peers worldwide.
While still in her teens she won prizes at international competitions in Lagonegro, Italy and Madrid, Spain, where she was also awarded the special competition prize for the Best Interpretation of Spanish Music.
Other performance highlights include concertos with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (UK) in London's Royal Festival Hall, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (USA), the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
The first half of her programme will feature a Guadagnini replica guitar built by Simon Roves-Herman, allowing audiences to hear repertoire by Mertz, Giuliani and Regondi on romantic guitar.
Bungarribee is the meeting place of four different yet complementary musical personalities. Featuring exotic instrumentation and a unique amalgam of styles including classical, jazz, folk and world all filtered through improvisation. Bungarribee's vision is expansive, ambitious and exploratory. These master musicians relish the challenge of creating a synthesis out of seemingly incompatible musical elements. Like musical archeologists Bungarribee meets at the aesthetic coalface, chipping away until treasure is found. A Bungarribee performance is a journey of discovery for musicians and audience alike. At its core music is about communication and connection, exciting our minds and bodies. This is Bungarribee's meeting place.
"It is rare that musicians of such different backgrounds come together (deep synthesis/ connection). Music is about communication and connection. As many have attested to through the ages, it is our universal language. Not about genre or style but discovery and connection through improvisation. Drawing on seemingly disparate musical worlds ie Schoenberg to African folk song.
The Orava Quartet has been hailed by Limelight magazine and The Australian as "the most exciting young quartet on the block", "world class", and "the real deal". Earning a reputation and a devoted following for their passionate and thrilling performances, the Quartet bring their unique sound and breathtaking intensity to the classics of the string quartet canon, making audiences fall in love with these works all over again.
The first Australian string quartet invited to sign with Universal Music, Orava have performed throughout North America, the UAE, and Asia, and worked closely with the world-renowned Takács Quartet in the USA for two years, winning top prizes at the 2013 Asia Pacific Chamber Music Competition and performing at Sydney Opera House. Since returning to Australia, the Quartet has made an impressive and rapid rise to national attention, performing regularly at all the major classical and arts festivals.
Based in Brisbane, they are also Quartet-in-Residence with Camerata - Queensland's Chamber Orchestra.