Perth Voice Interactive

IF a picture is worth a thousand words, surely a piece of classical music is worth a million.

Orchestral works can move people to tears and it’s no surprise  they feature heavily in iconic films.

Who can forget the soaring theme in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the dramatic fanfare in Rocky or the moving refrain in Schindler’s List. 

Perth’s Rebecca Guy knows all about the power of classical music.

She has used it to get through difficult periods in her life when the ‘black dog’ came to visit.

Guy wanted to help others suffering with their mental health, so in 2018 she founded the support group WA Classical Music Connect.

“I had suffered a great deal of my own depression and in my dark times the only consistent thing that could bring me out of the fog was music,” Guy says.

“I wanted to offer this option to others in hope that music can lift their spirits too, even in their own dark times which can bring more meaning and purpose.

“Making social connections through music too is very special and we encourage a sense of belonging. Music is a language in itself and sometimes communicating through music can work when words don’t seem to be enough.”

Guy’s classical gigs aren’t held in ritzy concert halls with eye-watering prices, but in places like local town halls with cheap tickets, making them more accessible.

“Making live music affordable is a huge barrier for many and WA Classical Music Connect breaks this down by subsidising concerts and creating very low ticket prices or free tickets too,” she says. 

Free concerts

“Or even just going into the community and performing. We are surrounded by music all the time online, TV, radio.

“Sometimes we just need direction and to stop and admire the beautiful music around us. At WA Classical Music Connect, we are always exploring ways to be more inclusive.” 

Over the years the not-for-profit has held a variety of concerts with notable players including WASO flautist Andrew Nicholson and French horn player Rob Gladstones, as well as up-and-coming singers like Perth soprano Beth Redwood.

They also hold regular concerts in the community.

“Our tutti flute ensemble, compiling of amateur flute players around the community, comes together each week to rehearse and presents free concerts once a term at various places in Perth,” Guy says.

But perhaps Connect’s biggest coup will be on Friday June 21 when internationally renowned flautist Sally Walker plays a special gig at Leederville Town Hall.

A senior lecturer in flute performance at the Australian National University and guest flute teacher at the Australian National Academy of Music, Walker had toured internationally with the Berlin Philharmonic and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and has performed as guest principal flute with a host of orchestras including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Radio Philharmonie Hannover.

She’s also been a soloist with the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra, Klassische Philhamronie Bonn and Accademia Filarmonica de Verona.

Keen on performing new music, Walker has commissioned works from a range of contemporary composers including Andrew Ford, Henning Kraggerud and Coco Nelegatti.

Guy says two of her favourite Walker performances are the Road Trip for flute and piano by Sally Whitwell, and the Night and Now flute concerto by Elena Kats-Chernin.

“Sally Walker is a super star and is always being featured on ABC Classic FM,” Guy says.

“She is so calm when she plays and her sound is angelic. Sally performs a great deal of music written for her by Australian women composers. She is so inspiring; I can see why.” 

On the night Walker will be accompanied by pianist Yi-Yun Loei, a talented local who studied at UWA. Walker was also hold a special flute masterclass on Sunday June 23 at Holyrood Pavilion in West Leederville from 9am-11am.

For concert tix go to events.humanitix.com/classical-music-club-concert-series/tickets and for more info on WA Classical Music Connect see wacmconnect.org.au.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK