Musica Viva - Group Profiles

Jacana - NEW FOR 2009

Jacana

NSW Metropolitan Sydney: East A & South West Listen, sing, dance and create a musical story of life with this dynamic musical quartet. Combining clarinet, viola, cello and piano, Jacana captures the imaginations of students with a diverse repertoire from Australia utilising contemporary, jazz and classical music.

The Song Company

NSW Metropolitan Sydney: North A Drawing on music ranging from the 15th Century to today, this vibrant vocal ensemble uses the voice as an extraordinary instrument. Students explore six centuries of musical expression through song.

B'tutta

NSW Metropolitan Sydney: West A & B, NSW Country: North West Through original composition, B’tutta explores rhythms in the music of Africa, South America, and Japan. These four inspiring musicians guide students through a program of interactive percussion, culminating in an audience-created composition.

Humming Birds

NSW Metropolitan Sydney: East B From gospel to rockabilly, Elizabethan to doo-wop, and Bulgarian to barbershop, this a cappella vocal quartet is an experience in culture, history and travel. The Humming Birds bring a zest for music that students find impossible to resist.

Makukuhan

NSW Country: Far West Explore exotic sounds and legends with the rhythms and traditions of Indonesian music. Makukuhan’s playful flair and brilliance inspires students as they experience the instruments, songs, games and dances of the Indonesian culture.

Mara!

NSW Metropolitan Sydney: West A & B Two-time ARIA winner, Mara! is the fusion of folk cultures and jazz-inspired world music. Presenting instrumental, vocal and dance styles, they take students around the world of musical tradition, contemporary influences and improvisation.

Pastance

NSW Metropolitan Sydney: North B, NSW Country: Hunter Pastance fascinates children with accessible songs in the story-telling tradition of folk music. Students dance to the fiddle, sing a love song and wonder at the sounds of bagpipes and harp, while learning that music is within the reach of everyone.

Sirocco

NSW Metropolitan Sydney: North B, South West Sirocco is an extraordinary group, largely inspired by Asian culture. With instruments ranging from the Chinese flute to Irish drums and modern synthesizers, their multicultural appreciation leaves students spell-bound with the musical possibilities.

Sounds Baroque

NSW Country: Western Sounds Baroque uses Shakespeare’s adventure drama, The Tempest, to blend 17th Century music and instruments with modern-day language and humour. Students are transported to a shipwreck where pirates and survivors battle for good and evil.

Teranga

NSW Metropolitan Sydney : North A, NSW Country: Hunter Teranga explores the energy and musical heritage of Africa through dance, song, percussion and original African instruments. Students learn how African music can connect and communicate with people from around the world.

The Chambermaids

NSW Country: North Coast, Far North Coast & North West The repertoire of this dynamic wind quintet spans Cuban blues and nursery rhymes to a multicultural mix of modern music. Students experience each instrument in an entirely new way, while learning about diverse musical characteristics and concepts.

The Sousaphonics

NSW Metropolitan Sydney: East A, NSW Country: South Coast & Riverina The Sousaphonics celebrate the spirit of world music, from mardi gras to the European waltz. The program features New Orleans street-beat, ska, the Romanian hora, gypsy brass and others to uplift the spirit.

The World According to James

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NSW Country: Western This jazz quartet journeys from the Australian rainforest to the streets of Buenos Aires, alive with tango through original repertoire. Students learn about improvisation, composition and syncopation in jazz and have a chance to create their own music.

Tigramuna

NSW Metropolitan Sydney: East B, NSW Country: North Coast & Far North Coast This multi-award winning group explores the styles, rhythms and instruments of Latin America through song, dance and exciting rhythms. Students participate in a celebratory reflection of Australia’s musical multicultural existence.

Zephyr String Quartet

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NSW Country: Broken Hill, Riverina, South Coast This vibrant string quartet conjures a musical story with unique sounds such as creaking gates and squealing brakes. Students are amazed as the repertoire leaps from classical to contemporary and world music composition.