The classics are coming to Warren

The town of Warren is set to host some of the best musicians Australia has to offer and even feature some local talent. The inaugural Warren Chamber Music Festival is set to light up the central west with the kind of classical music performances usually reserved for our metropolitan counterparts.

From Vivaldi and Mozart, to Piazzola and musical scores, there’ll be something for everyone over the course of the weekend. Organiser Frances Evans says this is a rare opportunity that is not to be missed.

“We have an absolute star cast of musicians from across the country and they’re all people who are really committed to the fact that the regional areas can miss out on really high-quality musicianship,” said Mrs Evans.

“We’ve really felt that it’s an important opportunity to bring that level of musicianship out to the rural audiences, because they really do appreciate culture and the arts. It’s just a little harder to access.

“I think it will mean a lot, I think it will inspire people. If there are people in seats and the program gets sold out, it’s just reaffirming that audiences out here are educated and appreciative of classical music and that type of depth in culture.”

Mrs Evans said that there are over 80 young musical students between Warren and Gilgandra and that fact alone shows there is an appetite for this kind of music in the country. A lot of people out here grew up having music lessons and even if they cut short their music careers, there are certainly people who appreciate music so much.”

One of the acts that will be featured is Nevertire’s very own soprano, Marieanne Noonan, who will be performing and providing an open masterclass along with Canberra based dramatic soprano Sonia Anfiloff.

Mrs Evans said a key aspect of the Warren Chamber Music Festival will be cultural exchange. 

“One phrase that I’ve really been focused on is cultural exchange, because these top-class musicians are coming out to share their extensive knowledge of classical music with us and we’re able to impart some of rural identity to them, our beautiful landscape.

“We also want to share with them the story of the Wayilwan people and the history of country and culture out here."

“I’ve met with the Warren Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) and director Jodie Redman and they’re really excited about sharing their story about both heartbreak and resilience with the musicians.

“You can’t separate this concert from the people and the country and their stories, it really is meant to be tied into the development of our culture as a whole.”

Mrs Evans said that the concert has certainly been hard work, but the efforts of an energised and passionate committee and community members have been invaluable.

“Hours and hours of working putting this together, but it’s given me great joy and there are some wonderful people in the community who are really behind this.

“People are really enthusiastic and they’re looking forward to this quality level of music. I think people are looking forward to getting dressed up, going to a concert together and socialising.”

The local organiser says this concert will provide the opportunity to not only celebrate the arts in central west, but also represent a triumphant rise from the “shadow of COVID-19”.

“Celebrating the arts is more important than ever now because of the tight restrictions that were put on arts events and of course making music has been very difficult."

“For a lot of people that’s a lifeblood, it’s how they thrive, making music with others. So, we’re trying to bring that back to the community.

“I think more than anything I’d like it to a celebration of music, of coming together and everything that is rural and what our community can offer.”