3MBS and ALPHA60 present Music, She Wrote

3MBS Melbourne 103.5FM presents its third chamber music festival celebrating women in music.

Partnering once again with iconic Melbourne fashion label ALPHA60, the festival will see ALPHA60’s stunning concept store in Chapter House on Flinders Lane transformed into a very special, intimate concert venue for three nights March 29 to 31.

ALPHA60 Director, Alex Cleary says ‘we’re eagerly anticipating the return of the Music She Wrote festival to ALPAH60 Chapter House in 2023. The festival's commitment to celebrating the works of female composers aligns perfectly with our own values of promoting creativity and diversity in the arts. We look forward to once again providing a beautiful setting for this special event.’

‘Music, She Wrote exists to tell women’s stories in their own musical voices’ says Artistic Director Katie Yap. ‘This year’s festival revolves around the theme of breaking step, cutting loose, and the courage required to speak up with an authentic voice. Chapter House is acoustically and visually stunning. With its wooden interior and vaulted ceilings, it’s a space where chamber music really shines. Each group is chosen with that acoustic in mind.’

PROGRAM:
Concert 1: Turning In | Georgina Lewis X Billie Tumarkin
Wednesday 29 March, 8pm
Pianist Georgina Lewis and soprano Billie Tumarkin join forces to take a journey to the inner landscape of the soul. Known for her sensitivity, authentic, unfiltered musicality and curation of captivating programs, Lewis is a cornerstone of Melbourne’s chamber music scene. Turning In sees her collaborate with Billie Tumarkin, a young singer at the intersection of classical, folk and contemporary music. Their program muses on the acts of weaving, women’s work, and journeying. From 1930s Czechoslovakia to Ukrainian art songs, to Canadian minimalism, and the vibrancy of American Missy Mazzoli, Lewis and Tumarkin’s program is richly coloured and deeply touching. 

Concert 2: Breaking Step | Rubiks Collective
Thursday 30 March, 8pm
The festival’s central concert marks the act of breaking step, of venturing out from the status quo. Melbourne’s beloved contemporary art music ensemble Rubiks Collective has championed female composers since their formation in 2015.

Rubiks brings their signature dynamism and vivacity to Chapter House, with the vibrant combination of piano (Jacob Abela), percussion (Kaylie Melville), cello (Gemma Kneale) and flute (Tamara Kohler). With a particular interest in storytelling and cross-art collaboration, Rubiks has quickly established a reputation for excellence, delighting audiences with their unique programming and dazzling virtuosity.

Concert 3: New Beginnings | Ceridwen McCooey / Croissants & Whiskey
Friday 31 March, 8pm
The final concert celebrates the new paths that emerge after change. Cellist and 2022 winner of 3MBS The Talent, Ceridwen McCooey tells the story of forging her own path. With a program of original works, including a world premiere, her music draws on the clarity of contemporary classical music, combining it with the freedom of improvisation and using live-looped layers to create rich, ever-changing textures.

Prog-baroque quartet Croissants & Whiskey rounds off the festival. Representing a new direction for baroque instruments, theirs is an unconventional blend of harpsichord (Joy Lee), recorders (Ryan Williams), baroque viola (Katie Yap) and G violone (Miranda Hill). They are quickly becoming known for the musicality, flair and humour they bring to their performances, blending the sonorous with the sharp, and drawing audiences from around the state.

In-venue and digital tickets are on sale here.

Photo credit: Darren James