Macquarie Philharmonia

The Kookaburra who stole the Moon

Macquarie Philharmonia

Macquarie Philharmonia is proud to welcome Australian composer Peter Winkler to the 2007 Concert Series. A trained teacher, Peter has been involved in the Australian music industry predominantly in the areas of music education and community music development. 

Peter works as a freelance composer, producer, engineer and educator, his composition The Kookaburra Who Stole the Moon is featured in Macquarie Philharmonia's upcoming Concert Series during September 14-16.

Series program was created especially for children and families with favourites such as Saint Saens Carnival of the Animals, excerpts from The Lion King along with The Kookaburra Who Stole the Moon performed in Cowra, Dubbo and Bathurst in celebration of the 30^th anniversary of Western Plains Zoo.

Picture: Eric Ellis

The Kookaburra Who Stole The Moon is an introduction to the orchestra set in the Australian bush. It tells the story of a greedy bird who falls in love with the moon and steals it from the night sky. All the other animals (Frog, snake, Emu, Birds, Wombat and Kangaroo) try to make the Kookaburra laugh in order to set the moon free. Each animal is represented by an instrument in the orchestra. The show involves a chamber orchestra, a narrator and an Indigenous dancer who portrays the animals in traditional and contemporary Aboriginal dance styles.

The Kookaburra has been performed extensively throughout Australia and also in The UK (receiving a standing ovation in London's Festival Hall), Noumea (in French) and in Seoul and Daejeon city, South Korea (in Korean language).

The story is preceded by a short introduction to the orchestra and Australian animals and is followed by a workshop in which the entire audience learns the dance movements for each of the animals and joins the dancer and narrator in movement and motif recognition games.

The Kookaburra Who Stole The Moon is a highly successful show which has been greatly appreciated by children, parents and educators for many years. The Macquarie Philharmonia is delighted to play this contemporary Australian piece as an introduction to the orchestra, specially suited to young children.

The performances with The Macquarie Philharmonia will be narrated by the Composer, Peter Winkler, with the virtuoso didjeridoo player Mark Atkins joining the orchestra and the renowned Aboriginal Dancer Eric Ellis portraying the Australian animals in the story.

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MAESTRO LEONARD CAMPLIN CD

Macquarie Philharmonia, Australia’s Inland Symphony Orchestra goes on tour this September. The Orchestra will tour to three Central Western cities over the weekend of the 14-16 of September. Tickets are $20 adult, $40 family of 4, $5 per additional child, $15 Concession.

Cowra will host the first performance at on the 14 Sept at 7pm in the Cowra Civic Centre. Tickets are available from the Cowra Visitor Information Centre.

On Saturday 15 Sept the orchestra will perform for the 30th anniversary of Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. The performance on the shores of the lake will be a wonderful chance to celebrate 30 years of the Zoo. Bring the whole family, a picnic rug and listen to beautiful music. Tickets available from Harvey World Travel, Macquarie St, Dubbo. Gates open 5pm, performance 6pm.

Sunday 16 Sept will be the final performance from the Orchestra this year. Tickets from Books Plus, Bathurst. Hosted by St Stanislaus College, Bathurst, this performance will also be Maestro Leonard Camplin’s final performance with the Macquarie Philharmonia.

Maestro Camplin CD conducted the Orchestra last year to rave reviews from audiences throughout the Central West. “I was astounded at the quality and musical expertise I experienced conducting your Inland Regional Orchestra, the Macquarie Philharmonia” Leonard Camplin said “The concerts I was honored to conduct were of a very high standard – a standard of which the founders, donors, volunteers and musicians can be justly proud and the Orchestra’s Musical Director, Fiona Thompson, is an excellent musician who possesses personnel skills necessary for forming such a group of fine musicians.”

A Fellow of England’s Trinity College of Music, Maestro Camplin has conducted throughout Europe, Canada, the United States & the Far East. Maestro Camplin is founder & musical director of many Orchestras throughout Canada.

Maestro Camplin has conducted in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; Duke of Edinburgh; Prince Charles; Dr. Geoffrey F. Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury; President Linden B. Johnson; Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau & Governors-General Georges P. Vanier & Roland Michener. Maestro Camplin is holder of the Canadian Decoration & bar, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal & Canada’s 125th Anniversary Commemorative Medal.

Macquarie Philharmonia is kindly supported by the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, Festivals Australia, Reliance Credit Union and the Country Arts Support Program.

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