Enjoy a weekend of performances ranging from pre-baroque to contemporary music - all with a strong connection to the baroque period. With musicians from all around Australia who share a passion for early music, this is a weekend of music not to be missed!
PopBarock
Formed in 2018, PopBarock is a quartet comprising staff members of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. The group includes the talents of Kimberley Scriven (recorders), Rhiannon Xeros (violin), Harold Gretton (guitar) and David Chaston (cello). PopBarock was conceived by recorder virtuoso Kimberley, who dreamed of a mixed ensemble, fusing early performance practices with modern pop and folk music, as well as older repertoire. Many intense, late-night jam sessions resulted in an eclectic repertoire, with Coldplay consoling Corelli, Taylor Swift titillating Telemann, Ed Sheeran edifying Boccherini, and Balkan Folk clashing with Estonian Dance, all united by the unique sound-world of the ensemble's unusual timbre, and the musicians' deep love of music-making.
Harold Gretton – classical guitar
Harold Gretton began playing guitar at the age of 7. He first studied at the ANU in Canberra before completing a course specialising in guitar duo performance in Strasbourg (France). He has won numerous international competitions, both as a soloist and in various chamber music combinations. He has been invited to perform concerts all over Europe, as well as in the USA, Mexico, Vietnam, and all over Australia. He has performed with orchestras in Australia and Europe, and gave the world première of Westlake's concerto Shadow Dances under the composer's baton. He has recorded three CDs, a solo album, an album of Austrian guitar quartets with Guitar Trek, and a mixed album of guitar duos.
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Rhiannon Xeros - violin
Rhiannon Xeros (nee Scriven) studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she studied violin under leading Australian teachers Alice Waten and Goetz Richter. During this time Rhiannon performed regularly as part of the Sydney Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and was a section leader for the Sydney Conservatorium Historical Performance Ensemble under Neal Peres da Costa and guest conductor Paul Dyer. Rhiannon has performed in concert with Australian songwriter Megan Washington, the Riverina Chamber Orchestra and in the Sounds of Summer concert series in 2016, 2017 & 2018. Upon completing her Bachelor of Music in 2016, Rhiannon pursued her interest in violin pedagogy and joined the Riverina Conservatorium staff in 2017.
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David Chaston – cello
David Chaston completed a Bachelor of Music majoring in Cello Performance at the Australian National University in 2005 where he studied under David Pereira. During this time, he performed with the ANU School of Music orchestra, Australian Youth Orchestra and in a variety of chamber ensembles. David also provided tutoring for the Canberra Youth Orchestra and ran a teaching studio for cello in Canberra. David has a Bachelor of Education (Primary) which he completed in 2001 at the Australian Catholic University in Canberra. From 2004 to 2015 David taught Music at St Clare’s College where he directed the St Clare’s College Chamber Ensemble, conducted the orchestra for the musical “Annie” and performed in productions of “Cats” and “Pirates of Penzance”.
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Kimberley Scriven – recorder
Kimberley Scriven completed her Music Performance degree at Sydney Conservatorium of Music with First Class Honours in 2017. During her studies at Sydney Conservatorium, Kimberley achieved first place in the renowned Historically Informed Performance Concerto Competition and consequently performed as a soloist, accompanied by the Sydney Conservatorium Early Music Ensemble and Camerata Academica of the Antipodes Ensemble. Kimberley studied under Hans Dieter Michatz and Megan Lang at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Kimberley enjoys every opportunity to share her music with audiences using her unique style and flair. Her performances are founded in historical research and are given a theatrical twist as she aims to display the melodramatic style and rustic folk influences inherent in Baroque music.
Tickets: Civic Theatre Box Office - 02 69269688 www.civictheatre.com.au/whatson/wagga-wagga-baroque-festival-pop-barock
Cost: Adult $30 | Concession/Student $20 | Child (12 & under) $12
Three Concert Package: Adult $70 | Concession/Student $45 | Child (12 & under) $27