AYO Momentum Ensemble_Bowral Autumn Music Festival

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Véronique Serret is a versatile violinist, vocalist, and composer known for seamlessly bridging classical and contemporary art forms. Her diverse musical interests span folk, rock, experimental art music, and improvisation while maintaining a strong classical background.

For many years, Véronique was a member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and toured with US harpist Joanna Newsom. In 2015, she served as Concertmaster of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra, developing strong community engagement. She has led string sections for artists including Laurie Anderson, Fleet Foxes, and Neil Finn and frequently performs at the APRA Screen Music Awards.

As a contemporary classical soloist, Véronique performed Arvo Part’s Tabula Rasa with the Sydney Symphony, Vasks’s Lonely Angel at Four Winds, the Australian premiere of Boulez’s Anthèmes, Brian Howard’s Desires Ingrained for solo violin and Cathy Milliken’s Crie, written especially for her.

Véronique’s current projects include touring HEARTLAND with William Barton and co-composing Bushfire Requiem for Artology. Véronique’s debut six-string album, Prima Volta, is available through Corella Recordings. She plays a 1900 Leandro Bisiach violin and a custom six-string violin by Paul Davies.

William Barton is Australia’s leading didgeridoo player and a highly esteemed composer, instrumentalist, and vocalist.

William first learned the instrument from his uncle, Arthur Peterson, an Elder of the Wannyi, Lardil, and Kalkadunga people. At an early age, he began collaborating with traditional dance groups, fusion/rock/jazz bands, orchestras, string quartets, and mixed ensembles.

Throughout his diverse career, he has forged a path in the classical music world, including performances with the London, Berlin, and Bremer Philharmonic Orchestras, as well as historic events at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day 2019, Anzac Cove in Gallipoli, and the Beijing Olympics.

William holds honorary doctorates from Griffith University and the University of Sydney. He has released five albums on ABC Classic, including Heartland 2022 with Véronique Serret and the words of his mother, Aunty Delmae Barton.

William was named Queensland Australian of the Year and received the Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music in 2023. He was also an Australian of the Year Nominee. His work with the Australian Chamber Orchestra on the soundtrack of the film “River” won several awards in 2022, including Best Soundtrack Album and Best Original Song Composed for the Screen.

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Hyung Suk Bae, internationally renowned cellist celebrated for his captivating performances and artistry. Serving as the Principal Cellist of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Bae is celebrated for his profound musicianship and technical mastery. He has been praised for transcending “beyond technical excellence and into the realms of artistry.” 

Bae’s performances have graced prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Centre, and the Sydney Opera House. Among his recent achievements, his rendition of Richard Strauss’s “Don Quixote” with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra was particularly lauded for its compelling storytelling. 

As a sought-after principal cellist, Bae has collaborated with esteemed ensembles such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. In addition to his orchestral engagements, Bae is a dedicated educator, holding faculty positions at both the University of Queensland and Queensland Conservatorium.  

Bae’s musical journey began at The Juilliard School in New York City, where he earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees on full scholarships under the mentorship of Joel Krosnick, former cellist of the Juilliard String Quartet.  

Playing a 2023 Vettori cello (Florence) and an 1833 Derazey cello (Mirecourt), Bae’s instruments are valued for their rich tones and historical significance. 

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Canadian violist Meagan Turner is in high demand as a performer across North America and Australia. A dedicated chamber musician, she has appeared at the Ravinia Festival, Tippet Rise Arts Centre, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Juilliard String Quartet Seminar, Luminato Festival, Bangalow Festival, and Musica Viva’s Morning Masters series. She has guest principal violist experience with Sydney’s Omega Ensemble, the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, and Shattered Glass (NYC). Additionally, Meagan has served as principal violist of the New York String Orchestra Seminar, the Spoleto Festival Orchestra, and the Tanglewood Music Centre Orchestra. She regularly performs with the Australian Chamber Orchestra 

Meagan has received numerous awards, including Canada’s “Hottest Musicians Under 30”. She is a recipient of a Rachel Elizabeth Barton Pine Foundation Career Grant and a past scholar and grant recipient of the Virtu Foundation. From 2018-2020, Meagan held a fellowship position at Carnegie Hall, preparing young classical musicians for careers that combine musical excellence, teaching, and leadership. Meagan earned her Bachelor’s and Performance Certificate from the University of Toronto and her Master’s from The Juilliard School, where she received full scholarships. She is currently a Doctoral candidate under Eric Nowlin, performing on a Giovanni Pistucci instrument on private loan. 

Aunty Delmae Barton was born in Emerald, Central Queensland, and is a descendant of the Bidjara tribe on her mother’s side. Widely known as Australia’s Dreamtime Opera Diva, her career spans regional Australia, national arts centres, and international stages in Canada, the UK, Italy, France, and China.

Her career highlights include the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra “Jam Session concert” in Sydney, a special guest performance at the Vatican for Mary MacKillop’s canonisation, and a cultural blessing for Queen Sofia of Spain in 2009. She also performed at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the inauguration of Lady Quentin Bryce as Governor-General of Australia.

Aunty Delmae was a guest artist at the Pompidou Centre in Paris and a resident at the international multimedia facility Fabrica Musica in Italy. She has also collaborated with her son, William Barton, and performed at numerous festivals, including the Brisbane International Film Festival and the Woodford Folk Festival. Aunty Delmae has served various education faculties and was appointed Elder in Residence at Griffith University in 2005. She advises students and staff and regularly attends court hearings as part of the Murri Court Justice system in Queensland.