Magical Melodies

11th March 2018 at 2pm

Schonell Theatre, The University of Queensland
Adults $30, Concessions $26, Students $12 and under 5 free
Tickets for Schonell Theatre concerts may be purchased by calling Maree Williamson on (07) 3378 2384.

Ample free parking available next to the Schonell Theatre. Programs and post-concert refreshments are provided! To find out where on campus you can park, head to Parkopedia.com. Parkopedia is a free website that lists all publicly available parking lots, including info on street parking.

 

17th March 2018 at 2pm

Redcliffe Cultural Centre,  Downs St, Redcliffe QLD 4020,
All tickets $32, Children Under 5 Free (must have ticket)
For bookings please phone 3283 0407 or book on line at www.redcliffeculturalcentre.com.au

 

Magical Melodies is a collection of some of the best-loved and famous melodies, from light classics to jazz and show favourites. Conducted by Chen Yang, we will take you on an exciting musical journey, savouring melodies such as Meditation from Thais, Nimrod from the Enigma Variations, and Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 5. Take a stroll down memory lane with Jazz Legato by Leroy Anderson and some Duke Ellington favourites. Dance in the aisles to Lehar's Gold and Silver Waltz and sing along to some of Richard Rogers’s most popular musicals.

A highlight of Magical Melodies will be guest artists, The 7 Sopranos. Australia’s most beautiful voices will entertain you with Brindisi from La Traviata, Danny Boy and others.

 

Chen Yang - Conductor

Chen Yang was appointed concertmaster of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra (QTO) after graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with distinction in violin performance. He later joined the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) for many years.

Chen is currently the leader and conductor of Corda Spiritus Orchestra of Brisbane and The Sinfonia of St Andrew’s Orchestra. He appears regularly as guest conductor for The Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra in their annual Metro Concert Series.  In 2014 he was invited to conduct The Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra in a Gala Concert celebrating their 20^thAnniversary. 

Chen has worked in music education for many years with his long association with the Queensland Youth Orchestra (QYO) leading their Junior String Ensemble (JSE) consisting of up to 70 talented young string players. At present he is also conductor and string teacher at St Hilda’s School, Southport.

His other musical interests include playing baroque violin with The Badinerie Players of Brisbane. 

 

The 7 Sopranos

The 7 Sopranos were conceived in 2009 following an invitation to acclaimed opera singer Tarita Botsman to perform at a prestigious outdoor event at the iconic Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Utilising her operatic pedigree and industry connections developed from her career on the operatic stage, Botsman called upon fellow singers to form a group that combined the voices of seven opera singers and their journey began.

The world class voices of the newly formed 7 Sopranos combined with such a unique backdrop had a huge impact and became an instant hit, quickly followed by further worldwide appearances and a recording contract with ABC Music (a subsidiary of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation) which debuted at No 2 on the Aria Charts. Their most recent album POPCORN, has been selling well at their new show, Songs from Stage and Screen, which will be touring to Queensland in 2018.

What’s most striking about The 7 Sopranos, is their commanding stage presence and vocal prowess. With their refined vocal skills this operatic ensemble made up of seven talented women on stage makes show-stopping headlines wherever they go. They convert the inconvertible to the power and versatility of classically trained performers with their huge breadth of work covering everything from show tunes to musical theatre to contemporary songs. Their irresistible style, personas and unique sound appeal to music lovers everywhere.

Named as “Australia’s most beautiful voices,” the artists that form the ensemble are the kind of role models young girls should have: an ensemble of talented, strong and passionate women doing what they love, on their own terms.

From Dubai to Dubbo, The 7 Sopranos have clocked up hundreds of appearances across the globe. Reaching out to a new audience of music lovers, they successfully straddle the divide between opera and mainstream music, creating their own unique fusion of faithful classical traditions and techniques meshed with contemporary music, enchanting new and enthusiastic audiences across the globe.  They continue their touring success across Australia and internationally: an accessible, affordable, living and breathing versatile all-female ensemble of breath-taking music makers.