Cobar – Big Sky Tour
SYO’s Big Sky Tour continues to Cobar on Monday 30 June at 7:00pm, with an evening performance at the Cobar High School MPC that promises to captivate audiences in this historic mining town.
Under the expert direction of conductor James Pensini, SYO’s accomplished young musicians will deliver a powerful program featuring the world premiere of Andrew Howes’ specially commissioned choral work honouring Royal Far West’s remarkable centenary of service to rural children. This intimate venue setting at the high school’s Multi-Purpose Centre creates the perfect atmosphere for the community to connect with the orchestra’s dynamic performances, bringing metropolitan-quality classical music directly to the heart of the Central West.
The Cobar concert represents a unique opportunity for local residents to witness the exceptional talent and passion of Australia’s next generation of orchestral musicians from SYO in collaboration with local artists in their own backyard.
Composers: Masae Ikegawa and Graham Hilgendorf Arranger: Andrew Howes
Commissioned especially for a performance at the Cobar Sound Chapel in 2024, Source is an original taiko composition that honours the vital role of water in the Cobar region, Ngiyampaa country.
The piece opens with delicate, bird-like sounds, evoking the image of birds gathering at a local water source, such as Cobar’s Newey Reservoir, an essential and life-sustaining place in this semi-arid landscape. As the music progresses, it builds into powerful, energetic taiko rhythms that reflect the dynamic movement of water.
The composition also pays tribute to Cobar’s unique water history. In earlier days, water was transported into town by train and distributed to properties via open dugout pipes. The Silver Tank, now transformed into the Cobar Sound Chapel, was one of the first permanent water sources in the area, and stands as a symbol of pioneering, perseverance and people.
Source was commissioned by Cobar High School and made possible through the generous support of Aurelia Metals.
The orchestral arrangement by Andrew Howes was supported by SYO’s Big Sky Your Orchestra outreach program.
Masae Ikegawa is a Japanese-born taiko performer, teacher, and co-founder of YuNiOn. Beginning her taiko journey at age 5 in Marugame City, she later performed with Manno Daiko in Japan and toured the USA. Since moving to Australia in 1999, Masae has performed internationally with TaikOz and studied traditional taiko styles with master drummers in Japan. Her work blends traditional Japanese music with contemporary expression, and she is widely respected as both a dynamic performer and engaging teacher, known for her motto: “play together with fun and energy.”
Graham Hilgendorf is an Australian percussionist, composer, and co-founder of YuNiOn. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Graham was a founding member of B’tutta and performed with TaikOz for 18 years. He has toured extensively across Australia, Asia, and the USA. His work blends jazz, taiko, and world percussion into dynamic, cross-genre performances. He has composed and directed large-scale works, including Shifting Sand. Graham is a passionate educator, delivering workshops and school residencies nationwide. He is known for his energetic teaching style and love of rhythm and collaboration.
- Monday June 30th
- 7pm
- Cobar High School MPC
- Tickets
Supported by:
