Steel City Strings: Why Echoes?

The idea for Echoes grew from a personal question that slowly deepened over time. I always knew, in a simple geographic sense, that Australia is near Asia. But it wasn’t until I began visiting regularly in 2009 that I started to think more deeply about what that proximity really meant historically, socially, and artistically. I discovered that the relationship between Australia and its Asian neighbours is far more layered and dynamic than I had imagined. There is an ancient history of trade and connection, long before European settlement. In modern times, Australia has welcomed a large and diverse Asian diaspora, and the cultural exchange continues to evolve in rich and fascinating ways.

As someone rooted in the world of classical music, I became particularly curious about how these influences have made their way into Australian composition. I began to notice distinct traces, some subtle, some unmistakable, of Asian musical ideas, aesthetics, and instruments in the work of Australian composers. These were thoughtful integrations that suggested a deeper cultural dialogue.

This sparked a lot of questions for me: How consciously were composers drawing on these influences? Were they referencing specific traditions, or simply absorbing a broader sensibility? How did these elements shape the search for an “Australian sound” in classical music, and how did they enrich it?

Echoes is a program built from those questions. It brings together works by Anne Boyd, Julian Yu, Brendan Collins, and Andrián Pertout, four composers who in different ways engage with this cultural interplay. Through their music, we hear how influence doesn’t always mean imitation. Sometimes it’s about resonance, reflection, or even gentle disruption. And I’m thrilled that we get to experience this with the extraordinary artistry of clarinettist Lloyd Van’t Hoff, whose sensitivity and versatility bring these works vividly to life.

I hope audiences will find this program as thought-provoking and moving as I have. It’s a chance to hear how geography, history, and identity ripple through music. To trace the echoes that travel across time and borders, shaping how we listen and understand each other.