Killalea Strings Awarded Prestigious 2026 Bundanon Residency
I’m thrilled to share the news that Killalea Strings, the adult community string orchestra I direct in partnership with Friends of Wollongong Community Music, has been awarded a 2026 Bundanon Residency. This is an extraordinary honour, one that recognises both our musical work and the spirit of collaboration and creativity that defines our ensemble.
For those unfamiliar, Bundanon is one of Australia’s most important cultural institutions. Located on the Shoalhaven River on the South Coast of New South Wales, the property was gifted to the Australian people by the artist Arthur Boydand his wife Yvonne Boyd in 1993. Today, Bundanon hosts one of the nation’s most prestigious Artists in Residence programs , a competitive and highly regarded opportunity for artists, musicians, and researchers to step away from their daily lives and immerse themselves in creative practice.
To be selected for a Bundanon Residency is an enormous privilege. Hundreds of applicants apply each year, and the program has supported some of Australia’s most celebrated and innovative artists. For a regional community orchestra like ours, it’s a significant acknowledgment, one that recognises the quality, vision, and ambition of what we’re doing here in the Illawarra.
Killalea Strings was founded to provide a space for adult string players across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, and Southern Highlands to come together, challenge themselves, and make music at a high level. We rehearse regularly, perform in the community, and explore a diverse range of repertoire. Our members come from many walks of life, united by a shared love of music and the joy of making it together. Through our partnership with Friends of Wollongong Community Music, we’ve built an ensemble that not only makes great music but also builds community.
The Bundanon Residency will give us the opportunity to step away from our usual rehearsal and performance schedule and focus deeply on the creative process. Surrounded by Bundanon’s extraordinary landscape (with its mix of bushland, river, and open sky) we’ll have the space to explore new ideas, develop repertoire, and plan future projects. I’m particularly excited to use this time to workshop new and Australian works, create resources for regional string players, and strengthen the ensemble’s sound and identity.
As a teacher and conductor, my work has always been about creating pathways for people to engage meaningfully with music, whether they’re beginners, returning players, or advanced musicians looking for new challenges. Through my teaching studio and community initiatives, I’ve seen firsthand how music transforms lives and connects people. This residency feels like a natural extension of that philosophy: a chance to create, reflect, and bring something lasting back to our community.
Receiving this residency is not just an achievement for Killalea Strings, but for everyone who supports community music in the Illawarra. It’s a testament to the passion and dedication of our players, the encouragement of Friends of Wollongong Community Music, and the belief that regional ensembles can do work of national significance.
We’ll head to Bundanon in 2026, and I’ll be sharing updates as our plans develop, from repertoire choices to creative projects and future performances inspired by our time there. I can’t wait to see how this experience shapes the next chapter of Killalea Strings, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has helped us reach this exciting point.
