Mirabilis Collective's Hear Her Now Festival to Present 100 Tunes by 100 Women Composers in Perth
The Mirabilis Collective, a female-focused music group, has announced the Hear Her Now chamber music festival, scheduled for October in Perth. This event promises to showcase one hundred tunes composed by one hundred women, marking it as an Australian first in its scope and dedication to female composers.
Historical and Contemporary Composers Featured
The festival will include works spanning from medieval times to the present day. Notable composers featured range from Hildegard von Bingen, a medieval figure, and Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre from the Baroque era, to contemporary artists such as Emily Gelineau, Elean Kats-Chernin, and Kate Miller-Heidke. This diverse lineup highlights the rich contributions of women to classical and modern music.
Mirabilis Collective's Mission and Achievements
Founded three years ago by artistic director Stephanie Nicholls, who plays piano and oboe, the Mirabilis Collective includes her daughters Lucinda Nicholls on soprano and Julia Nicholls on vocals and violin, along with flautist Tresna Stampalia and cellist Elena Wittkuhn. The group is dedicated to championing women in music through commissioning and performing their works. Their success is evidenced by a recent Fringe World Award and a Creative Australia MATCH Lab sponsorship, which will double donations made before May 31.
Festival Launch and Program Highlights
The festival launch took place at Wigmore Studio, featuring highlights from nine programs that will run from October 8 to 19 across five venues in Perth. Key performances included:
- Lili Boulanger's Nocturne: A gentle, mysterious piece with ruminative piano harmonies.
- Emily Gelineau's Her Time: Part of the Homegrown program, featuring world premieres by WA composers Katherine Potter and Mia Brine, with a pop-influenced, nuanced style.
- Elean Kats-Chernin's Slicked Back Tango: A cello-focused piece from the Australian Music Examinations Board syllabus, ending with a quirky conclusion.
- Clara Schumann's Liebst du um Schonheit: An art-song performance at Lawrence Wilson Gallery, showcasing Lucinda Nicholls' vocal versatility.
- Fiona Hickle's Aussie Carnival of the Animals: A young person's program at the State Library Theatre, with oboe and cello pieces evoking Australian wildlife.
- Angie McMahon's Making It Through: Featured in the VIVID concert for LGBTQIA+ and disability communities, blending folk-pop elements.
- Kate Miller-Heidke's O Vertigo: The festival finale at UWA's Callaway Auditorium, with a dynamic mix of soprano solos and ceilidh-style endings.
Ticket Information and Support
Tickets for the Hear Her Now festival will go on public sale from April 30. For more details and to support the initiative, visit mirabiliscollective.com/support-us. This festival not only celebrates women in music but also aims to inspire future generations through its inclusive and diverse programming.
