Australian composer Calvin Bowman is looking forward to working with musicians and groups in the Dandenong Ranges.By Tania Martin
THE Dandenong Ranges Music Council is gearing up for another exciting project, this time working with Australian composer Calvin Bowman.
The project, Composers Connecting Community, has been made possible by a $25,000 grant from the Australia Council’s music fund.
DRMC music coordinator Bev McAlister said the council was the only community music organisation in Australia to receive the funding.
Composer Calvin Bowman will spend the next six months working with the council, producing songs for local musicians to perform.
Residents are invited to join in the program and meet him on Saturday, 18 February at 7.30pm at the DRMC in Upwey.
Dr Bowman recently became the first Australian to graduate with a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Yale University. He is an active recitalist and in 1995 presented the compete Bach organ works to critical acclaim. He has also regularly featured on ABC Classic FM radio, and has released recordings of a wide variety of organ music.
Ms McAlister said that Dr Bowman would be composing for community ensembles, schools and choral groups.
She said the DRMC would also like to involve members of the community who are composing or are interested in composing their own work to meet Calvin and discuss their own composition.
Ms McAlister said the council chose Dr Bowman because he was very approachable, natural, talented and welcoming. “He was perfect for us and we are very lucky to have him,” she said.
Dr Bowman said he was delighted to be part of the project.
He will compose songs for the council and other community groups such as the Ranges Young Strings and Singularity. The project will finish with a performance of all the songs in July.
For more information, contact the DRMC on 9754 6566.
