Term 1


School Holiday Workshops: “You’re An Instrument”

Presented by Speak Percussion, Darebin Arts Centre & AirSticks
15-16 April 2023
Darebin Arts Centre

Two scientists take kids on a wild magical ride where movement becomes music, turning anything & everything into musical instruments. Yes, new technology can turn the actions of a human body, a pot-plant, or even a shampoo bottle, into any sound known to humanity. So move it!

A funny interactive all-ages family show exploring the history of sound & music, including the thoughts and feelings behind any toot, ding, dong or symphony, featuring the incredibly exciting technology of Airsticks.

For ages 5-12 years
Only participants require tickets. Guardians are free to attend and do not require a ticket.

Warnings: None
Duration: 50 Minutes

Book here: https://arts.darebin.vic.gov.au/whats-on/event-calendar/2023/04/youre-an-instrument

Complimentary tickets are available for students currently enrolled at a Victorian specialist school. For further information, please contact soundsunheard@speakpercussion.com.


Term 2


Sonic Eclipse Performance Program: March Static

29 April – 15 June 2023
Darebin Arts Centre / Melbourne Recital Centre

Calling all flute, clarinet, saxophone, low brass, percussion and drum players; we need you for the Melbourne premiere of March Static! Join Speak Percussion in the opening and closing works of their epic project Sonic Eclipse in this year’s RISING Festival.

Composed by internationally acclaimed composer Thomas Meadowcroft (AU/DE), March Static is a stunning roaming work for massed wind/low brass and percussion/drum players, developed in collaboration with two luminary figures in new music: Eugene Ughetti (AU, percussion) and Claire Chase (US, flutes).

In this performance, a massed team of wind/low brass and percussion/drum players will overtake the foyers and Elisabeth Murdoch Hall at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Thursday June 15.

We are seeking volunteer participants who play flute, clarinet, saxophone, low brass, percussion and drums at an equivalent minimum AMEB Grade 2 standard. Music notation reading skills are required.

Participants will:

  • perform at RISING, an international arts festival, in the world class venue, Melbourne Recital Centre
  • be mentored by and perform alongside new music pioneers Speak Percussion
  • explore new music, choreography and performance techniques
  • be provided a performance T-Shirt to keep and light refreshments around rehearsal and performance periods.
  • have access to Artist Rush tickets from the Melbourne Recital Centre (purchase up to two tickets (for yourself and a guest) at $15 each to MRC Presented Events. Offer is available from 48 hours prior to the concert)

For further information and the full schedule, please download the Sonic Eclipse Flyer. To apply please fill out the online form here.

Applications for the Sonic Eclipse Performance Program must be received by 5pm, Wednesday 12 April 2023. For assistance with your aapplication or to request further information, please contact Biddy Connor (biddy@speakpercussion.com).


  Speak Percussion (Aimee Schollum)


School Holiday Intensive: Dark Voyages

5-7 July 2023
Darebin Arts Centre

Victorian secondary students are invited to take part in the creative development of a new musical work to premiere in late 2023, drawing inspiration from the Voyager space exhibition and the story of the Golden Record.

The Golden Record is a curated set of images and sounds, portraying life on Earth and greeting any other potential residents of the universe. Launched into space in 1977, the Voyager spacecraft and the Golden Record are now the farthest human-made objects from Earth.

Dark Voyages is a new musical work exploring the story of the Golden Record, using percussion and artificial intelligence to synthesise the record’s sounds into a new cosmic language.

Led by Speak Percussion’s Assistant Artistic Director Kaylie Melville, students will workshop and explore notated, improvised and graphic musical ideas ahead of further rehearsals and performances at the Science Gallery in late 2023.

Participants will perform on a range of traditional and non-traditional percussion instruments. Percussionists and non-percussionists are encouraged to apply, and all materials will be provided.

For further information, please download the Dark Voyages Flyer. To apply please fill out the online form here.

Applications for the Dark Voyages School Holiday Intensive must be received by 5pm, Friday 30 June 2023. For assistance with your application or to request further information, please contact Sounds Unheard Coordinator Kaylie Melville (kaylie@speakpercussion.com).


  The Golden Record (NASA)


Term 3


Polar Force: Array Backstage Pass

2 September 2023, 1:30-3:30pm
Chunky Move

Take a sonic trip deep into the bracing polar conditions of the Antarctic.

Array is an eight-channel, immersive sound installation simulating the experience of a research station in the remote Antarctic deserts. Recordings from scientific radar instruments are layered with sound textures, rhythmic cycles and resonances to reproduce the sounds of this unique environment in one of the most extreme conditions on earth.

The Array Backstage Pass invites secondary students to a talk from composer and sound artist Philip Samartzis (RMIT University), an Array listening session and a discussion about how we listen to the world around us. Students will hear from Philip about his 15-year project to create a sound map of the Australian Antarctic Territory, capturing the sounds of the natural environment, the research stations, the technology and more.

Array re-examines our relationship to the natural world and introduces us to the fascinating sounds of the coldest, windiest and driest continent on earth.

For further information, please download the Array Backstage Pass Flyer. To apply please fill out the online form here.

Registrations for the Array Backstage Pass must be received by 5pm, Wednesday 30 August 2023. For assistance with your aapplication or to request further information, please contact Kaylie Melville (kaylie@speakpercussion.com).


School Holiday Intensive: Dark Voyages

25-28 September 2023
Darebin Arts Centre

Victorian secondary students are invited to take part in the second creative development of a new musical work to premiere in November, drawing inspiration from the Voyager space expedition and the story of the Golden Record.

The Golden Record is a curated set of images and sounds, portraying life on Earth and greeting any other potential residents of the universe. Launched into space in 1977, the Voyager spacecraft and the Golden Record are now the farthest human-made objects from Earth.

Dark Voyages is a new musical work exploring the story of the Golden Record, using percussion and artificial intelligence to synthesise the record’s sounds and new sounds from the modern day into a new cosmic language.

Led by Speak Percussion’s Assistant Artistic Director Kaylie Melville, students will workshop and explore notated, improvised and graphic musical ideas ahead of further rehearsals and performances at the Science Gallery in November 2023.

Participants will perform on a range of traditional and non-traditional percussion instruments. Percussionists and non-percussionists are encouraged to apply, and all materials will be provided.

For further information, please download the Dark Voyages Flyer. To apply please fill out the online form here.

Applications for the Dark Voyages School Holiday Intensive must be received by 5pm, Friday 22 September 2023. For assistance with your application or to request further information, please contact Sounds Unheard Coordinator Kaylie Melville (kaylie@speakpercussion.com).


  The Golden Record (NASA)


Term 4


Performance Program: Dark Voyages

28-29 October 2023
Darebin Arts Centre
3 November 2023
Science Gallery

Victorian secondary students are invited to take part in the premiere performance of a new musical work from Speak Percussion. Premiering in the Science Gallery’s Dark Matters exhibition, Dark Voyages draws inspiration from the Voyager space expedition and the story of the Golden Record.

The Golden Record is a curated set of images and sounds, portraying life on Earth and greeting any other potential residents of the universe. Launched into space in 1977, the Voyager spacecraft and the Golden Record are now the farthest human-made objects from Earth.

Dark Voyages is a new musical work exploring the story of the Golden Record, using percussion and artificial intelligence to synthesise the record’s sounds and new sounds from the modern day into a new cosmic language.

Led by Speak Percussion’s Assistant Artistic Director Kaylie Melville, students will rehearse and premiere this exciting new work at the Science Gallery’s November Friday Night Social: a curated evening of musical performances presented alongside the Dark Matters exhibition, exploring the fundamental essence and mysteries of the universe.

Participants will perform on a range of traditional and non-traditional percussion instruments. Percussionists and non-percussionists are encouraged to apply, and all materials will be provided.

For further information, please download the Dark Voyages Flyer.To apply please fill out the online form here.

Applications for the Dark Voyages Performance Program must be received by 5pm, Wednesday 25 October 2023. For assistance with your application or to request further information, please contact Sounds Unheard Coordinator Kaylie Melville (kaylie@speakpercussion.com).


  The Golden Record (NASA)


Improvisation Workshop: Duré Dara

3 December 2023, 11am-1pm
La Mama Courthouse

Victorian secondary students are invited to take part in an improvisation workshop inspired by the work of Speak Percussion’s Creative Director Duré Dara.

For more than 50 years, Duré Dara has been making spontaneous music and performance. She is well known for her work with the late David Tolley, in the Brian Brown Quintet and as an improvisational musician, collaborating on countless music projects with some of the most admired Australian musicians.

Duré has achieved great success as a business woman, in philanthropy and through her work with the Victorian Women’s Trust. She has consistently championed social inclusion and received an Order of Australia Medal for her services to women’s groups. She remains committed to working towards gender equality.

In this improvisation workshop, secondary students will hear from Duré about her fascinating career, her ‘Percussion, Degustation, Conversation’ project with Speak Percussion, and her advice for young artists. Duré and Speak will lead the group through a number of guided improvisations, providing opportunities for students to play and explore their creativity together in a supportive environment.

Students will need to bring along an instrument for the improvisation exercises. All other materials will be provided.

For further information, please download the Improvisation Workshop Flyer.To apply please fill out the online form here.

Applications for the Improvisation Workshop must be received by 5pm, Wednesday 29 November 2023. For assistance with your application or to request further information, please contact Sounds Unheard Coordinator Kaylie Melville (kaylie@speakpercussion.com).


  Duré Dara (Darren Gill)


Throughout 2023


Studio Talks
www.soundsunheard.com/studiotalks/

Access international artists, professional experts and a wealth of musical knowledge from your home, school or practice room. These online sessions are presented by some of the world’s most exciting musicians, on topics including performance preparation, approaches to composition, extended techniques and more.

Our Studio Talk presenters for 2023 will include:

  • Artist, evolutionary biologist, writer and composer Victoria Pham
  • Interdisciplinary artist, composer and musician Lamine Sonko
  • Australian musician, restaurateur and businesswoman Duré Dara



©2024 Speak Percussion

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