Stringmania arrives in Healesville

Stringmania on stage during for the 2019 performance. PICTURES: SUPPLIED

Stringmania music camp participants will once again gather to share their energy, joy, and creativity in concert at the Memo Hall in Healesville on Saturday 1 October.

The Warburton-based music event is an immersive residential camp now in its seventh year, primarily for string musicians who are passionate and curious about traditional and contemporary string music and seek musical, cultural, and personal enrichment through the support of an open minded, vibrant and inclusive community.

After a week of intensive music-making led by tutors from around Australia and the world, Stringmania Camp will burst onto the stage to share their final concert.

Stringmania’s artistic director Dr Chris Stone said it’s a privilege to share the stage with this diverse collective of top-tier musicians in Healesville.

“We’ve been learning to sing in Noongar which is the original language from around Perth, we’ve learnt to play and dance the Jota from northern Spain, body percussion from Australia’s rhythm guru Greg Sheehan, and we’ve been sharing new Australian string music that doesn’t even have a genre yet. We’re itching to share it all with the community at our final concert,” Dr Stone said.

The internationally renowned tutors will perform a taster of their music in the first half of the concert.

From Noongar Country in WA (Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse) to Spain (Maria San Miguel), India (Parvyn Singh), Scotland and America (Galen Fraser), and right around Australia.

The entire hundred-strong camp will then take the stage by storm for a rollicking, exhilarating celebration of the power of musical connection and community.

Melbourne-based musician and educator Holly Downes has been part of Stringmania since it began in 2016.

“It’s great to be gathering in person again under the majestic Donna Buang after two years of running Stringmania online. This camp creates a unique atmosphere for musical and cultural exploration and connection between people of all ages and walks of life,” Ms Downes said.

“Every year it’s a highlight sharing the buzzing camp atmosphere and creative energy at the final concert. I always come away from it feeling refreshed and invigorated.”

The concert will include music taught and created over the week, packed with fiddles, cellos, basses, banjos, guitars, mandolins, dancers, drums, voices and more.

Expect vibrant, gorgeous, and energising traditional music, new compositions and improvisation, dance and song, and a warm, inclusive atmosphere with a big party vibe.

Come and experience this unique and special event and help celebrate the return of the Stringmania community back to Healesville.

Here’s the link to the event/ticketing: https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/Stringmania-Camp-Finale-Concert