Topology’s going to Texas on Thursday 27th June and the community is invited to join them on a journey back to Queensland in the early 1900’s with a vintage film and live music performance at 7pm at The Texas Memorial Hall.
Queensland at Home is performance of music composed by Robert Davidson inspired by footage of Queenslanders daily lives from the early 20th Century.
“The Queensland at Home production is by far the largest tour undertaken by Topology. By the end of June, we will have worked with communities and students and presented Queensland at Home in 45 towns in regional Queensland,” says Christa Powell, Creative Director – Topology.
The live musical performance is an original score by Topology’s Robert Davidson making Queensland at Home an experience of both sight and sound.
With 21 years on the scene, Topology has become known as one of Queensland’s finest arts organisations, ARIA-nominated with 16 albums and countless tours and performances in Australia and overseas. Topology have become a staple sound in Australian music.
Tickets are $10 for everyone over the age of 12 which can be purchased at the door on the night or pre book online at www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=511018&
For more information on the tour and Topology please visit www.topologymusic.com or visit the Topology Facebook page www.facebook.com/events/621533531655554/
JOHN BABBAGE (saxophone)
John (saxophone) is a founding member of Topology. He studied saxophone at the Queensland Conservatorium Of Music, graduating with a Diploma in Jazz in 1987. He has been performing and teaching for thirty years, has toured Australia, Europe, the US, Canada, India, Singapore and Indonesia, released 15 albums of music by Australian and international composers, and his compositions have been played on radio and television worldwide. Babbage is a sought after cross art-form composer, with commissions for such works as R&J (Expressions Dance Company), Argus (Dead Puppet Society) and Ocean’s Skin (Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre, USA). He has recorded and performed with the above groups as well as Terry Riley (USA), the Brodsky Quartet (UK), Abhinaya Theatre Company (India), Kate Miller-Heidke, Katie Noonan, The Kransky Sisters, Christine Anu, Trichotomy, TaikOz, William Barton, Grant Collins and many more. Babbage is also a driving force in Topology’s Top Up education program and is actively sought after by teachers around the country to deliver improvisation and composition workshops. His work for Top Up has brought him to numerous communities in regional Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
DR ROBERT DAVIDSON (bass)
Head of Composition at the University of Qld. Davidson studied composition with Terry Riley after studying Indian music in Kerala and before completing his composition PhD. He was a bassist in the Australian Opera, Sydney Symphony, and Queensland Symphony orchestras, and has been featured as bassist in many festivals, performing chamber works with artists such as John Williams (guitar), the Brodsky Quartet and Ensemble 24. He has also tutored as bassist and composer in many conferences, including the Mt Buller Chamber Music Summer School and Australian String Association National Conference. He regular tours internationally with Topology and other ensembles, and his compositions are regularly performed, recorded and broadcast around the world. All of Australia’s professional orchestras and many leading festivals, soloists and ensembles have commissioned and performed his works, including the Brodsky Quartet (London), Australian String Quartet, Karin Schaupp, Southern Cross Soloists, Paul Dresher Ensemble (San Francisco), Newspeak (New York) and many more.
CHRISTA POWELL (violin)
Highly-respected performance artist, session musician, and music educator, Christa is as comfortable lending her talents to the orchestra pit as she is in character wardrobe, playing on stage with Led Zeppelin or playing solo violin and strolling the stage with Expressions Dance Company. Christa Powell is a uniquely talented woman whose technical skill and innate musicality is a major source of inspiration to the fortunate few she teaches.
One of Topology’s founders, a steadying influence and strong driving force towards the shared common goal, Christa has helped steer Topology from the start, emerging as Financial and Education Director. She managed day-to-day business almost single–handedly in Topology’s early days – molding, shaping and refining the organisation into the respected arts organisation it is today.
When she’s not playing with Topology, she performs a wide range of chamber music, her long-held passion. She also plays orchestral music with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, gigs with bands and teaches violin in her private studio and as guest at various education institutions. Christa studied at the University of Queensland (BMus Hon 1991) with Elizabeth Morgan, in London (1991 – 1993) with Emmanuael Herwitz of the Melos Ensemble and at the Queensland Conservatorium with Carmel Kaine, obtaining her Master of Music in 1996. In London, she played with the Olyver Gypsy Ensemble.
BERNARD HOEY (viola)
Bernard (viola) studied viola at the Queensland Conservatorium with John Curro, and at Michigan State University with John Graham and Robert Dan. He has participated in Masterclasses with Kim Kashkashian, the Alban Berg Quartet, and the Kronos Quartet. While in the US, he played with the Arlington Quartet, with whom he toured the UK. He was a violist in the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra from 1994-2000, and is now Acting Associate Principal Violist of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, with whom he has performed as soloist in concertos by Hindemith and Bach. He has performed as a guest with The Australian String Quartet, and The Australian Chamber Orchestra.
He is also a founding member of Topology, with whom he has performed extensively, both throughout Australia and overseas. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by Topology, The Australian Youth Orchestra, and a variety of chamber ensembles.
DR THERESE MILANOVIC (piano)
Therese is in demand as both performer and teacher. Previous performance highlights include ABC broadcasts, Musica Viva Country Wide and In Schools touring, with Collusion. Recently, she has enjoyed performing with Topology, including collaborations with the Brodsky String Quartet, Grant Collins, Brisbane Festival, festival performances in Indonesia and Singapore, and a tour of the Netherlands with the Kransky Sisters. Other performance projects, through Ikon Music, feature quirky music-making with soprano Emma Baker-Spink and other kindred spirits. In 2009, Therese completed her training with the Golandsky Institute in New York and is the first certified Taubman Instructor in Australia, the subject of her completed PhD. She teaches at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Young Conservatorium and privately.
