TWO of Canberra’s leading musical figures are taking centre stage at the coming Bowral Autumn Music Festival, held in the autumnal surrounds of historic St Jude’s church.

Sally Greenaway, festival composer for 2023, will see her work “Of Moths and Moonlight”, premiered on the Friday night concert by Sally Walker, billed as “Australia’s best flautist”. Pianist Vivian Choi Milton will accompany her.

Festival artistic director Myee Clohessy says: “Sally [Greenaway] is the warmest, most friendly composer, whose head is full of beautiful music… She takes inspiration from the beauty of nature, which reflects in her music’s delicate yet complex themes.” 

For her part, Greenaway describes her commissioned work as “a delicate and poetic meditation inspired by the shimmering beauty and fragility of moths”.

Her first piano trio, “Le Parc Monceau” and a choral work, “If I Could (Have Given You a Note)”, with lyrics by Canberra poet and artist Sarah Rice, will also receive NSW premieres at the festival.

Two years ago, Greenaway’s mini-opera, “Da Vinci‘s Apprentice”, formed the centrepiece of the festival’s regular family concert, but this time Clohessey, known for working with musical children, is creating “Musica Floriat”, where the performers are young people such as Sienna Hagan, who will play a composition by Greenaway.

The festival will also include premieres of new works by Australian composers such as Andrew Ford and Elena Kats-Chernin.

The Highlands Music Collective, formed in 2019 to play chamber music among friends and colleagues, will play at the festival finale with solo violinist Cedar-Rose Newman, performing a sonata by Greenaway, a piano trio by Elena Kats Chernin and Piazzolla’s “Four Seasons”.

Bowral Autumn Music Festival, March 23-26.