In a symphonic celebration of unity, Ananda Sukarlan's melodies dance across borders, crafting a harmonious bond of friendship between Indonesia and Australia

After celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Indonesia in Jakarta last July, it's now Australia's turn to host the celebration in Sydney. While the Jakarta event featured the String Quartet from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) alongside pianist and composer Ananda Sukarlan and soprano Mariska Setiawan on July 4, organized by the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, the Sydney event will be organized by the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) and will take place in their building.

On August 12 at 6 p.m., AIM Sydney Camps at Nurses Walk, The Rocks, will host this event. Although Ananda Sukarlan cannot attend due to his busy schedule, his music will symbolize the friendship between the two countries, performed by AIM professors, alumni, and students. The event will also be attended by the Indonesian Consulate General, who will give opening remarks, along with some staff from the Indonesian Consulate in Sydney. This historic event will be live streamed through AIM's website and social media.

Since its premiere in Jakarta by soprano Mariska Setiawan and the MSO string quartet, Ananda's "Two Australian Songs" has attracted the interest of many string players, sopranos, music producers, and institutions eager to perform it in their respective countries.

For this historic Australian premiere on August 12, the piece will be performed by mezzo-soprano Emma Norton, accompanied by a string quartet consisting of Jennifer Palomera Hernandez and Aurell Marcella Felicia (violins), Julian Kwok (viola), and Nazli Sendergut (cello). Additionally, Aurell Marcella and pianist Novita Jap, another Indonesian AIM alumna now living and working in Sydney, will perform another of Sukarlan's virtuosic works: "Fantasy on Tapanuli Folksongs" for violin and piano.

Ananda Sukarlan's music has endeared him to Australian classical music lovers. Prominent Australian composers such as Peter Sculthorpe, Barry Conyngham, Elena Kats-Chernin, Betty Beath, and others have written and dedicated piano works to him, which he has performed worldwide. It is no wonder that the Sydney Morning Herald hailed him as "one of the world's leading pianists (...) at the forefront of championing new piano music."

Ananda's orchestral masterpiece "The Voyage to Marege'" for two indigenous Australian musicians and orchestra, written in 2017, resulted from his research into the first arrivals of Bugis and Makassar sailors in the early 19th century. The piece was based on a book of the same title written by Campbell Macknight. Ananda even lived with the indigenous people in Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, to study their culture and music. "Two Australian Songs" is his latest piece inspired by Australia and its culture, marking his first exploration into Australian literature, and he has promised to continue delving into Australian poets and their works.

Aurell Marcella, a recent graduate from the Master of Music program in Violin Performance at AIM, Sydney, is one of the stars of this event. In 2022, Aurell was accepted through an audition by Ananda, who was then the artistic director of the G20 Orchestra for its debut at the G20 Conference at Borobudur Temple. The orchestra performed at the Gala Concert of the Ministers of Cultures' Meeting of the G20 countries. In Australia, Aurell currently plays with the Sydney Youth Orchestra, Sydney Concert Orchestra, and Balmain Sinfonia. She has won many competitions in Indonesia and started playing the violin at the age of 7 in her hometown, Surabaya, under the guidance of Welly Liando, Shienny Kurniawati, Finna Kurniawati, and at AIM, Sydney, with Matt Bruce. She has also played the piano since the age of 10 and started learning the viola in 2017.

This concert not only symbolizes the friendship between Indonesia and Australia but also demonstrates how music can bridge cultures and strengthen relationships between countries. With performances by talented musicians from both countries, this event is expected to be an unforgettable moment for all attendees.

#Sure! Here are the target SEO keywords in horizontal format: Sydney music events #Ananda Sukarlan concert #Australian Institute of Music #Indonesian-Australian friendship #classical music Australia #Two Australian Songs #Melbourne Symphony Orchestra #music cultural exchange #soprano Mariska Setiawan #music performance Sydney #Aurell Marcella Felicia #music events August #cultural celebration Sydney #music bridging cultures #Sydney concert series #indigenous Australian musicians #piano works by Sukarlan #classical music lovers #live music performances #AIM Sydney events #Media #article #rsvp clique