Blue Mountains Botanic Garden
An Australian Event Award 2012 finalist, Autumn Vibes is the launch event that kicks off Autumn in Your Gardens. Autumn Vibes is a free multicultural day of music, dance, opera, storytelling, art, talks, walks and children’s activities (small charge) - all linking plants in the Royal Botanic Garden to their countries of origin. There will also be a diverse array of multicultural food for sale. Autumn Vibes 2013 is shaping up to be an exhilarating day focusing on plant collections from South America, Asia, the Pacific Islands and our own indigenous plant collections. Back by popular demand are TaikOz and Riley Lee. Adding to the thunderous percussion of Asia, Autumn Vibes will be introducing the exciting samba drums of Brazil accompanied by samba dancers and capoeira, filling the Garden with the energy of Rio. Enquiries: 9231 8111
Note: Program may be subject to change. |
Autumn Vibes 2012
Music Partner Sponsor
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What's on, Where & When
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Autumn Vibes Event Village
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MusicMary & the Banks TaikOz - Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) by Riley Lee TangoOz Cafe Sur Divergence Jazz Orchestra China Fever Music Ensemble Opera Aria recitals - Michael Halliwell Kevin Hunt Trio Ying & Friends Chamber Music Quartet Almendrix Trio - Brazilian classics Conservatorium of Music Saxophone Quartet - Petrichor Sax Conservatorium of Music String Quartet - Con-brio |
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DanceBrazilian Show Samba Workshop Duavata Fiji Dance Group
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Guided WalksGarden stories - intriguing and sensational!
Meeting point Autumn Vibes Event Village at 11 am, 12 noon, 1 pm and 2 pm Ikebana for Gardens - exhibition |
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Specialist Horticultural Talks and StorytellingSpecialist horticultural talks Step into the Palm House and enjoy talks and demonstrations on South American plant families including bromeliads, begonias and orchids. Palm House 10.30 am - Orchids with Dylan Morrissey, 12.30 pm - Begonias with Gordon Chivers and 2.30 pm - Bromeliads with Paul Nicholson Storytelling Palm House 11.30 am - Aunty Ali Golding and 1.30 pm - Jo Henwood |
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Children's FunChildren's activities and storytelling at the Autumn Vibes Event Village YogaBugs Garden Adventure Palm Frond Weaving Tall Tales and Twine Boomerang Painting Capoeira workshop Drawing competition Cost: $4 per activity (except for drawing competition) or 3 activities for $10. Materials supplied Bookings essential: Please register on the day at the Information stall in the Autumn Vibes Event Village. |
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Tea CeremonyJapanese Tea Ceremony - Urasenke Sydney Association
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Exhibitions and Artist-in-Residence TalkBotanical Songforms - Phillippa Carnemolla, 2012 Artist-in-Residence Ikebana for Gardens - exhibition Banner exhibition - Garden Safari
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Plant SalesGrowing Friends Nursery open - entry near the Maiden Theatre or from Mrs Macquaries Rd
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Theatre - ticketed eventa play by Chris and Natasha Raja presented by the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust When: 5.30-6.45 pm |
Autumn Vibes eventsNew to the program are Triple J unearthed in 2012 indie pop group Mary & the Banks; the Kevin Hunt Trio; opera arias with Michael Halliwell; storytelling with Jo Henwood and Indigeneous storytellers; specialist horticultural talks and demonstrations; Garden Safari exploring the amazing colours, shapes and textures of plant life; exhibition tour and talk by Phillippa Carnemolla, the Garden’s 2012 Artist in Residence. In the beautiful outdoor setting of the Garden, between twilight and dusk, visitors can experience The First Garden, a play by Chris and Natasha Raja presented by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. The play tells the remarkable story of Olive Pink an environmentalist and land rights activist and her quest to establish a botanical garden in Alice Springs. Autumn Vibes’ favourites will be back including volunteer guided walks where visitors will hear some of the more quirky stories that make up nearly 200 years of history of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney - famous discoveries, celebrities and crimes will be uncovered! Traditional Japanese tea ceremony; ikebana exhibition and guided walk; plant sale and a larger selection of children’s activities. There will also be a diverse array of multicultural food for sale. Autumn Vibes Event Village Visit the Autumn Vibes village and enjoy the buzz of musicians, performers, stalls and children’s activities. Don’t miss the chance to savour the delicious flavours of multicultural food and coffee for purchase at our specialty stalls. A diverse range of native plants propagated by Foundation & Friends of the Botanic Gardens will be available to purchase. Also the Garden Shop will have a stall with an enticing range of botanically themed and eclectic gifts that you won’t find anywhere else. Discover what wonderful pleasures lie ahead from March - May in Autumn in Your Gardens, celebrating gardens and plants as inspiration for the arts. Hear about the range of work undertaken by the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust including sustainability and conservation programs, scientific discovery and new projects to mark the Trust’s bicentenary in 2016.
Mary & the Banks Mary & the Banks grew out of an entirely serendipitous encounter. Mary, fresh from school, moved from a small town in the Southern Highlands of NSW, to Sydney looking for a dream and a band … not quite sure where to find either. As luck would have it, at a music industry party in late 2011, Mary met brothers Zane and Jy-Perry Banks. The trio soon discovered that they all had a love of the same type of music and all shared a common goal to write songs and play music around the world. Shortly after meeting with Zane and Jy, Mary met with renowned Sydney pop drummer Mitch Bruzzese and her dreams started to come true. With the New Year, the phenomenon of Mary & the Banks was born and after just six weeks of song writing together, they recorded their first EP, Way Back To You and are just putting the finishing touches on their upcoming second EP Got to Move On for 2013. Come and enjoy their beautifully crafted music at Autumn Vibes: a blend of pop, rock, jazz, blues and folk. About Mary & the Banks Zane is currently completing a PhD at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music focusing on the use of guitar in contemporary classical music. Jy is also studying full time on tuba and electric bass at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Mitch is a seasoned studio drummer and established teacher. Mary is fresh out of high school and spends her days practicing and writing music. Mary Bokey - vocals www.facebook.com/maryandthebanks.com
Hear the thunderous rhythms of Australia’s premier taiko (Japanese drum) ensemble playing a range of drums including the giant 2.5-metre-high odaiko drum. Not only will you be able to listen to the drums but members of the audience will be invited to participate in a workshop to try their hand at playing the drums! Since 1997 TaikOz has developed a reputation for dramatic performances that couple explosive energy and extreme dynamism with refinement and grace. Combining the visceral power of the taiko with the ethereal sound of the bamboo shakuhachi, TaikOz is exploring a synthesis of East and West, old and new. TaikOz has collaborated with some of the world's finest artists, including world-renowned taiko greats Eitetsu Hayashi, Eitetsu Fuun no Kai and Kodo, percussion group Synergy, didgeridoo virtuosi Matthew Doyle and William Barton, theatre director John Bell and The Bell Shakespeare Company, choreographer Meryl Tankard, composers Andrea Molino, Gerard Brophy, David Pye and Graeme Koehne, and the Sydney, Melbourne, West Australian and Queensland Symphony Orchestras. TaikOz has also collaborated with major festivals in Sydney, Brisbane, Tasmania, Adelaide and Perth. For the Autumn Vibes performance TaikOz will be using the full range of taiko from the smallest which is the high-pitched shimedaiko to the odaiko (grand drum). They will also be playing medium sized slung drums which are called okedo. These allow for a high-energy/mobile style of playing. Most of the taiko are made from the Japanese elm called Keyaki (Zelkova serrata), which can be seen in the Garden on the lawn just below the Vista Pavilion. For centuries Taiko have been performed outside in nature. The sounds blend so that the performance becomes part of the garden and there is no discernible difference.
Led by tango specialist Maggie Ferguson, TangoOz is Australia’s first tango orchestra giving young musicians the unique opportunity to learn and play authentic Argentine tango music. TangoOz is part of the Sydney Youth Orchestra where many of the performers are students at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Conductor: Maggie Ferguson After two decades as a classical chamber musician, Maggie Ferguson began studying the orchestral tango at the Escuela de Tango Emilio Balcarce in Buenos Aires in 2003. At the invitation of Ignacio Varchausky,and with support from The Ian Potter Cultural Trust, she has worked with the Orquesta Escuela de Tango under the direction of Maestros Emilio Balcarce, Carlos Pazo, Walter Rios, the late Jose 'Pepe' Libertella and Nestor Marconi. She has performed at the Biblioteca Nacional, La Casa del Tango, and with tango quartets at Clasico y Moderna, El Balcon and El Virulete. Maggie Ferguson began learning the bandoneon in Buenos Aires in April 2007. She returns regularly to study with Santiago Polimeni and Camilo Ferrero and Ramiro Boero of Orquesta El Arranque and to perform with the Orquesta Escuela de Tango directed by Nestor Marconi. In 2009, with the Sydney Youth Orchestras Association (SYO), she created Tango Oz, Australia’s first tango orchestra which she directs from the bandoneon. TangoOz were the focus of Sydney’s first Tango Escuela held by the SYO in collaboration with Sydney Conservatorium High School in July 2009 under the guest direction of Ignacio Varchausky and Santiago Polimeni. The orchestra also performed at the Australian Tango Championships. Since 2004 Maggie Ferguson has taught tango performance to ensembles at Sydney Conservatorium High School and at the Sydney Conservatorium Open Academy
Divergence Jazz Orchestra Jenna Cave (composer/director), Paul Weber (trombone/bandleader); Dane Laboyrie, Rob Campbell, Matt Collins, Will Gilbert, Paul Meo (trumpets); Justin Buckingham, Josh Willard, Louis Klaassen, Evan Atwell-Harris, Chris O’Dea (saxes); Brendan Champion, Tim Coggins, Mitch Nissen (trombones); Luke Liang (guitar); Dave Groves (bass); James McCaffrey(drums). www.divergencejazzorchestra.com China Fever Music Ensemble The China Fever Music Ensemble was established in 2011 by Lily Hu. Members include professional Chinese instrumentalists and lovers of Chinese traditional music. The aim of the ensemble is 'making friends through music' and to promote Chinese music and culture. Through teaching and performance activities the ensemble helps to encourage cross-cultural understanding. Sydney-based Lily Hu started to learn the yangqin (Chinese dulcimer) as a teenager with the late yangqin virtuoso Professor Qian Fangping. In 1983 Lily was selected to study at the China Conservatory of Music under Professor Xiang Zuhua and on graduation became a lecturer at the China Dance Academy. Since migrating to Australia in 1989 she has performed at many festivals and recorded several film and television soundtracks. Weigang Hu started to learn the suona (Chinese oboe) at an early age with his late father, the suona master Hu Haiquan. At the age of 12 Weigang was chosen to perform with the China Railway Performing Art Troupe and has twice won the Outstanding Performance Award in the Chinese Instrumental Competition. After graduating from the China Conservatory of Music, he joined the China National Orchestra as a suona soloist. Since migrating to Australia, Weigang has performed at the Melbourne International Arts Festival and taught Chinese music at Monash University, he is a founding member of the China Fever Music Ensemble.
Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) played by Riley Lee Shakuhachi Grand Master Riley Lee has been instrumental in creating a professional presence of traditional Japanese music in Australia and introduced the shakuhachi to a diverse audience as both a soloist and with other performers of such instruments as harp, cello, saxophone, tabla, guitar, didjeridu, and symphony orchestra. In 1980, he became the first ever non-Japanese shakuhachi dai shihan (Grand Master). Over 50 of his recordings have been released on international labels. In 1997, he co-founded TaikOz with Ian Cleworth and the Australian Shakuhachi Society with Patricia Lee. Riley performs regularly in Australia and abroad, both as a soloist and in collaboration with other musicians, notably harpist Marshall McGuire, Trikaya, Synergy and TaikOz. The shakuhachi bamboo plant (Phyllostachys bambusoides), can be seen in the Garden (bed 141a) just above the sculpture by Chris Booth, not far from the Vista Pavilion.
Opera Aria recitals Hear internationally acclaimed Michael Halliwell perform in the Joseph Maiden Theatre accompanied by the magical voices of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music opera students. Associate Professor Michael Halliwell has pursued a dual career as opera singer and scholar in operatic studies. He was born in South Africa and studied Literature and Music in Johannesburg. He was awarded scholarships to study at the London Opera Centre with Otakar Kraus, and Tito Gobbi in Florence. As principal baritone with the Netherlands Opera and the Hamburg State Opera, he performed over 50 major roles in many European cities. He was Head of Vocal Studies and Opera, Pro-Dean and Head of School, and Associate Dean (Research) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Michael not only teaches vocal studies but is a respected academic whose work on the operatic adaptation of literature has been widely published. He nevertheless continues a successful career as a performer and recording artist, with a double CD of Kipling and Boer War settings released by ABC Classics in 2005. In August 2007 he premiered Lawrence Kramer’s song cycle: Five Songs and an Epilogue from The Wings of the Dove, in Edinburgh. His book, opera and the novel: The Case of Henry James, was published by Rodopi (New York/Amsterdam) in 2005.
Kevin Hunt Trio Jazz lovers are in for a spectacular treat with the highly acclaimed award-winning jazz pianist Kevin Hunt to perform at Autumn Vibes with his trio, The Kevin Hunt Trio. Kevin has performed with many well-known artists such as Don Burrows, Emma Pask,Marie Wilson, James Morrison, Simon Tedeschi, Tim Hopkins, Adrian Mears, Janet Seidel, Steve Hunter, David Jones, Col Loughnan, Sandie White, Trevor Griffin and Debra Decembre, to name a few. As well as performing, Kevin teaches jazz studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and is currently involved in PhD research on the jazz capabilities of the Australian made Stuart & Sons piano. This research has recently produced new music for the Stuart Piano based on ancient Aboriginal chants of the Sydney region. Kevin is currently producing a CD recording of this music entitled Ancient & New.
Ying & Friends Chamber Music Quartet This special performance, is a showcase of Chinese influences in Australian music, it will blend Western and Chinese instruments to create original and evocative sounds. The program presents traditional Chinese music, as well as popular Chinese classics The Moon’s Reflection on the Second Spring and Spring Festival Overture arranged by Australian composer Julie Simonds.
Música no Museu The Music at the Museum Project present Almendrix Trio - Brazilian classics: Villa - Lobos to Tom Jobim The Music at the Museum Project (Música no Museu) was conceived in 1997 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More than fifteen years later the group has performed over 400 concerts throughout Brazil becoming the largest classical music series in the country. In recognition of their outstanding contribution, Música no Museu received the Ordern do Mérito Cultural in 2008 by decree of the President of the Republic of Brazil Lula da Silva, this being the highest cultural honour in Brazil. Henrique Medeiros - percussion For Autumn Vibes, Petrichor Sax will be playing Ockhams Razor by Paul Stanhope, Andante et Scherzo by Eugene Bozza, Three Improvisations by Phil Woods, and Tango Virtuoso by Thierry Escaich. Autumn Vibes will be introducing the exciting samba drums of Brazil accompanied by samba dancers and capoiera, filling the Garden with the energy of Rio.The Brazilian show performers are highly skilled with most of the team coming from South America. Be captivated and inspired by these accomplished dancers, musicians and capoeira performers.
Duavata Fiji Dance Connect with Fijian heritage expressed through the dance known as ‘Meke’, proudly performed by Duavata Fiji Dance Group. Duavata meaning ‘coming together to unite as one’ respectfully strives to maintain this time honoured and exciting tradition.
Garden Stories - intriguing, bizarre and sensational! On this hour long guided walk you will hear some of the more quirky stories that make up nearly 200 years of history of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Stories including famous discoveries, celebrities and crimes will be uncovered. Registration required on the day at the Information stall in the Autumn Vibes Event Village.
Ikebana for Gardens - exhibition Self-guided walk or join special guided walks by teachers from the School of Sogetsu at 11.30 am and 2.30 pm. Meet at the Garden Shop. Teachers from the modern School of Sogetsu will lead a tour through their exhibition of stunning ikebana sculptures. They will talk about the philosophy of the ancient Japanese art form of ikebana, and how they created the beautiful works on display throughout the Garden; each designed specifically for its location.
Specialist Horticultural Talks Talks and demonstrations on South American plant families including bromeliads, begonias and orchids. Step into the Palm House and learn how best to propagate begonias from highly skilled member of the NSW Begonia Society, Gordon Chivers. Experienced Royal Botanic Garden’s horticulturist Paul Nicholson will be sharing his extensive knowledge on bromeliads. Dylan Morrissey, member of the Manly Warringah Orchid Society will inspire you with the remarkable world of orchids and the best way to take care of them. Dylan has been a member of Manly Warringah Orchid Society for about 10 years (since I was ten) in which time he won multiple awards for his orchids and is currently serving his third year on the committee. He became interested in growing orchids after winning a plant of den. Speciosum in a raffle at an orchid show and has learnt many of the skills he has now mastered from his grandfather who has been growing orchids for 60 years. In January he will be starting a judging course. Paul Nicholson has worked in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney for the past 18years, initially as an apprentice and for the last 6 years as Senior Horticulturist responsible for a number of displays and collections including the Spring Walk and Palm Grove within the Upper Gardens. Thanks to a generous donation from Leon Fink, Paul had the opportunity to renew the Bromeliad collection in the whales head rockery under the Port Jackson Fig opposite the Palm House in 2008. This experience turned a general interest into a mild obsession with bromeliads leading to the removal of the lawn outside our family home and its replacement with a bromeliad border. The diversity, colour and form of the bromeliad group never ceases to amaze from thread like epiphytes to dramatic and imposing architectural show stoppers like the Alcantareas.
Be captivated by Indigenous storyteller Aunty Ali Golding as well as Jo Henwood as she takes you on a journey of myths, fairy tales, legends and ghost stories from plants growing all over the world. Jo Henwood joined the Australian Storytelling Guild (NSW) in 1999, and subsequently became an Accredited Storyteller, President, Vice President, and Accreditation Officer. Her specialisations cover heritage sites, people with disabilities, drawstories, mysteries and historical stories. Jo has a Master in Cultural Heritage and qualifications in librarianship, tour guiding, museum studies and gifted education. She conducts storytelling workshops for adults and children.
Children's Fun In 2012 the Children’s Activity lawn was buzzing with excitement and energy, as it was so popular we have added more to the program for 2013. YogaBugs Garden Adventure Palm Frond Weaving Tall Tales and Twine Boomerang Painting Capoeira workshop Drawing competition Where: Autumn Vibes Event Village
Japanese Tea Ceremony Experience a traditional Japanese Tea ceremony in the beautiful setting of the Herb Garden Pavilion conducted by the Urasenke Sydney Association, established in Sydney over 35 years ago. Tea in Japan dates back to the 9th century when it was taken by a Buddhist monk on his return from China. The fundamental principles of Japanese Tea Ceremony are harmony, respect, purity and tranquillity and very similar to the Chinese of peace, quiet, enjoyment and truth.
Botanical Songforms - Phillippa Carnemolla, 2012 Artist-in-Residence Phillippa Carnemolla, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney 2012 Artist in Residence, has created an extraordinary range of works including sculpture and jewellery that explores the interdependence of flora and fauna. The centrepiece of her exhibition is the exquisite kinetic sculpture The Breathing Conifer located in the Fernery. Other smaller pieces are on display in the Garden Shop. Join Phillippa for a special exhibition tour and talk at 10.30 am and 12 noon in the Fernery.
Ikebana for Gardens - exhibition Teachers of the modern Sogetsu School of Ikebana have constructed a series of stunning floral arrangements using natural plant materials. The works are placed throughout the Garden; each designed specifically for its location. The pieces embody the philosophy of Ikebana, the ancient Japanese floral art form. Throughout the Garden - pick up your free map from the Garden Shop. Garden Safari Discover wild and wonderful art plants on a family adventure through the Garden. Fun activities at each safari stop explore the amazing colours, shapes and textures of plant life. For children 6-12 years old. Cost: Members $4.50, Non-members $5. Safari kit included Collect map & safari kit from the Shop.
Theatre - The First Garden In the beautiful outdoor setting of the Garden, between twilight and dusk, visitors can experience The First Garden, a play by Chris and Natasha Raja presented by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. The play tells the remarkable story of Olive Pink an environmentalist and land rights activist and her quest to establish a botanical garden in Alice Springs. The subject of this play, Olive Pink is largely unknown by today’s public, particularly outside her chosen home and resting place in the Northern Territory. Her importance, though, is not only central to Australia’s social history but to our national story and identity as contemporary Australians. Pink was a remarkable 20th century Australian with a concept of human rights unheralded in her day. She was both a spokesperson for Indigenous peoples and their cruelled existence under the deluded and self-corrupting powers of racist, colonial Australia, as well as a neighbour, friend, associate, mentor, lover, informant, agitator, pacifier and at times interfering and self-aggrandising belligerent in her relationships with white and black Australians. Living so close to the sun, in the heart of what matters, she also suffered the alienation of someone whose orbit is radically - and hence safely - distant. What is so successful about her manifestation in The First Garden, is that she is, above all, human - and by virtue of this, so are those reported and portrayed in the play whom she loves, respects, betrays, fears, alienates and hectors. As extraordinary and idiosyncratic as Pink is, she is also something of an archetype. Through the drama and courage of her extremities, we better understand our collective past and potential future. These qualities are beautifully controlled and communicated through the text, the production and central performances. Natasha Raja (as Pink) and Eshua Bolton (Johnny Tjampitjinpa) particularly make every moment of their performances count and the effect of this as the story inexorably unfolds, is the collapsing of time (internally in the play as well as in our contemporary life and its connection with the past) is little short of devastating. Pink’s passion for our native species, and particularly desert flora, gives contemporary Australians our most tangible relationship with her. Not only is she completely ‘knowable’ in this sense as a contemporary archetype (seed collector, cultivator, protector, conservationist) but the very ‘fruits’ of her obsession, the botanical gardens themselves, are the living and immersive environment in which we share her story. It is a unique and powerful experience and - with ingenuity and aforethought - will adapt equally well in host gardens. Above all, The First Garden is a satisfying and enjoyable piece of theatre which is so rooted in its source it simply couldn’t have been made elsewhere. This makes it a true and original gift for the rest of Australia and I hope very much that it enjoys the touring life nationally that it deserves - and the audiences of Australia deserve. Stephen Armstrong: Stephen is a Producer and Presenter of contemporary theatre. He is currently Chair of the Theatre Board, Australia Council of the Arts. Food stalls Savour the delicious flavours of food available for purchase at our specialty stalls. Enjoy freshly squeezed sugarcane from Tall Grass Cane Juice along with traditional Brazilian culinary treats from Casa Brasil, Japanese seafood dumplings from Colotako, Chinese dumplings from Dim Sum Station, Gozleme, coffee and gelato from Bar Coco. There will be a giant worm farm to recycle the food scraps from Sustainability Systems and Services. Wet weather contingencyAutumn Vibes will go ahead rain, hail or shine. For wet weather program see details in the Garden or visit this page closer to the event. Program may be subject to change. SponsorsThe Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust wishes to thank the generous support of our music partner the Sydney Conservatorium of Music - University of Sydney and sponsor the Japan Foundation, Sydney. |
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