'Quartets for You' Event Premieres 13 New Works by Local Emerging Composers

Last week, the Quartets for You series in the Adelaide Fringe saw the premiere of 13 new string quartets by local emerging composers, highlighting the vibrant compositional community of South Australia. New works by Ben Betelli, Heather Duthy, Thomas Gray, Brodie King, Emma Knights, Leah Komad-Antic, Ben Lyons-Reid, Clinton Marchi, Raffael Raschella, Ty Robinson, Casey Sullivan, Charlie Wells and Hannah Wilkinson (all of whom are either current students or recent alumni of the Elder Conservatorium) were heard over three concerts, performed by Brandon Cooper, Damien Day, Angela Reis and Shelley Walker on Wednesday 26 February (at the Mockingbird Lounge), and the Opal Quartet (Javier Goh, Shannon Whitehead, Sterling Rieck, and Chiara Kelle) on Thursday 27 February and Sunday 2 March (in the historic ballroom at Urrbrae House). These were meaty pieces, by turns delicate, intimate, energetic, expansive, gritty and sometimes explosive. The young performers gave everything they had and played with great energy and intensity to an appreciative Fringe audience, including Her Excellency the Governor of South Australia, The Hon. Frances Adamson AC.