A musical treat

The second highly anticipated Cello Dreaming Summer Intensive Retreat 2024 will be held at Eudlo Hall from January 4-7, including a program of Summer Concerts produced and curated by Artistic Director, Louise King for local audiences. These concerts celebrate the diversity and beauty of the cello and classical music, and will feature guest artists from Brisbane and Sydney.

Louise King, a local Eudlo resident and a professional cellist for over 25 years, is thrilled to invite a faculty of six professional musicians and three wellness practitioners to the region to offer an inspiring retreat to musicians young and old, designed to create space to pause, explore and refresh through community exchange and powerful learning.

The retreat teaching faculty include leaders in professional orchestras, contemporary folk, and chamber music practices, and specialists include practitioners in Feldenkrais Method, yoga, and meditation.

“This retreat is unique and fills a gap in our music industry, as there are no retreats or intensive weekend courses catering for aspiring and curious cellists in Australia or New Zealand. So I created one!” said Louise.

“I figure we live in a beautiful place, why not create cello utopia in it!”

The Summer Concerts will feature guest artists and local acts to showcase the cello and crossover classical music from folk to tango, baroque to classical, Australian music to improvisation.

Folk and Originals kicks off the Summer Concerts on Friday January 5, 7pm with two headline artists who are two of Louise’s former students; Monique Clare performing originals from her album Sight, with Kathryn McKee KMAC, a crossover classical pop artist performing originals from her new album Sang Chaud both based in Brisbane and touring nationally.

The second concert on Saturday January 6, at 7pm dives deep into Baroque and Tango with visiting Brisbane act Diez Cuerdas with feature singer Solange Lipcin fresh from performances at Woodford Folk Festival, with the first half featuring Louise King (Muses Trio, Cello Dreaming), international concert cellist Gyorgy Deri from Budapest, and Chloe Williamson from Tango Enigmatico.

Plus Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Julia Janiszewski from the Canberra Symphony Orchestra with Francesca Frank from Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra performing Vivaldi, Bach, Telemann and Argentinian Nuevo Tango by Piazzolla.

“I believe the practice of music should be inclusive, non-competitive, and focus on building community. The retreat caters for emerging artists, amateurs, uni music students, string teachers and professional practitioners,” added Louise.

Participants will experience technique classes, cello choir, ensembles, masterclasses, workshops, concerts and talks led by a unique community of internationally acclaimed musicians, teaching artists and holistic practitioners.

“There are limited pathways and options for emerging artists on the Sunshine Coast for musical development and students have to frequently travel to Brisbane, interstate or overseas to take their skills to the next level,” said Louise.

“This is a way of creating a local platform for our homegrown emerging artists and visiting professional artists to share the stage and skills with each other.”

Experience the retreat artists and visiting acts in these Summer Concerts! Tickets $15-$45 family tix $100, and Early Bird offer December 25 2023. Bar and interval refreshments available. For more details visit: cellodreaming.com.au/summerretreat, and to book tickets, search Cello Dreaming on the Humanitix platform.