Kokatha/Gunditjmara songman David Arden performs repertoire that speaks to country and the First Nations lived experience with featured improvisers from the Australian Art Orchestra.
Arden’s career is marked by his dedication to celebrating and preserving First Nations culture and history through music. In 2006 he served as the Musical Director and co-founder of The Black Arm Band, and has collaborated closely with artists including Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter and Kutcha Edwards across his significant four decade career.
In this special solo concert, Arden will be joined by musicians from the Australian Art Orchestra, including long-time collaborator and AAO Artistic Director Aaron Choulai.
Mindy Meng Wang 王萌 is a versatile Chinese/Australian composer and world-class modern guzheng player. She was born and trained in China, and studied western musicology in the UK before emigrating to Australia. A contemporary pioneer of the guzheng, she introduces the ancient Chinese horizontal harp into many western genres including experimental, jazz, western classical, electronic and improvisation.
Her work is an important part of a significant movement of Chinese musicians redefining and reinvigorating their musical tradition on the global stage. Her long-term vision is to create a strong voice for young female composers and artists of Chinese heritage, and to create a deeper and reciprocal musical connection between Australia and China.
This show will see her introducing audiences to the connections between ancient Chinese stories and the music that she plays.