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SXS
DIDGERIDOO
COMMISSIONING
PROJECT
Southern Cross Soloists respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians & First Nation owners of the land on which we work. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We also recognise those whose ongoing effort to protect and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures will leave a lasting legacy for future Elders and leaders.
Leading Australian chamber music ensemble, Southern Cross Soloists (SXS) has championed chamber music globally and nationally since 1995. The collaborative nature of the ensemble reflects a commitment and desire to form long-lasting and diverse cultural partnerships with notable musicians and composers from across Australia and world-wide.
The pursuit of excellence in the magical art of music making plus connecting and inspiring audiences and the next generation, rests at the heart of Southern Cross Soloists. SXS is composed of leading soloists from across Australia and is Company in Residence at the preeminent cultural precinct in Brisbane, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, SXS balances breathtaking virtuosity with vibrant artistry.
As passionate exponents of new Australian music, SXS has commissioned more than120 World Premiere new works. SXS launched an exciting new initiative in February 2022: the SXS Didgeridoo Commissioning Project 2022-2032. It features SXS’s permanent Artist in Residence, Wakka Wakka didgeridoo soloist Chris Williams.
Didgeridoo Commissioning Project
Executive Advisory Committee
Chair & Creative Director
Cultural Advisor & Mentor
(Wakka Wakka / Gunggari Elder)
International Ambassador
Acting Co-Artistic Directors,
INTRODUCING
CHRIS WILLIAMS, DIDGERIDOO
SXS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Kay Feeney & Christine Dauber Chair
A descendant of the Wakka Wakka people from Queensland, Australia, Didgeridoo player Chris Williams, began his music studies from an early age. He studied Classical Trumpet at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and also earned a Masters degree in Classical Trumpet Performance at the Royal College of Music in London.
Chris has appeared as guest principal trumpet with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the Queensland Pops Orchestra and the Australian Youth Orchestra. He was nominated for the Australian Freedman Fellowship Award for Jazz and for the Australian Young
Achiever Award twice. Currently Artist in Residence with the Southern Cross Soloists, Chris is regarded as one of Australia’s leading Didgeridoo soloists. As a Didgeridoo soloist, Chris has performed extensively throughout Africa and Europe.
Solo Didgeridoo performance highlights include Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Israel, the Vatican and Didgeridoo Concerto with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. From 2022, in partnership with the Southern Cross Soloists, Chris has embarked on an ambitious project to collaborate with established composers to commission 3 new works for didgeridoo and classical music ensemble every year for the next 10 years.
A number of works so far in the “Didgeridoo Commissioning Project” have been nominated for APRA AMCOS Awards. Current and previous composers include Sean O’Boyle, John Rotar, Leah Curtis, Joe Twist, Matthew Dewey, and James Morrison.
He lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast/Gubbi Gubbi country with his family.
INTRODUCING
CHRIS WILLIAMS, DIDGERIDOO
SXS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Chair Sponsor:
Michelle May & Kay Feeney
Photo: Giselle Images
COMPOSER WORKSHOPS &
EDUCATION RESOURCES
+ Chris Williams
+ Sean O'Boyle
+ Southern Cross Soloists
The SXS Didgeridoo Commissioning Project greatly enhances SXS's scope to make a tangible contribution to the Australian art music canon, through promoting cross cultural genres in chamber music. The outcomes of the project will include increased cultural learnings across broad generational demographics which provide unique experiences for both audiences and the artists.
Through the collaborative nature of the SXS Didgeridoo Commissioning Project, we are aiming to encourage more composers to write works for didgeridoo. As such, throughout the creative process, SXS hosts open workshops for composers to offer insights into the use of the didgeridoo, and all new works are performed extensively as part of SXS touring programs.
SXS has developed a digital guide for composers writing for didgeridoo, developed in collaboration with Chris Williams, composer Sean O'Boyle and Southern Cross Soloists.
You can access this via this link:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuf-3IywV3oYMao17ztjDeVLoPUEVRnEQ
Photos: Maxine Williamson
SXS & Queensland Ballet present ground-breaking dance with Bespoke (ABC 7:30 Report)
PRESS
TV COVERAGE
+ NATIONAL INDIGENOUS TELEVISION (NITV)
+ ABC TV NEWS BREAKFAST
+ CHANNEL 10 NEWS
LIMELIGHT MAGAZINE
+ Southern Cross Soloists is creating a new canon of works for didgeridoo
Ahead of the SXS 2022 season launch, Tania Frazer and Chris Williams talk about commissioning works for didgeridoo and chamber ensemble, and teaching composers how to write for the instrument.
by Hugh Robertson on 11 February, 2022
+ World Premiere: Leah Curtis's The Ground
Leah Curtis tells us about her new work The Ground in preparation for the upcoming concert 'A Moment in Time'.
by Leah Curtis on 8 June, 2022
OTHER MAGAZINES
+ Q Weekend
'Ridgy didge'
Phil Brown talks to Chris Williams and Tania Frazer about the Didgeridoo Commissioning Project.
Brown highlights the process of the writing is not being an 'afterthought', it's a core part of the composition process from the beginning.
by Phil Brown on 4 June, 2022
+ CUTCOMMON
You can now learn how to compose for didgeridoo!
Didgeridoo player Chris Williams talks about the world-first series!
by Stephanie Eslake on 2 August, 2022
RADIO
+ 4MBS CLASSIC FM 103.7
Southern Cross Soloists Artistic Director Tania Frazer (oboe) and 2022 Artist in Residence Chris Williams (didgeridoo) discuss the SXS Didgeridoo Commissioning Project with Peter McCahon on 4MBS Classic FM 103.7.
+ ABC RADIO EVENINGS
Composer Sean O’Boyle interview with Kelly Higgins Devine for ABC Radio Evenings.
10 February, 2022
+ ABC RADIO NATIONAL
Chris Williams, didgeridoo artist in residence, Southern Cross Soloists Tania Frazer, oboist and Creative Director, Southern Cross Soloists Sean O' Boyle, composer discuss the SXS Didgeridoo Commissioning Project with On RN Breakfast with Patricia Karvelas.
22 February, 2022
MEDIA
+ Weekend Notes - Melbourne
Southern Cross Soloists - Maps and Journeys
Maps and Journeys: The World's First Astronomers tours to Sunshine Coast for a school show with 276 school students. After this, the production flew down to Melbourne for a performance as well.
Read the review from the Melbourne show below!
by Weekend Notes on 8 February, 2023
+ MEDIA RELEASE
Free online composer's workshop series for the Didgeridoo
A YouTube series in which composers can learn more about composing for the didgeridoo.
by SXS on 25 July, 2022
+ ABC Brisbane
Meet the man who has not one but two fender guitars named in his honour
Grammy award winning musician and guitarist John Jorgensen joins ABC Radio Brisbane's Steve Austin in studio for a chat.
Listen to the interview!
by ABC Brisbane on 23 October, 2023
+ NITV Radio
NITV on the SXS Didgeridoo Commissioning Project 2022 - 2032
Listen to the interview!
by NITV on 19th October, 2023
+ Didgeridoo Composition Workshop 2023
Read and Watch our livestreamed workshop!
With an internationally renowned, star-studded line of panellists and musicians, see music workshopped live in this event!
by SXS on 19 October, 2023
+ CQ Today
Wise woman’s generational legacy
The family of the late Maureen Williams, in a touching collaboration, are working with The Southern Cross Soloists and Queensland Ballet to weave her life story into a scenic tapestry of beauty, richness, and profound meaning
by CQ Today 7th July, 2024
READ >
+ InQueensland
First Nations work a Bespoke first for Queensland Ballet
Queensland Ballet’s inaugural First Nations work is the creation of former Bangarra Dance Theatre dancer turned choreographer Katina Olsen
by Phil Brown 11th July, 2024
READ >
+ Australian Arts Review
Queensland Ballet: Bespoke
The word gundirgan means ‘clever person’ in the Wakka Wakka language. An excellent choice for the opening performance, gundirgan was a poignant, informative biographical dance.
by Michele-Rose Boylan 29th July, 2024
READ >
+ The Blurb
Bespoke (Qld Ballet) – dance review
With live musicians onstage from the Southern Cross Soloists including Aunty Maureen’s grandson Chris Williams on the didgeridoo, gundirgan, wise woman was Queensland Ballet’s inaugural First Nations work.
by Sara Skubala 29th July, 2024
READ >
+ QPAC
How to write for the didgeridoo
Wakka Wakka decendant, Chris Williams, talks about writing for the didgeridoo in a workshop hosted at QPAC for young composers.
This project is part of the Education strand (Tier 2) of the DCP.
by QPAC on 28th September, 2022
+ THE AUSTRALIAN
Spotlight on Leah Curtis
Leah Curtis has her say on the process of writing for the concert 'A Moment in Time'.
by Bridget Cormack on 10 June, 2022
+ Annoucement: Wakka Wakka Soprano joins SXS
Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholarship 2023
Nina Korbe
+ InReview
From rock to the didgeridoo
John Jorgenson’s strange musical journey
Arts Editor, Phil Brown, talks to guitarist John Jorgenson about his rather strange journey to composing for the SXS Didgeridoo Commissioning Project.
by Phil Brown on 19 October, 2023
+ Australian Arts Review
Queensland Ballet delivers daring and dynamic contemporary dance with Bespoke
Katina, collaborates with Southern Cross Soloists (SXS) commissioned composers Sean O’Boyle AM and Wakka Wakka composer and didgeridoo soloist Chris Williams along with SXS musicians to tell the powerful Queensland story of Aunty Maureen Williams.
by AAR on June 26, 2024
+ Head Topics
Queensland Ballet presents ground-breaking dance with Bespoke
The collaboration began as a collaboration between Southern Cross Soloists and Queensland Ballet.
by Head Topics 9th July, 2024
+ Deborah Jones
Bespoke. Queensland Ballet, Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre, Brisbane, July 25
Queensland Ballet’s commitment to its Bespoke program is important and necessary for the company, for choreographers and for the QB dancers.
by Deborah Jones 27th July, 2024
+ Bachtrack
Power and wit in Queensland Ballet’s Bespoke season
The didgeridoo is a major part of the powerful music for gundirgan, composed by Seán O’Boyle and Williams, and played live onstage by chamber group Southern Cross Soloists.
by Ruth Ridgway 28th July, 2024
+ Dance Australia
REVIEW: Qld Ballet's BESPOKE
Olsen collaborated with composers Sean O’Boyle and Chris Williams (grandson of Aunty Maureen) and musicians from Southern Cross Soloists (SXS) to tell this story. The evocative original score was played live by SXS, upstage right, with Williams on didgeridoo, in a predominantly black box setting.
by Denise Richardson 30th July, 2024
READ >
+ Queensland Ballet Magazine
gundirgan, wise woman: A TIMELINE
The story behind SXS and Katina Olsen's First Nations work for Queensland Ballet's Bespoke
by Cassandra Houghton (July - December 2024)
+ Courier Mail
Bespoke Ballet breaks new ground
Collaborating with Southern Cross Soloists and composers Sean O'Boyle and Chris Williams, Olsen aims to bring a powerful narrative to life, drawing from her extensive career with Bangarra Dance Theatre.
by Georgia Clelland (July 24th, 2024)
+ FJORD
A Metamorphosis of Meaning
In the upstage corner sat the Southern Cross Soloists, a collective of string and woodwind musicians, including Chris Williams on the didgeridoo. Throughout the piece, the dancers and musicians worked in tandem to create a dynamic atmosphere. They ebbed and flowed together.
by Madelyn Coupe (July 26, 2024)
+ The Westender
Queensland Ballet's Bespoke Breaks Ground with Three New Works
Choreographed by Olsen, formerly of Bangarra Dance Theatre and of Wakka Wakka and Kombumerri descent, gundirgan, wise woman celebrates the extraordinary life of Wakka Wakka elder Aunty Maureen Williams, with live music from the Southern Cross Soloists featuring Aunty Maureen’s grandson Chris Williams.
by Sarah Skubala (July 20, 2024)
+ Queensland Performing Arts Review
Queensland Ballet's Bespoke
The music is performed and commissioned by the celebrated Southern Cross Soloists (SXS) and the SXS Didgeridoo Commissioning Project, composed by Sean O'Boyle AM and Chris Williams. The music artfully links the bodily rhythms of classical ballet with the compelling melodies of the didgeridoo.
by Matt Foley (July 29, 2024)
gundirgan, wise woman
Queensland Ballet x Southern Cross Soloists
David Kelly Photography
SXS TALKS:
CHRIS WILLIAMS AND
SEAN O'BOYLE
SXS sits down with composer Sean O’Boyle and Artist In Residence Chris Williams to discuss the Concerto for Didgeridoo by Sean O’Boyle/William Barton.