NECOM Woolshed Series 2024
October 20 @ 3:00 pm - November 10 @ 5:00 pm
New England Conservatorium of Music’s Woolshed Series presents spectacular springtime concerts in three iconic woolsheds to celebrate the New England’s unique identity and rich cultural heritage, past and present. Join NECOM in its 20th anniversary year for this unforgettable series that showcases both our region’s wealth of musical talent and the impressive pastoral heritage of the New England.
WOOLSHED SERIES 1
MIRANI
SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER 2024
3:00PM
Mirani Road, Walcha
The series premieres at Mirani Woolshed, built by AS (Poss) Nivison with the first shearing in 1954. Originally an 8-stand shed, it was increased to 10-stands in the 1960s. It is still owned by Poss’ descendants and used to shear the Mirani and Marmindi flocks.
This is a concert for all tastes, showcasing works for cello ensemble which take the audience on a scenic musical journey through the ages from Bach to Debussy, from Queen to Metallica. Famous orchestral excerpts drawing upon pastoral themes featuring the cello section will be interwoven throughout the programme.
ARTISTS
Robert Jackson – Cello
Caleb Murray – Cello
Robert Manley – Cello
Sofia Debus – Cello
WOOLSHED SERIES 2
DEEARGEE
SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2024
3:00pm
Gostwyk Road, Uralla
One of the New England’s most distinctive woolsheds, Deeargee was built by Alexander Mitchell for the pastoralist Henry Dangar of Gostwyck Station in 1872, replacing a former woolshed destroyed by fire. The woolshed gained its name from the old Gostwyck wool brand, DRG, which stood for “Dangar, Gostwyck”.
This concert will weave together themes of folk and national music. From Dvorak’s American Quartet to the Danish String Quartet’s brilliant Nordic arrangements via the Australian bush, you will enjoy an unforgettable musical journey surrounded by the rustic charm of the weathered hexagonal woolshed.
ARTISTS
James McKay – Flute
Eliza Scott – Violin
Robert van Gend – Viola
Caleb Murray – Cello
WOOLSHED SERIES 3
CRESSBROOK
SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2024
3:00pm
Cressbrook, Enmore Road, Enmore
The final concert in the series takes us to Cressbrook Woolshed, built in 2001, replacing the former 1930s shed with the view to increasing capacity as the Cressbrook flock grew. The 4-stand shed hosts an annual ram sale and has been a wedding and party venue for the Fulloon family over the years. It is a perfect concert venue with the four stands providing an excellent stage area and the wooden materials giving an unexpectedly good acoustic.
This concert features virtuosic repertoire for saxophones as well as John Harle’s gorgeous reworkings of Old English songs and Shakespearean sonnets combining classical, jazz and pop elements.
ARTISTS
Paul Marshall – clarinet, saxophone, bassoon
Louisa Sindel-Marshall – clarinet, saxophone
Warwick Dunham – piano
Connie Dunham – voice
Tickets: $75 per concert (includes refreshments)
Dobson’s Woolshed Series Gin
Partnering with Dobson’s Distillery, we are offering an exclusive Woolshed Series New England Dry Gin. All profits from the sales will go towards NECOM’s Outreach School Music Program fundraising goal.