Many of you may know Blair Harris (alum 2005) as cellist of the innovative Ensemble Offspring. We sat down with him recently to talk about his chamber music series at Beechworth Fine Music, and the joys of curating and performing chamber music in this intimate setting.
Tell us about how you became involved with Beechworth Fine Music.
Beechworth Fine Music began unofficially in 2019 as a series of casual house concerts for the Beechworth community. I went to visit my dear friend’s home for the first time and entered a rather grand living space overlooking the township and immediately said “Wow, this isn’t a lounge, it’s more like a little concert hall!”
In those few words a seed was sown. Shortly thereafter, a magnificent Fazioli grand piano was purchased and the music began. As performances became more popular, in 2023 we launched our first public concert series. Guest artists Dale Barltrop, Laurence Matheson and Sophie Rowell filled the house with music and the joy of bringing a community together.
What do you enjoy most about programming these concerts? What advice do you have for musicians curating their own performances?
Chamber music is all about collaboration, and deciding together what music we want to play is actually one of the most fun parts of curation. Performers playing works they love is always a recipe for success.
In programming our Spring concert, both Sophie and Aura [Go] had Schubert’s Fantasy D.934 on the top of their list. A work of utmost beauty, demanding great maturity and limitless technique. It was a must-have on the program for me and a rare opportunity to hear such a sublime work in the hands of great performers.
My advice for young artists would indeed be the same. Program works that speak deeply to you, and naturally they will speak to your audience. They will feel the intangible spirit only music can create, and you will notice your audience grow and grow.
Why is this project special to you, and how does it complement your other professional work?
This project holds a very special place in my heart. Our hosts have become part of my family, and the commitment to supporting and sharing the beauty of music is at the core of what we want to achieve together.
In addition to the house concerts, we also host a Cello Retreat for regional students to support and inspire them in their studies. Individual lessons, ensemble playing and honing performance skills are all part of building a music-loving community. Being able to share my expertise as a teacher is one of the most rewarding hats I wear, and it’s a pleasure to see the students join our recital audiences too.
I’ve always seen classical music as a continuum; I am equally at home interpreting works of Schubert alongside Saariaho. I think it is our job as artists to contribute to the continuum, and I see Beechworth Fine Music as a great way to explore that vast diversity – and show that new works can hold their place alongside titans of the past.
In our Autumn concert I will be performing Alice Humphries’ One Thing at a Time, and I take pride in knowing this new work can stand tall beside Rachmaninov and Pärt and will be equally loved and appreciated.
I have always put chamber music at the fore of my career, and my time at ANAM nourished this greatly. It encourages your individuality as an artist, and certainly showed me there are many ways to create a successful and rewarding career doing what you love most.
Beechworth Fine Music
Sun 5 May, 2.30pm
Concert One, Autumn
Blair Harris cello
Timothy Young piano
Sun 6 Oct, 2.30pm
Concert Two, Spring
Sophie Rowell violin
Blair Harris cello
Aura Go piano
Venue 20 Shehan Drive, Beechworth
Tickets $75 general | $25 student | inc. afternoon tea
Bookings beechworthfinemusic.com.au
Hear Blair Harris performing with ANAM faculty Timothy Young this Sunday 5 May at Beechworth – tickets are available for this event. Blair and Timothy will also be performing at Tempo Rubato on Monday 6 May.
Image credit: Pedro Grieg