Opening 2025 with their first foray interstate, alumni group Wattleseed Ensemble will be embarking on a three-performance tour in South Australia in February.
Wattleseed Ensemble, founded by Katie Yap (alum 2014, viola) in 2020, also includes co-artistic director Meg Cohen (alum 2021, violin) and David Moran (alum 2019, cello). They fuse a unique blend of sonorities from the baroque period with folk and contemporary Australian voices, with effortless and timeless ease. Wattleseed have previously performed at the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, Melbourne Recital Centre, and delighted audiences across regional Victoria through Musica Viva’s touring program.
For their latest tour, Wattleseed weave together stories of our Australian landscape, celebrating local South Australian composers Jakub Jankowski and Anne Cawrse. Jankowski has written a new work for the ensemble, The Orchid and the Wasp, which will receive its world premiere. The work draws inspiration from the unique ecosystems on the South Australian coastline, including the pink hyacinth orchid (Dipodium roseum).
Alongside these local works, Wattleseed weave their signature style with arrangements of baroque works by JS Bach and Hildegard von Bingen, as well as traditional folk songs from Bulgaria and Scandinavia.
"I’m so keen for Wattleseed’s first ever South Australian tour!" says Meg, the ensemble's violinst. "We started planning this about 14 months ago, so it’s exciting to see the project really coming together. I'm most excited about getting to create beautiful and interesting sounds with two musicians I admire, and bringing the result to new audiences in a way we hope will celebrate great local SA composers, our raw messy natural environment, and having fun with it at the same time."
Friday 14 February, 6pm
Crafers Church of the Epiphany, 1 Epiphany Place, Crafers SA
Saturday 15 February, 7.30pm
Nexus Arts, 68 North Terrace, Adelaide SA
Sunday 16 February, 2pm
Newland Memorial Church, 28 Victoria Street, Victor Harbor SA
Tickets $25-$35
For more info and to book, visit wattleseedensemble.com
Words by Laura Panther, Senior Alumni Coordinator
Photo Credit: Darren James