Richard Gill Tribute Concert
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the life of the popular late music educator Richard Gill in Richard Gill: Celebration of a Life.
In collaboration with Kim Williams, Australian media executive, former student, and lifelong friend of Richard Gill, Richard Gill: Celebration of a Life will include speeches by Richard’s children, Claire and Anthony Gill; Sir Jonathan Mills AO, composer and former Director of the Edinburgh International Festival; Australian director and actor John Bell AO OBE; recently appointed Australia Council CEO Adrian Collette AM; and former Sydney Symphony Managing Director CEO, Mary Vallentine AO. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will also be joined by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Sydney Chamber Choir and the Conservatorium High School Chamber Choir for the tribute performance.
Emma Dunch, Sydney Symphony Orchestra CEO, shares why the orchestra has brought together this special concert. “Richard Gill changed the way we listened to music,” says Dunch.
The already at capacity event will also be available as a free livestream direct from the Sydney Opera House via the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and ABC Classic FM websites with the support of Optus. The concert audio will also be broadcast on ABC Classic FM.
With a career spanning 60 years, Richard’s achievements and talents were innumerable, ranging from conductor, musician, mentor and most notably, a fierce champion for the role that music plays in the education and development of young people.
His work with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra saw the development of innovative programs that addressed gaps in music education. Through his role as the Artistic Director of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s education program, Gill established the Sydney Symphony Sinfonia, a training orchestra that provided young musicians with a bridge between education and professional practice. Believing that music education didn’t stop with young minds and should be for everyone, he pioneered the orchestra’s Discovery series, concert programs that provided musical knowledge in interesting and accessible ways for an adult audience.
The program: EDWARDS Ab Estatis Foribus: Hymn before Sleep /MACMILLAN Strathclyde Motets: Lux aeterna/CARISSIMI Jephte: Plorate filii Israel /MAHLER Symphony No.5: Adagietto/MOZART The Magic Flute: Priests’ Chorus/JS BACH St John Passion: Ruht wohl, ihr heiligen Gebeine
The artists: Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Carter conductor /Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Brett Weymark Artistic Director /
Sydney Chamber Choir, Sam Allchurch conductor /Conservatorium High School Chamber Choir, Réka Csernyik conductor
Welcome to Country given by William Barton
Richard Gill: Celebration of a Life is a free event open to all Australians and music-lovers but ticket is required for admission.
Call the Sydney Symphony Orchestra box office on (02) 8215 4600 to join the waitlist for the at capacity concert.
