Perth, Australia, 2014-3-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — From Somewhere Over the Rainbow performed by one of Australia’s finest classical singers to Tchaikovsky’s spectacular 1812 Overture, there will be something for everyone at the free Wesfarmers Centenary Community Concert at Northam on Saturday 12 April.
As the major public celebration of its centenary, Wesfarmers is about to take its principal arts partners the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and West Australian Opera to the Avon Valley to perform in the heart of the region where the company’s story began.
WASO and the WAO Chorus will be joined by two of Australia’s most versatile and popular classical singers, soprano Sara Macliver and mezzo soprano Fiona Campbell.
Sara will perform Arlen’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow and join with Fiona for the Flower Duet from Delibe’s Lakmé. Other well-known and much-loved pieces in this program of classical masterpieces and popular favourites include ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana, ‘Va Pensiero’ from Verdi’s Nabucco and the main theme from John Williams’ Star Wars Suite.
Wesfarmers is delighted to announce a special appearance by Gina Williams, who will join WASO for a performance of Iggy’s Lullaby, the first song Gina wrote in Noongar language.
The concert will be conducted by Guy Noble and also feature WASO’s Graham Pyatt in Massenet’s ‘Méditation’ from Thaïs.
Other talented young performers from around the region will be among the support acts entertaining concert goers in the lead up to the main event at 7pm.
The award-winning Perth Hills and Wheatbelt Band, made up of young musicians from Wheatbelt towns and the Hills suburbs, will perform ahead of a planned four week concert tour in 2015 of the battlefields of Europe coinciding with the centenary of the ANZAC Gallipoli campaign.
The band’s members include a descendant of Wesfarmers founder Walter Harper, French horn player Eoin John, and its program will include an original composition by 12 year old tuba player and former Northam Primary School student, North McLevie.
Aboriginal country rock band Patch Up from the Balladong area will kick off the entertainment soon after the gates open at 4pm and young Aboriginal hip hop dancers Kellerberrin’s Static Crew and Lil Sparks will add some high energy dance to the event.
Boys from the Northam Clontarf Academy will greet concert goers who arrive early with skills from their Drumbeat program and more music and dance will come from the members of the Northam PCYC Performing Arts Group.
A Children’s Fun Area will also provide plenty of activities for children up to 12 years of age.
Wesfarmers Chairman, Dr Bob Every AO, said he hoped the centenary concert would be an exciting and truly memorable event for Northam and surrounding towns and communities.
‘We encourage everyone to get a picnic together and come along – families, children, residents and visitors,’ Dr Every said.
‘Wesfarmers has been a supporter of WASO and West Australian Opera for nearly two decades and the principal partner of both for a number of years. It was a natural choice to celebrate our centenary by bringing these two brilliant arts companies together to perform at the gateway to the Wheatbelt where we began as a farmers’ co-operative in 1914.’
The Centenary Community Concert will be held on Henry Street Oval, part of the Northam Recreation Centre complex. Gates open at 4pm. Concert goers are welcome to bring a picnic or purchase food and soft drinks. It is BYO-only event; no alcohol will be for sale.
More details, including the full program, can be found at
www.wesfarmers.com.au/centenary-site/centenary-community-concert.
For further information: Media
Cathy Bolt
Media & External Affairs Manager
+61 8 9327 4423 or +61 417 813 804