‘Homegrown’ is a poetic meditation on themes of belonging, motherhood and deep spiritual connection to place. Celebrating International Women’s Day, this performance features classical art song composed by Australian Women. Also featured is Melody Eötvös’ fairytale-inspired Second Piano Sonata.
This project is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.
Program
Sita’s Aria from The Transposed Heads by Peggy Glanville-Hicks
By Train from Wakeford Songs by Melody Eötvös
Come Sleep by Peggy Glanville-Hicks
Lullaby by Lisa Cheney
Piano Sonata No. 2 ‘A Story from the Sand Dunes’ by Melody Eötvös
Hope in Spring by Dulcie Holland
Crepe Myrtle Sky by Deborah Cheetham-Fraillon
Rebecca Cassidy
Originally from Townsville, soprano Rebecca Cassidy completed her Bachelor of Music at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QCGU).
Her performances include the title role in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Anne Trulove in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress and Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss Jnr. In addition to these operatic roles, Rebecca’s concert, oratorio and symphonic repertoire as a soprano soloist include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Mozart’s Mass in C minor, Handel’s Saul, Britten’s War Requiem and Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs.
Rebecca’s awards and scholarships include QCGU’s Wagner Prize, Trinity College London Exhibition Award and the Alton Budd Memorial Scholarship.
Rebecca featured in Opera Queensland’s 2019 touring production Songs to Die For, directed by Patrick Nolan. As Opera Queensland’s 2020 Young Artist, Rebecca received specialised music, language and stagecraft tuition. She performed in live and online concerts, at community and corporate engagement events and is well known to Opera Queensland audiences from An Aria A Day. Rebecca was set to understudy the role of Isolde in our production of Tristan und Isolde.
After her 2020 season as an Opera Queensland Young Artist was interrupted due to COVID-19, Rebecca returns as one of four Young Artists in 2021.
Alex Raineri
Hailed as a "born communicator" (The Australian), Alex Raineri lives on Jagera and Turrbul land in Meanjin (Brisbane, Queensland). He is active throughout Australia and Internationally as a piano recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musicia
Hailed as a "born communicator" (The Australian), Alex Raineri lives on Jagera and Turrbul land in Meanjin (Brisbane, Queensland). He is active throughout Australia and Internationally as a piano recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician, harpsichordist, composer, writer, producer, and educator.
Alex is an artist ambassador for Kawai Australia and is the Artistic Director of Brisbane Music Festival and live-music venue FourthWall Arts. International tours include America, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Asia, and New Zealand. Within Australia, Alex has been a featured artist at many major festivals, series, and venues.
A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Alex has commissioned over 80 works and has given over 140 World Premieres and over 170 Australian Premieres to date. As a concerto soloist he has appeared with the Queensland, Tasmanian, Darwin, and West Australian Symphony Orchestras, Camerata, Orchestra Victoria, Ensemble Q, and others. Radio broadcasts include BBC Radio 3, Radio NZ, California Capital Public Radio, Chicago’s WFMT, ABC Classic FM, and all of the Australian MBS Networks.
Collaborations with notable Australian and International artists include Andreas Ottensamer, Twoset Violin, eighth blackbird, ELISION, Asko|Schönberg, Lior, Sara Macliver, Mirusia, Natalie Clein, Natsuko Yoshimoto, Greta Bradman, Karin Schaupp, Lorina Gore, Amy Lehpamer, Claire Edwardes, Li Wei Qin, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Warwick Fyfe, Jack Liebeck, Kathryn Stott, Slava Grigoryan, Brett Dean, William Barton, Sophie Rowell, Jane Sheldon, Lisa Moore, Ensemble Offspring, Orava Quartet, and many others.
Major awards include winning the Australian National Piano Award, ANAM Concerto Competition, and Kerikeri International Piano Competition (New Zealand). Alex was a recipient of the Queensland Luminary Award (2021) in the APRA/AMCOS Art Music Awards and also received a Kranichsteiner Musikpries (2014) at the Darmstadt Summer Courses for New Music (Germany). In 2023 he was awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship.
About 2025 Nickson Room Concert Series
The University of Queensland School of Music is proud to present our Nickson Room Concert Series for 2025. In reflecting the School's role in the broader South-East Queensland community, we have designed a diverse and exciting program. With established international and national artists performing, as well as our own emerging student artists, this year is set to be a vibrant, creative, and energetic time at the UQ School of Music. We look forward to connecting with you.
