October 12th, 2021Wombat fundraiser

A MUSICAL tribute to the wombat is the feature of a Daylesford benefit concert for the planned Central Victoria Wildlife Hospital.
Many animals have had musical tributes, from Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending to Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals. Now the wombat, the iconic Australian marsupial that is often overshadowed by its closest cousin, the koala, is celebrated in a new piece by young South Australian composer, Rachel Bruerville.
The Song of the Wombat for solo bassoon was commissioned as part of the fund appeal for the Central Victoria Wildlife Hospital and will be premiered at a benefit concert to be held at Daylesford’s Convent Gallery on Friday, November 12 from 6pm to 7.30pm.

Dedicated to Tiamo (aka Momo), a recent resident at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter, The Song of the Wombat depicts the charming, playful personality of a young wombat and will be performed by Jack Schiller, the principal bassoonist of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Tiamo was rescued as an orphaned joey and raised at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter and appeared on the front page of The Local with Hepburn Wildlife Shelter’s Jon Rowdon in March last year.
The program of the benefit concert will also feature the Zephyr String Ensemble, a group of young professional musicians from Melbourne. Emma Jade Hunt (violin), Katie Yap (viola) and Anna Pokorny (cello), along with Jack Schiller (bassoon), will perform works from a range of composers including Mozart, Hildegard of Bingen, a lovely quartet for bassoon and strings by Francois Devienne, some Martinu madrigals for violin and viola and a folk set or two.
Tickets are $25 and bookings can be made online at: https://www.trybooking.com/BTGNA. Details: 0478 622 428.