Australia’s most dynamic music festival, The annual Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music (BIFEM), champions innovation and progressive musical thinking. Back for its fourth year, this years programme is proving to be one of the most industrious line-ups for the festival, featuring over 120 local, national and international musicians.
We’ve picked four of the many talented individuals to give you a little insight into what to expect this weekend.
Paul Zabrowarny – Cello
Melbourne-based cellist Paul Zabrowarny is back for his third year at BIFEM. With a strong interest in contemporary repertoire, Zabrowarny has performed recitals throughout Australia and Europe, appearing frequently as a soloist with a number of orchestras and was an Emerging Artist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Following studies at the Australian National Academy of Music and undertaking a aster’s of Music Performance in Switzerland, Zabrowarny is viced in contemporary music and exploratory cello techniques.
Elizabeth Welsh – Violin | Viola
Hailing from Castlemaine, Lizzy Welsh is another talented musician to grace the BIFEM stage. A musical phenomenon, Welsh plays the violin and the baroque violin, performing with Orchestra of the Antipodes, Accademia Arcadia, Gloriana Choir and the Australian Chamber Choir, as well as in various experimental improvisation settings. Welsh has appeared at a variety of festivals and has presented many Australian and world premieres by esteemed composers (including the likes of George Lewis, Mark Applebaum and Oren Ambarchi).
Jasper Ly – Oboe | Cor Anglais
Marking his first appearance at BIFEM (but certainly not the last), Jasper Ly will be bringing his Oboist talents and passion to our ears. This young addition is aged in skill and orchestral experience, performing with a variety of different ensembles in Melbourne and interstate, and with a number of different opera companies. Following his appearance at BIFEM, Ly is set to take part in Victorian Opera’s 2016 regional tour.
Jessica Aszodi – Soprano (Pictured)
Specialising in adventurous music, Australian vocalist Jessica Aszodi is a performer of notated and improvised music. Praised for her virtuosic whimsy, this Chicago based actress-singer will be setting the stage at BIFEM. Nominated for Greenroom awards as ‘best female operatic performer’, Aszodi has premiered over 70 new pieces of notated music, performed with diverse ensembles and has sung in festivals around the world (including the Vivid Sydney and Melbourne festivals). You can catch Jessica in Jennifer Walshe’s risque opera ‘XXX_LIVE_NIDE_GIRLS!!!’
While we’ve provided only a small insight, this years BIFEM promises to deliver a visceral experience for all.
When & Where: Bendigo – September 2-4
