Composition Evening Concert Program

queensland conservatorium Griffith university

gerardo dirié • dylan bryant • dom j. crosato • arthur hayes • sienna lee • mia mckinnnon • emma olsen • james pollard • anna sosnowski • charlene cloud tan

CC OO MM PP O OS SI IT TI IO ON N

EV E VE EN NI IN NG G CO C ON NC CE ER RT T 23 september 2026 7 pm ian hanger recital hall dedicated to gerardo dirié

acknowledgement of

COUNTRY

The Composition Cohort of Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University acknowledges the people who are the traditional custodians of the land - the Jagera and Turrbal peoples.

We pay our respects to the Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples past, present, and emerging.

SAINT III.

CLAIRE, PRAYER

gerardo dirié

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Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.

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Voice: Charlene Cloud Tan Viola: Alexandra Kho Electronics: Dom J. Crosato

SAINT III.

CLAIRE, PRAYER

gerardo dirié

I pray for you and me to talk without words I pray we will at last go out moonless and make a moon -#12, Prayer, Overheard,

by Willis Barnstone

AS YOU SAID YOU WOULD, I. THIS TRAIN’S DESTINATION

「 你没有如期归来 」，1. 「 本次列车的终点 」 charlene cloud tan

This Train’s Destination comes from a musical triptych set to poems by Bei Dao, which all contain the phrase (loose translation: you did not come as you said you would). Originally written for spoken voice, xiao and pre-composed electronics, it has been reimagined for the purposes of mirroring Prayer – an homage from teacher to student.

你没有如期归来

Spoken voice: Charlene Cloud Tan Viola: Alexandra Kho Electronics: Dom J. Crosato

AS YOU SAID YOU WOULD, I. THIS TRAIN’S DESTINATION charlene cloud tan

你没有如期归来 而这正是离别的意义 一次爱的旅行 有时候就像抽烟那样 简单

you did not come as you said you would / but this is simply the meaning of departure / the one-time journey of love / at times, like smoking, is that / simple

地下室空守着你 内心的白银 水仙花在暗中灿然开放 你听凭所有的坏天气 发怒、哭喊 乞求你打开窗户

the cavern below safeguards / your innermost heart’s silver / the narcissi, in the dark, brilliantly bloom / you accept all the bad weather / angrily crying and screaming / begging you to open the window

书页翻开 所有的文字四散 只留下一个数字 --我的座位号码 靠近窗户 本次列车的终点是你

the books’ pages flip open / all the words scatter / only leaving behind a number / – my seat number / close to the window / this current train’s destination is you

-Bei Dao

loosely translated Charlene Cloud Tan

by

FULL GOOD sienna lee

An exploration of timbres in a multipercussion setup. This is my first time writing for multi-percussion, experimenting with different instruments and sounds within one setup. I drew some inspiration from Daniel Pemberton’s very percussive Project Hail Mary soundtrack. Enjoy the contrast between the sparse space of timpani and bowed vibraphone and the busy commotion of temple blocks. As Rocky, the film’s beloved alien, puts it: “It’s not half bad, it’s full good.”

Percussion: Bodie Alizzi

THE EXPANDING UNIVERSE emma olsen • arthur hayes • mia mckinnon • charlene cloud tan Many composers have looked to the stars for inspiration, but Gerardo taught us to see the expanding universe. It starts with the silent Big Bang, where the Universe was solid and there was nowhere for sound waves to travel. Then as the Universe cools, first into liquid, the first frequencies can be heard - particles colliding and starting to form photons and matter.

Then the pattern of gravity sets in, ordering matter and light into place to create the stars, planets and other structures of the Universe we now see. As we continue, the Universe becomes more complex and expands at a faster and faster rate. Where will it end?

Voices & auxiliary percussion: Mia McKinnon & Charlene Cloud Tan Spoken voice, auxiliary percussion & piano: Emma Olsen Piano: Arthur Hayes Wine glass choir

CICADAS I. RAZOR GRINDER II. FLOURY BAKER III. DESERT SCREAMER IV. CHERRYNOSE dylan bryant

Australia is home to over 200 species of cicadas, many of which were initially given their common names by children.

These include the Razor Grinder, Cherrynose, Brown Bunyip, Redeye, Floury Baker, Desert Screamer, Greengrocer, and many more creative and whimsical names. Cicadas is a suite of miniatures where each movement explores the character suggested by its name, rather than depicting the insect literally.

Saxophones: Will Hehir, James Topping, Blake Maiden

IN THE NEW DAY, WE PARADE james pollard

In the New Day, We Parade was inspired by the trombone students of the QCGU brass department planting the idea of writing a trombone ensemble piece for them to play.

The piece explores my favourite aspects of playing and listening to the trombone.

The trombone has such as unique special sound when playing chorale-like figures, glissandi, accents/sforzandos and its impressive range.

I find that the trombone is a very proud instrument with many light-hearted fun aspects which promoted me to right something with a mix of intense and playful music.

Trombone 1: Alex Trombone 2: Matt Trombone 3: Dana Bass Trombone 1: Bass Trombone 2: Conductor: James

McLaughlin Redman Day Elliott Sternberg Theo Burnett Pollard

IN TRANSIT anna sosnowski arr. dom j. crosato We met in transit Crossroads in time Written by Anna Sosnowski, In Transit is a song about finding the right person at the wrong time. It is about the times in our lives where we stand at the crossroads but choose to walk the other way. Moments that force us to leave behind a love that will never be known; a eulogy to what could have been.

It is, most of all, about a love that we cherish despite all of its unknowns and its heartache - one that we hold closely in our hearts as a reminder of the wonder and curiosity that it made us feel.

It is arranged here by Dominic Crosato as a four-part vocal piece.

Soprano: Daniellé Robert, Charlene Cloud Tan Alto: Erika Johnson, Sophia Lee Tenor: Ascher Eisenreich, Mia McKinnon Bass: Doug Cassells, Charles Bateman Conductor: Dom J. Crosato

IN TRANSIT anna sosnowski arr. dom j. crosato

We met in transit Crossroads in time Your smile, there’s no forgetting You walked, as did I And do you ever wonder if we tried?

I romanticise All alone Our love is hanging from the rafters Like a lost balloon From a child -Anna Sosnowski

WHOSE BODY WAS A GARDEN MOVEMENTS II & III gerardo dirié Whose Body was a Garden, by Gerardo Dirié, was written for flutist Keyla García and percussionist Andrew Lázaro.

Natives of Puerto Rico, they inspired the composer to bring Boricua myths into sound, including the origin of the island as a woman lying on the ocean, with her body being alluded to as a garden. Movement II - “El pitirre ese” is a comical reference to the Puerto Rican bird pitirre, known for the striking, complex - and perhaps annoying - grammar of its calls, brought to life by the piccolo flutter tonguing.

Flute: Nate Smith Marimba: Connor Dinneen

thank you for coming!

More in store: take a look at some more gigs happening soon! i’ve been going straitside 24 September 2026 7-8.30 pm Conservatorium Foyer, QCGU

Strings Novus 8 October 2026 7 pm Topology Creative Hub

QCGU Gamelan Ensemble Concert Trimester 3 2026 TBC TBC

Symphonic Rock 2026 27 November 2026 7.30 pm Conservatorium Theatre, QCGU