Macquarie Philharmonia, established five years ago by Bathurst identities Ron and Stephanie Camplin, will present A Musical Romance from 3pm.

The orchestra brings together amateur, student and professional musicians from the Blue Mountains and central western NSW. They are once again revelling in the annual opportunity to perform under the expert direction of visiting conductor Maestro Leonard Camplin from Canada.

Soloists during Sunday’s concert will include Orange soprano Helen Barnett and Bathurst pianist Elena Day-Hakker.

Ms Barnett was born and raised on a farm at Narromine before studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She is a well-known performer and recording artist. In January this year Ms Barnett was the recipient of a National Council of Women Australia Day Award for her outstanding musical achievements.

Dubbo-based Macquarie Conservatorium director Kathy Pingel urges locals to attend the concert.

“Macquarie Philharmonia caters for a wide range of musical tastes and is bound to be an absolute musical delight,’’ she said.

“The program features the first movement from Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto. Whilst Rachmaninoff’s third piano concerto has attracted much attention through the film Shine, the second piano concerto has still remained as one of Rachmaninoff’s most popular compositions. It has been featured prominently in numerous films, including Grand Hotel (1932) and Brief Encounter (1946). The program also showcases the beautiful Songs of the Auvergne by Canteloube, through to works by Rimsky-Korsakov, De Falla, Stravinsky, Mussorgsky and Bizet.

“The Macquarie Philharmonia will be boosted by local talent including violinist and music teacher at St John’s College Maggie Dunn, Sam Shooter - a violinist and music teacher at Allegro College - and Macquarie Conservatorium staff member and brass expert Stephen Smith on tuba.

“As such, the concert will provide locals with the chance to see residents perform in an orchestral setting, which should serve as an inspiration to budding young musicians and music lovers in general.’’

Tickets for the Dubbo performance can be obtained from Priceline, Lexus of Dubbo and Reliance Credit Union - $30 adult, $20 university student/pensioner, $15 school student (under 18), $75 family (two adults, two children), $10 additional child.

heather.crosby@ruralpress.com