29 October, North Ryde — North Ryde School of Arts Community Hall transformed into an enchanted clocktower as Concerts for All presented its first multimedia concert for children. The featured young musicians captivated the audience with outstanding performances with a twist: their pieces were woven into a spellbinding Halloween narrative that created an unforgettable evening of classical music and storytelling.
Programme
The concert showcased classical masterpieces brought to life by exceptional young performers, many of whom are distinguished music scholars and competition winners:
Clementi: Piano Sonata, Op. 25 No. 5: I. Allegro con expressione
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10 No. 2: I. Allegro
Brahms: Sonata in E minor, Op. 38:
II. Allegretto quasi menuetto & Trio
III. Allegro
Chopin: Etude in F Minor Op. 25 No. 2
Mendelssohn: Scherzo in E Minor, Op. 16 No. 2
Wieniawski: Etude Caprice, Op. 18 No. 3
Several of them are returning performers who enjoyed their previous experiences in our concert series and remain committed to sharing classical music with wider Sydney audiences while fostering our growing musical community.
Musical Storytelling: Accessible and Educational for Children
This unique format for Concerts for All's children's concert weaves exceptional young musicians' performances into a story that is both accessible and educational. True to the organisation's mission of fostering music appreciation, the narrative was carefully structured to highlight musical characteristics in an engaging way.
The Halloween Story
The story began at a grand clocktower in Sydney where time mysteriously stopped on Halloween night. A wise raven revealed that long ago, a craftsman-composer had cast a musical spell on the tower—it kept time as long as music played in the city. But that night, a Halloween spirit had silenced the tower's inner song. Our young musicians were summoned to perform pieces that would reawaken different parts of the magical clockwork, each guided by mysterious characters they encountered as they climbed the tower, racing to restart time before midnight. Watch the introduction below:
Matching Music with Story Elements
The narrative framework highlighted specific musical elements of each piece. For instance, when Alexandra performed the Brahms' Sonata 2nd and 3rd movements, the story described a twilight scene:
"The clock's spirit is confused about day and night. Can you play something that sounds like twilight—a little happy, a little mysterious?"
The second movement's lilting melody, light despite its minor key, captured this interplay between light and shadow.
When Lorenzo performed Chopin's Etude in F Minor (often called "The Bees"), the story invited listeners to notice its distinctive buzzing quality:
"Can you play a melody that swirls and spins?"
As his fingers created the etude's characteristic perpetual motion, the narrative described how "the music set the air spinning. The bats began to dance in circles, following the endless whirl of his notes."
These thoughtfully crafted dialogues guided the audience through music listening—what to listen for, and to more keenly observe musical qualities. It is a creatively multifaceted approach to making classical music accessible for all audiences while being educational.
Interactive Educational Segments
Signature Music Trivia Game
The evening began with Concerts for All's signature music trivia game, where eager participants identified famous classical pieces and composers to win special prizes from Australian Piano Warehouse. The enthusiasm during this segment set the tone for an evening of musical discovery and fun.
New Feature: Hands-on Instrument Experience
A highlight of the evening was the post-concert instrument exploration session, a new segment to the concerts where audience members get the opportunity to try instruments under the guidance of our performers. The joy was palpable as children produced their first notes on the cello with Alexandra's guidance, while Xiheng, Camilla and Symphony helped aspiring violinists discover proper positioning and tone production. A few adults even adults joined in to try the cello.
This new hands-on segment exemplifies Concerts for All's mission to nurture future generations of classical musicians and audiences. By incorporating instrument exploration into our musical programs, we create pathways for concert-goers to transition from curious listeners to active participants in classical music. This addition complements not only the concert proper, but also the organisation's free music appreciation resources and 1 Hour a Day music listening capaign.
The results have been truly encouraging; the enthusiasm shown during these sessions demonstrates how such interactive experiences can spark genuine interest in instrument learning and deeper engagement with classical music.
Community Building and Response
The response to our Halloween concert resonated across all ages.
An seven-year-old audience member shared:
"I think it's really good and all the performers and the story. My favourite part was the cello because I like the expression the girl had. I'll tell them [my friends] that I watched this concert and I really liked it and that it was connected to the stories."
An adult attendee expressed:
"It was really great to see such kids all play together and play so well. They all seem to have learned their pieces really well, and delivered a really great performance."
Our young performers also shared their perspectives:
"I think this concert is a very good opportunity to practice your performing skills, like performing in front of a large audience." –Symphony Shi
"This concert is super good because you can have fun and have no pressure on you. This is a big community to have fun and perform! –Camilla Choi
The success of this innovative concert format demonstrates the power of creative presentation in making classical music accessible and engaging. Designed specifically for families with children, these regular concerts provide the perfect opportunity for young audiences to develop a concert-going habit and immerse themselves in a rich musical environment.
We believe that events like this play a crucial role in nurturing both performers and audiences across Sydney. Through regular community concerts, we remain committed to our mission of making classical music an integral and enjoyable part of community life—by building and nurturing the classical musicians and audience of the future.
Join Us in Our Upcoming Concerts
Missed this magical evening? Come to our upcoming concerts! We regularly organise enjoyable and educational performances throughout Sydney, featuring exceptional musicians in an accessible and welcoming atmosphere for all ages.
Here's what you can expect:
High-Calibre Performances: Featuring exceptional young musicians, including prize-winners and music scholars. Renowned professional artists often join our concerts as guest performers.
Fun Programmes: A welcoming atmosphere; diverse instruments and short engaging pieces
Accessible: Affordable pricing and convenient community venues throughout Sydney
Educational Elements:
Opening music trivia to spark interest and appreciation of classical music
Post-concert instrument demonstrations with hands-on exploration
Occasional Q&A sessions led by guest artists, covering topics such as interpretation, techniques, and competition insights
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