Hellenic flavour to evening concert

Music

One of Adelaide's favourite daughters - violinist Niki Vasilakis - returns home to help celebrate her Greek heritage in one of two evening concerts at Elder Hall this month.

The two October concerts in the Evenings at Elder Hall 2009 season feature some amazing contrasts.

The first concert (Saturday 17 October) mixes the speed of Gorb's Adrenaline City with the vast and cold expanses in Arctic Dreams by Colgrass. The evening features the Elder Conservatorium of Music's Brass and Wind Ensembles as well as the mighty forces of the full Wind Orchestra, with Bob Hower directing.

Only two weeks later (Saturday 31 October), the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra celebrates Greek culture in Odyssey. Part of the Greek Orthodox Community Cultural Festival Program, this Hellenic-flavoured concert stars brilliant violinist Niki Vasilakis.

Vasilakis is regarded as one of the most exciting violinists to have emerged from Australia.

A graduate of the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music, Vasilakis has performed with the Melbourne, Tasmanian and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras, Orchestra Victoria and the Queensland Orchestra.

In January 2004 she appeared with the Sydney Symphony in the Symphony in the Domain, to an audience of more than 100,000 people. This followed her successful debut with that orchestra for the Sydney Opera House's 30th anniversary celebrations.

She has also performed with the Wellington Symphony Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra and the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

Vasilakis was Young South Australian of the Year 2008 in recognition of her outstanding achievements in music and her extensive commitment to community work, including volunteer programs and teaching community groups.

The evening concert features Australian premieres of Psathas' Olympiad XXVIII, based on his Athens 2004 Opening Ceremony Music, as well as Café Neon from Greek American composer Steven Karidoyanes. Other works include Sarasathe's Carmen Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra as well as Greek Dances by Skalkottas and Zorba's Dance by Theodorakis.

Following the concert, the new principal sponsor of Evenings at Elder Hall, the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia, will also present a Greek Affair on the Goodman Lawns outside Elder Hall with food, wine and folk music as part of the finale to October's Odyssey Festival.

ELDER CONSERVATORIUM

Wind Orchestra concert with Brass and Wind Ensemble
6.30pm Saturday 17 October

Symphony Orchestra with violinist Niki Vasilakis
6.30pm Saturday 31 October

Elder Hall,North Terrace Campus, University of Adelaide

Tickets: $25 (adult), $20 (concession), $15 (student)
Bookings: call +61 8 8303 5925

For full program details visit: www.elderhall.adelaide.edu.au