For many, classical music is typified by male composers from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as Mozart, Brahms and Beethoven. But today, musicians like cellist Abel Selaocoe and guzheng virtuoso Mindy Meng Wang, are broadening what we hear on Australian concert stages and music platforms. Jessica Cottis, Chief Conductor of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, often pairs beloved concert staples like a Mahler symphony with new music commissioned by the orchestra. She relishes the challenge of presenting Australia's multiple histories and lifting up diverse voices. When Abel Selaocoe visited Australia in April, he proved classical music can co-exist with African musical traditions, incorporating throat-singing and percussion into his performances. Read more about how Selaocoe and other musicians are shaping the classical music of today, and watch his performance with the Australian Chamber Orchestra on Front Row with Megan Burslem on ABC iview. |