The repertoire of Australia’s leading recorder virtuoso, Genevieve Lacey, ranges from medieval manuscripts to cutting-edge contemporary commissions. She has a love of both the very old and the very new in music, performing on an instrument that has become a bridge between worlds that are centuries apart.

She discusses her remarkable journey, from growing up in Papua New Guinea, to her musically formative years in Ballarat, through to her career-defining encounters with ensembles like the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Along the way, she shares how the recorder became her voice, despite the prejudices attached to it as a schoolyard toy, and how she has carved out a career performing on an instrument that few master to this level.

Genevieve also reflects on her wider curatorial work, her passion for collaboration, and the role of arts and culture in shaping a healthy society. She reveals why the relative simplicity of the recorder continues to captivate her and audiences alike.

Genevieve Lacey joins the Australian Chamber Orchestra for A Musical Awakening, under the guest direction of ACO principal cellist Timo-Veikko Valve until 21 September.

Brett Weymark has spent over two decades as Artistic and Music Director of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, shaping the sound of one of Australia’s leading choral organisations. Along the way he has conducted every major Australian orchestra, worked with Opera Australia and Pinchgut Opera, and even brought his skills to the big screen conducting film scores including Happy Feet and Mad Max: Fury Road.

In this conversation, Brett reflects on his path from childhood singalongs to standing on the podium at the Sydney Opera House. He talks candidly about the mentors who inspired him, the challenges of leading volunteer singers to professional standards, and the joy and meaning he finds in the collective act of making music.

Warm, witty, and deeply insightful, Brett is a conductor who has dedicated his life to bringing voices together.

Brett Weymark conducts the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for Michael Tippett’s A Child of our Time, in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House at 2pm on Saturday 13 September.

Few musicians have expanded the horizons of their instrument quite like harpist Alice Giles. From winning the Israel International Harp Contest at just 21, to acclaimed performances across Europe and America, Alice has become one of the world’s most celebrated harpists — praised for her artistry, imagination and technical brilliance. But her journey has not always been conventional: she’s performed with the great orchestras, championed contemporary repertoire, and even carried her harp to Antarctica.

In this conversation, Alice reflects on her formative years and the mentors who shaped her, including the legendary June Loney and Alice Chalifoux. She shares the challenges and triumphs of building an international career, the delicate art of balancing music with family life, and what it means to her now to guide the next generation as both teacher and Chair of the World Harp Congress. With warmth, insight and a touch of adventure, Alice offers a portrait of a musician who has never stopped exploring what the harp can be – in sound, in colour, and in life.

Alice Giles performs with the Australian World Orchestra under chief conductor Alexander Briger for Mahler’s 4th and 5th Symphonies, at Hamer Hall in Melbourne on Wednesday September 3, and the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House on Thursday September 4.

Actor, director, playwright, and singer Brittanie Shipway has worn just about every creative hat there is – and worn them brilliantly. From starring in The Dismissal, Chess, and The Pirates of Penzance to writing her own acclaimed play A Letter for Molly, Brittanie’s career is a tapestry of performance, storytelling, and cultural connection.

In this conversation, Brittanie shares the vision behind her reimagined Once on This Island at the Hayes Theatre which blends the show’s Caribbean story with the voices, languages, and traditions of a richly diverse cast. We explore the importance she places on the Gumbaynggirr part of her heritage, the mentors and moments that shaped her, the joys and challenges of creating new Australian works, and why she’s determined to make theatre a place where everyone feels welcome. She is a warm, thoughtful, and passionate artist determined to expand the stage for all.

Once on This Island, directed by Brittanie Shipway, plays at the Hayes Theatre until August 31. Brittanie will also be directing The Witches of Eastwick, this year's "neglected musical" at the Hayes, with performances 8-11 October.

One of the foremost clarinettists and leading artists of his generation, Michael Collins has shared his dazzling virtuosity and sensitive musicianship to audiences the world over. He’s served as the principal of the Philharmonia Orchestra and London Sinfonietta, and has been conductor of several orchestras, including serving as principal conductor of the City of London Sinfonia for most of the 2010s. He’s back in Australia, and has just concluded playing at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville. Later this month, he performs with the Omega Ensemble for their upcoming tour, Elevator Music, where he joins artistic director David Rowden in giving the world premiere of Graeme Koehne’s Double Clarinet Concerto.

In this captivating conversation, Michael traces the arc of his extraordinary musical life – from childhood fascination with the clarinet to international acclaim as both soloist and conductor. He shares stories of mentorship from figures like Thea King and Jacqueline du Pré, gives insights into commissioning new works, and offers his unique perspective on interpreting core repertoire like the Copland and Mozart concertos. With great warmth and humour, he tells of the joys and challenges of conducting from within an ensemble, and how a herd of sheep once upended his life, revealing a musician devoted to beauty, integrity, and reinvention.

Michael Collins joins the Omega Ensemble for Elevator Music at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday 16 August, at the City Recital Hall in Sydney on Tuesday 19 August, and at the Newcastle City Hall on Thursday 21 August.

Whether as a singer and musical director of The Swingle Singers, or composing choral works that are sung across the globe, or championing women in music, Joanna Forbes L’Estrange has made an indelible mark on the choral and jazz worlds alike.

In this wide-ranging and deeply personal interview, Joanna reflects on her remarkable musical journey – from a childhood shaped by foster care and early singing in a parish choir, to leading The Swingle Singers and becoming a celebrated composer and cross-genre soprano. She shares the inspiration behind her choral reimagining of The Four Seasons, titled A Season to Sing, which is receiving its Australian premiere this year thanks to the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

Joanna speaks movingly about the influence of her foster father, her late mother, and the joy of collaboration with her husband, Alexander. The conversation explores her creative process, her championing of inclusive choirs, her experience navigating sexism in the music industry, and the unexpected honour of composing for King Charles III’s coronation. With humour, humility and emotional candour, Joanna offers a portrait of a musician whose artistry is rooted in resilience, curiosity, and community.

The second half of Joanna Forbes L’Estrange’s A Season to Sing will be performed as part of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs concert Lost Birds on Saturday 16 August at the White Bay Power Station.

One of Australia’s most talented creatives, Toby Schmitz is a beloved actor on stage (including Broadway) and screen, from the works of Shakespeare and Tom Stoppard to TV dramas such as Black Sails and The Pacific. He’s directed at the Darlinghurst Theatre and The Old Fitz, and is also a playwright, winning the Patrick White Award for his play Lucky in 2002. And as if that weren't enough, he’s penned a successful novel, The Empress Murders.

In this rich and wide-ranging interview, Toby reflects on his multi-faceted career as an actor, playwright, director, and now novelist. He discusses his current role in Grief Is the Thing with Feathers at Belvoir, detailing the adaptation process and the creative collaboration involved. He revisits formative moments in his life, from his unusual musical tastes as a child and difficult school years, to his time at NIDA and early stage roles. He shares candid stories about navigating the highs and lows of the acting world – including missed opportunities, critical acclaim, and the freelance grind. He speaks with great passion about Shakespeare, Tom Stoppard, and the thrill of live theatre, while also describing the long and arduous journey of writing and publishing his debut novel The Empress Murders. Throughout, his sharp wit, love of language, and enduring dedication to storytelling shine through.

Toby Schmitz stars in Grief is the Thing with Feathers, adapted from the Max Porter novel, at Belvoir Street Theatre until August 24. His novel, The Empress Murders, is available at all good book sellers.

The New York Times Magazine dubbed Danielle de Niese as “opera’s coolest soprano”. Melbourne born, she has gained worldwide acclaim for her beautiful stagecraft, and superb communication. She regularly appears on the world’s most prestigious opera and concert stages, from Hamburg to New York, and from Glyndebourne to the BBC Proms. She has six solo albums to her name, and has won an Emmy for her TV presentation.

In this conversation, Danielle speaks about her role debut as Carmen with Opera Australia, exploring her meticulous preparation for the part including her interpretation of the character and insights from reading the original novel. It traces her remarkable journey from winning Young Talent Time as a child, the family move to the United States at a young age to pursue her career, a Met debut at 19, and a breakout success at Glyndebourne with Julius Caesar. She reflects on the important influence and support of her parents, and her dedication to giving back through charity work. The interview also explores her forays into musical theatre, and how she balances diverse artistic passions with a deep commitment to opera.