Highlands Music Collective
Directed by Myee Clohessy
The Highlands Music Collective was formed by violinist Myee Clohessy, after a highly successful collaboration with Acacia Quartet and the SHSO Strings at the Bowral Autumn Music Festival in 2019.
Responding to the enthusiasm from musicians who wished to continue playing together, Myee decided a 'Collective' would be a wonderful addition to the local music scene. This 'Collective' for passionate, local musicians was founded to enable a variety of chamber formations music for not only for strings but for wind, brass, voice and piano players, from duets, to piano quartets, brass sextets to twelve-piece string ensembles.
Since their debut at the Mittagong Playhouse in September 2019, the HMC has gone on to present concerts involving more than twenty local musicians. COVID-19 unfortunately cause the cancellation of planned concerts at St Jude's Church and the Burrawang's School of the Arts in 2020 and 2021, but the Highlands Music Collective are hopeful 2022 will be a fabulous year for live music.
Some members of the Highlands Music Collective
Image © Steven Foster
Highlands Music Collective
Violin
Myee Clohessy, Kate Malone, Alex Dening,
Jillian Bridge, Rachel Miller, Lisa Gemell
Viola
Laura McCrow, Tim Senior, Xanthe Carr-Boyd
Cello
Catherine Barnett, Sarah Hicks
Bass
Sam Malone
Alexandra Donaldson
Clarinet Soloist
Local Southern Highlands clarinettist, Alexandra Donaldson, began her music lessons at the age of 10 at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music, where she also played in the BlueScope Youth Orchestra and clarinet choir. She was awarded her AMusA in 2008.
Alexandra combined her anthropology studies at the University of Sydney with a music degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying with Catherine McCorkill and Frank Celata. During this time, she was a member of the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Youth Orchestra, SBS Youth Orchestra and various Conservatorium orchestras and ensembles.
Alexandra currently works as an anthropologist for the NSW native title service and since moving to the Highlands several years ago feels fortunate to have found such a vibrant and welcoming community of musicians and music lovers. She enjoys playing with the Southern Highlands Symphony Orchestra, working on her baritone sax skills in the Southern Highlands Concert Band and watching her two young daughters experiment with the cacophony and thrill of drumkits, pianos and ukuleles!
Image © Jeremy Donaldson