David Helfgott’s presence ignited a spark of inspiration on Sunday at the Bellingen Memorial Hall, where five remarkable young musicians showcased their talent to an appreciative crowd.
On Sunday 13 April at the Bellingen Memorial Hall, five exceptional young musicians – Joe Barker, Josie Armstrong, Henrietta Hohenlohe, Mia Greyling and Jaclyn Wynne – astonished the audience with their technical prowess and nuanced playing. Each artist was inspired to get up in front of the large audience by their admiration for David Helfgott, the event’s special guest.
Mr Helfgott was invited to perform on the Hall’s new Kawai semi-grand piano at the top of the concert, exciting the crowd with a rendition of perhaps his most recognisable tune, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee.
Watching intently from the audience was one Joe Barker, a young pianist who was directly influenced by Helfgott, after being shown the biopic Shine by his parents. In the space of only one year, Joe’s musical skills have extended from learning the drums to being able to perform Chopin compositions with breathtaking dexterity.
Speaking about his experience of playing on the new instrument, Joe said, “Every time I played a note, I could hear the sound reverberate around the room and come back at me. It’s so different from the instrument I play at home. I didn’t want to get up from this piano.”
The youth performances were bookended with sizzling demonstrations of the piano’s sound and range by local piano teacher Mei Wei Lim, ending the concert with a rousing version of Dave Brubeck’s Blue Rondo A La Turk.
Bellingen Shire Mayor Cr Steve Allan shared his appreciation for the evening, saying, “It was an absolute pleasure to attend such a special concert at our wonderful Memorial Hall.
“The atmosphere was electric, and the new piano sounded incredible. The level of talent from these young performers was nothing short of inspiring.
“To see such a strong connection between generations of musicians, through the presence of David Helfgott and the emerging talent of our youth, was incredibly moving. We’re fortunate to have a venue like the Memorial Hall that brings the community together in celebration of music and creativity.”
This concert marked the first in the Bridging Generations series, showcasing the musical legacy being passed from one generation to the next. With such remarkable talent on display, anticipation is already building for next year’s event.
