NEWS – JANUARY 2021
From our Creative Director – Christa Powell
Welcome to 2021. It is with great excitement that we look forward to this new year with the Topology team working hard at our offices in Brisbane, South Burnett and Sunshine Coast. We welcome our newest staff member – John Rush (otherwise known as JR) to the Regional Projects Team who is working with our partners in Winton, Texas, Rockhampton and the South Burnett.
In 2021, we plan to travel far and wide (pending any sudden travel restrictions of course) with our Top Up programs (now known as the Topology Creative Academy). We already have workshops and projects underway in over 30 towns spanning the length and breadth of Queensland from Longreach to Texas and many towns in between.
First up in Term 1 our Top Up team led by our co-Artistic Director John Babbage, will be visiting Longreach, Mount Isa, Dalby, Texas, Winton and Boonah, where we are working with schools and local creative organisations on workshops and festival programming with the community. We are also going to kick start the year by inviting expressions of interest to our Launchpad Mentorship Program, a 12-month scholarship with one-on-one mentoring delivered by Topology’s artists and company staff. This year will also see the continuation of Top Up Online with international composers and mentors working with us on a program of composition and performance workshops through our social media and digital platforms.
Our We Will Rise regional tour will continue with Topology Principal artists venturing back to the Scenic Rim in March for a performance in Boonah (more info here). New signature works currently in development include a work composed by John Babbage in collaboration with author, Simon Cleary of his novel The War Artist. John will also be collaborating with tattoo artist, animation, and projection mapping to bring this important story to life.
If you are a music teacher, now is also a great time to contact us about how we can support and assist with our Top Up Education programs (now known as the Topology Creative Academy).
Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support and together, we will keep growing the hearts and minds of our creative spirit.
Kind regards,
Christa Powell
Topology’s Launchpad program is seeking expressions of interest from regional emerging composers, musicians, songwriters and performers who are within the first 5 years of their professional careers.
Over the course of one year, each mentee is supported in the achievement of self-nominated creative goals (eg: complete an EP recording, compose a new orchestral work, etc.) They are then paired with mentors who are best suited to provide guidance in accomplishing those goals. Previous mentors include Cameron Patrick (film scoring), Isabella Gerometta (composing for voice), Skinnyfish Music (music production), and of course Topology’s composers John Babbage and Robert Davidson.
ELIGIBILITY
Launchpad is open to composers and songwriters who:
- are 15+ years old
- are residents of Queensland or the Northern Territory, Australia
- can demonstrate some experience in composition and/or songwriting
- exhibit potential for artistic excellence
- possess a strong desire to launch a career in music within the next 5 years
If this sounds like you follow the link to start an application today!
Applications close on 14 March
For more information visit our website.
TOP UP EDUCATION
Topology’s Top Up programs (now known at the Topology Creative Academy) enrich the musical journeys of thousands of young people and communities around Australia each year. Top Up brings together professional and young musicians to explore, create, and perform new music. In addition to supporting teachers’ delivery of the Australian Curriculum, Topology offers composition workshops, instrumental lessons, performance opportunities and professional development for teachers.
Each program is highly tailored and delivered by Topology’s in-house artists and/or our hand-picked pool of diverse instructors. Schools can avail of 2 kinds of workshop programs: our Creative Program and our Instrumental Program.
To find out more or register your interest in Topology visiting your school visit the website here.
IN DEVELOPMENT: THE WAR ARTIST
The War Artist is a timely and compelling novel about the legacy of war, the power of art and the possibility of atonement.
When Brigadier James Phelan returns from Afghanistan with the body of a young soldier killed under his command, he is traumatised by the tragedy. An encounter with young Sydney tattoo artist Kira leaves him with a permanent tribute to the soldier, and it is a meeting that will change the course of his life.
This new work is a collaboration between John Babbage and Simon Cleary and builds on the Songs From The War Artist project with the Dalby State High School students in November 2019. This new work will be premiered at the Judith Wright Centre in October 2021 with the support of Arts Queensland through the First Night Showcase Program.