A female-led music group determined to empower women through performance will wrap up its debut season at UWA’s Callaway Auditorium on Tuesday with The Ties That Bind.
The brain-child of flautist Tresna Stampalia and oboist Stephanie Nicholls, the Mirabilis Collective — “remarkable” in Latin — aims to light a beacon of hope for female artists, particularly through chamber music.
“We’ve seen talented women leave the profession due to limited opportunities,” Nicholls says.
“We wanted to change that narrative in the Perth arts community.”
Mirabilis blends classical, contemporary, and world music styles penned by women composers, bringing classical pieces alongside reimagined works of contemporary artists such as Kate Bush and Katie Noonan.
This year’s series, Her Voice Resounds, explored themes of sisterhood and friendship through music.
“It’s not just about the performance; it’s about nurturing the next generation of women musicians, providing them with the guidance, encouragement, and opportunities they need to excel,” Nicholls says.
“This concert series is more than a celebration; it’s a commitment to a vibrant future for music, where talent is recognised, fostered, and inspired.”
Among the next generation targeted are Nicholls’ daughters, soprano Lucinda Nicholls and violinist-composer Julia Nicholls.
The final concert for 2023, on Tuesday, November 21, is titled The Ties That Bind, featuring compositions by Lili Boulanger, Clara Schumann, k.d.lang, and Joni Mitchell.
A highlight will be Elegy, from Renascence by Carmel Dean, a West Australian composer known her work on Broadway.
“The New York Times praised Dean’s ability to make poetry soar through melody, a sentiment that resonates deeply with Mirabilis Collective’s ethos,” Nicholls says.
In future, Mirabilis will incorporate workshops and masterclasses with performance and has set up The Remarkables, a network of sponsors to fund their Future Artists program and commission new works by WA female composers.
Visit www.mirabiliscollective.com for more information and tickets.