Classical music comes to Guyra with community concert at Australian Poetry Hall of Fame

Residents of Guyra and the New England region will have the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of live classical music when violist Robert Harris and pianist Robert Manley present Voice of the Viola at the Australian Poetry Hall of Fame on Sunday, 27 September.

The concert brings professional musicians of national and international experience to a unique regional venue, offering local audiences the chance to experience high-quality chamber music without travelling to a major city.

Built around the warmth and expressive voice of the viola, the programme combines accessible favourites with celebrated classical works, creating an engaging performance for both experienced concertgoers and those discovering classical music for the first time. Spoken introductions throughout the performance invite audiences into the music, making the concert welcoming and easy to follow.

The programme features music spanning four centuries, from Rebecca Clarke’s I’ll Bid My Heart Be Still and Debussy’s Beau Soir to songs by Fauré, Rachmaninov, Schubert, Mahler and Vaughan Williams, alongside lighter favourites by Rodgers & Hammerstein. A highlight is the spirited Brahms Scherzo from the F-A-E Sonata.

Guests are encouraged to make an afternoon of the occasion by enjoying afternoon tea at the Seahorse Medicine Café before the performance, supporting a local business while experiencing the heritage atmosphere of the Australian Poetry Hall of Fame.

The concert also celebrates the continuing musical connections between the region and two performers with strong ties to New England. Robert Harris has been part of the area’s musical life for decades through the University of New England and the New England Conservatorium, while Robert Manley is an academic and performer based at the New England Conservatorium of Music in Armidale.

By presenting professional chamber music in regional communities, the concert contributes to the cultural life of New England, providing opportunities for audiences to experience world-class performance close to home and reinforcing the region’s reputation as a centre for arts and culture.