Hello, I am Hugh Crosthwaite, composer. Welcome to this matched funding campaign for my new work Cassandra. Money raised through this campaign will be used to hire the magificant Melbourne Recital Centre Salon for the premiere on 3 February 2019, and contributions will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Creative Partnerships Australia as a part of their Match Lab 2018 program.

Why Cassandra?

I believe that we need to act quickly on climate change and I am inspired to contribute to that movement through my music. 

My new music project, Cassandra, is designed to draw attention to climate change and inspire action. There will be a concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre, a recording/release and a publicity campaign, all focussed on creating relevant beautiful art and inspired by the need for action! 

I want you to join me on this journey. Your support will play a crucial part in bringing this project to life!

Who is Cassandra?

Cassandra was the daughter of Priam, the last king of Troy. Cassandra was cursed. She was given the power to see the future, but no one would believe her predictions. When she predicted the fall of Troy, she was ignored and Troy fell. That myth is the inspiration for my project. The experts say global warming is real and will be devastating. But where is the action? Do we really believe them or are we, like the Trojans, deaf to their prediction at our peril? 

What will be made?

The Music and the Premiere

Through this projet I will write 1 hour of new music to be premiered at the Melbourne Recital Centre on 3 February 2019. Cassandra will be the centrepiece of the concert and will be a work of about half an hour in length for piano and violin, inspired by Cassandra's story as imagined through the poetry of Brian Walters.

The program will also feature half an hour of new music for mezzo-soprano and piano. These vocal cycles will be a collaboration with 2018 Victorian Premier's Literary Prize winner (Poetry) Bella Li, also drawing inspiration from, and responding to, climate change.

The Recording

Before the works are premiered, they will be recorded and produced, ready for release at the Premiere. I am also going to engage a publicist to help me promote the recordings on the radio so that the music and the message can be spread as far as possible.

Who's in the team?

My collaborators on this project are some of the very very finest musicians and artists our country has to offer. 

Cassandra will be premiered by Stefan Cassomenos and Monica Curro. The wealth of experience shared by Monica and Stefan is something to behold and I am absolutely thrilled they are a part of this project.

The remainder of the concert program will consist of new vocal music setting the poetry of Bella Li (2018 Premier’s Literary Award Winner – Poetry) to be performed by mezzo-soprano Alexandra Matthew.

Bella Li is one of Australia's most exciting poets. Bella's evocative work has been published in a range of journals and anthologies, including Best Australian Poems and The Kenyon Review, and displayed at the George Paton Gallery and in the Triennial of the National Gallery of Victoria.

Alexandra Matthew is an acclaimed mezzo-soprano who has studied at the Royal College of Music in London. Recently, Alexandra appeared as alto soloist in Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with Progetto Corelli, and in December 2017 performed alto solos in Reinhard Keiser’s Weihnachtsoratorium at St David’s Cathedral, Tasmania.

This campaign is all about raising money for the premiere performance. 

I want my music to be first heard in a beautiful auditorium and there is no better room that the Melbourne Recital Centre's Salon. The money I raise will cover the hire of the Salon and  publicist fees. The Salon costs just over $3,000 to hire. I also intend to spend just under $2,000 on publicity for the premiere and the record release.  The remainder of my project will be supported by philanthropic donations which will cover the production costs, artists fees and  record production / manufacture.  

This is the room that my work will be premiered in, isn't it amazing? I hope you can be there to share in the music!

The major challenges for this project will be artistic and promotional. 

Climate change is a huge issue, and capturing the complexity of the central themes in my music will take a lot of focus and dedication. But I am ready for the challenge and with the calibre of musicians on the team, the premiere is sure to be a success.

The other major challenge will be promoting the works and spreading their message as far as possible. This campaign is central to those goals. Premiering the works in the best venue is key to me bringing my music to life in the most aesthetically pristine and engaging environment. In the same way, putting resources behind the promotion of the project is key to delivering the very best outcome for the music and my music's message.  

With your help I will have no difficulty in realising these goals and I look forward to updating you on the project's successes as milestones are met.