Local sensational soloists on show

FEATURING Oscar Matthews, a stunning young soloist from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and talented soloists from within the orchestra, the Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra (SCSO) performs Sensational Soloists at The Events Centre, Caloundra, Sunday 16 July, at 2pm.

Oscar Matthews is a Brisbaneborn classical pianist who is studying at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music under esteemed Australian pianist Daniel de Borah. Oscar began his piano studies at age 6 and gave his first public performance at age 7. He performed as a soloist with the Creative Generation Symphony Orchestra in 2021, which was described as “terrific” by The Courier Mail. Oscar has won many first prizes at competitions, including the Queensland Piano Competition.

A masterpiece completed in 1803, Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto was more dark and impassioned than his previous works as the composer grappled with the reality of his increasing and permanent deafness. In typical

Screening is a Giants success

THE Maleny Community Centre was packed out for a screening of The Giants, the film about Tasmania’s massive and ancient trees, whose preservation is the current focus of the Bob Brown Foundation.

Dr Brown’s extensive history of activism, on the ground and in the political arena (both state and federal as a foundation MP for the Greens), is portrayed alongside his personal background, which led to a widening of the party’s agenda from the environment to also include human rights.

“I have known Bob Brown for almost 30 years, and his example of standing up for what is right has been an inspiration to me,” says Anni Philp, who organised the event that raised money for the foundation’s old forests campaign.

“The reaction to the film, and the event in general, from the 220-strong audience both on the night and with follow-up texts, emails and phone calls has been phenomenal.

Funds were also raised towards the Greens’ campaign for the March 2024 Sunshine Coast Council local government elections. The party’s Division 5 candidate, Tracy Burton, was in attendance.

“Let’s not forget that the Sunshine Coast Hinterland also has had its share of oldgrowth tree loss to the timber industry,” Ms Burton said. “We need to protect what

Beethoven fashion, the piece ends triumphantly, having won out over the darkness.

The concert builds on this joy with movements from the uplifting Haydn Trumpet Concerto, played by SCSO principal trumpet Nelson Oakley, and the beautiful Mozart Clarinet Concerto, played by SCSO principal clarinet, Jennifer Maggs.

The concert features other stirring orchestral favourites such as Cavalleria Rusticana, and overtures from Carmen and La Traviata.

Founded in 1972, the SCSO is a mix of professional and skilled amateur musicians of all ages. A shared love of playing beautiful and inspiring music unite its members, who include professionals from all walks of life, including music teachers, performers, composers, doctors, lawyers, business owners and entrepreneurs.

The SCSO’s 2023 calendar of performances offers concertgoers a mix of music that can be enjoyed by regular listeners as well as those who are new to orchestral music.

Sensational Soloists – The power of Beethoven’s 3rd piano concerto and the joy of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto 16 July at 2pm.

Tickets are available from https:// theeventscentre.com.au/event/scsosensational-soloists/ or from The Events Centre Box Office (07) 5491 4240. General admission $49, Concession $39, Children (2-17 years) $14.

Getting spicy

SPICERS Tamarind Retreat is gearing up to host the Sunshine Coast’s best Asian restaurants for this year’s Asian Food Festival, as part of foodie extravaganza, The Curated Plate.

The festival will take place on August 5, allowing food lovers an immersive day as the region’s finest restaurants converge in the hinterland.

Image credit: Picture Sunshine Coast remains.

“After watching the film, I felt so encouraged by Bob’s incredible determination and fortitude. A proud Greens moment!”

Horoscopes WEEK BEGINNING JULY 11

Restaurants include Spirit House, Sum Yung Guys, Rice Boi and of course dishes from the event’s host restaurant, the Spicers Tamarind Restaurant.

Tickets are $95 per child and $135 per adult. Book at events.humanitix.com/ sunshine-coast-asian-food-festival

with Lilith Rocha

With not so much celestial activity happening this week, and the sun in the sign of ancestors, family and heredity, we could take the opportunity of this planetary pause to listen to the wisdom of some departed stars who have gone before us, and other wise elders still shining their light...

Cancer

JUNE 22 - JULY 22

“To be loved is a privilege and prize equivalent to being born. If you’re smart, you pause regularly to bask in the astonishing knowledge that there are many people out there who care for you and want you to thrive and hold you in their thoughts with fondness.”

– Cancer astrologer and musician, Rob Breszny

LEO

JULY 23 – AUGUST 23

“Empowering women means trusting them. For real change, we need feminine energy in the management of the world. We need a critical number of women in positions of power, and we need to nurture the feminine energy in men. Peace requires everyone to be in the circle.” – Leo author, Isabel Allende

VIRGO

AUGUST 24 – SEPTEMBER 22

“When I am among the trees… they give off such hints of gladness. It’s simple, they say, and you too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine. It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world.” – Virgo poet, Mary Oliver

LIBRA

SEPTEMBER 23 – OCTOBER 23

“Yes, there is tremendous suffering all over the world, but knowing this need not paralyze us. Worrying does not accomplish anything, your anxiety will only make things worse. If we don’t know how to breathe, smile, and live our life deeply, we will never be able to help anyone.” –Libra Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh SCORPIO

OCTOBER 24 – NOVEMBER 22

“The most useful thought we can hold when all hell cuts loose again is that we are not members of different generations, as unlike, as some people would have us believe... We are all so close to each other in time that we should think of ourselves as brothers and sisters.” – Scorpio author, Kurt Vonnegut SAGITTARIUS

NOVEMBER 23 – DECEMBER 21

“My heartfelt wish is that you and I, and everyone around the world, will continue expanding our hearts and minds while celebrating our differences and ridding ourselves of any form of discrimination. This, I believe is a basic requirement for peace within ourselves and in our societies.” – Sagittarius performance artist, Tina Turner

Capricorn

DECEMBER 22 – JANUARY 20

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

– Capricorn civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jnr.

AQUARIUS

JANUARY 21 – FEBRUARY 18

“We have at our disposal a great language, and the imaginative, creative use of that language can be at the service of humour. Political correctness means nothing to me. It’s the new Puritanism, darling. Preventing us from expressing ourselves. I discuss things in a realistic manner.” – Aquarius satirist, Barry Humphries

PISCES

FEBRUARY 19 – MARCH 20

“Mechanical voices, radios, telephones, take the place of human intimacies, and the concept of being in touch with millions brings a greater and greater poverty in intimacy and human vision. This is the illusion which might cheat us of being in touch deeply with the one breathing next to us.” – Pisces writer, Anais Nin

Aries

MARCH 21 – APRIL 20

“Technology is not going to save us. Our computers, our tools, our machines are not enough. We have to rely on our intuition, our true being. We all have to find what best fosters the flowering of our humanity in this contemporary life, and dedicate ourselves to that.” – Aries mythologist, Joseph Campbell TAURUS

APRIL 21 – MAY 20

“This is a dark time. If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people, people whose love for this life is even greater than their fear. Grace happens when we act with others on behalf of our world.” – Taurus author and environmental activist, Joanna Macy

GEMINI

MAY 21 – JUNE 21

“There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds, the ebb and flow of tides, the folded bud ready for spring. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after the night and spring after the winter.” – Gemini conservationist, Rachael Carson