By Lucy Waldron
The rush and awe one would expect from seeing the aurora borealis will be transcended into sounds from the Borealis String Quartet at their concert Aurora Borealis meets Aurora Australis.
The renowned Borealis String Quartet from North America is set to enchant the small town of Stanthorpe with a breathtaking performance on Sunday 14 January.
Dr James Cuskelly OAM, director of Cuskelly College and teacher at St Joseph’s School, played a pivotal role in bringing these world-class musicians to regional Australia.
The quartet, also known as the Aurora Borealis quartet, is currently in Australia as part of a summer school hosted by Cuskelly College in Brisbane.
Dr Cuskelly seized the opportunity to extend their presence to regional areas, highlighting the belief that small towns deserve access to performances by globally acclaimed artists.
“I asked them if they would be willing to come out to the country and contribute for a half-day, emphasising my belief that just because we live in a small town doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have world-class musicians working with us,” Dr Cuskelly said.
The performance, scheduled for this Sunday 14 January, is a significant cultural event for Stanthorpe, offering the community a rare chance to witness the precision, technique, and passion of a world-class string quartet.
“We’ve got here people with an incredible level of precision, technique, and passion. It’s really quite fantastic,” Dr Cuskelly said.
“They’re able to release the music in this really engaging way.
“Everybody is totally absorbed,” he said.
The concert offers the opportunity to experience music on a level rarely accessible outside metropolitan regions.
Dr Cuskelly stated the importance of making world-class music available to everyone, irrespective of their location, at reasonable ticket prices.
“These are very generous people. They’re very giving. They’re very happy to come and share their music with us.”
Stanthorpe residents and visitors alike are encouraged to attend the concert, promising a mesmerising experience for all music enthusiasts, regardless of their level of familiarity with classical music.
Dr Cuskelly’s invitation extends to everyone interested in music, the arts, discipline, excellence, and a broader global perspective.
“Come along; it’s gonna be fantastic. Whether you know music very well or not, the sheer brilliance of the performance will be startling.”
The performance is from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday 14 January at Stanthorpe Civic Centre and tickets are $30, and children 15 and under are free.
For more information and to book tickets visit: srag.org.au/events/2024114aurora
