Conversations With Composers
6 July 2023 | 5:30PM | $15 | | Salamanca Arts Centre: Long Gallery
Join the effervescent Paul Jarman as he chats with Australian composers of choral music Sally Whitwell (NSW), John Rotar (QLD) and Nic Courto (TAS) in an informal and informative setting.
These composers will all have works performed at this year’s festival; they will share the inspirations behind their commissions, thoughts around composing for specific ensembles and the importance of connecting with other composers.
The bar will be open to enjoy some refreshments while spending time with these fine musicians.

Receive up to a 15% discount if you select three or more concerts in the one transaction. Keep an eye on our social media channels for suggested itineraries. There is a diverse range of concerts for you to choose from to fill your calendar across the 10 days of the Festival.
3 concerts ~ 10% off
6 or more concerts ~ 15% off
Discounts are only applicable on performance tickets, and only apply to full price tickets. Tickets must be purchased in the same transaction. If you select a Concession ticket for a performance as part of a discount package, the lowest price will apply for that ticket. Workshops and seminars are not included in our Performance Packages.
Tickets
General Admission – $15
*A Booking Fee of $3.00 applies, plus a 2.2% Basket Fee which will be calculated at check-out.
DURATION
1hr
VENUE: Salamanca Arts Centre: The Long Gallery
Getting to the venue:
- The Long Gallery is on Level 2, 77 Salamanca Pl, Battery Point TAS 7004
- 2 accessible parking spaces are available outside ‘The Den’ on Salamanca Place. More accessible parks are located on Salamanca Place in a sectioned-off parking lot opposite the restaurant strip.
Accessibility
Guide Dog/Registered Assistance Animals welcome
Guide Dogs and Service Animal facilities:
- Water bowls will be available at this event upon request.
Wheelchair accessibility
- The Long Gallery is accessible on level 2 via the lift located in the Salamanca Arts Centre Courtyard. If you wish to access the lift in the evenings, please access from the courtyard entrance via Wooby’s Lane
- Accessible bathrooms are available on every level of the Salamanca Arts Centre.

Paul is most well known as a lyricist and composer of choral music, a world music multi-instrumentalist, and a facilitator of community- inspired collaborations. Paul has written over 200 commissioned works for ensembles, festivals and events, including Gondwana Voices, Sydney Children’s Choir, Birralee Voices, The Song Company, Boston City Singers, Rafiki Youth Choir, The Australian Boys' Choir, The Hunter sSingers, Department of Education, Woden Valley Youth Choir and many more. His unique blend of melody and timeless poetry celebrates the human endeavour and has captured the imagination of singers and audiences worldwide. He has been commissioned to write music about some of the most inspiring people of our time including Jessica Watson, Terry Fox, Helen Keller, Ernest Shackleton, Aung San Suu Kyi, Pemulwuy and Mary MacKillop among countless others.
"By nature, he can’t help but inspire, not only with his compositions which have a way of challenging every singer to be a better person; but also with his contagious passion, his sincere love of people from all walks of life and his limitless energy."
Julie Christiansen OAM – Founder, Voices of Birralee
Photo credit: KiPhotomedia


Image credit: Ronan King-Rose

A new music specialist, Sally’s recordings and performances of the works of American minimalist Philip Glass have earned her wide acclaim, including opportunities to perform with the composer at Center for the Art of Performance UCLA, Brooklyn Academy of Music and Perth International Arts Festival.
She has released five solo albums with ABC Classic, including one featuring all her own compositions. Her next album is a collaboration with guitarist Matt Withers, an all Australian program of music for guitar and piano. Her 3 movement work Starwalker is the title track.
Sally is very experienced in choral music, having been Principal Pianist for Gondwana Choirs for many years. Her choral and vocal music has been performed by many of Australia’s leading ensembles including The Song Company, The Australian Voices, Australian Vocal Ensemble (AVÉ), The Consort of Melbourne, Adelaide Chamber Singers, Divisi Chamber Singers, Brisbane Birralee, Moorambilla Voices, Sydney Childrens Choir and Gondwana Chorale.
Currently, Sally is working on Pictures at an exHERbition, a commission from National Gallery of Australia and Luminescence Chamber Singers. She is also working on her first opera, Margaret and the Grey Mare, a multi channel video installation opera, in collaboration with artist Katy B Plummer and an artificial intelligence, The Grey Mare Chatbot.
Image credit: Maja Baska
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