Noosa Orchestra’s Spring concert: Musical Kaleidoscope with piano soloist Isobel Cumpston

Noosa Orchestra’s Spring concert series is a kaleidoscope of heart-warming, soul-nourishing, toe-tapping music. Revel in a heady mix of classical scores by Saint-Saëns and Haydn together with contemporary music by award-winning American composer and conductor, Brian Balmages.

Immerse yourself in a veritable cinematic experience with film theme songs: Harry Potter by composer John Williams; and music by Ennio Morricone, one of the most prolific and greatest film composers of all time (Cinema Paradiso, The Untouchables) and an 80s pop hit by former Roxy Music star, John Gustafson.

Making her concerto debut on the Sunshine Coast is 18-year-old piano soloist, Isobel Cumpston, who will play Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor. 

The piano prodigy, who has been playing since she was 3, describes the concerto as “intricate and beautifully crafted”.

“Weaving between virtuosic passages for the soloist and beautiful harmonies in the orchestra, it’s an absolute masterclass in orchestration,” says Isobel.

“Zygmunt Stojowski famously said that it: ‘begins with Bach and ends with Offenbach’.”

At 15, Isobel was accepted into the prestigious Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and is about to finish her Undergraduate Piano Performance Degree. She’s currently working on her final recital for the end of the year including a program of music by Messiaen, Schumann, Rameau and Balakirev, which will be able to be viewed online.

Isobel has been awarded multiple music prizes and scholarships including the Hon. James Thomas Walker Prize, the inaugural Doug and Margot Anthony (BUDD) Music Grant, the Gilliam Prize, and the USYD Vice Chancellor’s Global Mobility Scholarship.

Competition successes include the Queensland Young Pianist’s Award, which she won in 2019, and gold prize in the Bangkok International Piano Competition 2021. Isobel has performed as a collaborative and orchestral pianist with the Dots+Loops festival, Queensland Youth Orchestra and George Ellis Orchestra in Sydney, and has been awarded her AmusA on both piano and clarinet.

The orchestra, conducted by maestro Antoni Bonetti along with Sharelle Guest, is very excited to perform with such a young and talented musician, who has family ties on the Coast.

“The Sunshine Coast is where I live when not studying in Sydney, so it’s nice to be coming home, both musically for my concerto debut, and literally to be with my family.”

Tickets are selling fast. Don’t miss the opportunity to catch Isobel in concert before she heads overseas to pursue a Master’s in Music.