WORDS ON STRINGS features Sydney composer Andrée Greenwell performing in collaboration with Brisbane’s Muses Trio with Principal Artists Christa Powell (violin) and Therese Milanovic (piano) with guest Katherine Philp (cello).

This concert includes both new and reimagined songs from Greenwell’s extensive catalogue of performing arts and concert works, made especially for the dynamic Muses Trio. The program showcases Greenwell's versatility and dynamic expression, set to lyrics by leading Australian and international contemporary writers such as Jordie Albiston (AU), Fiona Benson (UK), Alison Croggon (AU), Katy Didden (US), Ross Gibson (AU), Maryanne Lynch (AU) and Felicity Plunkett (AU). The concert also features the world premiere of Abigail Liu’s "Flight Paths".

PROGRAM Candy from The Villainelles (2008), lyric by Jordie Albiston I Do Not Remember from Dreaming Transportation (2003), lyric by Jordie Albiston Murder at Mallow House from The Hanging of Jean Lee (2006), lyric by Jordie Albiston Royal National Park from Three Songs (2019), originally for SATB choir, lyric by Ross Gibson  Ring Song from Four Chambers of the Heart (1994), lyric by Helen Grützner from A Circle in the World (1987) Flight Paths for piano trio, movt 1: Abigail Liu (2026) Terror from Listen to Me (2018), lyric by Alison Croggon Ring Song from Four Chamber of the Heart (1994), lyric by Helen Grützner from A Circle in the World (1987) Wood Song (2025), lyric by Fiona Benson Flight Paths for piano trio, movt 2: Abigail Liu (2026) Amelia from The Villainelles (2008), lyric by Jordie Albiston Little Hands from City of Lost Souls (2018), lyric by Maryanne Lynch Arrows 1, from Arrows I, II commissioned for Decibel’s After Julia project (2014), lyric by Hilary Bell Flight Paths for piano trio, movt 3: Abigail Liu (2026) Words Start War from ORE CHOIR: the Lava on Iceland, lyric by Katy Didden

ANDRÉE GREENWELL

ANDRÉE GREENWELL has an outstanding achievement of innovative music theatre, multidisciplinary performance and chamber opera creation as artistic director and composer of Green Room Music. Four of her long-form works have been presented by the Sydney Opera House. An outstanding array of leading Australian vocalists have performed in her works including: Miriam Allan, Deborah Conway, Christine Douglas, Max Sharam, Hugo Race, Helen Noonan, Justine Clarke, Elana Stone, Jessica O’Donoghue, Karen Cummings, Candy Royalle, Tyrone Landau, Eddie Muliaumuseali’i and Heru Pinkasova. She has performed vocals on many of her own recordings and productions including LAQUIEM: Tales from the Mourning of the Lac Women and the podcast Listen to Me.
 
Greenwell’s acclaimed chamber opera Three Marys, an international collaboration with librettist Christine Evans (US/AU), premiered in 2023 at as part of the Sydney Opera House's 50th anniversary celebrations and was broadcast by the ABC. Three Marys was also performed at Georgetown University while Greenwell was artist-in-residence in 2025. Her other works include: the multidisciplinary song cycle Gothic, an international collaboration with video artist Michaela French (UK); the music theatre work Dreaming Transportation (commissioned by the Sydney Festival in 2003); and the retro-indie post-punk musical The Hanging of Jean Lee (Sydney Operate House 2006, Arts House, 2013). 

Greenwell's awards include: an Australia Council for the Arts Music Fellowship; a Fellowship from the Bogliasco Foundation; a Seaborn, Broughton and Walford Foundation Fellowship; the NSW Women in Arts Fellowship; and Finalist for the Opera Impact Award, Australian Women in Music Awards, 2024 and 2025. Andrée participated in the prestigious Women Opera Makers Workshop in the Festival of Aix-en-Provence 2024, led by UK director Katie Mitchell. She is currently developing a contemporary oratorio with US poet Katy Didden.

Discover more about Andrée Greenwell at andreegreenwell.com.

MUSES TRIO

APRA AMCOS Luminary Award recipients MUSES TRIO are some of Australia’s leading and most exciting musicians in contemporary classical music, known for their edgy, spine tingling and virtuosic performance style. The trio is a collaboration between Christa Powell (violin), Louise King (cello) and Therese Milanovic (piano). Their advocacy and commitment to music composed by women was recognised through receipt of the APRA AMCOS Luminary Award for Queensland in 2025.

Discovering, inspiring, collaborating, commissioning, connecting and supporting creative women to pursue and share artistic excellence drives the passion and impetus of their artistic focus. Muses Trio have released four independent albums: The Spirit and the Maiden, Celebrating Clara, Music for Calm and Catharsis, 10 Years, and also recorded for ABC Classic’s Women of Note (Volumes 3 and 4). Muses Trio received the ABC Fresh Start Fund to commission and record Fire Dances for ABC Classic, comprising of a short dance from a women composer in each Australian state and territory, reflecting on their experiences of the 2019-2020 devastating bushfire season. In 2025, they were awarded the State Luminary Award from APRA AMCOS, recognising the luminaries shaping the future of Australian music.

2023 marked the tenth anniversary of their debut appearance. Highlights of their anniversary year included their debut EP for Corella Recordings, The Road Not Taken, which was a feature performance for the Anywhere Festival, and recording their ABC Classic FM Album of the Week feature, 10 Years, which showcased five significant new works by living Australian women composers.  

Explore more of Muses Trio's work at musestrio.com.

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Cost

Tickets for this performance are $25–50. A cash bar will be available for socialising amongst the plants after the performance. 

Tickets

You'll receive confirmation of your ticket order by email or sms (whichever one you used with your order). We'll have a ticket list at the door when you arrive to help you save the trees and the hassle of printing your ticket.

Location

Plant Empire has moved! This concert will be held at our new premises in Tennyson, Brisbane: 15/55 Lofter St, Tennyson Q 4105. The site has easy access to free on-street parking and is an easy 10-minute walk from Yeerongpilly train station and restaurants at Yeerongpilly Green.

Accessibility

Concerts in our new premises have unallocated ground floor seating that are all level without any steps, while mezzanine seating with obstructed views is accessible via a staircase with 22 steps and 1–2 landings. The site has one wheelchair parking spot, and visitors are encouraged to use on-street parking to leave other on-site parking available for people with mobility issues.

Reminders

You have full control over how (and how often) you receive reminders for our events. You will receive one email confirmation from us when you purchase your ticket; but we won't send any further email reminders, so please ensure that you have the concert details in your diary. You can also use the "add to calendar" function in our events calendar to add the concert to your digital calendar and customise your reminder preferences.

Cancellation Policy

Please choose carefully before purchasing your tickets for this concert as we do not offer refunds on event bookings. 

Program Changes

*Please note that the program for this concert is subject to change.

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