Each year a specially selected group of outstanding young musicians “take to the road” on an eight-day trip through Southern NSW, performing in schools and country towns along the way.

This year local audiences will be delighted to hear the sounds of a brass quintet and smaller ensembles of the same players, as well as arias and lieder sung by a young tenor soloist and accompanied by David Miller.

Koominka is the first of two trumpet players. After participating in school bands across the North Coast region and music camps and workshops during his school days, Koominka was awarded a full scholarship to study trumpet at the Sydney Conservatorium.

Since relocating to Sydney he has played in the Conservatorium’s Symphony Orchestra –  wind symphony, brass ensemble and trumpet ensemble – as well as being a casual member of many Sydney ensembles.

Charlie Bale also plays trumpet and following school days filled with bands – wind band, marching,  big band –  and playing with Sydney Wind Orchestra, Sydney Youth Philharmonic and Sydney Youth Orchestra, he is now studying trumpet at the Sydney Conservatorium.

Eve McEwen is in the final year of her degree at the Conservatorium, specialising in the performance of horn, which she has been learning since the age of nine. During her years there she has played principal horn in the Conservatorium’s Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Modern Music Ensemble and Brass Ensemble. She has been principal horn of the Sydney Youth Orchestra since 2016.

Jamie McCarthy, at 19, has won many competitions, become principal trombone of the 1/15 Royal NSW Lancers’ Band, and been invited to play and audition for international orchestras including the Hong Kong Philharmonic. He has performed across the country as section leader and soloist, including with the Sydney Youth Orchestra, Woollhara Philharmonic and Willoughby Symphony.

While not performing or studying trombone at the Conservatorium, Jamie manages a brass music school for school-aged students.

Tuba player Andrew Jeffries completes the quintet. Andrew began studying the flute but quickly moved to the tuba. While completing his Bachelor’s degree at the Sydney Conservatorium, Andrew has appeared in the Sydney Symphony, Australian Opera and Ballet, Australian Youth, Sydney Youth and Conservatorium of Music Orchestras.

Alexander Young is currently studying for his Bachelor’s Degree specialising in Classical Voice. In 2017 he was the recipient of two awards for outstanding vocal performance at the Conservatorium.

He has performed as a soloist at the Sydney Opera House, and NSW Parliament House and in ensembles throughout Sydney across genres including oratorio, musical theatre, jazz, contemporary and country, as well as classical. He has had roles in numerous productions from My Fair Lady to Miss Saigon.

And supporting all these young musicians is the wonderful accompanist, mentor and sometime roadie, David Miller on piano. David was once described in a Sydney Morning Herald review as “the role model of Australian accompanists”.

He is recognised as one of Australia’s leading pianists, chamber musicians and vocal accompanists with a career that has included partnerships with many renowned singers and instrumentalists.

The music will include chamber music for brass quintet as well as music for smaller brass ensembles, and a selection of arias, lieder and popular songs for tenor solo with piano accompaniment. Tickets available at the door $25, and pre-purchased $23 from Mitre 10 Narooma and Nested on Wallaga Bermagui.

Details: www.montaguechoristers.org or phone 4476 7917.