Festival was a musical 'success'

Organisers of the Pearl Beach Music Festival have described this year's festival as "extremely successful" with "beautiful music enjoyed by a large audience".

The festival took place at the Pearl Beach Memorial Hall over the June long weekend.

"Pearl Beach resident and eminent child psychologist Dr John Irvine opened the festival on Saturday afternoon," said Pearl Beach Progress Association communications officer Ms Lynne Lillico.

Now in its 15th year, the June long weekend festival featured a variety of classical choral and orchestral music.

The Saturday afternoon opening concert was presented by the Central Coast's Concertante Ensemble and tuba soloist Matthew Walmsley, playing chamber works and popular classics.

On Saturday evening, The Lipman Harp Duo, of husband and wife Sebastien and Sayo Lipman, played Handel's Fireworks Suite, Brahms Requiem, and Offenbach's Barcarolle.

The Nexas Saxophone Quartet played the Sunday afternoon concert with Histoire du Tango by Astor Piazolla, Saxophone Quartet by Phillip Glass, Rhapsody In Blue by George Gershwin and Hoe Down by Will Gregory.

The Sydney Conservatorium ensemble Virtuoso Voices, accompanied by piano, horn, clarinet and flute, ended the festival on Sunday evening with works included lieder by Schubert, Richard Strauss, Puccini and Verdi

Press release, 18 Jun 2008 Lynne Lillico, Pearl Beach Progress Association