Accomplished and prolific British composer and musician, Sally Beamish, was invited to be this year’s composer-in-residence at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) by Artistic Director, Jack Liebeck. She has been a composer-in-residence at other festivals, but was delighted to accept this invitation.
She says: ‘As a young musician, I was originally a viola player, but gave that up to concentrate on composition. Recently my daughter, who is a luthier, made me a viola. I wouldn’t be playing at all if it hadn’t been for this instrument. And I’m pinching myself now. I’m finding it quite emotional coming back to pieces I learned years ago and playing them again.’
