History and Future

In 2009, Tura New Music invited Richard Tognetti and ACO2 – the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s talented young Regional Orchestra – to tour North West Western Australia as part of Tura’s annual Regional Touring Program.

A keen surfer, Richard Tognetti has always been inspired by Western Australia’s rugged coastline. A tour of North West Western Australia presented an ideal opportunity to further delve into the links between surfing, the ocean, landscape, community and music (first explored by Richard and the ACO in Musica Surfica in 2008 and then The Glide in 2009) and create a new work for performance on the tour. And so The Qantas Reef Residency was born.

The Qantas Reef Residency sees Richard again collaborate with surfing legend Derek Hynd and acclaimed filmmakers Jon Frank and Mick Sowry. Added to the mix are composer Iain Grandage and Indigenous artists from Western Australia, Mark Atkins and Steve Pigram. Together with ACO musicians they will create a new work for orchestra and film – The Reef, which will tour from Darwin to Perth and then on to Sydney in July 2012.

The Ningaloo Coast was chosen as the general area to inspire and create the new work, and on advice Gnaraloo was chosen as the particular site. Much research and planning has followed with involvement from many parties, including the local communities, to ensure the success of the Residency.

Tura and the ACO joined forces to gather the resources needed to present this major touring production. Miraculously, and through the immense generosity of all of our respective supporters, The Reef Residency and Tour are now a reality.

Plans are already under way to tour The Reef overseas, taking Gnaraloo, Ningaloo Coast, Carnarvon and the Gascoyne to the world in a celebration of Australian music, culture and country.

For more information visit www.reeftour.tura.com.au