Paradise Concerts Artists

  “…enthralling … fine playing, the music echoed with delight “
                                                           Brisbane Sunday Mail, October, 2005
“Kirtley wowed the crowds at her Civic Theatre Recital”The Cairns Post, March, 2004
          “Virtuoso Violin with Panache”        Nelson, N.Z. News, September, 2006
“Kirtley’s violin flirted with the piano of Pascal RogeArts Nexus Magazine, October, 2007
“Her concerto premiere was a match made in Heaven” NZ Mail, September, 2006

American/Australian violinist Leigh has a career that has taken her across the globe, performing as soloist, in chamber concerts, recitals, and orchestras worldwide. Her performances have been celebrated in over 20 countries including America, Europe, Asia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia, where she has lived for five years, since relocating from London. A student of the legendary virtuoso Josef Gingold, she holds a B Mus (honours) degree from Indiana University. The US honoured her with the prestigious American Federation of Music Prize in New York. As a chamber musician and recitalist, Leigh has appeared in the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, and festivals including Aspen, Point-Counterpoint and Chautauqua (USA), St. Endellion and Classics Live (UK), Klassik Aften, Bergen Festspille, and Oslo (Norway), Amsterdam, Vienna, Pollensa (Spain), and Hong Kong. In the ‘80s Leigh was a member of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and was on the faculty of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. In Europe she won orchestral positions as leader in Amsterdam, and in Norway where, as principal second violin of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, she created and led her own chamber music series, performed as soloist and recorded for Norwegian radio. Residing in London for 14 years, Leigh’s Duo gave its debut recital at the international Classics Live Festival. Leigh was in the UK’s finest chamber and symphony orchestras, including principal second violin of the London Chamber Symphony, Assistant Leader of the Midlands Philharmonic, and member of the Academy of London, Oxford and European Union Chamber Orchestras. Leigh was also a chamber musician at the Endellion Festival under conductor Richard Hickox. European engagements included performing for Queen Sophia of Spain as Leader of the Pollensa Chamber Orchestra, and for King Olaf of Norway with the Bergen Philharmonic, as well as tours with Pavarotti and the Oporto Orchestra, Portugal, and with Soprano Kiri te Kanawa in France. Leigh was one of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music’s performers in 2005, giving masterclasses and chamber music performances, recording for the ABC, and leading the chamber orchestra. She gave her Australian recital début in 2004, and in 2005 founded, as Artistic Director, Paradise Concerts international chamber music series in Cairns, Queensland. In ’05 Leigh toured Papua New Guinea, giving a command performance for the Prime Minister at Parliament House. The Queensland Arts Council appointed Leigh as a touring artist for ’05,’06 and ’07. In 2006 she performed in recital with the internationally acclaimed pianist Pascal Rogé as part of the Paradise Concerts series, and appeared as guest leader and soloist with the Barrier Reef Orchestra under conductor John Hopkins OBE. She also performed as soloist with Opera Queensland in 2006, and toured New Zealand, giving recitals, masterclasses, and the world premiere of a Concerto for Violin and Orchestra dedicated to her and written for her by New Zealand composer, Ross Carey. In 2007 she was soloist at “Opera in the Outback”, leader of the Barrier Reef Orchestra, and gave 10 concerts with international artists in the Paradise Concerts series. Leigh appeared as soloist/director in the debut of the Paradise Chamber Orchestra forFestival Cairnsin The Eight Seasons, an innovative programme of her creation, juxtaposing Piazzolla and Vivaldi 4 Seasons.. She is founder of the Paradise Chamber Orchestra, Cairns’ first professional orchestra. Leigh was thrilled to appear as soloist with the orchestra, and continues to vigorously champion classical music in our region. In November, 2007, she was presented a RADF award by Mayor Kevin Byrne in recognition of cultural excellence in the city of Cairns.

This season Paradise Concerts is proud to welcome back International pianist Pascal Roge for his third appearance with us. His expert command of the solo and chamber music repertoire for piano leaves audiences spellbound time after time. Pascal has a flair and passion few commanding the world's stages can surpass, and he brings that vitality to this dynamic programme of giants and greats.

Bob Halstead has spent a lifetime mostly underwater, and the way he captures the Coral Reef is breathtaking to behold. His recent membership into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame has firmly marked him as one of the diving and underwater photography legends of our time.