This wonderful Classical Music Concert features:

Margaret Curtis (piano & harp)

Originally from Sydney, Margaret began her musical studies on piano at the early age of 4. She achieved her Associate diploma at the age of 16 and continued her studies until, at the age of 26 she achieved her Performance Fellowship with the Trinity College of Music, London. In 2000 she commenced studies on the harp with Louise Johnson, formerly Principal Harpist, Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Margaret is well known and regarded as an accomplished performer and accompanist on the harp and piano.  She has performed with various orchestras and is a member of the Lismore Symphony and Gold Coast Chamber orchestras.  She is also the Musical Director for the Bangalow Theatre company.  Margaret also performs in solo recitals, accompanying choirs and solo instrumentalists. Margaret is based in Bangalow where she is a freelance harpist and pianist, accompanist on both instruments and a private music teacher.

Bodhi Scott-Jones (trumpet)

Bodhi Scott-Jones is a Brisbane-based freelance trumpet performer and educator specialising in solo, orchestral, chamber and jazz music.

Since relocating to Queensland from his hometown of Ballina, Bodhi has attained his Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University under former Queensland Symphony Orchestra Principal Trumpet, Sarah Butler. The highlight of Bodhi’s degree was performing as Principal Trumpet for Mahler Symphony No. 8 under the baton of prolific German conductor Johannes Fritzsch. Bodhi kickstarted his solo career with the Lismore Symphony Orchestra at the age of 16 performing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto. As well as being a soloist, he is currently the Principal Cornet player with Brisbane Brass, and he can be seen in regular performances as a casual musician with the Queensland Festival Philharmonic, Queensland Pops Orchestra and Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Bodhi’s music has taken him all around Australia with groups including the NSW State Wind Band, Brisbane Brass and the Australian Youth Orchestra. His career has also taken him abroad to the USA and China, with his first international appearance at the Beijing International Wind Music Carnival in 2016.

Francis Atkins (piano)

Francis Atkins is a young, aspiring Australian pianist. Guided by international-prize-winning pianist, Natasha Vlassenko, he has flourished into a fiery and passionate performer. He has performed in multiple musical hotspots around Australia, including the Sydney Opera House, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the Southbank ABC centre, the Bangalow Music Festival, and the Queensland Conservatorium.

Francis finds himself equally at home as concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. Recent collaborations include performances alongside the Southern Cross Soloists, soprano Katie Stenzel, and in 2019, he gave his debut performance as concerto soloist with the Ipswich City Symphony.

Just this year, Francis was selected as a Brisbane Music Festival young artist, and as a “Next Generation Artist” with the Southern Cross Soloists. He was also recently selected to perform with the Queensland Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, as part of a concerto festival, taking place in December this year.

In his spare time, Francis enjoys learning the music of Rachmaninoff and Debussy, cooking, and exploring different flavours of tea.

This concert is presented by Great Southern Nights in association with Byron Theatre

Great Southern Nights is a new event to kick-start the recovery of the live music industry – featuring 1,000 COVID-safe gigs across Sydney and Regional NSW, throughout November 2020 (Australian Music Month). Great Southern Nights is a NSW Government initiative, delivered by Destination NSW in partnership with ARIA.
For more information, please visit greatsouthernnights.com.au.