Strings and Voices: Homophonic! and Elysian Blues

Homophonic! 

The RESPECT Project 

Homophonic! brings the disco ball to the concert hall in a moving celebration of Australia’s living queer history.

Inspired by real stories from trailblazing members of our LGBTIQA+ communities, RESPECT is a powerful concert of new pieces for voices and strings, honouring the people whose everyday acts of resilience, courage and determination helped pave the way for future generations.

Created through conversations between queer elders and today’s composers, these songs transform lived experience into unforgettable musical moments. Together, they preserve our community history: stories of love, identity, hope, grief, resistance, and the quiet acts of bravery that can change lives.

Guided by Homophonic! Artistic Director Miranda Hill, audiences will discover the people behind each piece: a Shepparton bus driver who found love later in life; a former fighter pilot reflecting on the cockpit that once felt like her safest place; stories of first loves, chosen families, gender euphoria, profound loss, and the determination to live authentically despite the obstacles.

Told with humour, tenderness, honesty, joy and, at times, righteous outrage, each story is brought vividly to life by Melbourne’s premiere vocal ensemble The Consort of Melbourne and the Homophonic! String Quintet. 

Featured on the program are Swerve with music by Meta Cohen and text by Leona Cohen, inspired by Goulburn Valley local Jenni and a finalist for ‘Work of the Year’ at the prestigious APRA/AMCOS Art Music Awards; Robbie’s Daydream, written by Kym Dillon (Seen on ABC’s The Piano) inspired by retired pilot Robbie and her adventurous life in the skies, Ghost in the Dream Factory, written by Kevin March, with words by Judith Dodsworth, inspired by ABC icon, activist, academic, and Trans trailblazer Julie Peters, as well as moving, poignant and sometimes downright hilarious music by Andrew Aronowicz, Quin Thompson and Louisa Trewartha.

Heartfelt, uplifting and deeply human, RESPECT will make you laugh, move you to tears, and leave you with a renewed appreciation for the people whose everyday acts of strength helped shape our communities.

Qiqi Lu and Kym Dillon: Elysian Blues

QiQi is a Melbourne-based Chinese-Australian multi-instrumentalist and composer whose work blends traditional Chinese instrumentation with jazz, classical and contemporary styles. QiQi is joined by virtuosic pianist/composer Kym Dillon, whose dynamic practice spans jazz, contemporary classical music and improvisation. Together they present selections from Elysian Blues, a bold, genre-defying work that brings the ancient guzheng into conversation with jazz piano, improvisation and contemporary composition. Originally premiered at Melbourne Fringe, Elysian Blues received nominations for Best New Work and Spirit of the Fringe.

Presented in partnership with Beat.

Event times

6:30 pm – Box office and bar open

7 pm – Doors open

7:30 pm – Qiqi Lu and Kim Dillon

8 pm – Interval

8:20 pm – Homophonic!

Accessibility at this space