Omega Ensemble brings a dazzling night of music, colour, and virtuosity to Newcastle with their 2026 season opener, Starburst, at Newcastle City Hall this Friday.
The program promises an explosive mix of classical, jazz, and contemporary works, highlighted by the world premiere of a new Australian concerto.
Joining the ensemble is Australian trumpet virtuoso David Elton, whose international career spans the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.
Alongside him is Omega Ensemble’s principal pianist Vatche Jambazian, performing Shostakovich’s Concerto No.1 for Piano, Trumpet and Strings, a whirlwind of fanfare, jazz-hall swagger, and streetwise energy.
Audiences will also be treated to Gerald Finzi’s lyrical Clarinet Concerto, performed by Omega Ensemble’s Artistic Director David Rowden.
This 20th-century masterpiece balances tender, pastoral melodies with expressive richness, providing a serene counterpoint to the program’s more high-energy works.
The evening features GRAMMY award-winning composer Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst, a vibrant string fanfare blending jazz, folk, and classical influences.
Its radiant textures and rhythmic drive have made it a favourite on stages worldwide, showcasing Omega Ensemble’s flair for dynamic and genre-bending performances.
The program concludes with the world premiere of Lachlan Skipworth’s double concerto for clarinet and trumpet, A Turning Sky, written specifically for Rowden and Elton.
The work features dazzling interplay between the solo instruments, moving from singable melodies to colourful, high-energy flourishes, embodying the ensemble’s spirit of curiosity and discovery.
Starburst takes place at Newcastle City Hall, 290 King Street, on Friday 13 February at 7pm. Tickets are on sale now via Omega Ensemble and promise a night of some of Australia’s finest chamber music performers.
