🎥 #thursdaythrowback to that unforgettable moment I got to let loose like a rock star 🌟 with the incredible William Close @theearthharp and drum kit, at Horizon Festival on the Sunshine Coast, seven years ago!
Collaboration and improvisation are the lifeblood of my creative practice. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of responding in the moment, trusting your instinct, and playing full tilt with powerful artists in breathtaking outdoor spaces.
That gig also gave me my first real taste of how spectacular our local amphitheatres are for open-air concerts, especially when backed by a stellar lighting, sound and production crew 🙌
🔥 Want to catch me LIVE in that same spirit of collaboration and improvisation?
Join us for Listen Forward // Sitar Mastery on Wednesday 25 June at The Presynct, Nambour.
I’ll be sharing the stage with @maz.fargo (vocals/guitar), Snehesh Nag (sitar) @vibratito and Shen Flindell (tabla) in a genre-bending fundraiser and special sneak peek of what’s in store for Long Listen Festival (3–6 October 2025).
✨Trust me, you’ll want to be in the room for this one.
📆 Wed 25 June
⏰ 5:30 - 8:30pm
📍 The Presynct, Nambour
🎟 Tickets via link in bio $55 at the door VIP $135 Cabaret $110 🥟 Add a Spirit of Tibet Canapé Platter ($45, serves two)
BOOK NOW 👉 /listen-forward-sitar-mastery-with-snehesh-nag
Brought to you by @longlistenfestival@worldswithinworldsrecords & @thepresynct
#ThursdayThrowback #cello #cellists #cellistsofinstagram #cellistoftheworld #HorizonFestival #CelloCollaboration #Improvisation #EarthHarp #TrustingYourInstinct #RockCello #CelloAndDrumKit #ListenForward #LongListenFestival #SunshineCoastLiveMusic #MareeFargo #SingerSongwriter #ListenForward #LongListenFestival #LiveMusicAustralia #WomenInMusic #SunshineCoastMusic
Elgar’s Salut D’amour for Mothers Day 💐
My mum (and Dad) are about to head on a trip to England 🏴 so here’s my ♥️ ✈️ 🎶 send off!
For some, this day can land joyful, easy, full of love, laughter and comfort. For others it can be a dark day filled with sadness, and complication. For me, I have hit a wall and lay resting and waiting for wellness, a cup of tea and a book 📕 for company.
So to spread a little 🎶 joy and to ease my own tired heart and sick 😷 body, here is a 🎥 video from my archives.
Love you mum @creativehelenk xx
#mothersdaymusic #elgarsalutdamour #cellodreaming #cellistsofinstagram #cellists
Bach on the Beach 🏝️ from the 🎥 archives. Yes, next year I would love to add Bach on the Beach in the program. (Weather permitting of course!).
Louise King performs the iconic Prelude from J.S. Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007.
📌 Performed live at Chambers Island, Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast, Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) Country.
🎥 Videographer Nic Morley Films @nicmorleyfilms
🎙️ Sound Engineer Quentin Leveridge QU Events @quevents
🙏 Thanks to Horizon Festival, Sunshine Coast Council, festival partners and funding bodies for making this event and live music video possible.
Feeling inspired? Join us 20–30 March for Bach Unwrapped 2026, intimate concerts, duos & masterclasses!
🎟️ /bach-unwrapped-2026
#solobach #cellodreaming #bachunwrapped #minifestival #microtour
📣 Coming up next Sunday 24 May 🎻
I’m SO thrilled to be invited to support local artists Barleyshakes Duo and Old Man Luedecke 🇨🇦 presented by Festival of Small Halls, @smallhallsaus Woodfordia and Eudlo Hall Association @eudlohall
I’ll be opening the afternoon show with a short set of my original loop-based cello works - Beginning, Lament and Amaranth 🔥🎻
This one feels very personal. Since moving to Eudlo sixteen years ago, this humble little hall around the corner has become such an important part of my creative life. Next Sunday quietly marks 400 events I’ve performed at, produced or played at in this local small hall alone 💛
There are soooo many reasons to celebrate our small halls. Live music. Homemade cake 🧁Amazing touring artists. Community volunteers. People gathering. 🎶
These events only happen because we support them, and every ticket helps keep regional arts and our small halls alive and thriving. I would love to see you there!
🎟 Tickets + info in bio Or here: /events/eudlo-2026/
🕓 Doors 3:30pm | Music from 4pm (I’m on first! 🥳) and then it’s Eudlo FOSH party 🎉 time :)
📸 @deborahldorman
#upcominggig #festivalofsmallhalls #eudlohall #cellodreaming #whatsonsunshinecoast
What a joyful few weekends wrapping up the String Section at the Redlands Eisteddfod 🎻✨
I came away so inspired by the technical level, musical imagination and commitment from these young musicians 👏
There is so much unseen work behind every performance, teachers, accompanists, conductors, schools, parents and of course the incredible Eisteddfod committee volunteers who make these events happen year after year. Huge thanks in particular to Duchesne Barry for steering the Redlands committee for 26 years 🏆 What a contribution to music education and community cultural life!
I adore adjudicating 💛 Not because I think music should be “judged”, but because these events are such important spaces for growth, confidence-building, stagecraft, resilience and community connection. Young musicians get inspired by hearing players just ahead of them, and that pipeline matters.
My approach is always practical, constructive and encouraging. I bring the same energy into adjudicating that I do into rehearsals and workshops, storytelling, humour, imagery, technical problem-solving and creating an environment where musicians feel safe to take risks 🎶
I’m especially passionate about helping students move beyond simply “getting the notes right” and into communication, imagination and ownership of their music.
This year I’m so excited to also be adjudicating for Maryborough Eisteddfod, Innisfail Young Performers Competition and Bundaberg Eisteddfod 🚗✨ I can’t wait to connect with more regional music communities along the way.
If your school or community eisteddfod is looking for a fun, engaging and supportive adjudicator, please do reach out 🎻
#eisteddfod #musiceducation #cellodreaming #youngmusiciandevelopment #stringadjudications
Top tips and my thoughts 💭 after adjudicating for Redlands Eisteddfod last week and again this weekend.
1️⃣ do the performance before the performance
2️⃣ check you can play (and walk on stage!) in your Fabby Outfit 👗🎀👔👖
3️⃣ tell a story and be relatable
I love adjudicating but performing concertos and sonatas is such a small lens of what real musicians actually do day to day. So let’s use the opportunity to widen our horizons.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I had heard one composition written by a female composer and a work by an Australian composer?
Nope 👎 not this session! I live in hope for August when I am back for the chamber music section 👏
#toptipsforperformers #adjudicatoradvice #eisteddfodtips #performancecoaching #cellodreaming
🎯 Date change and don’t forget to register 💻
My next FREE Zoom online workshop ‘Design Your Personal Practice Plan’ is now:
🗓 Wed 20 May ⏰ 6:30–7:30pm AEST
Open to any practising musician (not just cellists!), youth or adult, and all levels welcome 🎻🎶🎺🎷🥁🎹🪕🪗🪈🪇
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just need a clear plan… then this is for you.
👉 Register NOW (link 🔗 in bio) https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/M9XK1WUGSHytszL0of-R2g
Come join us and get your practice sorted 💥
#zoomseries #planyourpractice #cellodreaming #registernow #buildingcommunity
Happy Fri-yay! 🎉
My Adult Cello Class Program Module 2 music just dropped into inboxes 📥 and I’ve had SO much fun (with a lot of coffee ☕️) curating this one.
We’re diving into lush Romantic gems 🎻 this module 2 - Tchaikovsky, Fauré, Dvořák, Bizet, Offenbach, Brahms, alongside iconic groovascious pop covers 🎶 from Sting, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, ABBA, Van Morrison and The Police… all arranged for cello ensemble playing across every level so even our open string wonders can give it a crack!
I love ❤️our growing cello community and building adult learners’ confidence, skills, and that feeling of being part of something bigger than themselves.
And it’s not too late to join us 🙌
We’ve got a couple of newbie players jumping in this module (welcome!) and there’s always room for more, so reach out!
If you play cello and want to meet others, come and join us.
We meet monthly 📆: 📍 Second Thursday | Palmwoods QCWA Hall | 5:30–8:30pm 📍 Second Saturday | Ithaca Presbyterian Church Hall | 9:30am–1:30pm
It’s a serious social learning experience (experiment 🔬🎻) - 10 months, 3 modules, plus Christmas music in November 🎄 and our end-of-year concert in December.
From Au Clair de Lune to Habanera, Andante Cantabile to Mamma Mia, this module is going to be an absolute corker 🙌
Sign up now if you’re keen! I’d love to have you with us!
#cellodreaming #cellocommunity #ensembleplaying #adultcellists #celloclassprogram
Woohoo 🥳 congratulations to all the young musicians who performed for me today at Redlands Eisteddfod 👏 bravo!
I am here all week and back again next weekend for the concerto championships and can’t wait to see what all the competitors have been busily practicing 🎻🎵🎼
A shout out to all the beautiful sensitive accompanists who effortlessly glide from one work to another. Stunning work👌
#ittakesavillage #developingyoungmusicians #adjudication #stringscompetition #redlandseisteddfod
Joy is necessary. Music is necessary. Laughter is necessary, especially when learning how to play music!
How we begin our week matters, the tone we set, the space we create, the energy we bring into our practice and our lives. I make sure there is room for daily small joys - a cup of tea 🫖 in the sun with a book 📕 and nourishing quiet moments.
After this last round of Intensive Lesson Retreats, I’ve been reminded how many adults I have the pleasure of working with are searching for that spark, for play, for expression, for music that feels like ‘theirs’.
And yet, so often, learning music quickly becomes another workspace. Goals, pressure, comparison kicks in, especially comparison to professionals. I think this is a fast track to losing the very thing that drew us in.
So here’s a gentle reminder! Please give yourself permission to play. Be curious. Notice your mood when you practise.
And dear fellow artists, don’t forget why this matters. What we do matters. We bring optimism, hope, beauty, play, and connection into a world that can feel heavy, angry, divided and fractured. That is no small thing.
So as we step into this week, choose joy where you can. Protect it. Build your practice around it.
#mondaymusings #setyourweekup #cellodreaming #chooseplay #mondaymindset
