Sold-Out Animal-Themed Storytelling Concert Leads to April Encore
- concertsforallsydn
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 3
22 March 2025, Glebe — Concerts for All presented an animal-themed storytelling concert for children at the Master Music Studio in Glebe, breaking attendance records. Outstanding young musicians, with Concerts for All music educators Yichao Ma and Nathan Inkiriwang, performed on various instruments including a Steinway B-211 piano from Theme & Variations Piano Services. The performances were woven into a magical narrative about restoring voices to a mysteriously silent wildlife, creating an unforgettable fusion of classical music and storytelling that captivated children's imaginations.
The concert sold out on the morning of the event as a flurry of last-minute ticket purchases prompted the organisation's ticketing platforms to stop sales. Despite this, several hopeful families still arrived at the door, seeking admission even without guaranteed seating—a growing community interest in these accessible classical concerts. Many familiar faces were spotted in the audience, returning to enjoy another performance in the series.
The Silent Forest: Storytelling in Concert
The concert featured a delightful narrative where animals in a once-lively forest had mysteriously lost their voices. Two researchers, Yichao and Nathan, discovered that music might help the animals find their voices again. This creative approach served as both an engaging story for young listeners and an educational tool that highlighted specific musical elements in each piece.
In the particular scene shown below, for example, the reference to the swan was direct. Music educator, Nathan—the researcher character in the story himself—performed his solo piano arrangement of Saint-Saëns' The Swan. This, in turn, unfolded in the story as the mystical force that restored the swan's voice.
As the story progressed, each musical performance was paired with a particular animal whose movements or characteristics were reflected in the music. This thoughtful matching helped children understand what to listen for in classical pieces—from the quick, lively notes representing scampering squirrels to the smooth, graceful phrases depicting a swan gliding across a lake.
Programme
The concert showcased classical pieces brought to life by exceptional young musicians, each contributing to the story:
"Plink, Plank, Plunk" by Leroy Anderson Performed by Yichao Ma and Nathan Inkiriwang (piano duet)
The plucking sounds perfectly depicted the scampering squirrels and frogs on the forest floor.
"Toy Symphony" by Leopold Mozart Performed by Yichao Ma and Nathan Inkiriwang (piano duet)
The playful, bouncy melody represented the skippy motions of Australian bilbies.
"The Lark" by Mikhail Glinka Performed by Erica Zhu (piano) This soaring piece captured the flight of a lark.
"Neko Bus" (Cat Bus) by Joe Hisaishi Performed by Yichao Ma and Nathan Inkiriwang (piano duet)
With its surprising changes and quirky rhythms, this piece perfectly matched a magical cat with unusual movements.
"The Swan" by Camille Saint-Saëns Arranged and Performed by Nathan Inkiriwang (piano)
The smooth, flowing melody evoked a swan's graceful gliding across a rain-speckled lake.
"Tico-Tico no Fubá" by Zequinha de Abreu Performed by Yichao Ma and Nathan Inkiriwang (piano duet)
The quick, fluttering notes mirrored the rapid movements of sparrows, kookaburras, and playful monkeys in the forest canopy.
Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009:I. Prelude by J. S. Bach Performed by Charlotte Mok (cello)
This majestic piece matched the dignified presence of a magnificent elephant.
"Paso Doble Noble" by Catherine Rollin Performed by Yichao Ma and Nathan Inkiriwang (piano duet)
The strong, powerful music represented the commanding roar of a tiger, the deep growl of a koala, and the barking sound of a kangaroo.
Double Concerto for Violin and Piano in D Minor, MWV O4:I.Allegro by Felix Mendelssohn Performed by Connie Liu (violin) and Symphony Shi (piano), with Samuel Dharma (piano)
This piece demonstrated how different sounds can work harmoniously together, just as the animal voices needed to find balance in the forest to be heard.
Interactive Musical Learning
As with previous concerts, the event began with Concerts for All's signature Music Trivia, where children identified famous classical pieces to win special prizes. This activity not only warmed up the audience but also focused their attention on active listening before the main performance began.
The concert saw a significant number of first-time classical concert goers—considerably more than the previous concerts—making it a truly dynamic family activity. Children responded to the musical elements that matched each animal's characteristics.
Later after the concert, during the hands-on instrument experience, a mum from the audience remarked that her family truly enjoyed the performances and shared that her son was inspired to pursue the violin after seeing Connie perform.
1 Year of Developing Classical Music's Foundation
The overwhelming audience response and heartwarming feedback have been a powerful catalyst for Concerts for All. These have not only prompted an encore of the concert in April 2025 but have also accelerated the organisation's program expansion.
Since its inception in March 2024, the organisation has since received a growing interest from various young musicians to participate, recently involving more emerging artists in their teens. It has featured 64 outstanding performers so far across its regular classical music events across Sydney.
More are, of course, coming soon. Concerts for All is gaining momentum and will soon announce its exciting new initiatives: an Emerging Artist program, a partnership with a historical Sydney public space, and a fun challenge for young classical concertgoers.
Join Us for Our Encore!
Due to the enthusiastic response, Concerts for All will present this same concert format on Sunday, 13 April 2025 at 2:30 pm. Some young musicians will reprise their performances, while additional Young Maestros will be joining the programme. This repeat concert offers another opportunity for families to experience this magical fusion of storytelling and classical music—perfect for both newcomers and regular attendees!
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