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Music Ensembles

21 – 22 April 2026
7.00pm – 9.00pm AEST
Io Myers Studio, Esme Timbery Creative Practice Lab

NIGHT 1 | POP-FUSION & WEST AFRICAN DRUMS

Pop-Fusion Ensemble | at UNSW is a vibrant collective that merges contemporary popular music with diverse global influences, creating an innovative sound that transcends traditional genre boundaries. This dynamic group features vocalists, guitarists, keyboardists, bassists, drummers and additional instrumentalists performing reimagined popular hits, original compositions, and collaborative works that showcase the intersection between mainstream accessibility and experimental techniques.

West African Drum Ensemble | performs music from the drumming traditions of Senegal and Ghana, featuring repertoire from the Wolof, Ga, Ashanti and Anlo Ewe cultures. At the centre is the djembe, a versatile hand drum played with bare hands, supported by bass drums, bells and rattles, with songs in Wolof. The music is driven by layered rhythms and the interplay of contrasting timbres, with bell patterns anchoring the ensemble’s vibrant, interlocking sound.

Balinese Gamelan | The Balinese gamelan at UNSW is a variation of the semar pegulingan type, a gong-chime ensemble consisting of up to thirty players. The UNSW ensemble consists of metallophones, gongs and other instruments, such as flutes, fiddles, drums and cymbals. This type of gamelan music is based on a seven-tone scale and can be used to perform a diverse repertoire including contemporary gong kebyar compositions. 

 

NIGHT 2 | JAZZ ensembles

This concert showcases the wonderful talents of our jazz and improvisation cohort, with performances by both advanced and intermediate jazz ensembles and the jazz orchestra. 

Advanced Jazz Ensemble | The AJE explores established and exciting new trends in jazz music and its many stylistic offshoots. It comprises of students who are experienced in jazz improvisation and performance. 

Intermediate Jazz Ensemble | The IJE comprises students with some practical experience in jazz improvisation and a good knowledge of chordal harmony and associated scales/modes. The ensemble aims to deepen their understanding of jazz improvisational practice through the performance of pieces carefully chosen in a range of jazz-related styles. 

Jazz Orchestra  | UNSW Jazz Orchestra is a dynamic ensemble that plays jazz big band repertoire in a range of styles, including Australian compositions, primarily by female composers. An exciting aspect of the group’s activities is premiering UNSW student compositions. 

 

This event is presented by Theatre and Performance Studies in the School of Arts & Media With assistance from the Esme Timbery Creative Practice Lab.

 



LIVE EVENT & VENUE INFORMATION

Io Myers Studio is a part of the the Esme Timbery Creative Practice Lab (CPL) which is located at UNSW Sydney's Kensington Campus. Please note this is a live event only, and will not be available via livestream. 
 


ACCESS

Wheelchair Access
The Creative Practice Lab is located at UNSW Sydney's Kensington campus. The closest accessible drop-off point to the venue is a lift accessible underground carpark opposite the building. Access via Gate 2, High Street and turn right at the round about. Vehicles can drop off patrons directly in front of the venue or proceed to the underground carpark to the right which is a 200 metre walk approximately.

More information on getting there can be found via our interactive accessibility map available here

Hearing Loop
The Creative Practice Lab has hearing assistive technology available. Patrons wishing to utilise this service must collect a Roger™ inductive neck loop receiver from the venue staff, and this system can be used with a hearing aid or cochlear implant with a T-coil, or with headphones. Please advise if you require the use of the hearing loop before arrival. 

Auslan & Captioning 
Auslan interpreting services and/or live captioning can be provided for selected talks upon request.

Contact 
To book and discuss access services, please call the CPL on 02 9348 2313 or email sam@unsw.edu.au



PUBLIC TRANSPORT & PARKING

The Esme Timbery Creative Practice Lab is easily accessible via public transport and the closest light rail stop is UNSW Anzac Parade (L3 line). For more information please call the Transport Infoline on 131 500 or visit transportnsw.info.

Free parking is also available in the Barker St Car Park (Gate 14) from 5.30pm. For access to free parking, event patrons must park in the UNSW Permit Holder bays, available on all levels. The Barker St Car Park (Gate 14) parking station is located here. 

Paid casual and visitor parking is offered via the CellOPark App and ‘pay by plate meters’ in all other UNSW car parks. For more information head here


 



CONTACT 

For all the other enquiries, please email sam@unsw.edu.au or call the Creative Practice Lab on 02 9348 2313.

The Creative Practice Lab is happy to receive phone calls via the National Relay Service. TTY users, phone 133 677, then ask for 02 9348 2313. Speak and Listen users, phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 02 9348 2313. For more information on all other relay calls visit here.