3MBS Interviews

Susie May speaks with multi-award winning Japanese-Australian pianist, Rieko Makita about why she has chosen to dedicate her life to music and her upcoming piano recital, which will explore the beauty of the night through works such as Ravel’s Ondine, which conjures an oceanic night filled with mystery. The concert is on at Tempo Rubato this Friday the 30th January @8pm and program details and tickets are available through trybooking.com

Susie May speaks with acclaimed musician and Mezzo Soprano, Juliarna Clark,  whose ensemble will be performing a range of magical duets and arias in the intimate surrounds of the Duneira Estate, this Wednesday the 28th of January between 5pm and 7pm.

Susie May speaks with internationally acclaimed clarinettist and Artistic Director of the Omega Ensemble, David Rowden. The ensemble will perform three concerts in Melbourne during 2026, featuring new music by Australian composers including Lachlan Skipworth and Paul Stanhope. The concerts will be at Melbourne Recital Centre in February, July and September, 2026 Tickets are available through the Omega Ensemble’s website:   https://www.omegaensemble.com.au

Susie May speaks with violinist Patrick Galvin about his upcoming concert with pianist Jennifer Hou called Dear Camilla, a program of narrative and music by Sibelius, Chopin, Sarasate, Chausson, Pärt, and Beach, paying tribute to his teacher Camilla Wicks.  It’s on at Tempo Rubato on Friday the 16th of January.  For tickets go to temporubato.com.au

Lisa Sullivan, Senior Curator at the Geelong Gallery speaks with Susie May about the celebrated multi-disciplinary artist Richard Lewer and his upcoming exhibition, I Only Talk to God When I Want Something, which aims to make biblical stories relevant to our understanding of the contemporary world.  The exhibition runs from Saturday 15 November 2025 to Sunday 1 March 2026 @ the Geelong Gallery, 55 Little Malop St, Geelong.

Susie May speaks with renowned pianist and composer Joe Chindamo about his love of both classical and jazz music, and the composers who have influenced him. The upcoming performance with his jazz trio is on : Thursday 11 Dec @7.30pm at Bird’s Basement, 11 Singers Lane, Melbourne Tickets are available through : birdsbasement.com

ABC Classic have just released a new recording of all Chopin’s Études, together with  the composer’s stirring and passionate Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 ‘Heroic’, played by Jayson Gillham. The internationally acclaimed Australian-British pianist spoke with Susie May about his deeply personal and joyous journey as he engaged with the genius of Chopin.

Nick Tolhurst speaks with Co-director of The Australian Chamber Choir, Elizabeth Anderson about this season’s Baroque Christmas concerts. Three concerts coming up: Church of the Resurrection in Macedon on Saturday the 6thof December Our Lady of Mount Carmel  Middle Park on Sunday the 7thof December and Sterling Place Community Centre, Dunkeld on Saturday the 13thof December To book go to auschoir.org 

Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra present Handel’s Messiah for the world record 246th time since 1853. Renowned conductor Andrew Wailes speaks with Susie May about conducting Handel’s famous choral work, Messiah and the outstanding Australian and international line up of soloists, joining him for the upcoming performance. The performance will take place at the Melbourne Town Hall on Sunday 7th December @ 5pm Tickets are available through Trybooking

Susie May speaks Daniel Brinsmead, Musical Director of Choristry, about  A Choristry Christmas, the upcoming concert which will celebrate the festive season through a dynamic mix of classic greats and contemporary Australian composers. Sun 30 Nov at 3pm, St John’s Anglican Church, Malvern East and Sat 6th Dec at 7:30pm, Church of All Nations in Carlton Tickets are available through Trybooking.com

Meg Cohen, Co-Artistic Director and Violinist from The Wattleseed Ensemble speaks with Susie May about the unusual range of sound effects that have been created to evoke The Orchid and The Wasp, a new composition by Jakub Jankowski evoking the beauty of the South Australian coastline. The string trio’s upcoming concert will also include works by Bach and Bulgarian and Scandinavian folk music.  Go to https://www.wattleseedensemble.com for tickets and more information.

Damien Eckersley, Deputy Artistic Director of The Australian National Academy of Music speaks with Susie May about the end of year ANAM Chamber Music Festival celebrating French culture and history through music.  The festival runs from Thursday the 27th to Saturday the 29th of November.  Go to anam.com.au/what’s-on for tickets and more information.

Celebrated yidaki (didgeridoo) virtuoso, William Barton speaks with Susie May about the new work ‘Treaty’ by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO. This piece will be played, as part of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s New Worlds concerts, which will also include Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony. The concerts will be held at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne on November 27the and 29th and at Costa Hall Geelong on November 28th. For tickets and more information, go to mso.com.au.

From Intermezzo, Wednesday Nov 19. Peter Bandy speaks with Associate Conductor of the Zelman Symphony Orchestra, Jessica Zuk, about their next concert on Saturday November 29.  With soloist Richard Narroway playing the Elgar Cello Concerto, Emilie Mayer's Faust Overture and Brahms Symphony No. 3, it promises to be a feast of orchestral delights.   For tickets and more information go to zelman.au

Jennifer Kirsner, artistic director of Genesis Baroque, speaks with Susie May about the upcoming concert with The Choir of Trinity College, a radiant program of Baroque masterworks which will feature Vivaldi’s Gloria, described as ‘Bursting with sunlit joy and dancing rhythms’.  The concert will take place at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Wednesday 26th November  @7:30pm

The musical director of The People’s Choir,  Bettina Spivakovsky speaks with Susie May about its new musical comedy, SING SING SING, to be performed on Tuesday 25 November at 7pm at Stonnington Community Uniting Church, 59 Burke Road, Malvern East.

David Greco, baritone, returns to the 2026 Peninsula Summer Music Festival on 6 January with British conductor-pianist Chad Kelly for Schumann: Dichterliebe at Moorooduc Estate – a spellbinding recital of art songs from the 19th-century’s greatest musical couple Robert and Clara Schumann alongside works by Kurt Weill for contrast. David speaks with Matthew Toulmin. Peninsula Summer Music Festival - tickets and information  

Kate Millet, Director and Founder of BK Opera speaks with Susie May about Darkness Descends, and her vision for Verdi’s Macbeth. See it the Kensington Town Hall on Friday 21st, Sunday 23rd and Tuesday 25th November.  Don’t miss out on BK Opera’s daringly chilling and immersive experience.  Tickets can be booked at humanitix.com.

Susie May speaks with Lorraine Hook, from the first violin section of MSO about the upcoming MSO concert, Respighi’s Rome. It's on Friday 21st November at 11am in Hamer Hall, with a pre-concert talk in the foyer from 10:15am.  Tickets are available through the MSO website, or through Arts Centre Melbourne.

Susie May speaks with harpsichord solist and director, Donald Nicolson, about the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra’s next concert, Nightingale.  With a series of performances including Pakenham, Geelong and the Melbourne Recital Centre, it’s not to be missed.  For tickets and more information, go to mco.org.au, trybooking.com (Geelong) or melbournerecital.com.au.

Flautist Maria Zhdanovich speaks with Susie May about Kaleidoscope of Joy, a visual and sound feast at the Immigration Museum in which live music accompanies visual installations evoking ‘Joy’. See it on Saturday the 15th of November at 1pm and 3pm.  Tickets are available through the Immigration Museum website.

Shanti Michael, the Director of Music and Founder of Chorus Ecclesiae speaks with Susie May about the sacred madrigals and motets written by Palestrina, one of the Renaissance’s greatest composers, which will be performed in two upcoming concerts to celebrate the composer’s 500th Birthday. Performances: Saturday 15 November, 3:00pm, St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Mentone AND Sunday 16 November, 3.00 pm – St John's, East Malvern For more information and to book go to : https://www.chorusecclesiae.org.au/ 

Ali McGregor, soprano singer, cabaret performer and Program Director of the Fluxus Opera Lab was speaking with Susie May about this exciting new initiative. Ali explored the program which encourages writers and composers of all genres, interested in pushing the boundaries of what opera can be, to apply to the Lab for support including mentorship, collaboration and financial support. For more information or to submit interest, visit: https://www.fluxus.com.au/operalab Submissions Open – 28 October 2025 Submissions Deadline – 10 February 2026

Directed by Douglas Lawrence and Elizabeth Anderson, ACC performs Gordon Kerry’s Requiem, a choral feast dealing with themes of life and death while using the oldest instrument on the planet: the human voice. the requiem itself is composed to be performed as a set of interposlations between Renaissance choral music, both sacred and secular.  Susie May speaks with Elizabeth Anderson. Program: Works by Gordon Kerry, Morten Lauridsen, Tomkins, Victoria, Tallis, Morley, Byrd, Gibbons, Schütz, Aleotti, Dowland Dates & Times: Saturday November 8th at 2.30pm Venue: Peninsula Community Theatre 91 Wilsons Rd Mornington Tickets: Trybooking

Kathryn Sunderland, Artistic Director of Bottled Snail Productions speaks with Annie Martin. The Melbourne Lawyers Choir and Melbourne Lawyers Big Band will be performing the Australian premiere of Nils Lindberg's Requiem on Saturday the 8th November at 7:00pm at the Williamstown Town Hall. Tickets are available through Humanitix.

Wednesday Night at the Opera's Nigel Simpson spoke with Bass-Baritone James Young side of stage at Melbourne Recital Centre, immediately after his winning the 101st Herald Sun Aria on Sunday, October 26th.

Joe Hisaishi is one of the world’s most prolific and beloved composers for film.  Andrew Pogson speaks with Annie Martin about The Music of Joe Hisaishi, which will be performed at Hamer Hall on the Thursday the 6th November, Friday the 7th, and two concerts on Saturday the 8th November. Tickets are selling fast and are available from the MSO website.

Ed Chan Ern Theng, Musical Director of The Voices of Asia Choir, speaks with Annie Martin. The Choir will be performing ‘Beginnings’ on Sunday the 2nd of November at Upstairs@Floridia in Flemington. Tickets are available at the door or online at humanitix.com. 

An ensemble of 12 of Australia’s leading cellists sounds intriguing.  This is exactly what is set for the stage in a hugely varied night of works from Mahler to Jimi Hendrix, Sollima to Lady Gaga Mashups and more!   Cellist Belinda Liew from 12 Cellos spoke with Annie Martin. 12 Cellos will perform at North Melbourne’s Meat Market in on Friday 31st October 2025 @ 7pm.  Tickets are available from Trybooking.com.    Doors open from 6pm.

The Flinders Quartet celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with a concert that examines themes of Identity. The program features Deborah Cheetham Fraillon’s Bungaree, Bryony Marks' Australia Fair?, and Dvořák’s String Quartet No.14. Flinders Quartet founder and cellist Zoe Knighton spoke with Annie Martin. Photo by Agatha Yim

Born without a right hand, Nicholas McCarthy is a champion of left-hand alone repertoire, and joins the MSO to perform Ravel’s unique concerto.  Nick Tolhurst spoke with Nicholas McCarthy about Impressions of Paris coming to Hamer Hall on Thursday 23 & Saturday 25 October.

Nick Tolhurst speaks with cellist Anthony Albrecht co-founder and producer of the Moonbird Festival on King Island — a fundraiser for King Island Landcare, with music, art, food and wine and featuring a spectacular program of performers, including accordionist James Crabb. The Moonbird Festival is on from the 6th to the 9thof November.  For details and to book go to moonbirdfestival.com

Susie May speaks with access and equity consultant, Morwenna Collett, an advisor to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, about their inaugural disability and inclusion plan, to be marked by the panel discussion, Music and Ideas: Creating an inclusive future. Led by Morwenna, the panel will includeNicholas McCarthy, the internationally acclaimed one-handed British pianist and two-time ARIA-nominated pianist and composer Nat Bartsch, a neurodiversity advocate from Melbourne.  The event will take place on Wednesday 22 October at 6:30pm at Iwaki Auditorium, ABC Southbank Centre, 120-130 Southbank Blvd, Southbank

Susie May speaks with concert pianist Julian Bailey about Bachonteur, an exciting program which brings Bach’s  Well Tempered Clavier Book 1, Preludes and Fugues 1-24  alive in a new way.  Bachonteur is on Saturday the 18th of October at 4pm, in the Primrose Potter Salon at Melbourne Recital Centre.  Tickets and more information are available through the MRC website.

Nick Tolhurst speaks with Dr Emma O’Brien OAM  about the Australian Music Therapy Association celebrating it’s 50th year’ with Inside Music Therapy – A Public Celebration and conference featuring live performances by The Royal Melbourne Hospital Scrub Choir. The conference is at 6pm on Thursday the 16th of October at the Hanson Dyer Hall, Level 3, The Ian Potter Southbank Centre, 43 Sturt St, Southbank — right next to the Melbourne Recital Centre. Tickets are $75 and $25 and free for accompanying carer and First Nations For more information and to book tickets for the conference, go to austmta.org.au and look under News and Events.

The recently released single Calling Home, by Telephonic Orchestra draws on pop traditions with echoes of Alexandra Streliski, Yann Tiersen and Toshifumi Hinati. The award-winning Brisbane Mia Huang features on piano. APRA Award winning composer Paul Bonetti spoke to Annie Martin. Calling home was released digitally on all major platforms on the 26th September 2025. Photo credit: Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Benjamin Grosvenor speaks with Annie Martin. Benjamin will be performing at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Tuesday the 14th October at 7:30pm, with a post-concert talk with Marshall McGuire. Tickets are available from Melbourne Recital Centre.com.au.

Josh Sanders speaks with Annie Martin about Cabaret artiste Ziegfeld Boy who debuts their tribute to one of the greatest composers in film history, Henry Mancini. His Cabaret show is called Magical Mancini, part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival and will delight audiences on Friday the 10th, Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th of October at Chapel off Chapel in Prahan.  Tickets are available from Melbourne Fringe.com.au and are selling fast. 

Darcy Gilkerson speaks with Annie Martin. Drawing inspiration from diverse musical styles his debut album Acteon was released on Bandcamp earlier this year and is available on all streaming services. Darcy and his ensemble artists will play in Melbourne on Friday the 10th October at the Kew Court House. Tickets are available from the Boroondara Arts Website.

Erdem Mısırlıoğlu, pianist of from Trio Isimsiz speaks with Annie Martin. Trio Isimsiz – three outstanding musicians in one unique ensemble - will be playing at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Tuesday the 7th October at 7pm. Tickets are available on the Musica Viva Australia’s website.

Lee Bradshaw is a Melbourne-born Australian composer. His latest work ‘Four Rooms’ is set to premiere this Sunday as part of the Australian Youth Orchestra Chamber Players concert. Featuring the award-winning Flinders Quartet, his moving work was commissioned in memory of Manny Arcaro by his family. It explores the power of music as a medium for connection and healing.  Lee Bradshaw speaks with Annie Martin. Tickets are $25 ($15 concession) and available from the Melbourne Recital Centre website. The 6pm concert is sold out. Tickets are still available for 3:30pm.

Alexandra Flood speaks with Annie Martin. The MSO’s Bruckner and Strauss will be performed at Hamer Hall this Thursday the 2nd October and Saturday the 4th October. Tickets are available from the Arts Centre Melbourne webpage. Concerts start at 7:30pm with a pre-concert talk beginning at 6:45pm. Photo credit: Opera Australia

Annie Martin speaks with James Littlewood, bass trombonist.  James, and duo partner Jenny Lu at the piano, will be performing “In Stillness, We Dance – A Star-Crossed Rendezvous” at Tempo Rubato at 8pm this Thursday the 2nd October.  Tickets are $25 and available from the Tempo Rubato website.   Doors open at 7pm.

It’s known as the king of instruments. And yes, it has power and majesty – but where does the pipe organ stand in contemporary music-making? And how much appeal does it have for contemporary audiences? David Hicken is a British-born keyboard player and composer – he started with the pipe organ, then focussed on the piano for many years, but he’s now come back to the organ. 

Wilma Smith,violinist and former concert-master of the MSO, is someone who’s known for mentoring young and emerging classical musicians. One of the ways she does that is through her Wilma & Friends chamber music series. Another is through her involvement in the national competition for school-aged chamber music groups run by Musica Viva Australia called ‘Strike A Chord’. As Musica Viva's Director of Competitions, Wilma led the judging panel for this year’s Strike A Chord final at the Melbourne Recital Centre at the end of last month, and reflects on up and coming classical music artists and the future of classical music.  

Julia Fredersdorff plays Baroque violin, and she’s the Artistic Director of Van Diemen’s Band – along with Ensemble Kaboul - performing this Thursday night, the 25th of September, at the Melbourne Recital Centre. The concert is called Where Everything is Music. It starts at 7.30pm, and tickets are $49-$59, through Melbourne Recital Centre

Julie Houghton chats with Australian Ballet resident choreographer Stephanie Lake about the world premiere of her ballet Seven Days. You can see Seven Days as part of an Australian Ballet Triple Bill at the Regent Theatre from September 25 to October 4. You can buy tickets though australianballet.com.au 

Adrian McEniery speaks with David Ashton Smith, Patron and the Convenor of the Melbourne Welsh Male Choir ‘Singer of the Year’ Competition. The competition will be held this Saturday the 20th September at 2pm in the De Young Performing Arts Centre Auditorium, at Carey Baptist Grammer School in Kew. Tickets are available from Trybooking.

Sarah Clark, Operations Manager of the Melbourne Youth Orchestra speaks with Annie Martin about MYOS' Big Busk.  This Saturday, the 20th of September, the Melbourne Youth Orchestra will ‘take over’ the Victorian Markets for the Big Busk from 8am until 4pm.   Details of the programme can be found on the Queen Victoria Market web page.  No tickets are required, this is a free event.