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William is one of Australia’s leading didjeridu players and composers and is a powerful advocate for the wider perception of his cultural traditions. Born in Mount Isa, he was taught the instrument by his uncle, an elder of the Waanyi, Lardil and Kalkadunga tribes of western Queensland. At 17 years, William played his first classical concert with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Since 2001 he has collaborated with Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe. Sculthorpe’s Requiem (2004), performed by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and at the UK’s Lichfield Festival, was composed with William in mind, while Earth Cry, Songs of Sea and Sky, Mangrove, Kakadu, and From Ubirr were re-arranged to include didjeridoo. The recording of these latter works, by William and The Queensland Orchestra, was nominated for Best Classical Album in the 2004 ARIA Awards. Requiem was released on ABC Classics in 2006. Further collaborations include work with Sean O'Boyle - The Concerto for Didgeridoo, which has ranked highly in recent surveys of the most popular Australian music, speaks directly from the land – with movements centred on the elements of Earth, Wind, Water and Fire was named top 100 classical concertos in Australia for 2007 released on ABC Classics Other composers William has worked with include Ross Edwards, Philip Bracanin and George Warren from the USA. Liza Lim’s work for orchestra, didjeridu and flute, The Compass, was premiered at the Sydney Opera House (2006) and then Munich (2007). William’s compositions include Songs of the Mother Country and Journey of the Rivers, performed at the Pompidou Centre, Paris in 2006. In 2004 he performed at Gallipoli for the 90th anniversary of the ANZAC landing and recently in Belgium for the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele. In 2005 he was a resident at Fabrica Musica in Italy, collaborating with other musicians to present the CREDO project at the Queensland Music Festival with Andrea Molino. In 2006 he toured to Germany with the Queensland Ballet, in 2007 concerts included the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, Reno Chamber Orchestra, , Jena Philharmonic, and Sydney, Tasmanian and West Australian Symphony Orchestras. He also performed at Australia Day celebrations in Seoul. William is one the featured artist of The Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville and presents his own works their within the festival program. As part of the Queensland Music Festival William collaborated with Paul Grabowsky on a work for piano, didjeridu and voice for the opening of the festival in Winton 2007 and performed in John Rogers Dream Catchers in Innisfail as well. He also appeared at the 2007 Venice Music Biennale and Australia Pittsburgh Festival in the USA for the premiere screening of Kalkadoon Man. 2008 William will premiere a work entitled Kalkadunga with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House, a co-written work with Matthew Hindson. A work that encompasses William's cultural heritage and a journey of his music and influences combining voice, didgeridoo and electric guitar with orchestra. William has been commissioned by the Southern Cross Soloist to premiere a new work in the Music and Words Series in May and collaborating with Queensland Ballet’s Artistic Director François Klaus for his 10th Anniversary celebration featuring a new work by William and transformed into dance by Klaus at QPAC Through such collaborations and projects, William Barton aims to present the virtuosic potential of his instrument and richness of his Australian culture to audiences throughout the world. He hopes they will see this music, not just as an illustration of some exotic antiquity, but as a living, dynamic process, requiring considerable technique, stamina and study, equal to that of any conventional classically trained professional musician. William has been featured on the cover of the Brisbane White Pages and on ABC’s Australian Story. He was also 2007 Suncorp Young Queenslander of the Year Finalist. He continues to appear at music festivals in Australia and around the world. www.williambarton.com.au
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