Mini Musica was created by musical mums for lovers of live music with young families. Parents with limited time and resources when it comes to evening events can now introduce and share their love of live music in daylight hours with their children.

Parents, grandparents, and carers can enjoy high calibre music in a relaxed environment in beautiful intimate spaces throughout Sydney. Children can actively listen, respond and move to live, acoustic music and explore instruments up close.

We are delighted to bring you the most exciting and talented artists performing today across genres including classical, folk, jazz and world music.

You can find out more about our featured artists below.

Dorian Mode, a highly acclaimed jazz pianist and composer and holds multiple awards to his name. After completing his studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Dorian’s exceptional talent led him to sign with EMI Records, becoming one of the few local jazz artists to secure a major record deal in Australia.

Throughout his career, Dorian has released numerous recordings earning accolades such as the ABC Music Award for Best Instrumental and Best Jazz Composition.

In addition to his musical achievements, Dorian is a talented author and, playwright, with his works being published and worldwide and in translation. Dorian’s creative prowess extends across multiple artistic domains, making him a truly multifaceted and accomplished artist.

Victor Valdes is a walking encyclopedia of Latin music past and present. One of Australia’s leading world music artists, this virtuoso Mexican harpist, singer and dancer has redefined the Harp as a solo and lead instrument.

Award as a “Distinguished Mexican” by the government of Mexico and by the Institute of Mexicans Abroad, and presented by the Embassy of Mexico in Australia, for his successful career and role in disseminating Mexican music and Hispanic culture both in Australia and throughout the world.

He’s shared the stage with everyone from Angus & Julia, Stone, Aloe Blacc, to Los Lobos, Mirusia, Jimmy Barnes, and The Wiggles. Valdes has appeared on folk, world music, rock, and blues festival stages Australia-wide and was named Director’s choice at Bluesfest 2011.

Like the circus, Angie Who aims to create musical experiences that bring kin together with whimsy, folky, bluegrassy family music, approved by mums, dads and grandparents all over the place.

“Few people are as unique as her. Leave your weighted blanket in its packaging and let her music calm you instead.”

Angie released her first family album “Littlefolk” in 2015 and her follow up album “I Love You the Most” in September 2020, this year will see the release of her third body of work in this genre. You may also know her as the voice of Kinderling Kids Radio podcast ‘Sing-a-Song’, which aims to keep nursery rhymes in high rotation and families singing together.

Angie manages to capture the whimsy and magic of parenting, and reminds us that this time is precious, fleeting and it’s all (probably) going to be ok.

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Pavle Cajic is a composer and pianist currently living and creating on Gadigal land (Sydney). His reasons for composing are varied – often, as an outlet for feelings or responses to art or the people and world around us that are too special to be forgotten – other times, for the purpose of bringing people together in ensemble works to experience the joy of being!

Pavle graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a degree in piano performance in 2016. He has learnt from Australian composers, conductors and pianists including Tristan Coelho, Trevor Pearce, Brad Gill, the late Richard Gill, as well as from his inspiring peers and collaborators. He has performed his own and other’s music on piano or as conductor in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and Norway. He has been particularly supported in the creation and performance of works involving solo violin by Norwegian violinist Ole Bohn.

Anna first fell in love with Brazilian music as a child when her dad took her to see a film called ‘Black Orpheus’, set in the picturesque city of Rio de Janeiro at carnival time. She couldn’t get the music from the film out of her head, even as she performed many other styles as a singer and a guitarist of the years. Anna long dreamed of going to Brazil and in 2010 she finally packed up her guitar and headed there. That’s where she learned about the different styles of Brazilian folk music, some of which evolved into bossa nova.

On her return to Sydney, she developed a reputation as one of Australia’s best-loved exponents of bossa nova and other Brazilian music. Anna is known for her collaborations with some of Australia’s best world music and jazz musicians and has also performed internationally from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur and Rio to Edinburgh.

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The Zāki Duo, consisting of Isabel Tzorbatzaki and Ariel Nurhadi, are a Sydney-based ensemble who play an eclectic mix of world, classical and popular genres inspired by their love of music from different places, cultures and travels.

Ariel is one of Australia’s leading classical guitarist. Ariel’s debut album of guitar duets entitled ‘Alchemy’ was released on ABC Classic, reached #2 on the ARIA classical music charts and features regularly on ABC Classics FM. Ariel studied the guitar at the Australian National University, under the guidance of Timothy Kain, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Music with first class honours. 

Isabel is a dynamic violinist, attaining her masters degree in violin performance from the Sydney Conservatorium in 2021. Isabel’s thesis and recital centred around Kurdish and Persian folk music and violin/ kemanche music. 

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Andrew Scott is an experienced Performer, talented Arranger and formidable Composer. Having graduated from the preeminent Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor in Music Performance, he went on to pursue his passion for Film Scoring with a Graduate Diploma at the Australian Film and Television School. Since then, he has excelled in the industry as both an in-demand session musician and a prolific composer, scoring for TV programmes, commercials and documentaries.  Andrew is as comfortable on the stage of a Jazz club as he is producing scores in the studio and balances his easy-going attitude with an industrious work ethic.

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As a musician, cabaret artist and clown, Nyssa Milligan performs in many genres. Recent performance highlights include touring with youth theatre specialists Matriark Theatre and bringing silliness to hospitals across Australia for the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

In 2019 Nyssa was a Sydney Cabaret Competition finalist and a Sydney Fringe Festival award nominee. In 2021 Nyssa was a Weekly Award Winner at the Adelaide Fringe Festival with her one-woman family cabaret, ‘Udderly Fabulous’.

Nyssa is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. During her studies Nyssa was the recipient of the Diane Wishart and Estivo European Chamber Music Summer School scholarships. Nyssa is a proud neurodivergent creative and she loves performing for any child whose brain or body works a bit differently. Music is for everyone!

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Joanna studied piano in her native Poland where she graduated with a Diploma of Music from the Music High School at Zdunska Wola. While studying there she became interested in early music.

After moving to Australia she commenced her harpsichord studies with Monika Kornel and continued with Neal Peres da Costa at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In 2007 she received a scholarship from the University of Sydney to study at the Royal College of Music in London with harpsichordist Terence Charlston.

She has performed with many groups on both harpsichord and chamber organ in Australia and Europe, including Sydney Conservatorium Early Music Ensemble, New Cologne Philharmonia, RCM Baroque Orchestra, Sydney Consort, Sydney Chamber Choir, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Gondwana Choirs, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and West Australia Symphony Orchestra.

Joanna is always eager to discover and learn as much as she can about the music of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Currently Joanna is enjoying teaching harpsichord at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, playing music with other people and working in an orchestral library.

Shaun Ng has established himself as one of the most versatile early musicians in Australia, performing on the instruments of the violin, viola da gamba and lute families. He received his music training at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Conservatorium of Amsterdam, University of Western Australia, and Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he received the Australian Postgraduate Award to pursue his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in historical performance and musicology. He also participated in many notable early music seminars and conferences such as Oberlin Conservatory’s Baroque Performance Institute, the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute and the Lute Society of America Seminars. As an active freelance performer, he has performed with many ensembles throughout Australia such as Thoroughbass, Sydney Consort, Marais Project, Bach Band at St James’ and Da Vinci’s Apprentice. In addition, he runs a busy private studio and teaches at various schools in Sydney.

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The Mimosa Duo consists of Phoebe and Morgan Haselden on the violin and guitar. They both studied with scholarships at the Sydney Conservatorium in classical music but have been making their own way, in a big way, since their graduations in 2009. They have performed on the Opera House mainstage and toured both locally and internationally including France and New Zealand. The music truly flows from their fingertips, they lock in tight and play with impeccable timing and feeling.

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Chloe Chung is a multi-style flautist (Western flutes/dizi), collaborating with others to foster unexpected musical forms and connections on Gadigal land, Sydney, and beyond. She is the Artistic Director of Dreambox Collective, a diverse Sydney based group of performer-composers, improvisors and visual artists producing works and facilitating performances to create meaningful connections for positive social impact.

Chloe is a casual lecturer at the Australian Institute of Music, at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Chinese Music Ensemble and a regular visiting Alexander Technique teacher for various schools, institutions and creative communities. She hosts a weekly live and online “Living Room Workshop” series from her home studio; an ongoing gathering and offering of tools, games and practices for participants to fulfil their varied artistic and movement goals with greater freedom, ease and kindness.

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Jazz violinist, vocalist, and visual artist. George has been involved in the entertainment industry since last century. He has worked in television, theatre & film. He finds the greatest pleasure though in travelling around Australia and various parts of the world playing music and making art.

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Polkaboys is a Sydney-based oompah band entertaining audiences with an eclectic blend of happy alpine music. Consisting of Nigel Harris – accordian & trumpet, Shane Cranney – guitar & vocals and Joern Harris on Clarinet, Bass Clarinet & Saxophone.

Shane and Joern met while studying Jazz at the NSW Conservatorium of Music. Shane is in demand as a jazz and rock guitarist and can get a dance floor jumping with his extensive repertoire of jazz, rock, soul and pop vocals. Nigel graduated from the NSW Conservatorium of Music on Jazz trumpet and has worked extensively in this field. Nigel has also played accordion all his life but underwent a musical rebirth when he discovered the amazing possibilities of the new Roland accordion. Joern, Nigel’s brother, grew up playing accordion and graduated from the NSW Conservatorium of Music in classic clarinet and jazz saxophone. Joern is a master of crowd jumping antics and can hold a note far longer than is musically necessary or humanly possible.

More Music, More! More! More!

Très magnifique, George and Phoebe!

Thanks for a fun morning, we only wish the concert was longer.