Happy Birthday Marias!

Join Shaun Ng on the viola da gamba and Joanna Butler on harpsichord in celebrating Marin Marais’s birthday and his renowned musical brilliance.

From the humble beginnings of a son a shoemaker, Marais’s talent as a choirboy led him to learn the viola da gamba, in which he excelled under the tutelage of Sainte Colombe. Eventually, he attained a position of Violist to the King at the French court of Louis XIV, the Sun King.

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. Shaun has performed with many ensembles including Thoroughbass, Sydney Consort, Marais Project, Bach Band at St James’ and Da Vinci’s Apprentice.

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. 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, Tall Poppeas, Sounds Baroque, Sydney Consort, St James’ King St, Sydney Chamber Choir, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Gondwana Choirs, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and West Australia Symphony Orchestra.

Venue: Hunters Hill Town Hall

Doors open: 10:25am

Image: Painting of Madame Henriette at Chateau de Versailles by Jean-Marc Nattier