EVENTS & TICKETS | Adelaide Wind Orchestra

Pixelated Symphonies

7:30PM Saturday 8 March, Elder Hall, University of Adelaide
2:30PM Sunday 9 March, Elder Hall, University of Adelaide
Conductor - Dr. Nathan Cummins

Hollow Knight. Final Fantasy VII. The Legend of Zelda. Halo 3. Super Mario.

Experience the magic of these legendary symphonic video game soundtracks like never before! Join us for an unforgettable concert of musical enchantment as video game industry insider and composer Dr Nathan Cummins and AWO take you on a wild ride through this iconic music. From the epic adventures of Super Mario to the heartwarming melodies of The Legend of Zelda, immerse yourself and be swept away by the brilliance of Australia's leading symphonic wind orchestra.

Whether you're a casual gamer or an epic nerd, book now to indulge in the timeless music that has touched the hearts of millions.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the greatest video game music of our lives.

★★★★ "One of Australia's best" The Barefoot Review

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Manifestos

7:30PM Saturday 27 September, Elder Hall, University of Adelaide Conductor - Bryan Griffiths

Paul Dooley — Manifestos (2019)

David Maslanka - Traveler (2003)

INTERVAL

Jennifer Higdon (transc. Nowlin) — Blue Cathedral (1999)

Paul Hindemith — Symphony in B-flat (1951)

“Manifestos” is more than a concert—it is a celebration of the many ways composers use music to declare who they are, what they believe, and where they are going.

Opening the concert is the commanding and contemporary work Manifestos by American composer Paul Dooley. Written in 2019, this piece pulses with urgency and optimism. Expect a bold start that sets the tone for an unforgettable evening. In contrast, David Maslanka’s deeply personal and introspective Traveler offers a journey inward. It is a quiet manifesto—an ode to the inner voyage we all take. One of the most performed contemporary orchestral works, Jennifer Higdon's Blue Cathedral is a shimmering, heartfelt tribute, a sonic cathedral built from grief and healing—soaring, reflective, and filled with luminous textures. The evening concludes with Paul Hindemith’s iconic Symphony in B-flat, a cornerstone of the wind orchestra repertoire. Hindemith’s work offers a final manifesto—structured, vigorous, and deeply musical. It is a celebration of craftsmanship and clarity, bringing the concert to a powerful and affirming close.

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Winds of Nagual

7:30PM Saturday 6 December, Elder Hall, University of Adelaide
Conductor - Bryan Griffiths

Eiji Suzuki — Life Variations, op. 50 (2003)

Maria Grenfell — Piccolo Concerto (2025) ft. Julia Grenfell

INTERVAL
Michael Colgrass — Winds of Nagual (1985)

"Winds of Nagual" is a concert of contrasts: old and new, the real and the surreal, the intimate and the epic.

The evening opens with Eiji Suzuki’s Life Variations, a profound and richly expressive set of variations from one of Japan’s leading contemporary composers. Written in 2003, this work explores the arc of life through a series of musical transformations—ranging from playful and whimsical to powerful and introspective. In a major highlight of our year, we proudly presents the world premiere of Maria Grenfell’s Piccolo Concerto, written especially for the Adelaide Wind Orchestra and commissioned in 2025. Featuring renowned soloist Julia Grenfell, this concerto shines a spotlight on an instrument rarely given centre stage. Expect dazzling virtuosity, unexpected lyricism, and moments of both humour and tenderness as Grenfell showcases the piccolo’s expressive capabilities in ways you’ve never heard before. This exciting new work not only adds to the Australian wind repertoire but also celebrates the creative collaboration between composer and performer—two sisters, united by music and vision.

The second half of the concert is devoted entirely to Michael Colgrass’s monumental Winds of Nagual, a landmark of the wind ensemble repertoire. Based on the writings of Mexican mystic and author Carlos Castaneda, this Pulitzer Prize-winning composer weaves an otherworldly musical journey that blurs the line between reality and dream.

With its cinematic scope, mystical themes, and breathtaking orchestration, Winds of Nagual takes listeners through a surreal and spiritual landscape of transformation and ancient wisdom. It is a work of rare power and imagination—challenging, immersive, and utterly unforgettable.

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