Monday 30 Oct | 16:45-17:40

Welcome Address: Jane Burns, Safer Care Victoria; Australia

Join us as we welcome all attendees to the conference and look ahead to the next two days.

Opening Presentation: Slava Grigoryan, Classical guitar virtuoso

Gratitudes – Slava Grigoryan performance and in conversation with Ed Le Brocq (Ayres)

Regarded as a wizard of the guitar, Slava has forged a prolific reputation as a classical guitar virtuoso. Collaborations have played a huge part in Grigoryan’s career, most notable of these are in the trio with legendary USA guitarist Ralph Towner and Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel and the duo with brother Leonard Grigoryan. He has received 4 ARIA awards and an incredible 24 ARIA Award nominations. He has been touring internationally since 2003, regularly performing throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and the USA, as well as more exotic performances in Brazil, South Africa, India and the Middle East. Slava is the Artistic Director of the Adelaide Guitar Festival, a position he has held since 2009.

Slava will be performing pieces from his most recent collaboration with the Hush Foundation, an album called ‘Gratitudes’. Slava began writing this music during the pandemic, as an expression of thanks to healthcare workers and recognition of their selfless support of patients. We know that this has come at a cost for many and that reminders that our efforts are appreciated can help us all to cope better. ‘Gratitudes’ is the Hush Foundation’s 20th Album and represents 20 years of original music composed and performed specially for healthcare environments by some of Australia’s foremost musicians. The albums are designed to reduce stress in inherently stressful healthcare environments.  In 2023, Hush Foundation founder and Chair, Professor Catherine Crock won an Australian Independent Record (AIR) Award for her outstanding contribution to Australian Music and the Hush story was greeted by the music industry with a standing ovation.

Slava will be in conversation with Ed Le Brocq (Ayres)

Ed Le Brocq is a writer, music teacher and broadcaster. He was born on the White Cliffs of Dover and began playing music when he was six years old. After music studies in Manchester, Berlin and London he played professionally in the UK and Hong Kong, moving to Australia in 2003. Ed is the presenter of ABC Classic’s Weekend Breakfast. Ed has written four books – Cadence, about his journey by bicycle from England to Hong Kong with only a violin for company; Danger Music, describing his year teaching music in Afghanistan; Sonam and the Silence, a children’s book about the importance of music, and his most recent, Whole Notes – Life Lessons in Music. Ed’s books have been shortlisted for several prestigious awards, including the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.