Friends of Music, St George’s (FOMS) 2026 Programme
- Sunday 22 February: Charlie Wu: Chopin and Prokofiev
One of Australia’s brightest young piano talents, Charlie Wu was recently awarded 1st Prize in the prestigious Genève Musicale International Piano Competition. Fresh off concerto performances with Les Solistes de Neuchâtel in Switzerland, and with the Russian State Academic Symphony Orchestra in Moscow, Charlie’s recital will feature Chopin’s Etudes Op 10 (complete) and Prokofiev’s Sonata No 7.
- Sunday 22 March: Coady Green and Charlotte Roberts: Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream for piano four hands:
Friends of Music Artistic Director, pianist Coady Green joins pianist Charlotte Roberts for a dazzling performance of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the composer’s own virtuosic arrangement for piano four hands. Evoking the magic, mischief, and lyricism of Shakespeare’s enchanted world, this program celebrates the interplay between youthful imagination and seasoned artistry.
- Sunday 12 April: Genevieve Gray & Ricardo Roche Idini: Lieder by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Joseph Marx, Alexander von Zemlinsky, Mathilde Kralik, Arnold Schoenberg
Soprano Genevieve Gray and pianist Ricardo Roche Idini trace a luminous path through the golden age of Viennese song. From the lush romanticism of Korngold and Marx to the fin-de-siècle lyricism of Zemlinsky and the rare voice of Mathilde Kralik, the program culminates in Schoenberg’s early expressionist sound world — a portrait of Vienna in transformation, where beauty and modernity intertwine.
- Sunday 24 May: Charlotte Roberts and Lily Flynn
- Sunday 21 June: The Reinvention of Virtuosity: The Complete Brandenburg Concertos for Piano Four Hands
J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major BWV 1046
J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major BWV 1047
J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major BWV 1048
J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major BWV 1049
J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major BWV 1050
J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major BWV 1051
Pianists Coady Green and Ricardo Roche Idini bring Bach’s six Brandenburg Concertos to life in Max Reger’s spectacular arrangement for piano four hands. Brimming with invention, joy, and contrapuntal brilliance, these masterpieces reveal the full scope of Bach’s genius – from exuberant dances to intimate dialogue – in a virtuosic reimagining that celebrates both the grandeur and the intimacy of the Baroque spirit.
- Sunday 12 July: Sophie Bisset and Coady Green
Experience the vibrant artistry of Soprano Sophie Bisset (Rising Artist, ACOCO) in an evening of colour, drama, and storytelling. Joined by pianist Coady Green, Sophie moves effortlessly across styles and eras – from the passion of Italian opera to the refinement of French song and the adventurous sound-worlds of contemporary music, offering an intimate glimpse into the repertoire she loves most.
- Sunday 23 August: Stefania Robu and Friends
FOMS is delighted to welcome Stefania to the series in a program devoted to one of her key inspirations, Clara Schumann. Featured in the first season of ABC TV’s The Piano, Stefania has since garnered accolades from Melbourne to New York, including a concerto appearance at Carnegie Hall in November 2025.
At just twelve years old, Stefania represents a rare phenomenon: a young artist who bridges rigorous classical training, competition success, and mainstream media exposure with remarkable ease. She brings this maturity and sensitivity to a program centred on Clara Schumann’s music — a composer whose passionate, intimate sound world she feels a deep personal connection to.
Drawn to the emotional honesty and lyrical intensity of Clara’s writing, Stefania offers an afternoon of music that celebrates the enduring voice of a pioneering woman composer, heard through the fresh, intuitive musicianship of an extraordinary young artist.
- Sunday 20 September: Malik Johnston
Young virtuoso pianist Malik Johnston is known for performances that combine impressive virtuosity with rare expressive depth. In this recital, he brings individual flair to works by Schubert, Chopin, Peskanov, Kouvaras and Kapustin.
- Sunday 18 October: Abby Zhao: Complete Chopin Waltzes
Internationally award-winning young virtuoso Abby Zhao takes listeners on a glittering journey through Chopin’s complete Waltzes – music that captures the essence of grace, melancholy, and romantic brilliance. From salon elegance to profound introspection, these beloved works trace the composer’s poetic imagination and emotional depth, offering a radiant portrait of youthful artistry and expressive refinement.
- Sunday 15 November: Jack Brunialti-Sykes: Brahms and Rachmaninoff
Young Melbourne pianist Jack Brunialti-Sykes has already captivated audiences from Melbourne to Manhattan and has won numerous accolades both within Australia and abroad. Here, he presents a daring program characterised by sweeping melodies and fiery virtuosity. The profound Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann by Brahms is paired with the complete etudes Opus 39 of Rachmaninoff – a feat not to be missed.
Archived Posters: Previous Years’ Concerts
