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Spotlight

From catastrophe to symphony

18 December 2018

Posted byRosalind Appleby
Anastacia Dawes with arrangers Corey Murphy and Callum O’Reilly, music teacher Scott Blanchard and Micheál McCarthy and Jessica Gethin conducting in the background. Photo Rosalind Appleby From catastrophe to symphony
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Seesaw is delighted to share this short film documenting the journey of 13 year old singer and songwriter Anastacia Dawes. The video follows her experience performing her original song ‘Catastrophe’  with the Perth Symphony Orchestra in front of more than 8000 people.

PSO Chief conductor Jessica Gethin fell in love with Anastacia Dawes last month after watching her story on the ABC TV documentary ‘Don’t Stop the Music’.  Gethin invited Anastacia to perform at their next concert which was just a week away. In a whirlwind seven days PSO spoke to Anastacia and Micheál McCarthy transcribed and harmonised the song which was arranged for orchestra by WAAPA students Corey Murphy & Callum O’Reilly then rehearsed and performed by Anastacia to over 8000 people!

Thanks to Perth Symphony Orchestra for this beautiful short film. To read the full story of how Anastacia fell into the spotlight go here.

Pictured top: Anastacia Dawes with arrangers Corey Murphy and Callum O’Reilly, music teacher Scott Blanchard and Micheál McCarthy and Jessica Gethin conducting in the background. Photo: Rosalind Appleby

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Author —
Rosalind Appleby

Rosalind is an arts journalist, author and speaker. She was co-managing editor and founding board member of Seesaw Magazine 2018 – 2023, is author of Women of Note, and has written for The West Australian, The Guardian, The Australian, Limelight magazine and Opera magazine (UK). She loves park percussion instruments.

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