Gunning Focus Group

30/08/2026

FAREWELL TO GFG's JACQUIE ADAMS

All of us on the Gunning Focus Group committee very much regret that we must say farewell to our friend and colleague Jacquie Adams. Her family is about to leave Gunning and so, too, must she.

On concert days, Jacquie has been our senior people greeter at the front door. She was also our chief bouncer.

Her security guard skills have never been tested. Classical music audiences are by nature well-behaved. Ours are particularly polite and gracious, probably because Jacquie’s good humour and Gallic charm are so appealing to people that any propensity they may have to cause trouble disappears. As you can see in this Covid-era photo of her with Treasurer Sonya Duus, Jacquie can radiate strong personal warmth even through a face mask.

She is also a tireless and multi-skilled contributor at committee meetings, being by far our leading mover and seconder of motions.

We will miss her greatly and wish her well in her new life.
While we’re sad to farewell Jacquie, we’re happy to welcome her nominated successor and former French student, Melody Black, to the committee.

24/08/2026

🎵 🎵 🎵 The outstanding contemporary classical music outfit Ensemble Offspring delighted, charmed, and enthralled a fully engaged and constantly smiling audience with its ground-breaking celebration of works by First Nations composers, titled "To Listen To Sing", in the Gunning Courtroom on Sunday afternoon.

It was truly, as a recent Facebook commenter predicted it would be, “a really unique and amazing experience” for the audience to be immersed in the pieces the four musicians played for us with such joy, skill, and mutual understanding.

The music, inspired by the composers’ stories, musical languages and cultures, was variously rhythmic, soothing, hypnotic, evocative of the sounds and feel of water, sea, wind, rain and nature. Overall it was music to be relished with some audience members urging us to invite the group back soon.

This special Jack Shaw Tribute Concert acknowledged the role of our founding Patron, the late Gunning Shire Mayor Jack Shaw and his children Julie and John have played in the life of Gunning Focus Group. Julie in particular has been a continuing and generous donor.

Both Julie and John were present as guests. Julie told us that her father would be delighted to see how excellent the Courtroom now is when used as a chamber music venue.

Upper Lachlan Gazette arts correspondent Mandy McDonald was among those in the audience, so you can expect a review of this event in our shire-wide newspaper soon.

17/08/2026

📢 An Opportunity to Experience Something Special This Sunday at 4pm in the Gunning Courtroom!

The excellent four-piece leading contemporary classical music outfit Ensemble Offspring will present their new ground-breaking show To Listen to Sing. This celebration of the fusion of western art music with the earth’s oldest surviving culture will feature very appealing brand-new music by fresh First Nations voices including Nardi Simpson, Brenda Gifford, Eric Avery, James Henry and others

✨ Enjoy being up close with Opera House-standard performers playing music critically acclaimed for its quality, appeal and diversity. Superb new music that all Australians can enjoy and take pride in.
🗓️4pm Sunday 23 August
📍 The Gunning Courtroom, cnr Yass and Warrataw Sreets
💰 $48, GFG members $30, music students $15.
Pre-purchase tickets recommended at https://events.humanitix.com/ensemble-offspring-to-listen-to-sing-g4zfuz9l Tickets also obtainable for cash or card at the door while seats still available.

MORE INFO: Google “to listen to sing gunning”, phone/text us on 0429 906 834, or email [email protected]
Gunning has two cafes and a hotel bistro for pre-concert dining, historic charm, antique and craft shops, and the Picture House Gallery for browsing. See more about Gunning’s attractions at https://gunningfocusgroup.com/eat-see-and-do-in-gunning/

26/07/2026

📢 Next Up in the Courtroom: Gunning’s Home of Chamber Music. An opportunity for locals to experience something special.

Ensemble Offspring, who are rockstars of contemporary classical music, are bringing us their ground-breaking show To Listen to Sing where western art music meets the earth’s oldest surviving culture. It will feature:

🎶A five-piece ensemble widely agreed to be Australia’s leading new music outfit.

🎶 Brand-new music by fresh First Nations voices including Nardi Simpson and Eric Avery (pictured), Brenda Gifford, James Henry and others

✨ Enjoy being up close with Opera House-standard performers playing music critically acclaimed for its quality, appeal and diversity. Superb new music that all Australians can enjoy and take pride in.

🗓️4pm Sunday 23 August
📍 The Gunning Courtroom, cnr Yass and Warrataw Sreets
💰 $48, GFG members $30, music students $15.
Pre-purchasing tickets recommended at https://events.humanitix.com/ensemble-offspring-to-listen-to-sing-g4zfuz9l Tickets also obtainable for cash or card at the door while seats still available.

MORE INFO: Google “to listen to sing gunning”, phone/text us on 0429 906 834, or mailto:[email protected]


Gunning has two cafes and a hotel bistro for pre-concert dining, historic charm, antique and craft shops, and the Picture House Gallery for browsing. See more about Gunning’s attractions at https://gunningfocusgroup.com/eat-see-and-do-in-gunning/

20/07/2026

🎵 🎵 🎵 Young Italian pianists Gioia Barbera and Federico Bucaioni, playing as Duo Mimesi, opened their first Australasian tour with a powerful and impressive performance of pieces for four hands by Schubert, Poulenc and Rachmaninov in the Gunning Courtroom last Sunday afternoon.

Gioia and Federico, just in the very early stages of their careers, showed they are serious heavy-duty musicians who deserve to achieve great professional success. And they are such delightful and engaging young people too.

Just over 40 people applauded all their pieces loudly and at length with the odd shouted “bravo” as well. Like to know more about the performance? Happily the local press was in the front row so you can expect a considered and informed review in the Upper Lachlan Gazette.

A special thank you to Susan and Grant Ferry of Aaida on Warrataw for accommodating our visitors in their highly-rated and character-filled holiday rental. Gioia and Federico so enjoyed their stay there – relaxing comfort, some fine meals and, for Federico, a special morning safari down the Collector Road where he was blown away to see seven kangaroos and a ewe giving birth to a new lamb.

06/07/2026

🎵 DUO MIMESI DREW RAPTUROUS APPLAUCE FROM AUDIENCES IN ROME AND DELHI.. The duo’s performance was “extraordinary”, “incredible” and “unforgettable” they said. Now, the two young Italian pianists, Gioia Barbera and Federico Bucaioni, who are the exciting and virtuosic Duo Mimesi will be playing in the Gunning Courtroom at 2m on Sunday 19 July

This performance of their Melodies in Motion program in Gunning will kick off their first Australasian tour. It will feature pieces by Schubert, Poulenc and Rachmaninov – variously displaying drama, passion, wit, brilliance, and beauty.
Tickets: $40, GFG members $30, music students $15, under 18 free.
Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/duo-mimesi-melodies-in-motion
Enquiries: mailto:[email protected] and 0429 906 834.
First-time visitors to Gunning? Gunning has two cafes and a hotel bistro for pre-concert dining, historic charm, antique and craft shops, and the Picture House Gallery for browsing. See more about Gunning’s attractions at https://gunningfocusgroup.com/eat-see-and-do-in-gunning/
When in Gunning, international touring musicians Gioia and Federico choose to stay at Aaida on Warrataw, a cosy one bedroom, self-contained home away from home for visitors. You may see them about town over the weekend of the concert. GFG thanks Aaida hosts Susan & Grant Ferry (mailto:[email protected] 04313720050) for their help.

15/06/2026

🎵 🎵 🎵 ITALIAN PIANO DUO TO BEGIN AUSTRALASIAN CONCERT TOUR WITH A PREMIERE IN GUNNING.

Two exciting, virtuosic, highly praised and academically distinguished young Italian pianists Gioia Barbera and Federico Bucaioni, performing as Duo Mimesi, will kick off their first Australasian tour with a premiere opening performance in the Gunning Courtroom at 2m on Sunday 19 July

They have played to acclaim in Europe, the UK and India. In Delhi and Rome, reviewers said they were “wonderful...incredible... unforgettable ... leaving the audience transfixed.”

Their "Melodies in Motion" program will feature pieces by Schubert, Poulenc and Rachmaninov – variously displaying drama, passion, wit, brilliance, beauty and more.

TICKETS: $40, GFG members $30, music students $15, under 18 free. Get them now at https://events.humanitix.com/duo-mimesi-melodies-in-motion

ENQUIRIES: mailto:[email protected] and 0429 906 834.

When in Gunning, international touring musicians Gioia and Federico choose to stay at Aaida on Warrataw, a cosy one bedroom, self-contained home away from home for visitors. You may see them about town over the weekend of the concert.
GFG thanks Aaida hosts Susan & Grant Ferry (mailto:[email protected] 04313720050) for their help.

Piano for four hands featuring music by Schubert, Poulenc and Rachmaninov played by two much awarded young Italian pianists making their first Australian tour.

31/05/2026

Close to 50 people enjoyed a splendid afternoon of music, comprising both harp solos and duets with piano, in the Gunning Courtroom yesterday.

Gunning Focus Group was delighted to host world-renowned harpist Alice Giles AM and excellent pianist Arnan Wiesel at a special Wendy Coley tribute concert.

We can consider ourselves fortunate indeed to have had this opportunity to enjoy such great performances from two terrific players.

The intimate atmosphere and acoustics of the Courtroom so suited the music we heard.

There should be a report on this concert in the Upper Lachlan Gazette in the next week or so.

24/05/2026

🔥 IT'S ON THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

The upcoming Afternoon with Alice and Arnan in the Gunning Courtroom at 2pm on Saturday 30 May will be a truly delightful experience for music lovers. Life partners and international musicians of note, harpist Alice Giles AM and pianist Arnan Wiesel, will play music they love, duos and solo pieces by CP Bach and Carlos Salzedo, in an intimate and historic venue so well suited to their music and instruments.

Get your tickets now ( $40. GFG members $30, music students $15) at https://events.humanitix.com/an-afternoon-with-alice-and-arnan Tickets will be also available at the door while places remain. But booking via Humanitix will ensure avoiding disappointment

MORE INFO: Gunning Focus Group 0429 906 834 or mailto:[email protected] or just Google “afternoon with alice and arnan”

First-time visitors to Gunning? Gunning has two cafes and a hotel bistro for pre-concert dining, historic charm, antique and craft shops, and the Picture House Gallery for browsing. See more about Gunning’s attractions at https://gunningfocusgroup.com/eat-see-and-do-in-gunning/

18/05/2026

🎶 🎶 The upcoming Afternoon with Alice and Arnan in the Gunning Courtroom at 2pm on Saturday 30 May will be a delightful experience.

Life partners and international artists of note, harpist Alice Giles AM and pianist Arnan Wiesel, will play music they love, duos and solo pieces by CP Bach and Carlos Salzedo, in an intimate and historic venue so well suited to their music and instruments.

It’s happening at 2pm on Saturday 30 May in the Gunning Courtroom.

TICKETS are $40. GFG members $30, music students $15. You can get them right now at https://events.humanitix.com/an-afternoon-with-alice-and-arnan Tickets also available at the door while places remain.

MORE INFO: Gunning Focus Group 0429 906 834 or mailto:[email protected] or just Google “afternoon with alice and arnan”

First-time visitors to Gunning? Gunning has two cafes and a hotel bistro for pre-concert dining, historic charm, antique and craft shops, and the Picture House Gallery for browsing. See more about Gunning’s attractions at https://gunningfocusgroup.com/eat-see-and-do-in-gunning/