Music in the Gallery has been a regular event on the calendar at the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery for nearly 30 years.  As with so many aspects of life during the past year, Music in the Gallery has been on hold during Covid.  

With 2021, there seems to be an element of let’s work within the boundaries of our “new normal” and see what we can do.  Buoyed by the knowledge that music has healing or restorative powers, plans are underway for a recital on Sunday 24th January.   The magical acoustic of the Gallery will host The Occasional Players, and Natasha Kloppers in a concert guaranteed to entertain and to lift spirits.  

The Occasional Players have been regular entertainers at opening night functions at the Art Gallery for a few years now.  The members are wonderfully talented individuals, and their combination as an ensemble is a joy to hear and to watch.  There will be some well-known pieces by Gershwin which are guaranteed to alternately have toes tapping, or sighs emanating from smiling lips.  There are other pieces that may be unfamiliar from the titles but are very likely to receive a knowing smile after a few bars.  And, as should always happen, there will be some new discoveries to add to your list of favourites.

Natasha Kloppers was educated in Stanthorpe in terms of schooling as well as with her early music teachers.  For a number of years, she would call into the Gallery after school to practice on the grand piano as there wasn’t a piano at home on which to play.  Showing confidence beyond her years, she also was a regular at opening night functions at the Gallery for several years.  For this recital, Natasha will entertain us with music from her much loved Romantic era composers – Debussy and Chopin – as well as some popular jazz classics.

Upon completing her schooling, Natasha started in the School of Music specializing in piano at UQ and then, with the realization that she wanted to be a music therapist, switched to psychology.   She is currently doing an undergraduate degree and hopes to move to Melbourne to complete honours at Deakin University.  Recently she went to Europe for a year and lived in Britain and France, primarily working as a child carer. This year, she began teaching piano to beginners and would like to become a romantic/jazz pianist for hotels, galleries, and restaurants. 

The concert will be held on Sunday 24th January, commencing at 2 pm.  In adherence with Covid planning, numbers are limited - phone the Gallery on 4681 1874 and book to secure your seat.  Entry will be $5 per person for SAGS members, and $10 per person for general admission.