October 13, 2019

Music for Every Occasion

Alex Cronin

Multi-instrumentalist Alex Cronin trained at the NSW State Conservatorium on classical guitar and furthered his studies on lute at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam (1983-86) with the assistance of a Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Award and an Australia Council International Fellowship. As a lutenist and guitarist he has performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Brandenburg Orchestra, Opera Australia and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. In 1994 Alex began playing and composing for the Celtic harp and later on the Baroque Triple Harp under the guidance of renowned harpist Andrew Lawrence-King. Alex has twice been commissioned by the education department’s Arts Unit to write works for massed recorders and harps which were performed at the Sydney Opera House. Alex also plays the Irish fiddle and has worked with many bands, including The Ragged Band, Skewiff, Simply Bushed and Green Jam. He works regularly around Sydney playing in pubs and for bush dances.

Megan Cronin

Megan grew up in Canberra where she sang with the Canberra Children's Choir, played oboe in the Canberra Youth Orchestra and Canberra Symphony Orchestra and studied at the Canberra School of Music. As a chorister Megan has sung with some of Australia's finest choirs, including the Australian Chamber Singers, The Contemporary Singers, Sydney Chamber Choir and ACO Voices. Apart from her extensive work with Pastance, Megan has performed as a soloist in the Monteverdi Vespers, Carmina Buranaand numerous other choral works, and has appeared as guest artist with Sydney’s Marais Project. She has also sung a number of dramatic roles, including the lead role in the early Mozart opera, Lo Sposo Deluso for the Mostly Mozart festival. Megan also sings with the Baroque/contemporary music ensemble Phoebus Fire and at a number of regular church services around Sydney.

Myfanwy Dibben

Myfanwy Dibben, soprano and recorder player, completed her Bachelor at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney in 2000, studying recorder under Howard Oberg and Hans Dieter Michatz. She also studied voice under Jane Edwards and performed with both the Conservatorium Chorale and Christ Church St Lawrence in Sydney for many years as soprano and soloist under Neil McEwan. Both ensembles performed a varied repertoire from 9th century chant to contemporary Australian compositions, with a love and focus on Baroque music. Myfanwy also recorded as soloist with Guy Noble, Elegy for a Clown by Peter Sculthorpe for ABC Classic FM as part of a celebration of 50 years of musical collaboration between Peter Sculthorpe and the ABC. Continuing her passion for early music, she joined Pastance in 2000, performing extensively in many major music festivals and with Musica Viva in Schools and their Country Wide Program, throughout eastern Australia.