In a musical landscape often divided by rigid genre boundaries, ARIA-nominated violinist Véronique Serret continues to chart her own course. The virtuoso performer has announced three interstate concerts this February, featuring didgeridoo master William Barton, to showcase her latest album Migrating Bird - a work that challenges traditional classical music conventions.
Serret's journey from Sydney's western suburbs to international acclaim reflects the evolution of Australia's contemporary classical scene. Training as a violinist from age three, she has moved far beyond traditional classical confines, serving as concertmaster with the Darwin Symphony while simultaneously collaborating with alternative artists like Joanna Newsom, Damon Albarn, and Mike Patton.
Her latest album, which earned an ARIA nomination upon its release last May, emerged from an unexpected source: daily walks around Brisbane's Mt Coo-tha during the pandemic lockdown. The resulting work represents a significant departure from conventional classical composition, incorporating field recordings, electronic production by The Presets' Kim Moyes, and Serret's own vocals - marking her first foray into singing on record.
The upcoming concerts promise to translate this experimental studio work to the live stage. Serret will perform with a full band, notably featuring William Barton, whose contributions to the album include both traditional didgeridoo and electric guitar. This collaboration follows their previous success with Heartland, which won Best Album at the 2023 AIR Awards and received an ARIA nomination in the world music category.
What sets Migrating Bird apart is its ambitious attempt to bridge multiple musical worlds. Serret's approach to the six-string electric violin demonstrates technical virtuosity while pushing the instrument's boundaries, using the bow's wood and hair as percussion instruments. The album's structure itself reflects environmental themes, with its first half dedicated to land and sky, and the second to water.
The record's cultural reach extends beyond pure musicality. Pelican Song incorporates traditional lyrics originally sung by Warrane women observing Sydney Harbour, while Dodo (In Memory) connects to Serret's Mauritian heritage, doubling as both a tribute to the extinct bird and a French lullaby.
Perhaps most notably, Serret's work represents a growing trend in Australian classical music toward cross-cultural collaboration and environmental themes. Her mentorship under Anne Bourne, a disciple of the "Deep Listening" movement pioneer Pauline Oliveros, has clearly influenced this direction.
While the February concerts will test how successfully these studio experiments translate to live performance, they also raise interesting questions about the evolution of classical music in contemporary Australia. As traditional boundaries between genres continue to blur, artists like Serret are redefining what it means to be a classical musician in the 21st century.
The concerts will showcase material from "Migrating Bird," which is currently available across digital platforms and in physical formats.
Véronique Serret in concert featuring William Barton as the special guest:
Feb 14 at The Citadel – Murwillumbah: Veronique Serret Migrating Bird Album Launch
Sunday Feb 16 in Brisbane at It’s Still A Secret, 48 Montague Road, South Brisbane: Véronique Serret presents Migrating Bird — It's Still A Secret
Wednesday Feb 19 at the Perth Festival: Migrating Bird
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