These very special concert programs – which coincides with Mental Health Week – includes the world premiere of a profoundly moving new work by Lee Bradshaw, a string octet commissioned in memory of Emanuel (Manny) Arcaro, supported by his family, friends and FQ Syndicate #7. This new work, which is a powerful exploration of music as a transformative force for connection and healing, will be performed by the Flinders Quartet (including AYO alumni Elizabeth Sellars and Helen Ireland) and AYO string players.

“Four Rooms for Double String Quartet is a programmatic work in four movements, each portraying a psychological state: melancholia, mania, rage, and depression. Originally commissioned to create “something beautiful” in memory of Manny Arcaro, the work instead confronts the stark realities of mental health challenges in the creative arts,” says composer Lee Bradshaw.