AUSTRALIAN MUSIC ARTISTS
Anthony Garcia is a significant Australian guitarist who plays his own compositions – one of a handful of artists in the world to do so. With an open approach to music making and a passion for improvisation he fuses a wide range of styles, from the ancient to the contemporary, from Latin folk to exploratory jazz and from world rhythms to experimental soundscapes. Garcia has performed throughout the world both as a soloist and in collaboration with a host of virtuosic artists. Having lived in Indonesia, he has developed a strong interest in Asian musical culture, making him a perfect representative to integrate Australian talent with the musical forms of Asia. Last year, Garcia joined Hucky Eichelmann in a remarkable Thailand Guitar Tour to commemorate the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 84th Birthday. The performances in 9 cities across the country were well-received by Thai people especially musical students.
David Williams is a descendant of the Wakka Wakka people from central southwest Queensland. He was brought up with his culture in suburban Rockhampton, Queensland. Learning traditional songs from his grandmother, he experienced first-hand the language and music of his people from an early age. He began learning the trombone when he was young. During his trombone studies, he would often cross over and play the didgeridoo* as his skills as a brass player enabled him to develop his own style of blending traditional and contemporary didgeridoo.
David's skills as a didgeridoo player have taken him around Australia and also internationally to Beijing, Shanghai, New Zealand and San Francisco. He has performed with James Morrison and Jane Rutter and in concert for John Travolta. He has also collaborated with a number of ensembles and orchestras, performing Philip Bracanin's Dance Gundah for didgeridoo and orchestra in 2006.
Also an accomplished artist, David has spent much time developing an indigenous style that was traditional though unique and modern. His motivation to develop as a visual artist saw his collection of works increase, resulting in his first collaborative exhibition in 2003. David presented his first solo Australian exhibition in 2004 with his first overseas exhibition to follow in Sweden later that year. David's works now feature in private collections in Australia , Italy , Spain , England , Sweden and Germany . Through David's didgeridoo performances and traditional style paintings, he aims to further educate and encourage a wider understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal culture.
*Didgeridoo is a unique wind instrument of the Aboriginal Australians of northern Australia. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe". Musicologists classify it as an aerophone.