Connected Through Sound

Embark on a musical journey at the World's Smallest Improvised Music Festival, presented in collaboration with the Launceston Improvised Music Association (LIMA).
Join three of Launceston’s most creative pianists – Ian Chia, Melissa Rogers and Frances Cameron – in this free event at the Art Gallery at Royal Park.

Presented as part of QVMAG's Art + Performance series, you'll wander through the Art Gallery and allow the sounds from these artists to guide you through various spaces and exhibitions.

The program will feature new works for piano by local composers and improvised music responding to the gallery environment, inspired by artworks and sparked by the musicians' synergy.

Continue the journey from 1pm as the sounds continue in other art spaces around the city of Launceston.

The Festival returns to QVMAG at 4pm as the Museum at Inveresk presents This Vanishing World: The Ephemeral Nature of Sound, an immersive musical experience with Louise Denson and Karlin Love in the exhibition This Vanishing World: Photography of Olegas Truchanas. Book here

About the artists

Ian Chia
As a composer, songwriter, music producer and creative technologist, Ian Chia’s works have graced dance and theatre stages and numerous film and video screens in Australia and overseas since the mid-90s. His credits have ranged from large scale dance scores for Argentinian company Nucleodanza at the Melbourne International Festival, and internationally touring works for Leigh Warren and Dancers, Tasdance, Don Asker and Melbourne’s Danceworks, as well as video games and mobile apps.

Recent works include the kinetic light and music sculpture Breath which featured in Junction Arts Festival 2024, co-created with Darryl Rogers. That year, he also scored the first nations planetarium feature film takila milaythina-ti. In 2023, he co-created with Soma Lumia and Stompin Dance the interactive video and audio work Lacunae:Flow for QVMAG. He was composer, sound designer and music director for Dave mangenner Gough’s mapali Sunset Gathering spectacle, for Ten Days on the Island Festival's finale.

liminamusic.com/epk
Dr Melissa Rogers
Melissa is an educator, musicologist, pianist, cellist, piano tutor, AMEB examiner and composer. She loves organising opportunities for students to perform as soloists, in groups and in large ensembles. Melissa loves conducting and was the musical director for Grammar’s recent productions of CATS and Strictly Ballroom in the Princess Theatre, Launceston. She also enjoys composing and improvising on the piano and cello.

She believes that music is a beautiful language, facilitating expression, healing and human connection. Melissa is passionate about fostering an inclusive and supportive creative environment in her role as Director of Music at Launceston Church Grammar School and in the wider Tasmanian musical community.
Frances Cameron
Frances Cameron is a composer, pianist and performer who blends classical music with modern influences. She completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Tasmania in 2021, with a dual major in Songwriting and Commercial Creation, began releasing her original music in 2022 and became an Associate Artist with the Australian Music Centre in 2023.

Frances premiered her self-produced debut album, Piano for Dreaming, at MONA on International Piano Day 2024. The album is being released on all streaming platforms in fortnightly instalments, with the final track out on the 22nd of November. She also composed scores for two AFTRS student documentaries this year. Most recently, she composed for pulana wuratji, an interactive work that is part of TMAGs Island to Ice exhibition.

Frances is currently founding Compose Yourself, an innovative startup focused on removing barriers to music composition. Frances is an active member of Composer’s Cage and a new recruit to LIMA (Launceston Improvised Music Association).

francescameronx.wixsite.com/website

About LIMA: Launceston Improvised Music Association

Launceston Improvised Music Association was established in 2020 by a group of local musicians to nurture, inspire and educate other musicians and the community in the live music practice of improvisation. All LIMA presentations are original music performances.

LIMA facilitates Free for All, a weekly music improvisation session open to everyone; provides performance opportunities for local and visiting musicians; runs workshops; and in 2024 will present for the third time The World’s Smallest Improvised Music Festival.

QVMAG is delighted to collaborate with LIMA for the 2024 festival, which will connect the city’s art spaces through a program of sound events.

www.limatas.com

Host or Publisher QVMAG