Sweet sounds: Johanna Selleck's concerto will open a composers' festival in Israel. Picture: Ted Kloszynski
AN Upper Ferntree Gully resident will be the behind-the-scenes star at the opening of the 30th Asian Composers League Festival in Israel this week.
Johanna Selleck's concerto Unspoken Dialogues has been chosen as the opening orchestral piece to be performed by the Israel Chamber Orchestra.
The Melbourne University music professor has never been to the festival and was thrilled her piece was chosen as the opening act by festival organisers.
"The festival is held in the highest regard internationally and there are some of world's finest performers at the event."
Dr Selleck teaches composition at Melbourne University and flute at Presbyterian Ladies College in Burwood.
She picked up the recorder as a 12 year old, and since then music has been a huge part of her life.
Unspoken Dialogues was inspired by the issues of war and cultural oppression, particularly in Tibet, Dr Selleck said.
The 52 year old worked as a journalist in Tibet and the flute and orchestral concerto is her response to what she witnessed there.
When Dr Selleck arrives in Tel Aviv, she will attend the final rehearsal of the concerto. "They like the composer's input when they are alive — because they're so often not."
Dr Selleck said she was looking forward to experiencing music by "elite international performers" after her piece had been performed.
"There's a diverse range of backgrounds, so I'm looking forward to hearing new sounds from composers at the top of their fields."
One of the performances she was most looking forward to is by a fellow Melbourne composer.
"These are modern, contemporary composers. And I like concerts that combine traditional and contemporary techniques with cultural techniques."
The 30th Asian Composers League Festival runs from October 14- 20.