The future of Australia’s classical music scene looks very bright if a Sydney concert by students of ANAM (Australian National Academy of Music) is anything to go by.

Thirteen musicians from five states and New Zealand put on a program of modern works culminating in a rare and inspiring performance of Australian composer Richard Meale’s landmark 1971 homage to French symbolist poet Arthur Rimbaud, Incredible Floridas.

Sketches. Photo © Neil Bennett

In his introduction ANAM’S Managing Director Nick Bailey explains the role of the academy as a training ground for the next generation of performers with orchestras and chamber groups throughout Australia and overseas. In fact, it has succeeded in this so well that two of the soloists slotted for this concert were recruited and last-minute replacements had to be found.

The challenge for one of these, cellist Joshua Jones, may not appear to be too great in his performance of the opening work, Heiligenschein by Finnish-born Australian violinist-composer Erkki Veltheim.

For six minutes the soloist plays just one note – the open G string...