X-Collective - ProfilesArchive

About Me

X-Collective is a 12-piece cabaret ensemble based in Brisbane that has blurred the line between classical music and the cabaret stage. This talented group of classically trained musicians have stepped outside their comfort zones, performing their eclectic brand of entertainment in concert halls and cabaret venues around Australia.
What makes X-Collective unique as a chamber/cabaret group is that all members of the group take on additional roles as actors, singers, dancers and comedians and most double on other instruments such as Electric Bass, Flugle horn, Cor Anglais, Piccolo and even Bagpipes!
X-Collective started its life in the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra as a 10-piece touring chamber-music ensemble for the Queensland Arts Council. As there is no music written for this size group, they had to improvise and decided to tackle Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" and some piano music by Gershwin. Since that first tour, they have evolved into the group we see today, taking on the master-works of the classical repertoire plus an entertaining mix of Jazz, Rock, Funk and original compositions. They also perform in traditional chamber settings, premiering new chamber works such as versions of Debussy's cello sonata, Franck's violin sonata and Stravinsky's Petrouchka arranged by cellist Craig Allister Young.In 2004 X-Collective launched its first CD entitled "It Don't Mean A Thing..." a compilation of Jazz standards with a few surprises and have a CD for children entitled "Daisy May - The Impossibly Cool Cat".
In 2007 X-Collective performed their new show "Dags and Divas" with the Sirens of Song in Brisbane and Sydney and will be undertaking a tour of Pick a Box with the Queensland Arts Council in June.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/16/2007
Band Website: x-collective.com.au
Band Members: Musical Director/Show Co-Writer - Craig Allister Young
Director/Show Co-Writer/Vocals - Leisa Barry-Smith
Flute/Piccolo/Vocals - Karen Lonsdale Oboe/Cor Anglais - Alexa Murray Clarinet - Kate TraversBassoon/Vocals - Hugh Ponnuthurai and Mel Vandenbroek
Trumpet - Paul Rawson/Richard Madden Horn - Neil Favell Trombone - Andrew Bell Piano - Jill Stoll Percussion/Drum Kit - David Adelt Violin 1 - Brynley White Violin 2/Bagpipes/Vocals - Gail Aitken Viola - Graham Simpson Cello/Vocals - Craig Allister Young Bass/Electric Bass - Marian Heckenberg

Influences: Queen, Van Morrison, Henry Mancini, Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, Helen Reddy, Kiss, Village People, Madonna, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Burt Bacharach, George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, Jule Stein, Jerry Herman, Cole Porter, Cy Coleman, Michael Buble, Nat King Cole, Dave Brubeck, Stefan Grapelli, Prokofiev, Holst, Rodrigo, Shostakovich, Debussy, Bernstein, Bizet, Copland, Matthew Hindson, Stephen Schwartz, Piazzola, Stravinsky.
Sounds Like: Well, as far as we know, we are a pretty unique ensemble! We are a group of classically trained musicians who cross over into the world of jazz, pop, rock, musical theatre, techno and world music styles! Our line-up includes flute/piccolo, oboe/cor anglais, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, strings, drums/percussion, electric bass, and sometimes with additional instruments such as piano, trombone, even bagpipes!
Record Label: Unsigned
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Our concert on June 10

Hi folks,Please come to our free concert at the Brisbane City Hall on June 10th, 2008 (Tuesday). We'll be performing the following favourites:Jupiter &nb...
Posted by X-Collective on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:55:00 PST

2008 Tour Dates

We're delighted to announce our regional tour dates for 2008:Mon 21st April - GympieTues 22nd April - ChildersWed 23rd April - BundabergThur 24th April - MalenySat 26th April - IpswichMon 28th April -...
Posted by X-Collective on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 07:01:00 PST

Back in the Studio soon

Yeah, yeah.....we haven't been in touch....ok, ok....life just gets busy. A few of us have had 40th birthdays this year, so we're fast becoming the X-Collective seniors...slowing down a lit...
Posted by X-Collective on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:07:00 PST

Awesome tour photos

We are all exhausted from our tour, but have a look at these fabulous photos by Judi Liosatos, taken at our recent show in Capella.. http://www.judigraphics.com/pickabox/pickabox.html ...
Posted by X-Collective on Sun, 17 Jun 2007 07:09:00 PST

Show rehearsals underway

Hey everyone, Our tour rehearsals are now underway, with the first of our blocking calls today with Leisa Barry-Smith. Thankfully most of us have remembered our lines from last year's Pick-A-Box...
Posted by X-Collective on Tue, 29 May 2007 11:06:00 PST

X-Collective and MySpace

We are pleased to report that our two performances of Dags and Divas at the Seymour Centre in Sydney were a raging success (even if we do say so ourselves!) We were even given a standing ov...
Posted by X-Collective on Sat, 17 Mar 2007 05:21:00 PST

X-Collective seriously needs a secretary!

Well, the whole gang seems to be ridiculously busy...too busy to blog in fact!! Hugh's in Melbourne playing with the opera and ballet orchestra there, the rest of the folks are mostly in the Que...
Posted by X-Collective on Fri, 27 Apr 2007 04:13:00 PST