Brilliant Noongar classical musician Aaron Wyatt has once again wowed the crowds, this time with the Consort of Melbourne in Federation Square.
Early last year the viola player became the first Indigenous conductor of a state orchestra. This month he collaborated with the Consort of Melbourne in a performance that left the audience amazed.
Mr Wyatt played as a casual with the WA Symphony Orchestra for many years, and has performed in a number of highly successful fringe and festival shows, including the multiple award-winning City of Shadows, which went on to perform seasons in New York and Melbourne.
He also was outstanding in Barking Gecko's critically acclaimed adaptation of Wolf Erlbruch's Duck, Death and the Tulip.
Discussing work with the Consort, Mr Wyatt said it was rich mixture of works.
"The choir works are really... romantic. Some are based on folk sorts of medium, it should be a very nice and relaxing music program. Then I throw a spanner in that by playing a few solo works between some of the pieces which are more on the 21st century side," he said.
Mr Wyatt sang bass with the eclectic choir The Spooky Men of the West, played viola with Indian/jazz fusion group Nadis, and has had numerous conducting commitments.
The first chance to play with the Consort of Melbourne arose in 2022 when Mr Wyatt was conducting a selection of works from talented Yorta Yorta women Debrah Cheethman.
"I was conducting them…and I think from that initial working together then, it sort of formed this idea to collaborate," he said.
Originally Mr Wyatt started out playing the violin when he was five years old but he moved on to the viola. He spent the majority of his youth growing up in the youth orchestra, however a career in the composing world isn't what he had intended to pursue.
"Towards uni I was getting to the point where I was soon to be, in a few years, ageing out of the youth orchestra. I just couldn't imagine not having music in my life so I switched from science engineering to music."
Now Mr Wyatt is recognised as the first Australian First Nations person to conduct one of the state orchestras.
"It's kind of good being the first but then not, because it's 2022 when it happened," said Mr Wyatt.
"It seems crazy that it has taken that long, obviously there are socioeconomic reasons why there aren't more Indigenous people in classical music. But it is still a shame it has taken that long."
Mr Wyatt is hopeful for what this accomplishment will lead to next for himself and for the future Indigenous classical musicians and conductors to come.
