The Freestyle Orchestra
Since moving to Vienna I have met and joined forces with The Freestyle Orchestra, a group of highly trained classical musicians and circus performers.
The initial ideas for what has become ‘The Freestyle Orchestra’ were formed between 2004-2006 during studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Australia, by a collective entitled “L’Assemblée dès Rêveurs” (The Assembly of Dreamers).
“A vivid performance that saw the soloist spinning above the stage during the first tutti and string players leaping, dancing and tumbling, often with instruments in hand, without ever dropping a note/Spectacular double bill.”
‘Maninyas’, Music by Ross Edwards, Choreography by The Freestyle Orchestra
Performances at Vivid Festival 2019, Sydney Australia (City Recital Hall Sydney and Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre Penrith)
Performing in various combinations over the following years, the goals were always the same:
To combine the highest possible standard of classical music performance with the existing backgrounds in circus arts, street and physical theatre, exploring new directions in concert presentation and designing performances aiming to entertain classical and non-classical fans alike.
Combining classical music with skills in various circus disciplines, gymnastics, ballet, martial arts, yoga, costume design, physical theatre and other genres of music, Freestyle explore the boundaries of what is physically possible for an orchestra to do.
They wish to challenge perceptions of how classical music is presented, and engage with new and existing audiences through flexibility and innovation.
The Freestyle team comprises original members from Australia as well as some of Europe’s top all-round virtuosos, with the current orchestra made up of artists of 12 different nationalities, living in 9 different countries. Highlights include performances at Mosaique Wien (Austria), Zirkus Pikard (Austria), Venice Biennale (Italy), ‘The Marble Circus’ (Italy) and Les Jardins Musicaux (Switzerland), City Recital Hall, (Sydney, Australia).
The Looking Glass Cabaret, Vienna