Kettering Concerts

Kettering Concert 2025-10-05

Piano & String Duo
Sue Collins (violin), Erin Sweetman (piano)

Romance is in the air

Programme:

Passacaglia in G minor for solo violin – Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber (1644-1704) (Sue Collins)
Three Romances for Violin and Piano Op. 22 – Clara Josephine Schumann (1819-1896) (Sue Collins and Erin Sweetman)
Three Romances for Oboe or Violin and Piano Op. 94 – Robert Schumann (1810-1856) (Sue Collins and Erin Sweetman)
Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 100 for Piano and Violin – Thun – Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) (Sue Collins and Erin Sweetman)

Sunday 5 October 2025, 3pm
Kettering Community Hall
Tickets available on-line and at the door
$20 online or $25 cash at the door
Stay for the post-concert afternoon tea, meet and chat with the musicians.

Sue Collins

Sue Collins "Plays these extraordinary scores with a remarkable sureness of touch, following even the most unexpected shifts in phrasing and expressive direction with micro-fine precision."
Julian Haylock, The Strad, May 2009.

At age 14, Susan performed Sarasate’s Zigeunerweissen with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Patrick Thomas at the Sydney Opera House. Since that time, she has performed as soloist and recitalist throughout Australia, the USA and Europe. Critically acclaimed commercial CD releases include the complete violin works of Raymond Hanson (Tall Poppies) with pianist, David Miller, the complete Schumann Piano Trios (ABC Classics) with Kingfisher Trio, and Fritz Hart Music for Violin and Piano with Stephanie McCallum (Toccata Classics).
From 1992 until 2001, Susan held the position of Deputy Concertmaster of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and in 2003 was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for her contribution to Opera and Ballet. From 2014 to 2021 she was Head of Strings and Orchestra at University of Tasmania Conservatorium following a 6-year tenure at University of Newcastle. Now based in Queensland, she teaches at Qld Conservatorium, Griffith University.
In recent years, Susan has enjoyed performing as a featured artist in music festivals including Dark Mofo, Synesthesia, Ten Days on the Island and Bangalow festivals. In 2022, Susan conducted the Queensland Youth Orchestra and performed as soloist for the organisation’s fundraising event, was a featured artist at the Newcastle Music Festival, joined the panel of international judges for the Lipizer Violin Competition in Italy, and conducted the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra’s final Metro Concert.
Since 2018, Susan is Musical Director of the Riverina Summer School for Strings. In 2021, she founded the Nova Muse Festival in Penguin as Artistic Director, which is a highlight of her year.

Erin Sweetman

In demand as a soloist, chamber musician, accompanist and teacher, Erin Sweetman is one of the Hunter region’s most loved musicians. Most recently, Erin performed Beethoven’s virtuosic Emperor Concerto and in 2024, Rachmaninoff’s epic Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Opus 43. These performances, alongside Christ Church Camerata and conducted by David Banney, were significant milestones in Erin’s performance career. Erin performed George Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue as soloist for the opening concert of the 2023 Newcastle Music Festival. Erin featured as the guest Musical Director for the Newcastle University Choir “From Broadway to the West End” performance in 2023, and has performed in the Christ Church Cathedral Lenten recitals, as both a soloist and collaborative artist. In 2023, Erin performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto, No. 12 in A Major as piano soloist with Christ Church Camerata. Erin was a featured artist in the Newcastle University Choir concert performances of the Jenkins The Armed Man: A Maa for Peace, Brahms Requiem and Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light – A Requiem. She has appeared annually as associate artist and soloist in the Newcastle Music Festival and in concerts at the Newcastle Art Gallery. Erin proudly performed in the International 1:1 concert series devised in response to audience restrictions during the pandemic. Erin performed as soloist in the Maitland Heritage Festival in 2021 – 2025. Erin features with cellist Anthea Scott-Mitchell on the album Into the Silence and appeared at the 2022 Newcastle Writers Festival accompanying readings from author Julia Baird. As an associate artist, Erin regularly works with the Hunter Singers and the Newcastle University Choir. Erin has toured nationally and internationally, including performances at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and the World Choir Games (Cincinnati), and most recently to the United Kingdon and France with the Hunter Singers. Erin regularly prepares and presents the Musica Viva pre-concert talks for the Newcastle concert series.

Julie Stoneman – Artist

Tasmanian visual artist Julie Stoneman articulates & amplifies the often-unseen forces shaping our landscapes. Julie’s contemporary narratives deepen our understanding of and connections with landscape & geology. Julie’s cross disciplinary training as a landscape architect & visual artist, combined with numerous residencies (including Grindells Hut, Vulkathunha Gammon Ranges SA, 2024) inform her unique contemporary approach. For more info visit www.fluxstudio.space