Adam Simmons appears for the fifth season (over 2 years) of his exciting project The Usefulness of Art which has been a brilliant journey through contemporary composition, influenced by music around the world.  A joyful, totally immersive experience by one of Australia’s most versatile multi instrumentalists. CutCommon Article here.

The Kites of Tianjin is a 60min work by Adam Simmons, inspired by the Chinese city’s renowned “Wei Kites”, created by Wei Yuantai (1872-1961). It will be the fifth and final project as part of a two-year series of large ensemble works presented under the banner of “The Usefulness of Art” (TUoA)

The work will feature Wang Zheng-Ting on sheng (Chinese mouth organ) as featured soloist with the Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble, and set design by award winning quilter, Rachaeldaisy. The work will explore the ideas of breath, flight, colour and movement.

‘The performance, heightened by strong visual and theatrical elements, again evidenced Simmons’s far-reaching ambition for The Usefulness of Art program.’ Des Cowley, Australian Book Review of The Calling

This project is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants Program.