In March I had the pleasure of playing Principal Oboe with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Full of wonderful players, it’s a brilliant orchestra to work...
Associate, Royal Academy of Music, London (1997)
Fellowship, Arts South Australia (2020)
Excellence in Classical Award, Australian Women in Music (2023)
Creative Arts Fellowship, National Library of Australia (2024)
Biennial Artist, Arts South Australia (2024-2026)
I didn’t start as an oboist- I was focussed on violin…
Like many people, I began the oboe at high school (Northampton) age 12 as a second instrument.
My intensive early age music training on violin- started by request on my fourth birthday! I was lucky to have a series of extremely good violin teachers and plenty of chamber and orchestral playing. We lived in several locations, including abroad and for three years I had violin lessons in German. Immediately, my brain linked the experience of music (harmony and intonation). My involuntary colours corresponding to each key were really very strong (sometimes I couldn’t see at all when I was playing.! Violinists (more so than oboists) have to practice very long hours, eg. 6 hours a day, but I didn’t mind, I loved the minute challenges of trying to get something very difficult, better. As a teenager I travelled for lessons in various cities and also learnt in German for 3 years when we lived abroad (playing as a tiny kid in the local youth orchestra.)…
Celia offers
When I was very young, I used to experience music in a haze of colours like smoke, full of swirly patterns and textures, and sometimes couldn’t see properly. Synesthesia is associated with really strong emotions (usually really good but can also be scary) and it seems to encourage these artists to want to try and share their experience. Synesthesia is also a little triggering: it makes you want to shout out or cry or jump up and down. You can even offend people, or get very excited.
I’ve been trying to do this with Artaria, with Colours of Home, and investigating other musicians such as Billie Eilish and now, Miriam Hyde OBE, AO. My Creative Arts Fellowship at the National Library of Australia is so exciting- as I felt she might have had synesthesia so can’t wait to get to know her better as a young woman- read about my project here in my blog.
Promoting the wider public awareness of neurodivergent experience and benefits through classical music with a special emphasis on South Australia’s creative women; I make beautiful music with special people to create experiences of colourful harmony for audiences of all ages.
Teaming up with talented individuals, I produce high quality harmonic experiences to resonate with audiences of all ages. I’m especially interested in amplifying the continuing history of South Australia’s creative women, and in encouraging more music education for children.
Creative Arts Fellow 2024 at National Library of Australia, Celia was awarded the Justice Elizabeth Fullarton “Excellence in Classical” Award at Australian Women in Music Awards 2023. Master of The Kings Music, Judith Weir CBE, dedicated her first Oboe Concerto to Celia, co-commissioned by Adelaide, Tasmanian and Western Australian Symphony Orchestras in 2018.
Live events, past, current and future grant arts projects
At the end of the year, Celia plans to visit her family in France and England. At the same time, in January and February, she will conduct a masterclass with the Royal Academy of Music as part of the Carmen Perpetuum Project. During her stay in Europe, Celia intends to establish contacts to explore the cultural and musical richness of South Australia, to foster possible cultural exchanges in the future.
Celia has been chosen as an Art Fellow to collaborate with the National Library of Australia on the Myriam Hyde Research Project. The project focuses on showcasing the life and contributions of Myriam Hyde, an Australian composer and pianist who, like Celia, experienced synaesthesia.
Celia receives this award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to South Australia. These include notable concerts and performances in which she has acted as an accomplished accompanist to well-known classical orchestras. In addition, her leadership in organising exclusive musical evenings with the Tarrawatta Group has been commendable. The award also recognises her impactful role as an educator, with special mention of the Colors of Home programme in collaboration with MVIS.
In March I had the pleasure of playing Principal Oboe with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Full of wonderful players, it’s a brilliant orchestra to work...
Crafto Art Supplies is a passion project of a group of crafters and makers with a shared interest in creating and shopping for hard-to-find materials....
Celia has been chosen as an Art Fellow to collaborate with the National Library of Australia on the Myriam Hyde Research Project. The project focuses...
Crafto Art Supplies is a passion project of a group of crafters and
makers with a shared interest in creating and shopping for hard-to-find
materials.
We are a multi-dimensional brand that aims to build a community
where art thrives, through our products and workshops.
Crafto Art Supplies is a passion project of a group of crafters and
makers with a shared interest in creating and shopping for hard-to-find
materials.
We are a multi-dimensional brand that aims to build a community
where art thrives, through our products and workshops.
I’ve just spent a delightful month at the National Library of Australia as a 2024...
Read More“Miriam Hyde (1913-2005) … Australian composer, pianist and teacher with an impressionistic style … was...
Read MoreWhen I was fifteen, I spent a wonderful summer in Germany preparing for an audition...
Read More“Celia Craig… a talented musician… with a great vision for classical music… this innovative approach of using 21st-century technology to enhance our cultural heritage…”
– Hon. Anne Levy, AO, former Minister for the Arts, SA, Chevalier de la Legion D’Honneur
Congratulations beautiful Celia. You have given so many people a wonderful year of glorious music
margaret_lalchere
“Celia is a rare talent who fortunately chose to live and work in Adelaide. As Australia’s UNESCO City of Music we need to nurture, celebrate and support her”
– The Hon. Steven Marshall, MP, former Premier of South-Australia
Such a fun concert last night pleasure playing with you!Reply Hideit was a pleasure playing with you!
yujinplaysflute
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