NextSunday 17 May, 1:30pm & 3:00pm
Conductor: Edward McKnight
Presenter:
Emily Who
Dress up as your favourite animal, bird or insect! This year’s KPO Kid’s Proms is taking you on an adventure to the corners of the globe discovering the sounds and sights of earth’s animal life through music - meeting giants of the jungle to the great whales of the oceans!
The annual KPO Kid’s Proms is a great opportunity for the whole family to experience together an exciting adventure through much loved classical music masterpieces. The program is devised for children aged 3-10 years -with those younger and older also welcome. This is a fun-filled afternoon of entertaining music that will capture the hearts, minds and imagination of children and adults alike, whilst inspiring a love of music.
Led by conductor Edward McKnight and presenter Emily Who this hour- long concert is presented in an entertaining and engaging way, allowing the audience to interact with the musicians of KPO and guest young musicians from Sunshine Philharmonic Orchestra and the conductor, experiencing the orchestral instruments at close range.
The audience hear samples of some of the most beloved orchestral works by famous composers like Beethoven, Handel, Tchaikovsky and Strauss in an informal setting, providing a great introduction to classical music and contemporary culture, including this year's commissioned composer Harry Sdraulig.. These works will highlight the features and possibilities of each instrument and are sure to inspire those thinking of learning to play.
Join us for these Amazing Animal Adventures with KPO! We will scale the highest peaks and dive to the lowest depths to find the wonderful sounds of earth’s animal kingdom!
Emily Who
Emily Who is an Australian children’s singer who recently released her fourth album of songs for preschool-aged kids.
She regularly performs live shows across Sydney. Recent performances have included Sydney Fringe Festival, the Spot on Kids Festival at Riverside Parramatta, and alongside Bluey and Paw Patrol at the Sydney Zoo. She writes and presents annual children’s performances for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Youth Orchestras and Kur-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also the creator of two webseries: the Kids Couch Concert Series and Musical Pirate Adventures, on which she collaborated with Arcadia Winds.
In 2023 Emily received the award for Best Children’s Performer NSW - overall winner AND people’s choice, through Whats On 4 Kids awards. She was also nominated for Best Album at the Major Minor Music Awards.
She has recently returned from overseas, where she performed at children’s festival in Bologna, Italy, and in preschools across England.
Edward McKnight
Edward McKnight is a Sydney-based conductor, educator, and composer. He studied music education, musicology and conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where he was awarded the Sir Charles Mackerras Scholarship for Conducting and was the twice-recipient of the Alan Bellhouse Award for Conducting. Edward has completed conducting courses with the Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute and Symphony Services Australia in Sydney, Melbourne and Tasmania.
As a composer, Edward's works are often described as highly evocative; drawing inspiration from visual scenes and imagery. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by schools and community ensembles across the state, as well as by the NSW Performing Arts Unit and NSW Regional Youth Orchestras. In 2022, he conducted one of his works for the education performance of the Australian World Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House.
When he's not composing or conducting, Edward teaches computer technology and sound/lighting production. Edward has conducted the Kur-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra's Kids Proms since 2024.