News
ARIA-nomination for the Wakefield (Season One Official Soundtrack)
Receiving an ARIA nomination for the Wakefield (Season One Official Soundtrack). Here together with co-composers Caitlin Yeo and Damian de Boos-Smith at the ARIA Awards 2021, with Wakefield show creators Kristen Dunphy and Sam Meikle, and Wakefield’s featured Hindustani vocalist Rucha Lange. The soundtrack album is available on all streaming platforms: Spotify Apple Music Youtube Music etc.
Inside Story by Andrew Ford
WAKEFIELD Advanced Screening Launch 23 March 2021
It’s been an incredible couple of years composing and music directing for the ABC TV series Wakefield, created by Kristen Dunphy, showrun by Kristen and Sam Meikle, directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and Kim Mordaunt, and produced by Jungle Entertainment. The music score was composed by myself and Caitlin Yeo, and features multi-instrumentalist Damian de Boos-Smith and vocalist Rucha Lange. The show, along with the dramatic underscore, contains onscreen featured music and dance numbers choreographed by Christopher Horsey. The launch on 23 March 2021 at Event Cinemas Bondi was a chance to share the excitement of completing Season 1 prior to its release on ABC iView on 2 April and broadcast from 18 April. At the launch, Damian and I performed one of the main themes from the series on cello and viola. The score for Wakefield covers an expansive range of emotions, in alignment with the wide emotional range of the characters, the story being based in a psychiatric hospital in the Blue Mountains.
More photos from the event on Jungle Entertainment's Facebook page.
Recipient of Screen NSW's Composer's Attachment with Guy Gross
Screen NSW, Australian Guild of Screen Composers, Church Street Studios and Clandestine Beyond are proud to announce the recipient of the composer’s attachment for the upcoming ABC TV series “Pulse” is Maria Alfonsine.
Amongst an extremely strong field of candidates Maria demonstrated a keen ability to take advantage of the opportunity in terms of her career path, musical ability and dedication to becoming a screen composer. Maria receives a $5,000 fee, access to a variety of music meetings and scoring sessions, and a three-month residency at Church Street Studios. Swedish-born, Maria is an upcoming Sydney-based composer whose previous experience is in short film, theatre and the visual arts.
"The opportunity to gain experience from a real, professional, high-end production will be invaluable to me on my journey of becoming a successful screen composer. The insight in the process, structure and techniques used in serving the story would without doubt benefit me throughout my whole working life as a composer and collaborator." Maria commented.
In consideration of the high quality of the candidates, there were also two runners up: Lydia Davies and Tamara Voilet Partridge. They will be given the opportunity of a residency at Church Street Studios for one month each and opportunity to observe part of the scoring process with "Pulse" composer Guy Gross.
The attachment is a Screen NSW initiative in collaboration with Guy Gross Music, Church Street Studios, Australian Guild of Screen Composers and Clandestine Beyond. The initiative is aimed at addressing the gender imbalance within the screen industry. "Pulse" is shooting in Western Sydney until May 31 and is financed by ABC TV and Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW, with ABC Commercial distributing.
Successful runs of TRADE at Old 505 Theatre Sydney and Bakehouse Theatre Adelaide
A piece about my involvement as the composer for the production by AIM's web team!
AIM GRADUATE MARIA ALFONSINE IS GETTING NOTICED
QUOTES FROM REVIEWS:
“The musical score underpinning the performance, by Maria Alfonsine, is more than apt and in its own way contributes to the humour of the exercise.”
“TRADE is a well-performed, clever theatrical piece – achieving what theatre has always intended to do – to entertain while making a statement about a particular issue ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5”
“Trade isn’t just one of the best productions in Sydney this year, it is one of the best productions I have ever seen. ”
“‘Elaborate sequences involving an energetic ensemble and its strange movement vocabulary, keeps us fascinated and thoroughly amused.’”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Advertiser ‘Captivating performances, zippy choreography and multilayered messages’
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Adelaide Theatre Guide ‘An excellent piece of theatre’
⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Clothesline ‘The action is tight, the ensemble work superb, there’s drama aplenty’
Full reviews here:
Kevin Jackson's Theatre Diary
Lisa Thatcher
Suzy Goes See
Paul Gilchrist Theatre Red - "...this is sharp, very entertaining theatre".
The Advertiser
Adelaide Theatre Guide
The Clothesline
Barefoot Review - "A definite go see."
Chuck Moore Reviews About - "...an "over too quickly" wonderful 60 minutes."
Composer for Fresh Blood's Too Pretty To Be Witty
Proud to announce that I'm the composer for the comedy sketch series "Too Pretty to be Witty" as part of ABC's Fresh Blood! In conjunction with Screen Australia we'll be making three sketches to be screened on ABC iView. Produced by Petra Lovrencic, Executive Producers Skitbox and written by Fiona Gillman.
Starting shooting this weekend!
More to come :)
Photos from our vocal recording session at ABC last week. Matt Pearce and Fiona Gillman singing Love Duet and Basic Bitch, lyrics by Fiona Gillman and Music by Maria Alfonsine.
Into The Blue premiering at Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival!!!
We're so happy and proud to announce that Into The Blue will have its world premiere at the 67th Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival!
Into The Blue is a short film by Croatian/American director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic.
Thirteen year old Julija and her mother flee their abusive household to find refuge on an idyllic Croatian island where Julija grew up. Emotionally scarred, Julija is desperate to reconnect with her best friend, Ana. But Ana is in love with a boy and Julija is no longer a priority. Ana’s mounting rejection re-ignites Julija’s wounds and family history, awakening the monster of violence she thought she’s left behind.
Developed within the programs Berlinale Talents and NISI MASA.
Best Composer Award for Veov Drive by Vittoria Merlino Dentice!!!
WE WON!!!
Thursday evening was a weird one. Again. After watching all the films I sat back and relaxed, confident that I would not receive this award. The music in the other films were amazing, so I felt lucky to have been nominated! But then in Michael McLennan's twists and turns we all heard the magical words VEOV DRIVE, and after that it all got a bit blurry haha...
I am so proud of everyone involved, and so grateful for your hard work in making this happen, this is your award as much as mine!!! By the length of this post it might seem like I believe I've won an Academy Award or something 😜 I'm still grounded, sort of, but while producing these tracks I've worked with the most amazing bunch of people and they deserve all the praise I can possibly give them. I didn't dare mentioning any names yesterday in the fear of forgetting someone, so here they are:
Read MoreBest Composer Nomination for Veov Drive!!!
I'm very happy to announce that the music and lyrics for Veov Drive has resulted in a Best Composer Nomination!!! Come join us for the screening on Thursday 15th December as part of the 25th Sydney Film School Festival at the Chauvel Cinema!!! Huge congratulations to everyone involved!
Composer and Sound Designer for Without Consent by Diane Busuttil
Composing music for the documentary short film Without Consent by Diane Busuttil.
Beautiful performer Chris Higgins playing flute, clarinet, alto and baritone saxophone. Recorded by Jessica Ford (ass. Sam Troy) in The Australian Hall at The Australian Institute of Music.
Session photos and music coming soon!
Composer & Lyricist for Veov Drive by Vittoria Merlino-Dentice
Melody and Leon Day live in a world of their own: they have their own language, games and acceptable behaviour. Melody met Leon in a small town, on one of her escapes from the city. The eccentric couple has been inseparable for the past 30 years, living on the road. The Days aren't your typical 60 year olds. They have something undeniably cool – youth.
Melody is diagnosed with malignant breast cancer. Refusing 'soul-sucking' chemotherapy, she would rather live the rest of her months with the same vitality she always has. There's no slowing down. The couple is as outrageous as ever, leaving a mark everywhere they go.
But tonight is different. The pair are forced, finally, to confront the reality of their situation.
Written and directed by Vittoria Merlino-Dentice. The short film will premiere at the 25th Sydney Film School festival at the Paddington Chauvel in December.
Additional Sound Design for Into The Blue by Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic
Editing mode Into The Blue! Time for sound :)
www.motion.hr
To The Top! a musical short film by Fiona Gillman
The Broadway smash musical ‘To The Top!’ is finally coming to Australia, and the auditions for the lead role of Desiree Starr are going to be fierce. In an industry where everyone is just a number, how will Heidi, Kathy and Patrice make their mark? A musical satire following three girls auditioning for the role of a life time, 'To The Top!' explores the heartache, joy, disappointments and perseverance that comes with following your dreams. Directed by Fiona Gillman and produced by Holly Fraser, with music by Zac Threadgold and Maria Alfonsine.
Awards:
Audience Choice Award - Sydney Film School Festival - 2015
Most Outstanding Performance - Sydney Film School Festival - 2015
Best Composer - Sydney Film School Festival - 2015
Best Editor - Sydney Film School Festival - 2015
Best Producer - Sydney Film School Festival - 2015
Introducing Fiona Gillman as Heidi, Patrice and Kathy; three women (with varying degrees of talent) competing for the role of a lifetime.
Principal Cast:
Heidi Evans, Patrice Pupette, Kathy Grubler: Fiona Gillman
Lettuce: David Hov
Nayeli: Anna Chase
Key Crew:
Writer/Director: Fiona Gillman
Producer/Co-Director: Holly Fraser
Director of Photography: Gourav Gandhi
Head Designer: Kieran Strang
Editor: Rita Moricz
Sound Recordist: Daisuke Chiba
Sound Mixer: John Hresc
Composers: Maria Alfonsine, Zac Threadgold
The audition song and underscore composed by Maria Alfonsine and the opening number by Zac Threadgold.
Composing and performing for Blue-S-Cat by Koffi Kwahulé
Presented by theatre company Hurrah Hurrah and directed by Alicia Gonzalez.
A man and a woman are trapped in an elevator. Alone in an unnamed city, confined and isolated by their own thoughts. Blue-S-Cat is an absurdist dramedy. Using the improvisational rhythms of jazz; the characters’ inner monologues propel the story and music of the play across a complex landscape of the mind.
On stage you will see the actors Alison Bennett and Robert Rhode, with dance choreographed by Dymphna Carew. The music will be co-created and performed by jazz guitarist Tom Wood and vocalist Maria Alfonsine.
About the Playwright
Koffi Kwahulé is an Ivorian writer and playwright. In 2006 he won the Prix Ahmadous Kourouma for his novel Babyface, and the Grand Prix Ivoirien des Lettres.
A native of Abengrourou, Kwahulé began his artistic studies at the National Arts Institute in Abidjan. Upon receiving a state scholarship, he continued his studies in France, working at the École Nationale Supérieure des arts et des techniques du Théâtre de Paris. He received a doctorate in theatrical studies at the Sorbonne. Since 1977, he has written over twenty plays, some of which have been published by Lansman and Théâtrales. His language has been described as musical, influenced by the rhythms of jazz. Today Kwahulé is among the most popular African playwrights in the world; his work has been translated into numerous languages, and his plays have been shown in Europe, the United States, and Canada.
The play is translated from French to English by Chantal Bilodeau.
SEASON
Old 505 Theatre, Newtown
23 August – 28 August
PERFORMANCES
Tues - Sat, 8:00pm
Sun, 6pm
Alfonsine playing jazz at the Scandinavian Film Festival 2016
We're back at Palace Cinemas' Scandinavian Film Festival for the third year in a row. Always a great pleasure playing some Swedish jazz at the Opening Night!
Scott Allan, Maria Alfonsine, Tom Wood, Kern Hendricks.
For more info about the festival and the movies please visit Scandinavian Film Festival
Composing music and lyrics for Lemon Tree by Alicia Gonzalez
Artefacts: Stories about artists
4pm 2nd July 2016 | Blank_Space Gallery | Surry Hills
Lemon Tree presented by Artefacts is a short absurd theatre-bite, exploring freedom, self-preservation and human nature. A Marquez Laundry Theatre Co. production written by Alicia Gonzalez.
CAST & CREATIVES: Alicia Gonzalez, Mathias Olofsson & Maria Alfonsine
I have written a little operatic piece for vocals and cello will be performed by the super talented vocalist Emma Druett and the amazing cellist Sister Ursuline.
Artefacts is a storytelling exhibition and a collaborative effort between artists and the public, bringing together some diverse and compelling cross-cultural works by visual and performing artists from two seemingly disparate but very distinctive disciplines. This exhibition is curated and initiated by Sydney curator Arthur Chan, whilst the original exhibition was held in 2014 at Melbourne's Chinese Museum.
Composing Music for Babelism:Love & Memory
BABELISM:LOVE & MEMORY explores how love has impacted your self worth and what memory you retain from past experiences that affect your 'now' state of being.
Babelism:Love & Memory, has been a birthing affair for artist Sarah Vickery for almost two years. Her desire to create devised work sprung from her influences Marina Abramović, Martha Graham, Pina Bausch and Olwen Fouéré. These women have all been unaware, distant mentors who have made heavy handed impressions on the drive and conception of Babelism – a series of endurance works focusing on different aspects of the human condition.
Drawn from the artists’ personal experiences, Babelism:Love & Memory is an intimate live art performance for an audience of 12. Hosted by project facilitators Sarah Vickery and Mathias Olofsson in the centre of the room, the 12 viewers will be presented with a series of considered questions and thoughts relating to love and self-worth. Project facilitators will interact with the audience and Maria Alfonsine’s composed sound design through gesture and movement to express these thoughts and questions. A 45 minute experience where YOU are the most important person in the room.
Babelism:Love & Memory, is a part of Melbourne Fringe Festival 2016 at Metanoia Theatre at the Mechanics Institute in Brunswick from 28th September – 2nd October.
Composing for Mens Rea by Raghav Handa
A dance performance piece performed and choreographed by Raghav Handa.
Mens rea gathers influences from Australian Aboriginal and Indian cultures and explores the concept of shape-shifting. Set against the background of the Hindu epic Ramayana, it uses 3D motion capture technology, animated CG character and stylistically diverse dance languages and aesthetics. Handa shifts shape to embody three mythic characters and creates a world where intentions, emotions and personas are beguiling and mercurial.
Paradigm-shifting forces at work. Images blurred and boundaries crossed.
Maria Alfonsine's pieces draw influences from Krzysztof Penderecki's Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima and Arvo Pärt's Perpetuum Mobile Op.10.
The show will open at Centre Of Contemporary Arts in Cairns on the 24th of June and then go to Brisbane and London. Click here for more info about the show or go to Mens Rea's Facebook Page.