Announced today, Melbourne Recital Centre welcomes Mindy Meng Wang and Erin Helyard as the 2022 Artists in Residence.

Mindy Meng Wang is a Chinese/Australian composer and performer, masterfully trained on the traditional Chinese instrument, the guzheng. Born and classically trained in China, Mindy studied Western Musicology in the UK before migrating to Australia. Excelling in experimental music and improvisation, she is pioneering a new sonic direction for the guzheng.

Erin Helyard is a Australian conductor and instrumentalist, acclaimed for his performances of on the harpsichord and fortepiano. A lucid scholar, Erin is passionate about promoting discourse between musicology and performance, and is currently Artistic Director and co-founder of the celebrated Pinchgut Opera and the Orchestra of the Antipodes.

The Artist in Residence program gives artists the freedom to shape the nature of their time with the Centre, with regularly scheduled performances throughout a calendar year, and encourages artists to engage with the Centre’s program and visiting artists.

Launched in 2017, previous Artists in Residence at Melbourne Recital Centre have included; pianist Anna Goldsworthy, recorder virtuoso Genevieve Lacey, William Barton, and pianist Paul Grabowsky.

Of the 2022 Artist in Residence program, Marshall McGuire, Melbourne Recital Centre’s Director of Programming says, when selecting these impressive artists, “we wanted to shine a light on those artists who have something to say, want to explore, take some risks, and connect with an audience and audiences over the span of a year”.

Melbourne Recital Centre presents Mindy Meng Wang’s concert Nervous Energy, in the Primrose Potter Salon with Tim Shiel, October 8 at 7pm, with more concerts to be announced.

Erin Helyard will perform with and direct musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music in Mostly Mozart – Conflicted Passions, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, June 8 at 11.30am June 8. Erin will also perform with the Orchestra of the Antipodes in Pinchgut Opera 2022 series concert Women of the Pietà by Vivaldi, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, 7pm September 15 and 16.

Mindy and Erin are available for interviews throughout their time as Artists in Residence.

Melbourne Recital Centre’s Artist & Writer-in-Residence is generously supported by the Vizard Foundation.