Lyanne Macfarlane - A life enriched by music and giving back in the community
Lyanne MacFarlane
A life enriched by music and the joy of giving back in the community
Lyanne delivered a vibrant, entertaining and encouraging account of her journey and the effect music can have for everyone’s wellbeing. She describes herself as an “accidental musician”. In fact, her whole musical journey nearly didn’t happen. Now she finds herself back in her home town taking on the role of “accidental musician” once again.
Her musical journey began at Sydney Conservatorium in 1976. She graduated in 1980 with A Diploma Music Education, and Certificates of Vocal Studies and of Dalcroze Eurhythmics.
Then music took her on the most amazing journey from singing tours through South East Asia, singing at the opening night of the Proms in Royal Albert Hall, singing with Ward Swingle and the Swingle Singers, performing with Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music, Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and working alongside some of the most amazing conductors on the planet including Charles Dutoit, Vlademir Ashkenazy, and more recently David Roberston and the SSO. She has been mentored by some of the most esteemed music educators including Richard Gill and Brett Weymark. She believes she is definitely the luckiest lady on the planet, albeit accidentally.
Lyanne is passionate about Music Education and specifically the way in which singing can enrich and enhance all our lives. She demonstrated this to all present with a little warm up and sing along - with harmonies! Her message of overall health benefits and particularly brain health held everyone’s attention and imagination of what could be achieved with music. She is currently involved with residents of Bushland Place by way of forming a choir which not only enriches their lives but also enhances their physical and mental wellbeing.
Her hope for the future is that we can all involve ourselves in singing at some level and that singing will eventually take over the world.
