World Premiere with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra - Ode to Joy
The world premiere of the Robert Davidson orchestration of Kalkani was performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, featuring the powerhouse violinist Véronique Serret who co-composed the work with William Barton. Derived from the musical project, Heartland, Barton and Serret's ‘message of peace and love carried by the eagle spirit’ soared alongside Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Sculthorpe’s Earth Cry which champions the human will for freedom and equality.
Premiere in the US with Cape Symphony - Passport Down Under
Cape Symphony debuts the land “down under” program that features the US premiere of two William Barton works: Apii Thatini Mu Murtu and Didge Fusion. Barton will grace the stage performing didgeridoo, in a musical journey that revels in Aboriginal Australian art, performance, and culture.
Premiere in Canada with the Australian Chamber Orchestra
William Barton joins the Australian Chamber Orchestra as guest soloist in a concert at George Weston Recital Hall. Another first for Barton as his works Didge Fusion and Hypersonic are premiered in Canada. The program explores the rich diversity of music for strings, featuring fellow Wise Music composer, Bryce Dessner and his work Aheym.