nyilamum song cycles

Presented by Greater Bendigo City Council

Bendigo
The Capital, Bendigo Bank Theatre
Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Country

Sun 9 August 2026 3pm

TICKET PRICES

Fair Share | $50
Community | $45
Champion | $70
Accessible | $20
Supported | $10
First Nations Elders | $0

All tickets are sold by Bendigo Venues and Events.

More Info & Book Now
"Compelling and atmospheric..."
The Guardian
“...the earth seemed to rip open and turned the Muziekgebouw
into an enchanting universe..."
De Nieuwe Muze
"You hear something so special but once in a liftetime!"
De Nieuwe Muze

In partnership with Binung Boorigan and the Greater Bendigo City Council, we bring the award-winning nyilamum song cycles to Bendigo Bank Theatre’s The Capital.

nyilamum song cycles is a concert experience featuring string quartet and voice that intertwines ancient stories and a celebration of language with contemporary reflections on land, identity, and resilience showcasing music from Yorta Yorta Dja Dja Wurrung Dr Lou Bennett AM, and Paul Stanhope. 

nyilamum song cycles debuted at the prestigious 2024 String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam and garnered five-star reviews from its Australian Premiere at the 2025 Adelaide Festival. It has since won a 2025 CreateSA Ruby Award (Outstanding Collaboration) and the 2025 Paul Lowin Song Cycle Prize, and was a finalist in the 2025 APRA AMCOS Art Music Awards (Chamber Music Work of the Year).

CONTENT WARNING

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned the subject matter of this performance includes stories of the deceased.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

DR LOU BENNETT AM (ARR. IAIN GRANDAGE)
baiyan woka

DR LOU BENNETT AM & PAUL STANHOPE
nyilamum song cycles**

Dr Lou Bennett AM – voice

Australian String Quartet
Dale Barltrop – violin
Francesca Hiew – violin
Chris Cartlidge – viola
Michael Dahlenburg – cello

nyilamum – song cycles is presented by Australian String Quartet and Binung Boorigan in association with Adelaide Festival

We acknowledge the Jaara Community and the stories they hold.

Image © Eduardus Lee

*Commissioned as part of Quartet & Country, a commissioning project by the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival and its 2016-2019 Artistic Director, composer Iain Grandage, UKARIA and the Australian String Quartet

** Commissioned by the ASQ with generous support from the nyilamum – song cycles Commissioning Circle and other donors

DURATION

60 minutes, no interval

NOTE

Performed in Djab Wurrung and Yorta Yorta languages