Waterway custodian Rrawun Maymuru will soon make his debut with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.

The Orchestra's 2025 season - marking its 35th anniversary - boasts an exhilarating program of six live concert series.

The fifth concert series, Water Music, will feature the debut of a stirring original composition by contemporary composer Nick Wales, performed by Arnhem Land ocean and waterway custodian Maymuru. Delivered in Yolngu languag, this will also mark the creative's first appearance with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.

As seasoned collaborators, Wales and Maymuru's newest composition is said to be a powerful and heartfelt ode to water, and will be premiered alongside a rendition of Handel's complete Water Music masterpiece.

"This is the first time I will perform with an Orchestra and I am proud that it's with the Brandenburg. It's also the first time I will perform live with Nick Wales. Together we record beautiful music, so to perform these songs together for the first time is going to be Manymuk," said Maymuru.

The talented musician said he is most looking forward to sharing his First Nations culture with audience members.

"Taking my Songlines to a bigger audience and sharing my culture and doing so working with the Brandenburg and my music collaborator Nick Wales," he said.

Co-Founder and managing director Bruce Applebaum said he is looking forward to welcoming the Orchestra's new chapter and all the new talent involved.

"As we usher in another exciting new chapter in the Brandenburg evolving narrative, our latest season reflects deeply on the theme of 'Life'—a concept both vast and intimately personal. In this quickly changing world, we offer moments of reflection as we delve into life's profound questions, as always in the Brandenburg's uniquely bold and energised style," he said.

In Water Music the Orchestra explores a homage to water's spiritual and cultural significance as the foundation of our existence and survival: the essential element of life.

Described as a powerful and resonant tribute from seasoned collaborators, Water Music, serves as an experiential meditation on our custodial duty to our world. Through music and song, the orchestra and creative duo explore the crucial themes of water's essence, and our collective responsibility to cherish, conserve and protect it.

In this concert experience, water is not only celebrated but revered—a reminder of water as the constant, vital thread flowing through our past, our present, and our future.

Maymuru comes from a long line of Yolngu songmen from Yirrkala a remote community in North East Arnhem Land. He is the direct grandson of Dr Yunupingu and sings in both English and Yolngu Mata. His songs strive to reflect a love for country and culture as well as his distinct perspective on the modern world.

Recognised as a strong and prolific songwriter, Rrawun penned the song Bayini that gave Gurrumul Yunupingu his first No.1 ARIA chart single. In October 2016 Maymuru debuted his live solo set at the request of Rhoda Roberts for Homeground Festival at the Sydney Opera House - it was here that the public witnessed the power of Rrawun's extraordinary vocals.

In 2012 Maymuru went on to be awarded the GR Burrarwanga Memorial Award for best new talent at the National Indigenous Music Awards.

Maymuru now also fronts the Aboriginal rock band East Journey, who have been awarded the 2015 Music NT Song of the Year [Rock category] and 2014 'Film Clip of the Year' at the National Indigenous Music Awards [NIMAs] for Bright Lights Big City.

Rrawun's ability to transcend language and cultural barriers with his distinct resonance is an experience that can be seen, heard and felt.

The Orchestra's 2025 season will also feature a vast range of other talented creatives who are set to engage and retain the attention of both the public and attending critics.

Water Music Dates:

City Recital Hall, Sydney

Tue 14 October, 7PM

Wed 15 October, 7PM

Fri 17 October, 7PM

Sat 18 October, 2PM

Sat 18 October, 7PM

Melbourne Recital Centre

Thu 9 October, 7PM

Sat 11 October, 7PM

Sun 12 October, 5PM

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