Program note –

Ascension – for string chamber orchestra. (duration 12 minutes)

The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams holds iconic status for all violinists as one of the sublime pinnacles of the repertoire.
My mother performed it several times early in her career and many decades later it became the soundtrack of choice during her final days.
Ascension is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Heather Westlake (nee Sumner), who recently passed away aged 95, and is an intimate dialogue between strings, distilled from a deeply personal expression of treasured recollections.

Reflecting on Heather’s life and career during the composition process, I found myself revisiting the gentle warmth and skyward rising melodies of The Lark, perhaps secretly hoping that some it’s glorious magic might leave a faint fingerprint on the score.

“Now when I’m gone” she would exclaim with a characteristic wry smile, “ ….I don’t want any fuss or musical dedications please!”

She probably guessed I wasn’t listening.

Ascension was commissioned by the Australian Chamber Orchestra for the ACO’s 50^thanniversary celebrations.

Embargoed until April 2026.