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William Barton and Friends

  • State Library NSW - The Library Auditorium (enter via Mitchell Building) 1 Shakespeare Place Sydney, NSW, 2000 Australia (map)

A special night of performances and readings curated by William Barton, featuring friends and collaborators across disciplines.

Tue, 30 September 2025, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

General Admission:  $45.00
Concession:  $35.00
Library Friends:  $30.00

Register for this event

On site: The Library Auditorium (enter via Mitchell Building)

Join renowned composer and multi-instrumentalist William Barton, one of the Library’s Creative Residents in 2025, for a special night of multidisciplinary performances and readings in the Library Auditorium.

Featuring Aunty Delmae Barton, Véronique Serret, Jack Thompson and Rupert McCall.

William Barton

William Barton is Australia’s leading didgeridoo player as well as a highly esteemed composer, instrumentalist and vocalist. William first learnt the instrument from his uncle, Arthur Peterson, an Elder of the Wannyi, Lardil and Kalkadunga people and was working from an early age with traditional dance groups, fusion/rock/jazz bands, orchestras, string quartets and mixed ensembles. William holds honorary doctorates from both Griffith University and the University of Sydney. He has released five albums on the ABC Classics label including Heartland (2022) with Véronique Serret and the words of William’s mother, Aunty Delmae Barton. William has been developing a new musical language, which is epitomised in this record. William was named Queensland Australian of the Year for 2023 and was an Australian of the Year Nominee. He has won several other awards throughout his career, including the APRA AMCOS and Australian Music Centre Art Music Awards’ Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music in 2023. 

The heart of humanity is our lullaby, the heart of our cultural identity is our language. The heart of our legacy of humanity is through knowledge and a safe keeping place. Preserving our story of now for future generations to come. May we acknowledge our ancestors and cultural ambassadors and protectors to continue with their strength and spirit.

— William Barton

Earlier Event: September 28
Moonstruck