McClelland is delighted to present the fifth season of the Music at McClelland program in 2026, made possible through the generous support of founding donor Igor Zambelli OAM, Mary-Jane Gething AO, and The Robert Salzer Foundation.

Curated once again by the brilliant Monica Curro, this year brings together a rich tapestry of musical voices—from celebrated soloists and dynamic ensembles to emerging artists and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Set within the inspiring surrounds of the Sarah & Baillieu Myer Education Pavilion, each performance invites audiences to experience the profound connection between music, art, and landscape. We look forward to welcoming you in 2026.

— Lisa Byrne

Michelle Nicolle and Paul Grabowsky have been aware of each other for a very long time. As Michelle says, she ‘grew up’ watching Paul on television and was aware of his work with the great Vince Jones and others; somewhat later Paul became aware of Michelle’s trajectory toward becoming, in his words, ‘one of the greatest jazz singers Australia has produced’.

A few years back they began a conversation around songs they were drawn to, and it was immediately clear that their tastes converged at the melancholy, the testimonial, the heartbreak ballads that speak of love’s sometimes bitter ironies. The Covid lockdowns certainly helped them to focus on this project, one that led to the recording of their ABC Jazz album ‘Noir’, a collection of standards and originals that reveal sentiment rather than sentimentality, great beauty in deepest shadow, empathy and calm. As Paul puts it, ‘we have found a happy place in these sad songs, in which each shadow reveals new light’.

Music at McClelland is generously supported by Igor Zambelli OAM, Mary-Jane Gething AO and The Robert Salzer Foundation. It is a seated event and is held in the Sarah and Baillieu Myer Education Pavilion.

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