Media Release 28/09/2026

Oboist Celia Craig, pianist Michael Ierace and cellist Thomas Marlin as Tarrawatta Trio presented an evening dedicated to the extraordinary, story of the hidden neurodiversity and synaesthesia of Dr Miriam Hyde AO, OBE, at the “Wall House” home of Professor Norman Etherington AM in North Adelaide.

Designed by Sydney-based architect Nathan Etherington precisely for intimate gatherings and concerts such as this; the house’s natural light and open spaces framed stunning views of Adelaide’s St Peter’s Cathedral which surrounded guests in the evening’s sunlight as they enjoyed the local history story and Hyde’s lyrical, intimate chamber music.

Featured as WallHouse in Habitus Living, the home of history professor, author and academic Norman Etherington reflects his family’s intense interest and expertise in history.

The program opened with Nightfall and Merrymaking by Dr. Hyde, written for the Adelaide- based Czech duo Jiří and Vera Tancibudek, legendary teachers of oboe and piano, tracing a lineage of musical pedagogy in Australia’s UNESCO CIty of Music.

Former Principal Oboe of Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Craig decided in 2018 to pursue her own projects on synaesthesia. She won Australian Women in Music Awards 2023, Creative Arts Fellow National Library of Australia 2024 among other awards, and it was reading of Miriam’s intimate, 1930s letters in Canberra that sparked her passion for this story.

Pianists Dr. Miriam Hyde and Michael Ierace share an important piece of South Australian cultural history. Both were prizewinning, triennial Elder Overseas Scholars who trained at the Royal College of Music, London - almost a century apart - Hyde in the 1930s. In fact, the Trio have all studied in London: Craig is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music since 1997, and Grammy-nominated cellist Marlin studied at The Guildhall School London and at YST Conservatory Singapore.

In late October, Tarrawatta Trio will be in residence at the Australian International School, Singapore, presenting talks and workshops on Hyde’s life and music and supporting students with synaesthesia to understand more about the hidden condition. In addition, Craig and Ierace will also present a public talk on Synaesthesia supporting oboe teachers, hosted by MY Double Reed Store in Kuala Lumpur in the UNESCO Creative city’s new concert hall, Tutan Skyline at The Icon.

While leading this project; Craig is driven by the complex, involuntary experience of seeing colour in music, which she shares with Hyde and with Sibelius and Bernstein (who mentored her personally as a student). She commented:

“Synaesthesia is such an important subject to explore with school children and their staff. Miriam’s true story is amazing. By knowing her detailed, intimate letters, we can realise how far her legacy was unfairly diminished.”

This Adelaide to London narrative has reached the world’s oldest music charity, The Royal Society of Musicians (founded by Handel in 1738) which works to support musicians with mental health or other issues that affect their performing careers. Chair George Caird said:

“Congratulations to Celia Craig for developing her exciting new project, ‘Intimate Dialogues’, that seeks to bring together a distinguished artistic team to promote Australian music and especially Adelaide’s music internationally under the literally colourful flag of a shared interest in synaesthesia. Celia Craig has built a strong international reputation as a solo and ensemble oboist and her work is constantly evolving and finding new links for Australia across the world.”

And the North Adelaide Wall house?

“...sits a little bit out of time: it’s not a historic project, yet the contemporary expression is completely contingent on a historical understanding,” said Nathan Etherington.

This perfectly describes this ongoing project by Craig with Tarrawatta Trio; re-evaluating the true legacy of Hyde – whose music has for decades seems a little out of time, even unfashionable – but who could really be, a relevant, modern-day icon for neurodiversity.

Tour Details

Hyde Synaesthesia residency: 22/23 October, Australian International School, Singapore

Artists: Celia Craig (oboe), Michael Ierace (piano); Tarrawatta Trio with Thomas Marlin (cello)

Intimate Dialogues world premiere oboe recital and synaesthesia talk: 24/25 October, Tutan Skyline @ The Icon, Kuala Lumpur

Artists: Celia Craig (oboe) Michael Ierace (piano).

Media contact: Anna McKenzie, PR & Marketing Manager, email [email protected]

ENDS

Notes to editors

Dr. Miriam Hyde AO, OBE, AMUA, LAB, MusBacHons, ARCM, LRAM, HonDLitt, HonFMusA, HonFMIT, FCompASMC, HonDipMus (1913–2005) was an Australian composer, pianist and teacher; an Elder Overseas Scholar at Royal College of Music, London in 1932, who was appointed AO in 1991.

Celia Craig BA Hons LRAM, ARAM, EMCC, is an elected Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, Visiting International Lecturer at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Michael Ierace is an Adelaide-based pianist on staff at Elder Conservatorium and a Triennial Elder Overseas Scholar who studied at the Royal College of Music, London.

Thomas Marlin is a Grammy-nominated modern and baroque cellist in Adelaide, former student at YST Singapore and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London.

Tarrawatta Trio

Their name referencing both traditional lands and original pioneer buildings in the Barossa; Tarrawatta Trio’s first intimate chamber concerts were at Collingrove Homestead when Craig was Resident Artist with the National Trust of South Australia (until 2024).