Michael Sollis being interviewed for “In His Words.” Photo: Liam Budge
On Thursday 6 July, Helen Musa announced: "...Co-artistic directors for the event will be Michael Sollis, Holly Downes and Chris Stone.
Their credentials are strong, double-bass player Downes having founded the String Contingent while directing and programming for Majors Creek Festival, fiddler Stone, the director of the Yarra Valley’s trade/folk music camp, Stringmania, and composer-mandolinist Sollis having founded Canberra’s classical music group The Griffyn Ensemble and been the artistic director of education for Musica Viva Australia.
...All are graduates of the ANU School of Music and all are veterans of the National Folk Festival. In a joint statement where they outline their four principles as excellence, integration, inclusivity and sustainability, they say: 'We…have been consistently involved in the festival since we were teenagers. Now in our late 30s, with a vast collective breadth of experience as musicians, composers, artistic directors and programmers, we want to lead the festival into a new era of vibrancy, excellence, and inclusivity'..."