Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, is touring regional Queensland with Camera Live!, giving its first performance tonight in Caloundra. The concert features the world premiere of a commissioned work by emerging composer Samuel Dickenson, called Returning to the Sand. Dickenson was given assistance to travel to K’gari (Fraser Island) to research the work, which he has focused on the shipwreck of the NZHS Maheno to be found aground on 75 Mile Beach. Dickenson spoke to Limelight about his composition.

Samuel Dickenson with the shipwreck of the NZHS Maheno on K’gari (Fraser Island). All photographs  supplied

How did the commission come about?

I was approached by Brendan Joyce (Artistic Director, Camerata). He knew of my experience writing for larger scale ensembles such as Queensland Youth Orchestras and Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra, and was interested in commissioning a work for Camerata. In the brief, Brendan explained that I was to gather inspiration from K’gari (Fraser Island) by travelling there to experience the island and its surrounding environment first hand. From my experiences on the island – which were catalogued in diaries, photographs and short videos– the material for the piece was conceived.

How and in what way is the...