Teacups, Old Locks And The Sounds Of The Town Will Bring Burra’s Own Orchestra To Life
What does Burra sound like?
Turns out, quite a lot.
Teacups and teaspoons clinking at the railway station. Burra Heritage Passport keys turning in old locks. Children singing. Wind, birds and the everyday sounds of Burra going about its business.
On Saturday, October 17, those sounds will fill the Burra Town Hall as part of Burra Rhapsody, an original work created with the community over the past year.
And this is no ordinary orchestra! The performance will bring together local children, community groups, businesses, experienced musicians and people who never expected to be performing on stage.
Making Music From Burra
Burra Rhapsody grew from a simple question posed by Burra-based composer and musical storyteller Jodie O’Regan: what does Burra sound like?
Throughout 2026, the Burra Orchestra Project took music-making out into the town.
Five interactive installations collected around 70 written contributions, while workshops, school sessions and visits to community groups and businesses gathered more ideas.
The aim was to create music from Burra, rather than simply about Burra.
The finished work brings together sounds and songs from 12 local groups, businesses and individuals.
The Burra Men’s Shed has even built instruments especially for the performance, while local primary school students have written their own lyrics with Jodie.
People of all ages are involved, from school children through to retired locals, including plenty of first-time performers making music in some unexpected ways.
Some Big Musical Names Join In
Burra’s homegrown orchestra will be joined by some serious musical talent for the night.
A string quartet from Adelaide Baroque will perform alongside singer Mark Oates, whose credits include State Opera South Australia, Opera Australia and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
For Jodie, the project is also a personal one.
She and husband Emlyn, who will perform as Johnny Green on the night, moved to Burra in 2022 after falling in love with the acoustics of an old stone church, and then discovered the town around it.
“Burra Rhapsody is my thank-you,” Jodie said.
“Together, we will make a truly Burra soundscape. It’s going to be a piece of music, in the town, for the town.”
A Little Piece Of Burra Preserved
The performance will also be professionally recorded, leaving Burra with a permanent snapshot of its people, voices and sounds in 2026.
Burra Rhapsody will be performed at Burra Town Hall on Saturday, October 17 from 7pm.
Entry is free, with limited tickets available at the door. Online bookings are recommended through TryBooking.
The project has been supported by Country Arts SA, Neoen, Chamber Music Adelaide, the Regional Council of Goyder and Mid North Arts.
