Snowy Mountains of Music :: Australia's Coolest Festival

About the Organisers

Perisher Resorts Chamber of Commerce

Perisher Resorts Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organisation that represents the interests of the Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes and Guthega Alpine Village resorts.

One of the main aims is to promote sustainable growth within the unique alpine environment.

Another aim is to increase the awareness of the area especially in winter time and the Snowy Mountains of Music festival will part of this.

Festival Chairperson - Belinda Shores

Belinda manages Smiggins Hotel and is the chairperson of the chamber.

Festival Treasurer- Cliff Wallis

Cliff has owned and operated the Sundeck, Australia's highest hotel for 19 years. A classical pianist since the age of 9 his musical tastes extend from folk / alternative music through to opera. He has been a key player in getting the festival off the ground.

Festival Sponsorship Coordinator - Meagan Cutcliffe

Artistic Director - David De Santi

David is an active musician, festival organiser, folklore researcher and publisher. He has directed the Illawarra Folk Festival since 1996 and also organised 7 Australian Folk Festivals as well between 1996 and 2003.

Currently he performs with Wongawilli, Australia's most recent travelled bush band, Italian folk groups LÉmigrante, Zumpa and The Viaggiatori; is Secretary of the Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club; Co-ordinator & Editor of the Pioneer Performer Series; Illawarra Folk Festival Director and Illawarra Folk Club committee member and newsletter editor.

From 2000 to 2005 David was the editor and co-owner of Australia's folk music magazine Trad&Now. He has also been on the Folk Alliance Australia executive committee.

In 2004, with Jane Brownlee, he received the National Library of Australia Folk Festival Fellowship.

In 2006 he was awarded the Folk Alliance Australia Community Achievement Award.

He brings to the festival a wealth of knowledge about organising and creating a festival with character, friendliness and enjoyment.

Background and achievements

While at University he gained an interest in other folk music in 1984, especially the Australian tradition. In the same year he became an original member of the Illawarra bush band, Warrabush. His interest grew in the playing of Australian traditional bush music and was an initiator of the Illawarra Bush Music Club in 1985. This Club eventually became the Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club Inc. in 1987. He was and still is the Secretary, Public Officer and Newsletter Editor for the Club.

The 1 August 1987 saw the official beginning of one of the country’s most successful bush bands, Wongawilli, of which David and his wife, Tania, are original members. The band has since travelled all over the country and received national recognition with 16 awards at the Australian Bush Music Awards and Bush Band Championships for various categories over the 5 years of the awards.

In 1989 he became involved in the organisation of the Illawarra Folk Club and the Jamberoo Valley Folk Festival which has now become the Illawarra Folk Festival. This Festival is the largest of its kind in NSW. He has been the Festival Director since 1996.

In 1991, David became convinced that further promotion of the Australian tradition was required and along with Rob Willis and the Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club embarked upon the Pioneer Performer Series, a series of publications and recordings. To date David has desk-top published and produced 11 publications and 4 recordings of various Australian performers.

In recognition of the work in the Pioneer Performer Series he was awarded the 1992 Heritage Award at the Australian Bush Music Awards in Glen Innes.

He has also assisted in the programming and organisation of the Australian traditional dance portion of the 1994, 1995 and 1996 National Folk Festivals in Canberra. Other projects he was involved in 1995 include the inaugural Illawarra Folklorika Festival and the Illawarra Cultural Planning Steering Committee.

He was also the Co-ordinator for Bush Music By The Seaside, which was part of Kiama Seaside Festival.
In 1999 he was co-musical director and performed in Italian Stories, a community based play from Theatre South based upon the experiences of Italian migrants in the Illawarra and toured with the show in Tasmania in 2001.
In 1999 he became a committee member of Folk Alliance Australia and was the coordinator for the 3rd National Convention held in Kiama in June 2000 as part of the 5th Australian Folk Festival.

Recording Projects with Wongawilli Band

After the Tradition, 1990
Tunes of Bert Jamieson, 1991
Australian Selection, 1994
Live at the Local, 1999
Australia Street, 2008
Australian Traditional Dance Tunes, double CD, 2001
with Jane Brownlee, A Swag of Treasures, Australian Traditional Dance Tunes Vol. 2, 2004

Other recording contributions

John Williamson, backing on 3 tracks on Gunyah
Jane Brownlee, 5 tracks on her CD Fiddler on the Rocks
Blue the Shearer (poet), backing music for his poetry with Wongawilli Band
Us Not Them, backing music for Songs of Carrie Milliner
Vivienne Sawyer (poet), musical arranger and musician
Karen Lynne & Pat Drummond, 2008

Other projects, achievements

Producer for Trad&Now compilation CDs – Tapestry Volume 1 and 2
Italian Stories, theatre production, co-director of music, for Theatre South
Emma, theatre production, musician, Theatre South
Part of Viaggiatori Band as accompaniests to the silent film ‘ Dall’ Italia All’ Australia – 2007
Marmellata – 2008, film and music, producer, musical director

Publishing Projects (music, song and dance books, publications)

Tunes of Bert Jamieson with Rob Willis
Tunes of Arthur Bowley
Songs of the Baulch Brothers with Rob Willis
Songs, Tunes & Stories of Ebb Wren with Rob Willis
Tunes of Ma Seal with Harry Gardiner, Peter Ellis
A Queensland Selection with Mark and Maria Schuster
Mister Joe, Songs, Tunes of Joe Cashmere with Alan Musgrove, Greg O’Leary
Music Makes Me Smile - Tunes from the Nariel Valley with Harry Gardiner and Peter Ellis
Australian Dance Tunes for Fiddle, with Alan Musgrove
Australian Traditional Dance Tunes Book, Volume 1
Australian Traditional Dance Tunes Book, Volume 2
Zumpa, A Folk Musician’s Italian Tune Collection
A Singing Kiwi, songbook with Phil Garland
Pioneer Performer Magazines (4 issues), Speewah Magazine (4 issues)
Editor new folk magazine - Trad & Now, Sept. 2002 to April 2006

Major Organising Projects

Illawarra Folk Festival Director, since 1996
Australian Folk Music and Dance Festival Director, 1996 - 2002
Committee Member Folk Alliance Australia 2000 to 2003
Folk Alliance Australia National Convention Director, 2000

Awards

Australian Bush Music Festival Heritage Award 1992 (shared with Rob Willis)
2003 Shellharbour City Citizen of the Year
Recipient of the Commonwealth Centenary Medal (2003)
Winner of the 2004 Port Fairy Folk Festival Tune Writing Competition
2004 National Library of Australia Folk Festival Fellowship with Jane Brownlee
Folk Alliance Australia Community Achievement Award, 2006