Orange Tree was commissioned by the International Grammar School Sydney, under the direction of Alison Housley, to honour the 30th Anniversary in 2014. It was composed by Bonnie Nilsson and Paul and is part of a moving three part song cycle, ‘Love for the Turning World’.
After getting to know the community Paul was very touched by the story of former student Valerio DeSimoni.
Valerio was a young Italo Australian man of 24 whose life ended tragically in a road accident in Malawi while attempting with two friends to break the world record of the longest journey on Quad Bikes. At the same time Valerio and his friends were raising funds for OXFAM Australia, a non-profit organisation, to fight poverty and support the ‘Southern Africa Livelihood Program’. During their trip from Istanbul to Sydney through 34 countries and 3 continents Valerio and his friends were also trying to spread the environmental message: Saving Energy/Saving the Planet.
Valerio had been writing a journal, now published as ‘Real Love for the Turning World’. After reading this insightful work, Paul felt that Valerio’s passion for this world, and the people in it, was a true example of how a community can work well. This was the fundamental aim of International Grammar. After receiving permission from Valerio’s family, Paul would pen three works with his wife and collaborator Bonnie Nilsson. Thanks always to Bonnie for her gift, to Valerio and his family and the community of IGS.
Orange Tree has inspired a well known Newcastle based artist Jane Parkes, who is also a gifted music teacher and conductor. Her beautiful work can be found here.
For more about Valerio and the following foundation please see Valerio De Simoni
Audio sample courtesy of IGS and recorded by Ross A’Hern
