Jess Hitchcock & Penny Quartet

An exquisite song-cycle for the here and now.

Fresh from transformative performances that captivated audiences in Adelaide and Perth Festivals, Musica Viva Australia and Melbourne Recital Centre proudly present Jess Hitchcock and Penny Quartet as part of NAIDOC week – an experience designed to connect us to something deeper.

Jess Hitchcock is a Melbourne-based Indigenous singer-songwriter, opera and jazz singer, writer and composer. A true storyteller whose narratives resonate far beyond entertainment. Her endlessly versatile voice creates moments of profound connection, whether in the intimacy of a studio, the grandeur of a stage, or the expansive energy of a football stadium.

Penny Quartet is an award-winning Australian string quartet with an appetite for innovation. From regional touring to festival appearances to international performances, they transform conventional listening into experiences of genuine discovery.

Together, Jess and the Pennies present an evening of music that creates space for reflection and renewal through the collaborative vision of 11 Australian composers, each commissioned to reimagine one of Jess's songs for voice and string quartet.

The result is an exquisite song-cycle for the here and now, interwoven with solo quartet repertory, offering precious moments of clarity amid our complex lives. Will you recognize each composer's unique perspective? Will you discover new dimensions to familiar emotions?

And will you find yourself moved by the authentic presence of Jess's voice? Without question.

Tickets 

Premium $125 ($110 Concession)
A reserve $92 ($80 Concession)
B reserve $65 ($56 Concession)

Under 40
A & B Reserve $49

MobTix
A & B Reserve $15*

A Transaction Fee between $4 and $8.50 applies to orders made online and by phone. Delivery Fees may also apply. A ticket limit of six is in place online to ensure fair ticket access for all. Want to bring a bigger party? Call our Box Office during business hours on (03) 9699 3333 to book.

*Mobtix is a special allocation of tickets that provides First Nations peoples both within and outside Australia access to a discounted rate for certain concerts. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from Australia are eligible, as well as Māori, Pasifika, and First Nations people from other countries.

Artists

Jess Hitchcock
Penny Quartet

Program

Iain Grandage
Days are Long

Isaac Hayward
Homeward Bound

Jessica Hitchcock
Collide

Harry Sdraulig
Soak to My Bones

Ben Robinson
Leader of the Pack

Jessica Hitchcock
By the Sea

Holly Harrison
On my Own

James Mountain
Together

Christine Pan
Fight for Me

Jessica Hitchcock
Running in the Dark

Alex Turley
Unbreakable

Iain Grandage
Not a Warzone

Caroline Shaw
Plan and Elevation: The Grounds of Dumbarton Oaks
i. The Ellipse
ii. The Cutting Garden
iii. The Herbaceous Border
iv. The Orangery
v. The Beech Tree