CANBERRA-raised casting director Kirsty McGregor, brought up in a prominent Canberran theatre family, has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, along with actor Ben Mendelsohn, Australian Cinematographers Society’s (ACS) national president Ron Johanson and the ABC’s Sally Riley. The Academy has been widening its membership base since 2016, tripling the number of international members over the same time period. McGregor is president of the Casting Guild of Australia and among her casting credits are the Academy-nominated films “Lion” and “Animal Kingdom”. 

QUEANBEYAN-Palerang Regional Council’s Echo Theatre, directed by Jordan Best, has been named as a finalist in the community partnerships and collaboration category in the NSW local government excellence awards. The company’s debut production, “Belfast Girls” by Jaki McCarrick was staged at The Q last year with the aim of shining a light on female talent in the theatre. 

WESLEY Music Centre in Forrest is all go with live concerts again, including a concert featuring works for solo violin by Eugene Ysaÿe, and for piano trio by Beethoven to be performed by Wesley Music’s Tobias Chisnall on violin, Ella Luhtasaari on piano, and Julia Janiszewski on cello, on Wednesday, July 22 from 12.40-1.20pm. Book via Trybooking.com or 6232 7248. Limited seating.

NEWS from Hereford is that Jonathan Lee, the brilliant young Canberra organist studying there, has used his time in lockdown to fine-tune his keyboard and organs skills. Hereford Cathedral is about to open for limited hours each day and he has sent a link to his performance of the first movement of Bach’s first Trio Sonata, in E flat, Bach’s Trio Sonata No 1, viewable via YouTube.

THE Street Theatre is trying out a live opening on July 25, when the “faux-French” duo Baby et Lulu (musicians Abby Dobson and Lara Goodridge) will take to the stage of Street 2 with French songs, amusing banter and heavy French accents. Just to be on the safe side, they’re also streaming it, with separate bookings for the live and online version. Bookings at thestreet.org.au