One of Australia’s most accomplished cellists and will be coming to Kangaroo Valley for the Arts in the Valley arts and music festival.

David Pereira has been playing the cello since he was 11 and was the senior lecturer in cello at the ANU School of Music from 1990 until 2008.

His current instrument is what he likes to term “a mongrel” in that its providence is unknown.

“I used to play a great old Italian cello that was lent to me and it was a privilege at the time,” says Pereira.

“The instrument I am playing now is a cello I have owned for 15 years and I believe it is an 18th century German cello.

“I had some work done on it by an expert luthier and it now sounds twice as good as it ever did,” he said.

Pereira will be performing in two quite different concerts.

The first one, with artist Carlos Barrios, will be an exploration into the collision of visual arts and music.

Pereira has composed a piece of music in response to Barrios’ art and Barrios has painted a picture responding to one of Pereira’s compositions.

While Pereira performs Barrios will paint a picture taking his inspiration from the music.

This concert is now sold out.

The second concert will be held at the Kangaroo Valley Hall on Sunday 3, May at 2.30pm and celebrates the passing of Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe as well as the 70th birthday of Kangaroo Valley composer Martin Wesley-Smith.

David will be performing with Melbourne-based pianist, Timothy Young to play the sumptuously romantic Rachmaninov Cello Sonata.

“There will also be some Schumann as well. It will be a concert full of rich harmonies and appealing tunes,” says Pereira.

“It’s not a long festival but whatever modesty there is in its size, the organising team puts together a wonderful varied and integrated program.”