Matt and Pauly Zarb, a musical duo of brothers from Australian, will be at Del Norte High School on April 12 to present a concert to students at 3 p.m. and a second concert for the general public at 7 p.m. A concert is also scheduled for Center and Saguache high schools on April 13. Sponsoring the concert is Our National Heritage, an organization from Otero Junior College that is dedicated to promoting cultural education and experiences. General admission tickets are $2.00 for students and $7.00 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

 

The Zarb brothers are from a family of six boys who grew up in Penrith, Austrialia, located west of Sydney. Everyone in the Zarb household played a musical instrument, including Mum and Dad. Amidst the racket of six boys playing six different instruments, Matt and Pauly emerged as accomplished musicians and set out to chase a lifetime dream of performing music.

 

Matt Zarb originally began his career as a soloist. In the 1990s, Matt performed on the Good Morning Australia show and the Ernie and Denise show. Matt’s band, “Fiddle Me Please”, was successful in the national country music scene, having two top 20 national country hits. The band played all the major country music festivals in Australia, including the Gympie Muster and Tamworth festivals. Matt is a dynamic performer, storyteller and singer. He plays a variety of instruments including guitar, harmonica, mandolin, percussion and stomp box.

 

Pauly Zarb spent most of his early career playing in bands whose musical selections ranged from funk to gospel and even classical music performances. In 1999 he decided to develop his strengths as a solo artist and was invited to the United States to perform in Kentucky. Pauly is an excellent musician, playing piano, guitar, flute, tin whistle, percussion and vocals.

 

After Pauly returned to Australia from the United States, .the two brothers decided to combine their wide array of talents and set up a show together. Since February 2000, Matt and Pauly Zarb have been writing and performing music throughout Australia and performing on tour in the United States. Their unique style of music has a powerful message of peace, love, and unity that crosses all international and racial boundaries. Audiences across two continents have felt connected to their music and lyrics after attending their high energy shows that are filled with humor and exceptional musical talent.

 

Since their first trip together to the United States, they have been in regular demand, returning to the U.S. four times to perform at such events as The Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Joes Bluegrass Tavern, Home Front, The Chet Atkins Convention and major venues from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Nashville, and all over the Midwest region and Kentucky. They have opened shows for such legends as Willie Nelson, Keith Urban, Sam Bush and Tommy Emmanuel.

 

Back in Australia, their popularity has continued to grow, having been awarded the Best Folk Album of the Year in 2001 at Queensland Sunny Music Awards in Brisbane. During that same year, their songs “Vincent Road” and “For the Love of a Child” both placed in the top four for “Song of the Year”.

 

The Zarbs have recently release two new albums, “Matt and Pauly Zarb Live” and “Chameleon”. Selections from their new releases and award winning albums will be performed during the concert scheduled at Del Norte High School.

 

Other concert dates scheduled in southern and southeastern Colorado include: Rye, Walsenburg, and LaVeta high schools on April 11; Lamar and McClave high schools on April 17; Walsh, Springfield, Campo, Pritchett, and Vilas high schools on April 18; Rocky Ford and Manzanola high schools on April 19; International Foods Night at Otero Junior College on April 20; and Cheraw, Las Animas, La Junta, Kim, and Hoehne high schools on April 21.

 

For more information about the concert performances, contact Sallie Hibbs, OJC director of International Relations, at 719-384-6826.