Guitar Concert by Tom Chalko
St Kilda Botanical Gardens, Sunday 30 August 2026, 2pm

Dream of Peace Concert

This concert is a musical reminder that humanity should focus on love, peace and harmony... Program (subject to change):

Somnium Pace by Tom Chalko (1951- ). The Latin title translates as Dream of Peace, reminding us that peace is the only sensible choice for human society. The composition unfolds as a dialogue between two contrasting musical motifs: one dark, fatalistic, and overpowering; the other gentle, tender, and lyrical. Somnium Pace received its world premiere at the 2018 Melbourne Guitar Festival, where it was performed by Australian guitarist Dr Harold Gretton.

Romance by Tom Chalko (1951- ). Composed in 2000, Romance was written shortly after Tom published his second book, The Freedom of Choice, which explores the purpose of existence of the Universe and the meaning of life, the book that has since been translated into 18 languages. A recording of Romance was featured in The Dance of the Lyrebird, a documentary film by Tessy and Berndt Amesriter, released in 2011.

What a wonderful world performed by Louis Armstrong (USA 1901-1971) ranks among his best known and most popular songs, reminding us to appreciate our wonderful world. Louis Armstrong, one of the most influential figures in jazz, recorded this song in 1967 and this recording was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Tom will play his own guitar arrangement of the song.

Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068 by Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany, 1685–1750). Serene and elegant, Bach’s Air invites the listener into a world of calm beauty and harmony. The Air, originally composed for string orchestra, is one of the most famous and most popular compositions of Bach. Tom will play his own guitar arrangement of the Air.

What Words cannot Say by Tom Chalko (1951- ). Music can express feelings that are difficult to express in words. This piece had become a birthday present for his granddaughter to inspire her to study music.

Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan (USA 1941 - ) the ballad that has won Bob Dylan the Nobel Prize - the one and only Nobel Prize ever awarded for music. Dylan’s iconic anthem of peace and justice from 1963, resonates with universal questions...

… how many ears must one man have - before he can hear people cry?
… and how many deaths will it take 'til he knows that too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, the answer is blowin' in the wind…

Without music the Dylan's poem would most likely go unnoticed. This highlights the power of music in human society. Tom's guitar arrangement reminds us about the timeless message of this song and the important role of music in keeping this message alive.

Spanish Romance, very famous and much loved Spanish folk song, likely known before ~1800 during life of Fernando Sor (Spain 1778-1839), is sometimes referred to as a “Sor melody”. Sor did not claim to compose the melody, but it is likely that he played it on guitar. Today the Spanish Romance ranks among the most popular music played on classical guitar.

Variations on Tarrega theme. Music of Francisco Tarrega (Spain 1852-1909) inspired Tom to compose and perform variations on the theme of one of his studies.

Recuerdas de la Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega (Spain 1852-1909) is one of the most admired and memorable guitar compositions. The title translates to “Memories of the Alhambra,” a magnificent and super-famous 13th century Arabic palace in Granada, Spain. Recuerdas de la Alhambra pioneered the virtuosic use of guitar tremolo technique and is celebrated for its technical brilliance, lyrical depth, and elegance, that create an almost hypnotic effect on audiences.

Imagine by John Lennon (UK 1940 - USA 1980). The visionary lyrics of 1971 Imagine song encourage listeners to imagine a world of peace, without materialism and without borders separating nations. Imagine song consistently ranks among the most popular and most frequently performed songs in history of music, even though its lyrics asking people to “imagine no religion” attract controversy. People on Earth disregard the fact that most wars and conflicts are created by religions. Is a poetic suggestion to imagine a world without religions too advanced ?

Imagine there's no countries... It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for... And no religion, too...
Imagine all the people livin' life in peace…
…You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one… -

La Paloma (1863) by Sebastián Iradier (Spain, 1809-1865) is one of the most famous and universally admired melodies, beloved for its beauty and haunting Cuban habanera rhythm. Originally composed for voice and piano, there are now more than 1,000 versions of this song, making it one of the most recorded songs in the history of music. In Tom's arrangement, the guitar expressive capabilities enhance the piece's warmth and lyrical beauty, inviting listeners to experience the timeless charm of La Paloma, with its blend of Cuban rhythm and Spanish guitar romance.

Dream of Peace, continued... The dialogue between two contrasting musical motifs: one dark and fatalistic; the other gentle and loving, reaches its conclusion: peace and harmony ultimately prevail. Can our real world follow our musical conclusion?

Talk to Tom after the performance.

More information and news article.

If you want to organize a concert or host a private guitar concert at your home or school please contact Tom .

Explore Tom's past concerts and video recordings of Tom playing some of his compositions.

Beginning of Tom's composition "Somnium Pace" (Dream of Peace).
Explore sheet music