About

Patron:

His Excellency the Hon George Brandis QC, The High Commissioner for Australia in the UK.

Purpose of the Australia House Ensemble (AHE):

1. To become a London based world-class ensemble featuring the finest Australian musicians which promotes excellence in musical performance.
2. To offer performance opportunities and mentorship to early career Australian musicians.
3. To offer performance opportunities and mentorship to young Australian musicians undertaking post-graduate study.
4. To promote Australian music and composers, and to feature established Australian solo artists.
5. To present a broad range of music, including classical, popular, musical theatre, and in particular to increase the awareness, appreciation and accessibility of Australian repertoire to the Australian and wider community in London, UK and Europe.

Activity of the ensemble:

The AHE will present at least two concerts a year at Australia House.

The inaugural concert is on the 12^th November in the Exhibition Hall at Australia House, 6.45-8pm (drinks 6-7pm) when the ensemble will feature ‘This House’ (Chindamo) which was premiered at the Centenary of Australia House on 22nd November 2018. Many of the ensemble who will perform on the 12^th November 2019 performed on that night, and subsequently recorded ‘This House’ at Abbey Rd in January 2019 in collaboration with Commonwealth Music. In addition to ‘This House’, the AHE will present a range of Australian and other music at its inaugural concert.

Membership of the ensemble:

Performers will be from the Australian community of musicians currently resident in the UK. For this concert the ensemble will comprise 9 artists. They will include Rebecca Chan (violin), Associate Leader of the Philharmonia Orchestra and member of the Australian World Orchestra and former member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Iona Allan (violin) is one of our early career musicians having just graduated from the Royal College of Music with distinction. Other performers are currently playing with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia, and played for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Dr Margaret Mayston AM (Founder)

The Ensemble:

Dr Margaret Mayston AM (Founder)

Joe Chindamo | Guest Artistic Director, Australia House Ensemble

Violin I: Rebecca Chan (Ensemble lead: Associate Leader Philharmonia Orchestra)

Violin II: Katerina Nazarova (Assistant Leader of Royal Northern Sinfonia)

Violin III: Iona Allan (London Contemporary orchestra; about to start trial with Ulster Orchestra)

Violin IV: Eliza Scott (2nd year Post Graduate at the Royal College of Music; has played in several of the Australian orchestras including the Queensland Symphony, and Tasmanian Symphony, and has just returned from a tour with the Australian Youth Orchestra.

Viola I: Sascha Bota (Navarra String Quartet, soloist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Recital Centre, and many international orchestras).

Viola II: Morgan Goff: (currently performing and recording with numerous chamber ensembles in London)

Cello I: Daniel Pini: (currently a member of the Southbank Sinfonia, and holder of the Tait Sir Charles Mackerras Chair)

Cello II: Andrew Chamberlain: (performed regularly with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, various Musical Theatre productions at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and with many chamber groups. He has most recently been playing in the Playhouse production of Fiddler on the Roof in London)

Double bass: Adam Storey: (regularly performs with UK chamber ensembles)