12th November 2020
Dear Friends and Supporters of the Australia House Ensemble,
We hope that you continue to safe and well in these unprecedented times of Covid-19. The UK is in lockdown again so that means live events cannot take place although rehearsals are allowed! In Melbourne where I am we are thankfully emerging from a long time of severe restrictions which have borne fruit- now the challenge to keep the gains made.
On November 12th it was one year since the inaugural concert of the Australia House Ensemble in the magnificent Exhibition Hall at Australia House in the presence of our Patron, HE the Hon George Brandis QC, the High Commissioner for Australia in the UK! After such a magnificent evening what a different year it has turned out to be. It has meant that concert activity had to be presented online, and just as we were about to announce a live concert with social distancing, London has gone back into lockdown.
Despite the restrictions of the last 8 months the Ensemble were able to present two online concerts. The Australia House Ensemble was particularly pleased to partner with the Australian High Commission in London for their day of special commemorative events, which included our pre-recorded concert entitled Hope and Remembrance at 3pm Anzac Day 2020. Australia House Ensemble musicians on that occasion worked with colleagues in London including the wonderful Australian pianist Cameron Roberts, and in New Zealand soprano Eliza Boom, to present that special online concert. It was a fantastic collaborative effort aided by the wonder of technology to bring together artists from both sides of the globe. You can still watch it on our website www.australiahouse-ensemble.com via this link – Anzac Day concert and commemoration.
In June the Ensemble with new members Naoko Keatley and Jeremy Watt, presented a concert –Night & Day – for the Tait Tuesdays at Home (TTaH) online concert series, and some of our artists (Naoko Keatley and Morgan Goff) also performed in the TTaH Australia High Commission series in August which was streamed in collaboration with the Melbourne Digital Concert Hall.
We will keep you informed about the next concert- whether it be live or online if that is what the restrictions require. Wishing you all stay safe and well as we navigate through these challenging times towards Christmas and a New Year.
With all good wishes
Dr Margaret Mayston AM, AHE Founder
James Hancock, AHE Operational Manager
Rebecca Chan & Naoko Keatley, AHE Leads and all the wonderful AHE musicians.
8th June 2020
Dear Friends and Supporters of the Australia House Ensemble,
We hope that you were able to join the many people who enjoyed our Anzac Day concert, ‘Hope and Remembrance’ presented in partnership with the Australian High Commission in London. The concert received over 4000 views on their Facebook page. The longer version on our website page which included readings and The Last Post received over 200 views, and is still available to view.
We are now preparing for a concert titled ‘Night and Day’ to present for the Tait Tuesdays at Home which raises money for the Emergency Relief Fund set up by the Tait Memorial Trust to assist Australian and New Zealand musicians who are facing tough times during the current coronavirus lockdown and cancellation of performances. The concert will feature music by Australian composers Matthew Hindson (Little Chrissietina’s Magic Fantasy , a violin duo played by AHE lead Rebecca Chan and Naoko Keatley our newest member), and Percy Grainger (Irish Tune performed by the AHE as a quintet). A violin solo composed by Prokofiev will be performed by Iona Allan, and music by Strauss, Bach and Beethoven will complete the programme presented by AHE. We welcome guest Jeremy Kleeman, baritone, who will join the AHE to sing Morgen and Die Nacht by Richard Strauss. Programme notes and performer biographies will be available on the AHE website for the concert.
Please book your tickets and encourage your friends to do so too, so that we can support these young talented Australian performers.
As always, please stay safe and well- follow all the Government guidelines- and together we can walk into a new and positive future.
With all good wishes
Dr Margaret Mayston AM, AHE Founder
James Hancock, AHE Operational Manager
Rebecca Chan, AHE Lead, and all the wonderful AHE musicians.
Australia House Ensemble 