Blackwood Ensemble

More than 200 musicians including leading international players, Australian icons, acclaimed alumni, staff and students will be making music at Monash and across Melbourne from 23 August to 7 October in a program of more than 30 concerts, including 18 free performances, that celebrate the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music’s 50th anniversary.   Opening the celebrations this Sunday (23 August) is Blackwood Ensemble.

Blackwood Ensemble was founded by Kenji Fujimura (Trio Anima Mundi) and Elizabeth Sellars (Sutherland Trio) to enable gifted students of the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music, Monash University, an opportunity to collaborate with professional musicians in a chamber music context.  This unique staff-student ensemble gave its first concert in 2012.  On Sunday August 23 the Blackwood Ensemble perform at the Melbourne Recital Centre featuring top students performing chamber music with members of Trio Anima Mundi, Sutherland Trio, Songmakers Australia, Duo Chamber Melange and Ensemble Liaison.

Programme

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) – String Quintet in C KV515

I – Allegro             II – Menuetto – Allegretto                             III – Andante       IV – Allegro

Ferdinand Paer (1771-1839) – Beatus Vir (Psalm 112) for soprano, clarinet and piano

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – ‘Parto, Parto, Ma Tu Ben Mio’ from La Clemenza di Tito

Alexander Arutiunian (1920-2012) – Suite for violin, clarinet and piano

I – Introduction                  II – Scherzo                          IV – Finale

Performers:

Kenji Fujimura piano

David Griffiths clarinet

Lisa Grosman viola

Merlyn Quaife soprano

Elizabeth Sellars violin

Tamara Smolyar piano

Plus students of the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music