Nicole van Bruggen
Originally from Sydney and now based in Brisbane, Nicole performs throughout the world as a highly respected exponent in historical clarinet, basset horn, basset clarinet and chalumeau. Nicole is principal clarinettist, co-artistic director and general manager for the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. She has performed as principal clarinet in many of Europe and Australia’s finest historical instrument orchestras such as Concerto Copenhagen, Barokksolistene in Norway, New Dutch Academy, the Polish Arte dei Suonatori, Netherlands Bach Society and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. She has also performed with Tafelmusik from Canada and Les Musiciens du Louvre, and has appeared on many occasions at the acclaimed Utrecht Early Music Festival.
In addition to her performing career, Nicole is committed to music education, particularly associated with historically informed performance (HIP). She regularly facilitates education projects in schools and tertiary institutions and participates in seminars and roundtable events as a specialist in HIP and arts management.
Together with Rachael Beesley, Nicole co-presents the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra’s education series Voyage of Musical Discovery and co-directs the Young Mannheim Symphonists youth orchestra training program in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Since returning to Australia, she has tutored at numerous music courses and institutions including the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp, Melbourne Youth Orchestras’ Summer School, at ANU (Australian National University) and ANAM (Australian National Academy of Music).
Nicole studied modern clarinet at the Sydney Conservatorium and was awarded a Queen’s Trust Scholarship to continue her studies abroad. She moved to The Netherlands where she gained a postgraduate degree in historical clarinet and historically informed performance at the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague in 1997, and where she lived and worked for 17 years. Nicole has won awards from the International Van Wassenaar Concours and the prestigious Flanders Festival Competition in Bruges.
Originally from Sydney and now based in Brisbane, Nicole performs throughout the world as a highly respected exponent in historical clarinet, basset horn, basset clarinet and chalumeau. Nicole is principal clarinettist, co-artistic director and general manager for the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. She has performed as principal clarinet in many of Europe and Australia’s finest historical instrument orchestras such as Concerto Copenhagen, Barokksolistene in Norway, New Dutch Academy, the Polish Arte dei Suonatori, Netherlands Bach Society and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. She has also performed with Tafelmusik from Canada and Les Musiciens du Louvre, and has appeared on many occasions at the acclaimed Utrecht Early Music Festival.
In addition to her performing career, Nicole is committed to music education, particularly associated with historically informed performance (HIP). She regularly facilitates education projects in schools and tertiary institutions and participates in seminars and roundtable events as a specialist in HIP and arts management.
Together with Rachael Beesley, Nicole co-presents the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra’s education series Voyage of Musical Discovery and co-directs the Young Mannheim Symphonists youth orchestra training program in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Since returning to Australia, she has tutored at numerous music courses and institutions including the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp, Melbourne Youth Orchestras’ Summer School, at ANU (Australian National University) and ANAM (Australian National Academy of Music).
Nicole studied modern clarinet at the Sydney Conservatorium and was awarded a Queen’s Trust Scholarship to continue her studies abroad. She moved to The Netherlands where she gained a postgraduate degree in historical clarinet and historically informed performance at the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague in 1997, and where she lived and worked for 17 years. Nicole has won awards from the International Van Wassenaar Concours and the prestigious Flanders Festival Competition in Bruges.
Elizabeth Layton
Elizabeth Layton enjoys a varied career performing recitals and chamber music throughout Australia and New Zealand. She appears regularly as guest concertmaster with major symphony orchestras and combines performance with her position as Head of Classical Performance at the Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide.
Born in London, Elizabeth made her UK concerto debut with the Philharmonia and appeared as soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Bournemouth Symphony, English Sinfonia, Calgary Philharmonic, City of Barcelona Symphony, Lahti Symphony and many others. Festival appearances include Bath, Edinburgh, Harrogate, Cheltenham, Valencia, Gstaad and numerous music societies.
Elizabeth was Associate Leader of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Concertmaster of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, regularly broadcasting for the BBC as soloist and director. She has toured chamber music worldwide with the Nash Ensemble and CD recordings include the complete Beethoven piano trios (nominated for a Gramophone Award) and violin and piano works by Schubert (Daily Telegraph ‘CD Choice’). Other recordings include chamber music by Ravel, Schubert, Brahms, Fauré and Shostakovich for DG, Hyperion, Naxos, BIS and Chandos. Elizabeth is currently recording the complete chamber music of the 18th Century English composer William Shield for Naxos with the newly formed Dorrit Ensemble.
Recent performances include George Town Festival, Penang, Coriole Festival, Music by the Springs, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra Series, ASO ‘She Speaks Festival’ and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville. Her appearances as soloist/guest director this season include the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and AYO Chamber Orchestra at National Music Camp.
Elizabeth received a doctorate from the University of Adelaide in 2019.
Elizabeth Layton enjoys a varied career performing recitals and chamber music throughout Australia and New Zealand. She appears regularly as guest concertmaster with major symphony orchestras and combines performance with her position as Head of Classical Performance at the Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide.
Born in London, Elizabeth made her UK concerto debut with the Philharmonia and appeared as soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Bournemouth Symphony, English Sinfonia, Calgary Philharmonic, City of Barcelona Symphony, Lahti Symphony and many others. Festival appearances include Bath, Edinburgh, Harrogate, Cheltenham, Valencia, Gstaad and numerous music societies.
Elizabeth was Associate Leader of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Concertmaster of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, regularly broadcasting for the BBC as soloist and director. She has toured chamber music worldwide with the Nash Ensemble and CD recordings include the complete Beethoven piano trios (nominated for a Gramophone Award) and violin and piano works by Schubert (Daily Telegraph ‘CD Choice’). Other recordings include chamber music by Ravel, Schubert, Brahms, Fauré and Shostakovich for DG, Hyperion, Naxos, BIS and Chandos. Elizabeth is currently recording the complete chamber music of the 18th Century English composer William Shield for Naxos with the newly formed Dorrit Ensemble.
Recent performances include George Town Festival, Penang, Coriole Festival, Music by the Springs, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra Series, ASO ‘She Speaks Festival’ and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville. Her appearances as soloist/guest director this season include the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and AYO Chamber Orchestra at National Music Camp.
Elizabeth received a doctorate from the University of Adelaide in 2019.
Keith Crellin
From 2001-2016, Keith Crellin OAM held the positions of Head of the String Department and Conductor-in-Residence at the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music. Since May 2016 he has concentrated on his role as Artistic Director of the Adelaide Youth Orchestra which he took up in 2003, as well as further pursuing performing, conducting and composing.
The first violist to win the ABC Young Performers Award in 1972, Keith quickly established himself as one of Australia’s leading soloists and chamber music players. He was appointed Lecturer in Viola and Chamber Music at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, Director and Principal Conductor of the Conservatorium Orchestra and Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra.
In 1985, Keith became a founding member of the Australian String Quartet, based in Adelaide. He held the position for sixteen years, performing with the ASQ in many countries and making numerous recordings. As well, Keith has been conductor of the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Young Symphonists and tutor in the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Young Australian Concert Artists program on many occasions. He has attended numerous National Music Camps as tutor and conductor and now divides his time between teaching, performing and conducting.
Keith was awarded the Order of Australia medal for his contribution to music and education in 2008.
From 2001-2016, Keith Crellin OAM held the positions of Head of the String Department and Conductor-in-Residence at the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music. Since May 2016 he has concentrated on his role as Artistic Director of the Adelaide Youth Orchestra which he took up in 2003, as well as further pursuing performing, conducting and composing.
The first violist to win the ABC Young Performers Award in 1972, Keith quickly established himself as one of Australia’s leading soloists and chamber music players. He was appointed Lecturer in Viola and Chamber Music at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, Director and Principal Conductor of the Conservatorium Orchestra and Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra.
In 1985, Keith became a founding member of the Australian String Quartet, based in Adelaide. He held the position for sixteen years, performing with the ASQ in many countries and making numerous recordings. As well, Keith has been conductor of the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Young Symphonists and tutor in the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Young Australian Concert Artists program on many occasions. He has attended numerous National Music Camps as tutor and conductor and now divides his time between teaching, performing and conducting.
Keith was awarded the Order of Australia medal for his contribution to music and education in 2008.
Zoe Knighton
Zoe Knighton is a founding member and Artistic Director of Flinders Quartet, one of Australia’s finest chamber ensembles.
The group has commissioned many works, been nominated for an ARIA for best classical album and continues to be a champion of Australian Chamber music. “Flinders Quartet… whose players give such care and unanimity of musical thought to Australian Chamber Music” (Peter McCallum, Sydney Morning Herald)
Zoe started the cello at the age of 9 with Jill Kahans before learning from Christian Wojtowicz, Michel Strauss (Paris) Nelson Cooke, and Angela Sargeant, she is now in demand as chamber coach and teacher at various institutions.
She has released 10 CDs on the MOVE label, 7 with duo partner Amir Farid and been praised for her “thrilling tenor sound”. (Limelight magazine) “She radiates confidence in her work and participates with personality and no little finesse. “Well worth hearing for the pleasure given through this player’s familiar warmth and honesty of musical character.” (Clive O’Connell). Together with Farid, they have performed and broadcast widely and give their Carnegie Hall debut in April, 2023.
Zoe is artistic patron of Resonance String Ensemble in Woodend and plays on a 2020 cello made by Australian instrument maker Rainer Beilharz and a 1780 cello by Benjamin Banks. In order to maintain conversations with her children, she finds herself a proud supporter of Hawthorn Football Club, Yarraville Seddon Eagles, Westage Imperial and Footscray Hawks basketball teams and Footscray City gymnastics.
Zoe Knighton is a founding member and Artistic Director of Flinders Quartet, one of Australia’s finest chamber ensembles.
The group has commissioned many works, been nominated for an ARIA for best classical album and continues to be a champion of Australian Chamber music. “Flinders Quartet… whose players give such care and unanimity of musical thought to Australian Chamber Music” (Peter McCallum, Sydney Morning Herald)
Zoe started the cello at the age of 9 with Jill Kahans before learning from Christian Wojtowicz, Michel Strauss (Paris) Nelson Cooke, and Angela Sargeant, she is now in demand as chamber coach and teacher at various institutions.
She has released 10 CDs on the MOVE label, 7 with duo partner Amir Farid and been praised for her “thrilling tenor sound”. (Limelight magazine) “She radiates confidence in her work and participates with personality and no little finesse. “Well worth hearing for the pleasure given through this player’s familiar warmth and honesty of musical character.” (Clive O’Connell). Together with Farid, they have performed and broadcast widely and give their Carnegie Hall debut in April, 2023.
Zoe is artistic patron of Resonance String Ensemble in Woodend and plays on a 2020 cello made by Australian instrument maker Rainer Beilharz and a 1780 cello by Benjamin Banks. In order to maintain conversations with her children, she finds herself a proud supporter of Hawthorn Football Club, Yarraville Seddon Eagles, Westage Imperial and Footscray Hawks basketball teams and Footscray City gymnastics.