ENCHANTING ENSEMBLE
Six musicians from the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra offer a program with three remarkable visions of chamber music. Tracing a journey from Mozart’s sparkling Classical wit, through Mendelssohn’s darker Romantic passion, to the stormy grandeur of Brahms, Ensemble Enchanting reveal chamber music at its most intimate and powerful. Each work reflects not only the composer’s voice, but also the joy of making music in close collaboration with friends.
Nicholas Donnelly, Oboe
Hugh Won, Violin
Alison Fletcher, Violin
Nigel Bardsley, Viola
Katherine Hopkins, Cello
Ayesha Gough, Piano
DATE & TIME
SUNDAY, 10 MAY
3:00 – 4:30 PM
TICKETS
GENERAL $30
CONCESSION $25
Under 18 Free
Nicholas DONNELLY, Oboe
Nicholas Donnelly is an oboist whose career spans Australia, Europe, and Asia, performing everything from Mozart in intimate chamber settings tolarge-scale open-air concerts, dance events, and studio recordings. Trained at the Queensland Conservatorium, the Nürnberg Meistersinger Konservatorium, and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, he has appeared with leading orchestras including the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, and Nürnberg Symphony Orchestra. His work ranges across symphony, opera, musical theatre, and contemporary projects, reflecting a love for music in all its forms.
Ayesha Gough, Piano
Australian pianist Ayesha Gough is developing her own style of unique and engaging performances grounded in traditional pianism. First prize-winner at the 2015 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition, Ayesha performed with the Russian National Orchestra in December 2018, under the baton of Mikhail Pletnev, as part of a concert held in memory of Lev Vlassenko. Her recital opportunities have taken her throughout Australia, as well as New Zealand, Italy, Japan, and China. She regularly works with the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra and the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra. Ayesha studied under Oleg Stepanov OAM for 10 years, both at a pre-tertiary and tertiary level at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University. She has also studied in Italy and at the Royal College of Music, London.
ALISON FLETCHER, Violin
Alison Fletcher started learning violin at 6 yrs of age. She added flute and piano by the end of primary school and has been loving music ever since. She graduated from the Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane and is an active performer and teacher in the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers in a number of schools and orchestras. She is a passionate believer in music education and absolutely loves performing, nurturing future musicians and sharing her enjoyment of music with others.
HUGH WON, VIOLIN
Hugh Won studied violin from the age of five, and obtained his Associate Diploma when he was 14 while studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Hugh won the National Youth Concerto Competition in 1992. He was a finalist in the 2MBS-FM Young Performers Award and a state finalist in the ABC Young Performers Award. At age 15, Hugh was one of the youngest members of the Australian Youth Orchestra and took part in 7 international concert tours. He was also part of the Camerata Australia and held the position of Concertmaster of the Sydney Youth Orchestra for 2 years. Professionally, Hugh worked in the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and was in the Sydney production of the musicals Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon. Hugh now performs regularly with the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra and Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra. In his day job, he is a local Gold Coast-Tweed orthopaedic surgeon.
NIGEL BARDSLEY, VIOLA
Since 2003 Nigel Bardsley has been Head of Strings at All Saints Anglican School on the Gold Coast where he teaches violin and viola, conducts string orchestras, coaches chamber music, coordinates the Concerto Competition and the Music Honours Program. He is a member of faculty at the Cremona International Music Academy (Italy). Nigel has conducted for Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University’s State Honours Ensemble Program, the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra Junior Symphony, Gold Coast Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras. He has performed with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Pops Orchestra, Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra, Australian Youth Orchestra Camerata, Brisbane City Opera Orchestra, Chamber Ensemble Queensland, Symphony 21 Melbourne, Stamitz Academy Baroque Orchestra (Mannheim), the Refraction and Moreton Trios. Nigel currently leads the Gold Coast Piano Quartet.
KATHERINE HOPKINS, CELLO
Katherine began her cello studies at 8 years of age. At 14 she gained her Licentiate Diploma of Music, and was a finalist in the Queensland Youth Concerto Competition. At the age of 17 she moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music and later the Royal College of Music, where she completed her Performance Degree with Honours. Katherine was the principal cellist for Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra for seven years. She has performed with the London, Melbourne, and Queensland Symphony Orchestras, Orchestra Victoria, Southern Cross Soloists and the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra. Contemporary engagements include performances with Katy Perry and Tina Arena. An experienced and dedicated teacher, Katherine has taught at many prestigious schools in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast. She currently runs a busy and successful private teaching studio.