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Kettering Concerts |
Programme:
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The Elanée Ensemble, Jo St. Leon and Stuart Thomson, was formed in 2009 to showcase the beauties of the viola/double bass duo in chamber music. They have become well-known throughout Tasmania for their lively, high-quality performances and their innovative programming. Through an extensive commissioning project, they have made a significant contribution to the duo repertoire, and more recently, the viola/bass/piano trio repertoire. In addition to performing throughout Tasmania, they have undertaken two Victorian tours, and played double concertos with the Hobart Chamber Orchestra and at the Residential Summer String Camp held annually in Ulverstone, where they are Ensemble-in-Residence.
The ensemble sometimes joins with other musicians to form larger groups enabling them to explore a wider repertoire.
Born in Edinburgh, Stuart Thomson began playing the double bass at age nine and later joined the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra, which inspired him to become a professional musician. He studied with Duncan McTier and Corin Long at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester and was awarded the Eugene Cruft Prize for Double Bass. While at the RNCM he began working professionally with the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras. Subsequent freelance work included engagements with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony, the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Philharmonische Werkstatt in Switzerland. In 1999 he joined the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and in 2001 moved to Australia to play with the Sydney Symphony. The following year he was appointed Associate Principal of The Queensland Orchestra and in late 2003 took up the post of Principal Double Bass with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO). He has also received invitations to guest as principal with the Adelaide and West Australian Symphony orchestras. In 2005 he made his solo debut with the TSO playing alongside Alex Henery in Bottesini's Passione Amorosa for two double basses. Then again in 2011 with Tubin's concerto for double bass and in 2015, he performed the Australian premiere of Tan Dun's Double bass concerto The Wolf. In December this year he will appear again as soloist with The Wolf and the TSO in Hobart and on the TSO's tour of China. An active chamber musician, he is a founding member and co-artistic director of the Elanée Ensemble focusing on music for viola and double bass. He also teaches at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music.
Lucy began playing the violin at the age of 4. She studied with Beryl Kimber and William Hennessey in Adelaide and with Stelios Kafantaris in Germany. During this time she represented Australia in the Jeunesse Musicales World Orchestra with whom she toured much of Europe and Canada. At 22 Lucy returned to Australia to take up the Principal Second violin job in the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Two years later she joined the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, also as Principal Second violin. Lucy has appeared as soloist with the TSO, Adelaide and Hobart Chamber Orchestras; is a member of the Australian World Orchestra and has played as guest Associate Principal Second with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. She appears regularly with Virtuosi, the Elanée Ensemble and with the Discovery Octet.
David, a watercolourist and illustrationist, trained as a lithographic artist, doing a 6 year apprenticeship in Melbourne, graduating with a Diploma in Advertising Art. He subsequently started his own freelance company, Taswegia, specialising in marketing and design, as well as manufactoring cards and stationary. He is a specialist in pre-press. These days, he is semi-retired, focusing on marine landscapes while continuing to do mining engineering illustrations. He has had 56 very successful one man exhibitions.
Copyright © 2025 Kettering Concerts. Last updated 18 September 2022. |
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