Announcing Ensemble Lumen
Artistic Director's Welcome
'We are delighted to launch Ensemble Lumen and its debut season in 2025. The formation of this in-house chamber music ensemble was inspired by a desire to illuminate the many remarkable facets of our Conservatorium – celebrating our exceptional faculty, our talented students, and the world-class music-making that flourishes within the walls of this institution. The name "Lumen" also pays homage to our heritage, drawing from the University of Adelaide's cherished motto, sub cruce lumen, beautifully symbolises the guiding light of knowledge and creativity that defines our community.
Through this season, we invite you to experience the many ways in which light – through music – illuminates the paths we take, the stories we tell, and the community we create. Each concert reflects our desire to showcase the exceptional talent within our Conservatorium, to honour our heritage, and to look toward a future where creativity continues to flourish. We are proud to share this journey with you, as we shine a light on the extraordinary musicianship, innovation, and artistry that define Ensemble Lumen and our vibrant Conservatorium.'
Lloyd Van't Hoff
Artistic Director | Head of Woodwinds
Elder Conservatorium
Artists
Dr Elizabeth Layton
Violin
Dr Stephen King
Viola
Edith Salzmann
Cello
Rob Nairn
Bass
Lloyd Van't Hoff
Clarinet
Dr Emma Gregan
Horn
Lucinda Collins
Piano
Professor Anna Goldsworthy
Piano
Concert Schedule
Towards the Light
Friday 28 February 12.30pm
Elder Hall
In its debut performance, Ensemble Lumen explores facets of light in all its radiant forms. The program will illuminate the rarely heard music of William Shield, whose melodies once charmed the ears of Mozart and Beethoven. Dai Fujikura brings the solo horn to life in yurayura, conjuring the mesmerising dance of a candle-lit flame. The Australian premiere of Libby Larsen's Trio Noir draws a shimmering sonic parallel between music and the mystery of film noir, while Dohnányi's sweeping Sextet embarks on a dramatic journey through light and shadows.
William Shield String Trio No. 8 in F major
Dai Fujikura Yurayura
Libby Larsen Trio Noir
Ernst von Dohnányi Sextet, Op. 37
BOOK TICKETS
Contrasts
Friday 6 June 1.10pm
Elder Hall
This program delves into the interplay of sound and emotion, showcasing how composers use chamber music to express a spectrum of colours and textures. We begin with Nadia Boulanger's Trois Pièces, a trio of lyrical vignettes that reflect the refined charm of early 20th-century French music. Bartók's Contrasts, written for Benny Goodman, blends jazz and Hungarian folk traditions in a dynamic and spirited exchange of ideas. To conclude, Brahms's Horn Trio unfolds as a rich, soulful dialogue, filled with warmth, depth, and moments of striking beauty. Through these three pieces, we experience how different musical voices, both intimate and bold, can converge to create a rich cornucopia of sound and emotion.
Nadia Boulanger Trois Pièces for Cello and Piano
Bartók Contrasts, Sz. 111
Brahms Horn Trio, Op. 40
BOOK TICKETS
Radiance
Wednesday 24 September 7.00pm
Elder Hall
In its third concert for 2025, Ensemble Lumen draws the audience into a dance of light and shadow, where three remarkable works shimmer with their own unique brilliance. Mozart's Quintet for Piano and Winds opens, glowing with graceful interplay and crystalline elegance. Carl Vine's Flute Sonata follows, a beacon of modern intensity, where bold contrasts and virtuosic flourishes flow effortlessly between tender warmth and fiery energy. After the interval, Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence bathes the listener in the golden hues of sweeping melodies and vibrant textures, blending Russian fervour with the sunlit allure of Italy. Together, these works weave a radiant tapestry, each a facet of chamber music's boundless expressive power.
Mozart Quintet for Piano and Winds, K. 452
Carl Vine Sonata for Flute and Piano
Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70
BOOK TICKETS
Lumen Gala
Wednesday 5 November 7.00pm
Elder Hall
Our Lumen Gala ignites the stage with a program that celebrates the brilliance and boundless possibilities of chamber music. Guillaume Connesson's electrifying Techno Parade launches the evening with pulsating energy and modern flair. Claude Debussy's iconic Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, presented in a shimmering arrangement by Graeme Steele Johnson, casts an irresistible spell of dreamlike beauty. Ian Munro's Schubertiades bridges past and present, offering a heartfelt homage to Franz Schubert's spirit of intimate gatherings and poetic inspiration. The gala culminates with Schubert's majestic Octet in F major, D. 803 – a masterpiece of expressive depth, Viennese elegance, and radiant lyricism that crowns this luminous celebration of music.
Guillaume Connesson Techno Parade
Debussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Ian Munro Schubertiades
Schubert Octet in F major, D. 803
BOOK TICKETS
About the Musicians
Dr Elizabeth Layton
Violin
Described as 'one of the most outstanding performers of her generation' (The Strad), Elizabeth Layton enjoys a varied career performing at festivals throughout Australia and New Zealand. She is Head of Classical Performance at the Elder Conservatorium, and a regular guest Concertmaster with many orchestras including the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Elizabeth has toured chamber music worldwide with the Nash Ensemble and her recordings are available on DG, Hyperion, Chandos, Avie, Naxos and NMC.
Dr Stephen King
Viola
Violist Stephen King is a collaborator and creator. He performed with the Australian String Quartet (ASQ) from 2012–21 developing projects with First Nations artists, new commissions, recordings and digital creations. From 2003 he was a member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) where he played a major role in building the Emerging Artists program. Recently he has been a regular guest principal of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra (ARCO). Stephen teaches viola at the Elder Conservatorium and makes sculptured timber furniture during any other hours.
Edith Salzmann
Cello
German/NZ cellist Edith Salzmann joined the Elder Conservatorium as lecturer in cello in 2024. Previously she held positions at the universities of Auckland and Canterbury in NZ. As a chamber musician and soloist she performed in major concert halls, such as the Berlin and Cologne Philharmonie, the Barbican London, and the Lincoln Centre New York. Edith is a Naxos recording artist, and her recent recordings include the complete chamber music of William Shield and Ignaz Pleyel.
Rob Nairn
Bass
A specialist in historical performance, Rob Nairn is principal bass with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. He has worked with the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Early Music Festival, Juilliard Baroque, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, English Baroque Soloists, Smithsonian Chamber Players, Concerto Caledonia, Ironwood, Washington Bach Consort, Rebel, Florilegium, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Muffat Collective and Adelaide Baroque.
He has played with most Australian and numerous international orchestras including the London Philharmonic, the Pittsburg, Oslo and Gothenburg Symphonies, the English and Scottish Chamber Orchestras, the Bavarian Radio Symphony, the London Sinfonietta, and the Hallé Orchestra. He has given recitals and masterclasses and recorded for labels including Deutsche Grammophon, Sony Classical, EMI, RCA and Naxos.
Formerly head of the Early Music Department at Melbourne University, Rob was appointed Master Musician in Residence at the Elder Conservatorium in 2020. He has taught at The Juilliard School and Penn State University.
Lloyd Van't Hoff
Clarinet
Lauded by Limelight Magazine for his 'life-affirming music-making', Lloyd Van't Hoff enjoys a vibrant career as a clarinetist, chamber musician, director and educator. A winner of the 2015 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year, he currently serves as Head of Woodwind at the Elder Conservatorium and is the Director of the Pathways Program at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. Lloyd is a founding member of Arcadia Winds and is proudly a Buffet Crampon endorsed performing artist.
Dr Emma Gregan
Horn
Emma plays Tutti Horn with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and is the Head of Brass at the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music. She is also an Alliance Brass artist. She has appeared with many of the major Australian orchestras and is an active chamber musician on modern and historical instruments. She is an enthusiastic educator and advocate for community music programs, also serving as the Artistic Director of the Adelaide Horn Jam.
Lucinda Collins
Piano
Lucinda Collins has performed widely throughout Australia and has also given recitals in the UK and Korea. Her playing has been praised for its 'daunting power, lyrical beauty and musical intelligence.' An avid lover of chamber repertoire, Lucinda has collaborated with many of Australia's finest musicians as well as international artists, including cellists David Geringas and Lynn Harrell. Lucinda has held the position of Head of Keyboart at the Elder Conservatorium of Music since 2000.
Professor Anna Goldsworthy
Piano
Anna Goldsworthy is Director of the Elder Conservatorium of Music, and an award-winning pianist, writer, and festival director. She performs widely with a range of collaborators and with Seraphim Trio, and is a celebrated writer of memoir, fiction and works for the stage, including the bestselling memoir, Piano Lessons.