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

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

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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

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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

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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

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