Australian Octet is Melbourne Chamber Orchestra’s flagship chamber ensemble. Unique in Australia’s musical life, Australian Octet is dedicated to performing music for five to eight strings. The ensemble has in its repertoire chamber masterworks including the octets of Bruch and Mendelssohn, sextets of Brahms and Tchaikovsky and quintets of Brahms and Schubert.
This unusual ensemble has also enticed composers to write exciting virtuosic string works, and in two years Australian Octet has performed commissions by Australian composers including Richard Mills and Paul Stanhope.
This unusual ensemble has also enticed composers to write exciting virtuosic string works, and in two years Australian Octet has performed commissions by Australian composers including Richard Mills and Paul Stanhope.
Following an inaugural series in 2014, Australian Octet has performed annually as a part of Melbourne Chamber Orchestra’s concert series as well as special performances at Narkoojee Winery, Linden New Art, Port Fairy Spring Music Festival and regional venues including Horsham, Hamilton, Traralgon, Daylesford and Mornington. In 2017 Australian Octet performs at Melbourne Recital Centre and also Glengarry.
Australian Octet is:
Violins
William Hennessy
Madeleine Jevons
Markiyan Melnychenko
Robin Wilson
Violas
Merewyn Bramble
Tobias Breider
Celli
Paul Ghica
Josephine Vains
