Biographies

Elysium Ensemble

How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown,
Within whose circuit is Elysium
And all that poets feign of bliss and joy!

William Shakespeare—Henry VI, Part III (c.1590)

Biography »

Founded in 1985 by Greg Dikmans, the Elysium Ensemble is true to its name, creating a state of ideal happiness by bringing together musicians with an affinity for the music of the Baroque and Classical periods and an interest in historical performance practice..


Entries in The Oxford Companion to Australian Music »

The Elysium Ensemble’s standing as one of Australia’s finest chamber ensembles and its important contribution to the Early Music Revival in Australia has been recognised by two entries in The Oxford Companion to Australian Music (Melbourne: OUP, 1997).

Reviews »

Some of the nice things people have said about us over the years.


Artistic & Musical Direction

Greg Dikmans »

greg-hero

Photo: Leonard Szabliński (2013)

Lucinda Moon »

Lucinda-Moon-smiling-1

Photo: Leonard Szabliński (2013)


Members: Past & Present

Since 1985 many wonderful musicians from Australia and overseas have performed together as part of the Elysium Ensemble. One of Greg Dikmans’ aims in forming the ensemble on his return from post-graduate studies in Europe was to provide opportunities for young musicians to gain experience in early music by exploring new repertoire and performing with their more experienced peers. Quite a few have gone on to pursue their own studies overseas and establish careers in early music.

Elysium Ensemble (1989)

Elysium Ensemble in 1989

Greg Dikmans | Geoffrey Burgess | Julie Hewison | John O‘Donnell | Roger Glanville-Hicks
Miriam Morris | Gerald English | Lucinda Moon | Rachael Beesley

Elizabeth Anderson
Harpsichord
Rachael Beesley
Violin
Meredith Bhathal
Viola
Calvin Bowman
Harpsichord
Rosalind Brockman
Violin
Geoffrey Burgess
Oboe
Alison Catanach
Flute
Deirdre Dowling
Viola
Janet Fernandes
Viola
Nicole Forsyth
Viola
Julia Fredersdorff
Violin
Stephen Freeman
Violin
Fiona Furphy
Cello
Anne Gilby
Oboe
Roger Glanville-Hicks
Theorbo & Baroque Guitar
Briar Goessi
Violin
Rosalind Halton
Harpsichord
Julie Hewison
Violin & Viola
Jamie Hey
Cello
Roseanne Hunt
Cello
Jenny Ingram
Viola
Linda Kent
Harpsichord
Elvira Kirkbride
Violin
Hilary Kleinig
Cello
Glenys March
Harpsichord
Simon Martyn-Ellis
Lute, Theorbo & Baroque Guitar
Heather Lloyd
Viola
Anna McDonald
Violin
Ross Mitchell
Violin & Viola
Miriam Morris
Bass Viol & Cello
Anne Murphy
Harpsichord
Simon Musgrave
Violin
Donald Nicolson
Harpsichord
John O’Donnell
Harpischord, Organ & Fortepiano
Nigel Paul
Trumpet
Christine Ruiter
Violin
Cath Shugg
Violin
Bruce Stewart
Oboe
Laura Vaughan
Bass Viol
Margaret Waugh
Cello
Rosemary Webber
Double Bass
Ruth Wilkinson
Bass Viol, Recorder & Violone
Adam Yee
Oboe

Elysium Ensemble (2008)

Elysium Ensemble - St Paul's Anglican Church, Geelong - 24 April 2008

Elysium Ensemble—St Paul's Anglican Church, Geelong—24 April 2008. Photo: Albert Comper
Greg Dikmans | Lucinda Moon | Donald Nicolson | Laura Vaughan



Guest Artists

Barbara Baird (USA)
Harpsichord
Simon Biazeck
Tenor
Katrina Brown
Harpsichord
Mary Cyr (Canada)
Bass Viol
Matthias Eisenberg (Germany)
Harpsichord & Organ
Gerald English
Tenor
Vivien Hamilton
Soprano
Craig Hill
Chalumeau
Anthony Jennings (New Zealand)
Harpsichord & Organ
Deborah Kayser
Soprano
Jerzy Kozlowski
Bass
Genevieve Lacey
Recorder
Tessa Miller
Soprano
Douglas Mews (New Zealand)
Harpsichord
Stanley Ritchie (USA)
Violin
David V. Russell
Counter-tenor
David Staff (UK)
Baroque Trumpet
Philip Swanton
Fortepiano
Shelley Wilkinson (New Zealand)
Violin

Collaborations

Choir of Trinity College (dir. Michael Leighton Jones)
A concert of four Bach Cantatas as part of the Bach 2000 project in the Melbourne Festival (overall musical direction by Greg Dikmans).
Choir of Trinity College (dir. Michael Fulcher)
A performance of Handel’s Messiah.
La Douce Maniere (dir. Margaret Mullins)
A concert of French Baroque music and dance.
e21 (dir. Stephen Grant)
A concert of Jewish Baroque Music.
The Early Dance Consort (dir. Fiona Garlick & John Barnard)
A concert of French Baroque music and dance.
The Song Company & Fontana Musica
Performances of Purcell’s opera The Indian Queen at the 1995 Barossa Festival (overall musical direction by Greg Dikmans).