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 »
Photo: Leonard Szabliński (2013)
Lucinda Moon »
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)
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. 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).