Ensemble Liaison & Tony Gould Trio
Biography Ensemble Liaison & Tony Gould Trio
Ensemble Liaison
Described by Limelight magazine as a ‘national treasure’, Ensemble Liaison is one of Australia’s leading internationally acclaimed ensembles. They are renowned for their captivating and engaging performances, appealing to audiences from all walks of life.
They presented their first concert series at The Edge, Melbourne, in 2007 and have become known as a tour de force, recognised for imaginative and innovative programming, setting the trend for brilliant collaborations with leading artists. They have performed across Australia and New Zealand, including a ten-concert tour for Chamber Music New Zealand, and appearances at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Government House, UKARIA, Musica Viva Australia, Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville, Port Fairy Spring Music Festival and the Woodend Winter Arts Festival, and in 2012 gave a series of festival performances in Central Europe. Critics have hailed their performances with superlatives such as ‘spellbinding’, ‘flawless’, ‘a revelation’, ‘moving’ and ‘joyous’.
The creation of new works is also a priority for Ensemble Liaison, with commissions by Paul Grabowsky, Ian Munro, Gordon Kerry, Tony Gould, Stuart Greenbaum, Elena Kats-Chernin, Jane Hammond, Michael Dooley, Thomas Reiner, Aleksandar Sedlar, Mark Viggiani and Mary Finsterer. Countless arrangements by the trio have also formed an integral part of their programming and artistic vision.
They have regularly recorded for broadcast on ABC Classic and 3MBS, and have released recordings to international acclaim on the Melba Recordings, Tall Poppies, ABC Classics labels as well as their own EL Records. They were ensemble-in-residence at Monash University from 2010 to 2016.
Tony Gould Trio
The trio’s repertoire is an eclectic mix of ‘in the moment’ music-making and improvisations on well-loved pieces from the classical, jazz and folk world.
The trio has a long history of music-making together that has enabled the players to build an uncommon empathy; as if they know what each other is feeling and hearing. This ensures that even when they play truly spontaneous improvisations the symbiotic relationship they have with one another produces music that sounds pre-composed.
The first thing that needs to be said about this trio is that David Jones has long been regarded as one of the world’s finest percussionists.
He is a spellbinding performer who can produce sounds from his myriad of instruments that captivate listeners.
Double bassist Ben Robertson has earned his high reputation as one of Australia’s master musicians, playing with world renowned musicians across a wide variety of musical styles.- Tony Gould, Curator
Timothy Young
is one of Australia’s most prominent and versatile pianists. Currently the Head of Piano and Chamber Music at the Australian Academy of Music and a founding member of Ensemble Liaison, he performs regularly in recital as a soloist and in partnership with leading Australian and international musicians and ensembles.
He studied at the University of Melbourne with Ronald Farren-Price and Mack Jost before completing his Diploma with distinction from the Nicolò Paganini Conservatorium in Genova, Italy under the direction of Lidia Baldecchi- Arcuri and Massimiliano Damerini. While studying in Italy Timothy won several first-prizes in International Music Competitions including the Premio Kawai-Tortona and the Palma d’Oro-Finale Ligure, along with other major prizes in the Premio Venezia and the Sanremo Classico International Piano Competition. A personal highlight was a special performance playing works by Luciano Berio for the composer’s 70th birthday celebrations in Genova.
In recent years Timothy has toured Australia with violinist Ray Chen for Musica Viva and New Zealand with Ensemble Liaison for Chamber Music NZ. Performed with the Australian String Quartet, the Tin Alley String Quartet, the Australian Brass Quintet, the Australia Ensemble, the ANAM Orchestra and the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Frequent festival appearances include the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville, Huntington Festival, Queensland Biennial Festival of Music, the Australian Piano Duo Festival, the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Port Fairy Festival, Bangalow Music Festival, Melbourne International Festival of Brass, the Utzon Room music series at the Sydney Opera House, Canberra International Music Festival, the Aurora Festival (ISCM), the Perth Concert Hall Summer Series, Perth Festival, Woodend Festival, the Novi Sad Music Summer Festival in Serbia, the Kotor Arts International Festival in Montenegro and recently the opening recital at the Capraia Festival of Music in Italy.
Timothy has a keen interest in Australian composers of the past and his internationally acclaimed discography includes a recent release for Heritage Records UK with Penelope Thwaites featuring the complete two piano music of Percy Grainger. For the Melba label in Australia he has recorded a solo recital of works by the Australian George Frederick Boyle. Other recordings feature collaborations with Ensemble Liaison and violist Roger Benedict, violinist Ray Chen and soprano Cheryl Barker. For Tall Poppies he has recorded with cellist, David Pereira and Ensemble Liaison.
