Chamber Music Concerts

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in A (KV 581)
• Carl Maria von Weber, Introduction, theme and variations for Clarinet and String Quartet

This program for Clarinet and String Quartet will feature three local musicians: Duncan Abercrombie (clarinet); Rachel Bremmer (violin) and Christian Wojtowicz (cello).

The Musicians

Duncan Abercromby studied Clarinet in Sydney with Donald Westlake and in 1973 after several years freelancing in Melbourne and Sydney joined the West Australian Symphony Orchestra as second clarinet. He became principal Clarinet with the T.S.O- in 1979 and has appeared frequently with both the W.A.S.O and T.S.O. as soloist in works by Mozart, Weber, Debussy, Krommer and others. He has played with all the major symphony orchestras in Australia and has recently completed a tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. When not performing, his favourite pastimes are sailing, bridge and enjoying a couple of quiet ales on the balcony of his home in Oyster Cove.

Christian Wojtowicz studied cello at the Tasmanian Conservatorium before gaining a Churchill Fellowship to work with Pierre Fournier in Zurich and later with Andre Navarra at the Paris Conservatoire. He freelanced extensively in France and the UK before appointment as principal cello in the Melbourne Elizabethan Trust Orchestra. His wide experience in Australia includes principal cellist of the TSO and guest principal in most Australian Symphony Orchestras and the Tasmanian Symphony Chamber Players, which he co-founded. As well as regular recitals, he has made concerto appearances and recordings with all Australia's leading orchestras. Christian has held teaching positions at the Canberra School of Music, Queensland Conservatorium and University or Queensland, University of Melbourne and Victorian College of the Arts. Christian now lives at Oyster Cove.

Rachel Bremner completed her violin studies with Professor Jan Sedivka at the Tasmanian Conservatorium, has been a regular player with the TSO, and regularly appears as a recitalist and chamber musician. Rachel has toured nationally with Musica Viva, and has been extensively involved in chamber music and broadcasting, playing with Geoffrey Lancaster, David Bollard and Christian Wojtowicz. She has also performed and broadcast Australian music for violin by Gillian Whitehead, Keith Humble and Don Kay. She was associated on a number of occasions with the new music ensemble Pipeline, directed by Professor Simone de Haan. Rachel has also passed on her experience to younger musicians at music camps and chamber music classes at the Tasmanian Conservatorium and the Mt. Buller Chamber Music School in association with the Australian String Quartet. Rachel now resides at Oyster Cove.

Linda Garrett (viola) studied at the University of Queensland where she gained a Bachelor of Music, and Master of Philosophy. In 2005 she moved to Tasmania to take up a contract with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Linda currently works as a freelance player with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and The Queensland Orchestra as well as the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Virtuosi Tasmania. We warmly welcome Linda to our cooler climate!

Susanna Lazaroff (violin) was born into a musical family in Brisbane. She played with the Queensland Youth Orchestra, led the Brisbane State High School Symphony, and played in Chamber orchestras before going on to tertiary study at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. Work with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra led to a permanent position with the TSO, and Susanna gained a Masters Degree at Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music studying with Professor Jan Sedivka. Susanna is still much involved in chamber music, and is a dedicated regular member of Virtuosi Tasmania.

Last updated 2 May 2006.