Lunchbox Concert: Quercus Trio

About the artists

Quercus Trio is a Melbourne-based horn trio dedicated to performing the finest chamber music.  The unique combination of violin, horn and piano provides an extensive palette of colours and musical possibilities which the trio delights in exploiting.  Quercus are particularly interested in championing new and Australian works that feature this combination of instruments.  The three members have all developed international reputations performing in many of the world’s premiere ensembles and concert halls, and each brings a unique musical flavour to the group.  They aim to expand the horn-trio repertoire through new commissions and by drawing attention to underperformed repertoire.  Quercus trio is a joyful group; Rhodri, Liz and Carla are united by a deep affection for each other and for creating music together. 

Carla Blackwood, horn

Carla Blackwood enjoys a diverse career performing as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician.  On historical natural horns Carla is principal horn of the Orchestra of the Antipodes (Pinchgut Opera) and the Australian Haydn Ensemble. On modern horn Carla performs regularly with the Australia Ensemble, renowned contemporary music ensemble ELISION, Quercus Trio, Lyrebird Brass, and is a regular guest principal horn with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of Victoria, and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. 

Rhodri Clarke, piano

Pianist Rhodri Clarke graduated with first class honours from the Royal College Of Music, London in 2004.

He has lived in the Netherlands where he performed with members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and has toured extensively with tenor, Rolando Villazon’s Bolivar Soloists appearing with the group at the Berlin Philharmonie, London’s Royal Festival Hall and the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris and also in Mexico, programs recorded for the Deutsche Grammaphon label.

He has also toured to Venezuela, with double bass player, Edicson Ruiz of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and accompanied Bryn Terfel at Carnegie Hall in New York. Other engagements as an accompanist have seen him perform at many prestigious European concert venues including London’s Wigmore Hall and also at the Lucerne International Music Festival.

Elizabeth Sellars, violin

Australian-born violinist Dr Elizabeth Sellars has enjoyed a distinguished career as both performer and teacher in Australia and abroad. Elizabeth is a prize-winning graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where she studied with David Takeno (violin) and the Takacs String Quartets (chamber music). Further significant influences included Sandor Vegh and Yehudi Menuhin with whom Elizabeth worked at Prussia Cove in Cornwall and at the International Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad. During her time in London, Elizabeth was a winner of the inaugural John Tunnell Trust and the Royal Overseas League Ensemble Prize and Miller Trophy. As soloist and chamber musician, she toured extensively in the UK, broadcast for the BBC, and performed throughout Europe and Asia with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Now resident in Australia, Elizabeth has appeared as guest Concertmaster and Principal Violin with the Tasmanian and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, Orchestra Victoria, and Australian Chamber Orchestra. As a sought-after chamber musician, she has appeared for Musica Viva and has collaborated with Ensemble Liaison, Wilma and Friends, Flinders Quartet and Elision Ensembles.

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