« PREVIOUS
‹ PLAYBACK
STOP
PLAY ›
NEXT »
The Lyrebird Trio is comprised of Australian musicians Glenn Christensen (violin), Simon Cobcroft (cello) and Angela Turner (piano), all distinguished graduates of the Queensland Conservatorium. Formed in early 2013, the trio takes their name after the remarkable Australian native lyrebird, also an important emblem of their alma mater for much of its history.
In July 2013, Lyrebird Trio won all piano trio prizes at the quadrennial Asia Pacific Chamber Music Competition: the Beluera Prize for best piano trio, and the Peter Druce Audience Prize. Subsequently, they featured in the ABC International documentary “Ivory, Strings and Bows”, broadcast in over 40 countries across Asia, North America, the Pacific and Indian subcontinent. As Winter Musicians-in-Residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada, they gave numerous performances across the region in January/February 2014. The trio made a welcome return to Banff in January/February 2015, recording their debut CD for the Master Performers label, hailed by The Australian as “exquisite and exhilarating” and “an impressive recording that augurs well for a long and enriching life by three stellar young Australian musicians.”
During 2014-2016, Lyrebird Trio were Ensemble-In-Residence at the Queensland Conservatorium, and since 2018 are Ensemble-In-Residence at the Mackay Chamber Music Festival. In addition to their core season, other appearances have included engagements at the Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House, the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival (Victoria), Tyalgum Festival (NSW), QLD Conservatorium, Ukaria Cultural Centre (South Australia), Musica Viva QLD, Elder Conservatorium (South Australia), Margaret Olley Art Centre (NSW), University of QLD, 4MBS Festival of Classics, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with The Metropolitan Orchestra (Sydney), and recordings and broadcasts for ABC-Classic FM, and the MBS networks.
Outside of the trio, Glenn Christensen is Deputy Concertmaster and Principal 2nd Violin with Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen; Simon Cobcroft is Principal Cello with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and Angela Turner is a specialist lecturer in piano at the Young Conservatorium, Queensland Conservatorium, and the School of Music, University of Queensland.
Glenn Christensen is Deputy Concertmaster and Principal 2nd Violin with Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. prior to which he was a full-time member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra from 2014 to 2020, and Principal First Violin in the Queensland Symphony Orchestra from 2012 to 2014. He has recently appeared as guest concertmaster and director with Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Le Cercle de l’Harmonie, and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and his 2023 season includes guest appearances as Principal 2nd Violin with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Associate Concertmaster of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Glenn was the Concertmaster of the Australian Youth Orchestra in 2012 and 2013 and an Australian Chamber Orchestra Emerging Artist in 2012.
Simon Cobcroft is currently Principal Cello with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. After eight years as Sub-Principal Cellist with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Simon returned to Queensland in 2012 to take up the position of Associate Principal Cello with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, a position he has also held with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Since graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium and Australian National Academy of Music, Simon has also performed frequently with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony and the Philharmonia Orchestra (London). Simon is currently the Artistic Director of the Coriole Music Festival.
Angela Turner has performed as piano soloist and chamber musician throughout Australia, England, Canada and Taiwan. Angela has been on staff at the Queensland Conservatorium since 1998, teaching across a range of practical and academic areas. She is currently head of the Intermediate Piano Program at the Young Conservatorium, and a lecturer in piano at the University of Queensland. Her "Exploring Piano" repertoire series is published by Hal Leonard. A Conservatorium Medallist, Angela completed a Master of Music on exchange at the Royal College of Music, London. She has been the recipient of numerous prestigious national awards, in the capacities of chamber musician, associate artist and soloist.
In May 2023, the Lyrebirds are looking forward to welcoming back Glenn from Germany, and performing in a few festivals in the couple of months he remains in Australia. They will take part in the Coriole Music Festival, McLaren Vale South Australia, including the world premiere of Anne Cawrse's "Anniversary Trio". At the festival, they will join with American soprano Sofia Troncoso in Monteverdi's Dolcissimo Uscignolo, and also perform Paul Stanhope's Monteverdi inspired Dolcissimo Uscignolo.
July 2023 sees a return to the Mackay Chamber Music Festival as ensemble-in-residence, performing in different combinations with numerous wonderful Australian musicians. As part of the festival, Lyrebird Trio will give a recital on Saturday 22 July, including the glorious C minor trio by Mendelssohn. More details can by found on the festival website.
Read more Past News
Lyrebird Trio
Beethoven, Westlake, Smetana
Master Performers MPI 15 003
''The performances are exquisite and exhilarating, captured in a grateful acoustic, the booklet notes are exemplary. An impressive recording that augurs well for a long and enriching life by three stellar young Australian musicians.'' 4.5 stars - Vincent Plush, The Australian, Weekend Review, February 2016
Recorded January 2015, Rolston Recital Hall, Banff, Alberta, Canada.
CDs - $20 AUD
Postage within Australia: $4.95 AUD
Postage to Asia: $7.95 AUD
Postage to all other destinations: $9.95 AUD
Beethoven: Piano Trio op.70 no.1 "Ghost" - 3rd movt excerpt
Recorded: Rolston Recital Hall, Banff Centre, Canada; January 2015
Producer and Engineer: Anastasia Rybakova, Gosia Napiontek
Nigel Westlake: Piano Trio (2003) - 3rd movt excerpt
Recorded: Rolston Recital Hall, Banff Centre, Canada; January 2015
Producer and Engineer: Anastasia Rybakova, Gosia Napiontek
Smetana: Piano Trio op.15 in G minor - 1st movt excerpt
Recorded: Rolston Recital Hall, Banff Centre, Canada; January 2015
Producer and Engineer: Anastasia Rybakova, Gosia Napiontek
Schumann: Piano Trio no.2 op.80 in F major - 1st movt excerpt
Recorded: Live Recording, Studio 420, ABC, Brisbane Australia; July 2014
Sound Engineer: Costa Zouliou
Schumann: Piano Trio no.2 op.80 in F major - 3rd movt excerpt
Recorded: Live Recording, Studio 420, ABC, Brisbane Australia; July 2014
Sound Engineer: Costa Zouliou
Schumann: Piano Trio no.2 op.80 in F major - 4th movt excerpt
Recorded: Live Recording, Studio 420, ABC, Brisbane Australia; July 2014
Sound Engineer: Costa Zouliou
Shostakovich: Piano Trio no.2 op.67 in E minor - 2nd movt excerpt
Recorded: Live Recording, Studio 420, ABC, Brisbane Australia; July 2014
Sound Engineer: Costa Zouliou
Shostakovich: Piano Trio no.2 op.67 in E minor - 4th movt excerpt
Recorded: Live Recording, Studio 420, ABC, Brisbane Australia; July 2014
Sound Engineer: Costa Zouliou
Shostakovich: Piano Trio no.2 op.67 in E minor - 4th movt excerpt
Recorded: Live Recording, Studio 420, ABC, Brisbane Australia; July 2014
Sound Engineer: Costa Zouliou
Lyrebird Trio