New ensemble hits the right note

KLEMANTYNE Ensemble, the inspiration of Nicci Dellar, violinist, teacher and visionary, gave its inaugural performance on Sunday at the Anglican Cathedral, in front of an appreciative audience.

Dellar has studied and worked in Vienna and returned to Australia in 2002 to become a senior teacher at several Melbourne private schools and before becoming head of strings at Ballarat Grammar for 11 years.

She recently spent 13 months in New Zealand and returned to Ballarat with a vision to create an ensemble that was bigger than a trio but not so big as to become impersonal.

She has found eight talented musicians who shared her ideals and who work together both musically and personally.

“I want to work with musicians who share my passion and I want Klemantyne Ensemble to be together for a long time,” Dellar said.

“Each member brings with them the same love of music, dedication and commitment, and I am so grateful that we have come together to share this enthusiasm with an appreciative audience. The response from today’s audience was so encouraging.”

Concert Oboist Andrew Angus joined the Ensemble to play Albinoni’s Oboe Concerto in D Minor Op 9. No. 2. The other pieces chosen were by Purcell, Cacinni, Respighi and Corelli, and as an encore Andrew Angus, with the Ensemble, played music from The Mission.

The pieces were played with confidence, the musicians obviously enjoying the shared experience of playing together. The music ranged from deeply moving, melancholic and reflective, to playful with generous and graceful sweeps of movement.

Unlike its namesake Klemantyne Ensemble has found its place in Ballarat’s musical environment and if last Sunday’s concert is anything to go by – it will be around for a very long time.