Festival Artists

Drawing upon major international and Australian ensembles, including the Lyrebird Trio, The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, and the Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras - our Festival Artists are some of the world’s leading musicians.

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. 

During 2014-2016, Lyrebird Trio were Ensemble-In-Residence at the Queensland Conservatorium. In addition to their core season, other recent appearances have included engagements at the Melbourne Recital Centre, Sydney Opera House, the Coriole Music Festival (South Australia), the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival (Victoria), Ngeringa/Ukaria Cultural Centre (South Australia), Tyalgum Festival (NSW), Musica Viva 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 Principal 2nd Violin and Deputy Concertmaster of Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen; Simon Cobcroft is Acting Associate Principal Cello with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and Angela Turner is a lecturer at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University.