Ms Elizabeth Sellars - Researcher Profile

Elizabeth Sellars photo

Address

School of Music Conservatorium
Faculty of Arts, Clayton

Biography

Music that speaks for us

Violinist Elizabeth Sellars believes great works of music not only speak to us, but can speak for us. A distinguished performer and teacher, whose talents have attracted international acclaim, Elizabeth still finds fresh voice in every performance.  

 

Elizabeth began her career as a prize-winning graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where she studied with celebrated teacher David Takeno and the Takacs and Gabrieli String Quartets. She went on to work with Sandor Vegh and Yehudi Menuhin at the International Musicians’ Seminar at Prussia Cove in Cornwall and at the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland.

She has since established herself on the world stage - she has toured extensively in the UK, broadcast for the BBC, performed throughout Europe with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields and the English Chamber Orchestra, and was a prize-winner in the 9th Concorso Musicale Internazionale "Riviera del Conero" in Italy.

Upon returning to Australia, Elizabeth has played with Elision, Libra, Ensemble Liaison and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. She has been guest concertmaster with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria and Australia Pro Arte and her recordings for Naxos with the Schirmer Ensemble have been received with high regard. 

In the midst of so successful a career, Elizabeth still finds inspiration in every collaboration, and in every performance. 

"I guess at its heart it is about creating something," Elizabeth says.

"Every time you do a concert you are creating something anew; every performer is different and every performance is different.

"Music says things that we can't say. 

"It is a unique, expressive vehicle that brings together parts of our thinking and spirit and feeling -  everything that defines a human can be expressed through this sound.

"For me, playing music is about creating something that is beautiful."

While Elizabeth has enjoyed several significant career achievements -- including performing the world premieres of Paul Dean's Converging Spheres in 2011, and works dedicated to her by Julian Yu, Dominik Karski and Philip Czaplowski -- she regards her current collaboration, The Sutherland Trio, as her high-water mark.

Formed in 2010, with pianist Caroline Almote and cellist Molly Kadarauch, Elizabeth believes the trio offers her the most rewarding and creative environment she has yet enjoyed.

"They are both fantastic musicians, and we have a really unique working and artistic synergy," she says.

"It feels as if our collective experience is really creating something very exciting.

"And the way I perceive music is changing all the time --  the way I play something now is nothing like the way I used to play it. I now place the music in a larger context and my knowledge of music is greater."

When she is not performing with The Sutherland Trio, who are a regular feature at the Melbourne Recital Centre, Elizabeth teaches music at Monash University.

She says teaching has given her new perspective on her own work, and that her students benefit from studying with an active performer.

"I love working with young people," she says.

"Once you've spent all this time refining a skill, you realise what a unique part it has to play in culture and society, because it is a highly evolved discipline,  and it requires great intellectual and emotional complexity. 

"I feel it is important to expand awareness and intellectual and emotional  capabilities among students."

Qualifications

CERTIFICATE OF ADVANCED STUDIES
Institution: Guildhall School of Music & Drama- London UK
Year awarded: 1990
ASSOCIATE OF THE GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Institution: The Guildhall School of Music and Drama(London)
Year awarded: 1989

Publications

Other

Sellars, E., 2012, Chaconne, Johann Sebastian Bach, 15 minutes, 25 March 2012, Barwon Park, Winchelsea.

Sellars, E., 2012, Converging Spheres, Paul Dean, 15 minutes, 9 March 2012, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Der wind, Franz Schreker, 10 minutes, 26 February 2012, National Gallery of Victoria.

Sellars, E., 2012, Elegy, Caroline Almonte, 4 minutes, 31 October 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Elegy, Josef Suk, 7 minutes, 31 October 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Episodie e Canto perpetuo, Peteris Vasks, 25 minutes, 16 May 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Fantasie for Violin and Harp, Saint-Saens, 12 minutes, 30 October 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Five pieces for two violins and piano, Dmitry Shostakovich, 15 minutes, 9 November 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Introduction and Rondo Cappricoso in A minor, Camille Saint-Saens, 10 minutes, 30 October 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Love songs for piano quartet, Reza Vali, 15 minutes, 24 June 2012, Lockhart Hall, Methodist Ladies College.

Sellars, E., 2012, Peer Gynt, Edvard Grieg, 20 minutes, 23 May 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Piano Trio No 7 in B flat, Op 97 (Archduke), Beethoven, 25 minutes, 16 May 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Piano Trio Op. 70, No 1, Ghost, Ludwig van Beethoven, 25 minutes, 31 October 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Piece en forme de Habanera, Maurice Ravel, 3 minutes, 30 October 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Quartet for the End of Time, Messiaen, 45 minutes, 9 March 2012, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Serenade op 4, Ernest Krenek, 20 minutes, 26 February 2012, National Gallery of Victoria.

Sellars, E., 2012, Sonata for two violins, Jiri Benda, 15 minutes, 9 November 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Sonata for violin and continuo BWV 1017, Bach, 12 minutes, 30 October 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., 2012, Three romantic songs for violin and piano, Reza Vali, 15 minutes, 24 June 2012, Lockhart Hall, Methodist Ladies College.

Sellars, E., 2012, Tre Quadri, Sandor Veress, 15 minutes, 31 October 2012, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., Kadarauch, M., Almonte, C.M., 2011, A Pastel for Astor, Stuart Greenbaum, 5 minutes, 3 November 2011, Melbourne Recital Centre Salon.

Sellars, E., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Agnus Dei, Paul Stanhope, 13 minutes, 9 April 2011, Myers Gallery.

Goldsworthy, A., Nankervis, T., Sellars, E., 2011, Converging Spheres, Paul Dean, 18 minutes, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 16 October 2011, Multiple locations: see description field.

Sellars, E., Kadarauch, M., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Eight Variations for Piano Trio (on a Greek Folk Tune), Nikos Skalkottas, 15 minutes, 3 November 2011, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., Sargeant, F., Kadarauch, M., 2011, G Major Trio Opus 9, No. 1, Ludwig van Beethoven, 30 minutes, 16 October 2011, Port Fairy Festival.

Sellars, E., Morris, G., 2011, Grand Duo Concertant, Op. 28, Mauro Giuseppe Sergio Pantaleo Giuliani, 20 minutes, 18 September 2011, Muma Gallery, Monash University.

Sellars, E., Griffiths, D.W., Murray, R., 2011, Largo, Charles Ives, 7 minutes, 3 April 2011, Barwon Park, Winchelsea.

Sellars, E., Griffiths, D.W., Murray, R., 2011, Libertango, Astor Piazzolla, 5 minutes, 3 April 2011, Barwon Park, Winchelsea.

Sellars, E., Kadarauch, M., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Lullaby, Rebecca Clarke, 5 minutes, 23 June 2011, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., Kadarauch, M., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Midsummer Moon, Rebecca Clarke, 6 minutes, 15 May 2011, Iwaki Auditorium.

Sellars, E., Kadarauch, M., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Nocturne, Margaret Sutherland, 5 minutes, 15 May 2011, Iwaki Auditorium.

Sellars, E., 2011, Nocturne, Margaret Sutherland, 5 minutes, 15 May 2011, Iwaki Auditorium.

Sellars, E., Kadarauch, M., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Notturno, Franz Schubert, 10 minutes, 23 June 2011, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., Kadarauch, M., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Piano Trio, Rebecca Clarke, 30 minutes, 23 June 2011, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., Kadarauch, M., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Piano Trio Op. 70, No. 2, Ludwig van Beethoven, 30 minutes, 3 November 2011, Melbourne Recital Centre Salon.

Goldsworthy, A., Nankervis, T., Sellars, E., 2011, Quartet for the End of Time, Olivier Messiaen, 1 hour, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 16 October 2011, Multiple locations: see description field.

Sellars, E., Kadarauch, M., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Quiet, Morton Gould, 5 minutes, 3 November 2011, Melbourne Recital Centre Salon.

Sellars, E., Murray, R., 2011, Romance, CD Recording, Move, Australia.

Sellars, E., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Sir Edward Elgar's Sonata in E Minor, Rebecca Clarke, 30 minutes, 15 May 2011, Iwaki Auditorium.

Sellars, E., Morris, G., 2011, Sonata Concerta, op 25, Niccolo Paganini, 20 minutes, 18 September 2011, Muma Gallery, Monash University.

Sellars, E., Griffiths, D.W., Murray, R., 2011, Sonata Opus 96 No.10 in G Major, Ludwig van Beethoven, 30 minutes, 3 April 2011, Barwon Park, Winchelsea.

Sellars, E., Griffiths, D.W., Murray, R., 2011, Sonata op 96 No. 10 in G Major for Violin and Piano (1812), Ludwig van Beethoven, 30 minutes, 3 April 2011, Barwon Park, Winchelsea.

Sellars, E., Murray, R., 2011, Spanish Serenade, CD Recording, Move, Australia.

Sellars, E., Griffiths, D.W., Murray, R., 2011, Suite Opus 157b for Violin, Clarinet and Piano, Darius Milhaud, 12 minutes, 3 April 2011, Barwon Park, Winchelsea.

Sellars, E., Kadarauch, M., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Three Nocturnes, Ernest Bloch, 10 minutes, 23 June 2011, Melbourne Recital Centre.

Sellars, E., Sargeant, F., Kadarauch, M., 2011, Trio, Alfred Schnittke, 25 minutes, 16 October 2011, Port Fairy Festival.

Sellars, E., Kadarauch, M., Almonte, C.M., 2011, Trio No. 39 Hob. XV/25, Joseph Haydn, 15 minutes, 3 November 2011, Melbourne Recital Centre Salon.

Sellars, E., Griffiths, D.W., Murray, R., 2011, Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano, Gian Carlo Menotti, 15 minutes, 3 April 2011, Barwon Park, Winchelsea.

Sellars, E., 2010, Fragments, Rohan Phillips, 30 minutes, 20 November 2010, Richmond Uniting Church Vic Australia.

Sellars, E., Pollet, P., Liam, V., Murphy, F., 2010, The Scattering of Light, Andrew Ford, 15 minutes, 10 December 2010, Customs House, Brisbane Qld Australia.

Sellars, E., 2009, Heyre Kati, Jeno Hubay, 10 Minutes, 21 June 2009, Melbourne, Victoria.

Griffiths, D., Bogosavljevic, S., Young, T., Curro, M., Sellars, E., Sargeant, F., 2009, Overture on Hebrew Themes Op 34, Prokofiev, 9 minutes, 17/10/2009, BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne.

Griffiths, D., Bogosavljevic, S., Young, T., Sellars, E., Sargent, F., Curro, M., 2009, Overture on Hebrew Themes op. 34, Prokofieve, 9 minutes, 17 October 2009 (ABC Classic FM Broadcast) 14 July 2008 (Performance), BMW Edge, Federation Square Melbourne Vic Australia.

Sellars, E., Murray, R., Kadaruach, M., Henbest, C., 2009, Piano Quartet in C minor, Op.15, Gabriel Urbain Faure, 30 Minutes, 17 May 2009, Ripponlea, Melbourne.

Sellars, E., 2009, Piano Quartet in C minor, Op.60, Johannes Brahms, 30 Minutes, 17 May 2009, Ripponlea, Melbourne.

Sellars, E., Sargeant, F., Curro, M., Griffiths, D., 2009, String Quartet in 1 Movement, Roger Rooman, 44 Minutes and 40 Seconds, 9 October 2009, Brunswick Town Hall, Melbourne.

Griffiths, D., Bogosavljevic, S., Young, T., Sellars, E., 2009, Tempest Fantasy, Paule Moravec, 31 minutes, 07/09/2009 (Performance: 06/05/2008), BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne.

Griffiths, D., Bogosavljevic, S., Young, T., Sellars, E., 2009, Tempest Fantasy (Australian premier), Moravec, 31 minutes, 7 September 2009 (ABC Classic FM Broadcast) 6 May 2008 (Performance), BMW Edge, Federation Square Melbourne Vic Australia.

Griffiths, D., Bogosavljevic, S., Young, T., Curro, M., Sellars, E., Sargeant, F., 2009, The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind, Osvaldo Golijov, 35 minutes, 17/10/2009, BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne.

Griffiths, D., Bogosavljevic, S., Sellars, E., Sargent, F., Curro, M., 2009, The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind, Osvaldo Golijov, 35 minutes, 17 October 2009 (ABC Classic FM Broadcast) 14 July 2008 (Performance), BMW Edge, Federation Square Melbourne Vic Australia.

Sellars, E., Sargeant, F., Curro, M., Griffiths, D., 2009, The Dreams and Prayers of Isacc the Blind, Osvaldo Golijov, 37 Minutes and 42 Seconds, 17 October 2009, ABC Broadcast, Melbourne.

Sellars, E., 2009, Thousands of Bundled Straw, David Young, 60 Minutes, 12 February 2009, Melbourne.

Sellars, E., bogoslavjevic, S., Griffiths, D., 2009, Trio Elegiaque in G Minor, Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff, 15 Minutes and 27 Seconds, 7 September 2009, BMW Edge, Melbourne Australia.

Sellars, E., 2008, Dreams and Prayers, Golijov and Prokofiev, 35 mins, 14 July 2008, Melbourne, Aust.

Sellars, E., 2008, Light Strung Sigils, CD recording, Tzadik, New York.

Sellars, E., 2008, Mother Tongue, Liza Lim, 36 mins, 16 March 2008, Berlin.

Sellars, E., 2008, New Music Up Late, Brendan Colbert, 15 mins, 9 Aug 2008, Melbourne, Aust.

Sellars, E., 2008, New Visions, Benjamin, Messaien and Reiner, 50 mins, 20 Sep 2008, Melbourne, Aust.

Sellars, E., 2008, Souvenir de Florence String Sextet Op 70, Tchaicovsky, 34 mins, 29 Nov 2008, Mudgee, Aust.

Sellars, E., 2008, String Quartet No 1, Paul Stanhope, 20 mins, 28 Nov 2008, Mudgee, Aust.

Sellars, E., 2008, String Quartet in C major, K465, Mozart, 30 mins, 27 Nov 2008, Mudgee, Aust.

Sellars, E., 2008, String quartet No 4, Bartok, 22 mins, 28 Nov 2008, Mudgee, Aust.

Sellars, E., 2008, Tempest Fantasy, Moravec and Rachmaninoff, 35 mins, 6 May 2008, Melbourne, Aust.

Sellars, E., 2008, The Jeffery Concerts, Purcell, 15 mins, 24 Oct 2008, Ontario, Canada.

Sellars, E., 2008, The Maxwell Shepherd Memorial Arts Fund, Andriessen, Haydn, Mendelssohn, 90 mins, 12 Oct 2008, Connecticut, USA.

Sellars, E., 2008, Two pieces for string octet op 11, Schostakovitch, 10 mins, 29 Nov 2008, Mudgee, Aust.

Sellars, E., 2008, Virtuosi, Shostakovitch, 25 mins, 25 Oct 2008, Winnipeg, Canada.

Sellars, E., 2007, "Impressions d'enfance: Manetriev", Enescu, 3mins 55 secs, 27 Nov 2005, Australia.

Sellars, E., Murray, R., 2007, "Kreutzer" Sonata No 9 in A major, Beethoven, 40 mins, 29 March 2007, Clayton Vic Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, "Sublime Brahms" - Clarinet Quintet, Brahms, 30 minutes, 1 November 2007, Melbourne Vic Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, Chiquinha Gonzaga, Radames Gnattali arr. Doug de Vries, 5 mins, 11 October 2007, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, Deve ser Amor, Baden Powell arr. Ken Murray, 5 mins, 11 October 2007, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, Lamentos, Pixinguinha arr. Doug de Vries, 5 mins, 11 October 2007, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, Milonga del Angel, Piazzolla arr. Doug de Vries, 5 mins, 11 October 2007, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, Oscar Niemeyer, Carrilho arr. Doug de Vries, 5 mins, 11 October 2007, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, Passacaglia, Biber, 9mins 55 secs, 27 Nov 2005, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, Passacaglia after Biber, Julian Yu, 13mins 58secs, 27 Nov 2005, Australia.

Sellars, E., Murray, R., 2007, Petite Suite for violin and pno, Sonata in A op100, Sonata in A Op 47, Skalkottas, Brahms, Beethoven, 80 minutes, 17 June 2007, Melbourne Vic Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, Ruben's Rhumba, Ken Murray, 5 mins, 11 October 2007, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, Sonata Pastorale, Tartini, 13mins 17 secs, 27 Nov 2005, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, Summer from the Four seasons, Vivaldi, 8 mins, 28 May 2007, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, The Soldier's Tale, Stravinsky, 16 September 2007, Clayton Vic Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, Two Brazilian Scenes, Sergio Assad, 5 mins, 11 October 2007, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2007, emotion of forms, Karski, 10mins 47 secs, 27 Nov 2005, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2006, "Bittersweet": Vermutungen ein rotes Haus, CD recording, Red House Editions, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2006, "Bittersweet": aus dem Dunkel, CD, Red House Editions, Australia.

Sellars, E., Smolyar, T., Murphy, F.P., 2006, "Romulus and Remus" Gemini, Livia Teoderescu - Ciocanea, 12 mins, 30 March 2006, Clayton, Vic, Australia.

Fujimura, K., Sellars, E., 2006, Mozart and More - Concert 1, Mozart, et.al., 90 mins, 9 April 2006, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Fujimura, K., Sellars, E., 2006, Mozart and More - Concert 2, Mozart, et. al., 90 mins, 14 May 2006, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Fujimura, K., Sellars, E., 2006, Mozart and More - Concert 3, Mozart, et.al., 90 mins, 30 July 2008, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Fujimura, K., Sellars, E., 2006, Mozart and More - Concert 4, Mozart, et.al., 90 mins, 10 September 2008, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Fujimura, K., Sellars, E., 2006, Mozart and More - Concert 5, Mozart, et. al., 90 mins, 12 November 2008, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2006, Penderecki "Sextet", Penderecki, 31 mins 39 secs, 16 October 2006, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2006, Piano Trio No1 in D Minor, Arensky, 31 mins 20 secs, 3 December 2006, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2006, The Lark Ascending, Vaughan Williams, 15 mins 18 secs, 18 & 19 July 2006, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2005, Lennox Berkeley - Sonatina for Violin and Piano Op.17, CD Recording, Naxos, Hong Kong.

Sellars, E., Smolyar, T., 2004, Romantica, Sitsky, 25 minutes, 11 July 2004, Melbourne Vic Australia.

Sellars, E., 2004, The Possessed - Julian Yu, Various, 85 mins, 12-28 June 2003, Melbourne Vic Australia.

Sellars, E., 2004, Trio Romantica, Larry Sitsky, 25 minutes, 14 July 2004, Clayton, Vic, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2003, Beethoven Violin concerto, Beethoven, 30 mins, 30 March 2006, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

Sellars, E., 2003, Liza Lim-The Heart's Ear, Liza Lim, 15 March 2003, Berlin.

Sellars, E., 2003, Works for String Trio, Various, 49 minutes, 14 December 2003, Melbourne Vic Australia.

Sellars, E., 2002, Lineages: A tribute to Felix Werder, Various, 1 hour, 20 - 21 December 2002, Melbourne Vic Australia.

Sellars, E., 2002, Roaring Hoofs International Festival, Various, 30 minutes, 10-16 June 2002, Gobi Desert Mongolia.

Sellars, E., 2002, The Romanians of the Day, Maia Ciobanu, 90 mins, 17 March 2002, Footscray, Vic, Australia.