ISLAY TRIO & FRIENDS

8PM SATURDAY 13TH MAY 2023

TICKETS $22

Caleb Salizzo, piano
Rollin Zhao, violin II
Liam Freisberg, violin I
Seb Coyne, viola
Isaac Davis cello

The Islay Trio was formed in 2019, through a shared passion of chamber music, and a collective goal of rejuvenating the genre with youthful energy, fervent musical expression and a meticulous regard for musical rhetoric and ensemble craft. Since then, Islay Trio have enjoyed successful recitals all over the country. Islay Trio is delighted to be teaming up with prize winning musicians from the Australian National Academy of music to present an exciting program of Beethoven’s intensely virtuosic Kreutzer Violin Sonata, and Dvorak’s timelessly beautiful Piano Quintet in A major.

PROGRAM

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 Op.47 “Kreutzer”
Rollin Zhao & Caleb Salizzo

Anton DVOŘÁK Piano Quintet No 2 in A major Op. 81

ISLAY TRIO

The Islay Trio (pronounced EYE-LAH) is comprised of the young budding talents of Rollin Zhao, Daniel Chiou, and Caleb Salizzo. Brought together by a great passion for chamber music, the trio represents a shared journey of learning and discovery, and aims to enliven the genre with youthful vigour, along with a meticulous regard for musical rhetoric and ensemble craft. Formed in Brisbane in 2019, the Islay Trio were selected as Southern Cross Soloists Next Gen artists, performing at the Bangalow Festival. That year they participated in the Tinalley Chamber Music Winterschool, receiving mentorship from distinguished musicians such as Adam Chalabi, Patrick Murphy, Lerida Delbridge, Justin Williams, and Anna Grinberg. They were also semi-finalists at the inaugural Queensland International Chamber Music Competition. In 2020, all three players moved to Melbourne to further their studies together at the Australian National Academy of Music

GUEST ARTISTS

Seb Coyne
Sebastian (Seb) Coyne is a passionate 18-year-old violist who started playing violin and piano from the age of six. From a young age he was a part of Suzuki group classes and also performed contemporary music in open mic nights with his siblings. He transitioned to viola early on in his primary school years and then more recently furthered his studies in music at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) where he studied with Christopher Cartlidge and Gabrielle Halloran.
Seb was a finalist in both the MRC Bach Competition and the Strike a Chord Chamber Music Competitions. In the Strike a Chord final, he won awards for both his performances where he featured as a pianist and violist.
Seb is thrilled to commence his first year studying with Caroline Henbest at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), where he hopes to focus on furthering and developing his solo playing.

Isaac Davis
Isaac Davis is currently undertaking his second year at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), under the tutelage of Howard Penny. Music has always been the most significant and cherished part of his life, ever since childhood. Isaac comes from a musical family (his mother is a pianist, and sister a violinist); he was given a cello at the age of six, and within a few months, playing it was his favourite thing to do. Nothing has changed in this respect since – performing, listening to, and analysing music gives Isaac joy, comfort and purpose. 
Isaac’s recent career highlights include concertos with TSO and MSO as well as winning the 2022 ANAM Concerto Competition with an electric performance of the Shostakovich Cello Concerto. Isaac is open in terms of his career – he would be beyond thrilled to work with an Australian orchestra, but feels that he would be content as long as he is working in a musical environment where he is stimulated, and simultaneously learning and teaching beside his colleagues.
Isaac’s repertoire interests fluctuate regularly, but his most consistent interest has been with French impressionism, Russian 20th century music, and solo stringed baroque music. His hobbies outside of music include chess and physical exercise.

Liam Freisberg
Born in 2002, Liam Freisberg comes from a passionate musical family, with his parents and older siblings all highly proficient string musicians. Liam began learning the violin at the age of three from his mother, Helena Munoz Fernandez, who is a violinist and teacher. In 2022, Liam completed his third year at the Griffith Conservatorium of Music and commenced his first year of training with Dr Robin Wilson at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM).
During his time studying at Griffith, Liam was a prize-winner in the Matilda Jane Aplin Prize and Ronald Clifford Davis Prize He enjoys performing in many different settings and styles, ranging from jazz bands, orchestras, and string quartets. He also frequently engages with the Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) programs, having participated in the 2019 International Tour and nine other AYO programs, including the National Music Camp (NMC), Young Symphonists, and AYO Seasons. As part of two international tours, Liam has performed in Germany, France, Holland, and China twice. These orchestras and programs have brought Liam invaluable friendships, lessons, and memories.
Liam also likes to occupy his time watching films, reading books, cooking, and listening to jazz and piano music.