EARLY MUSIC

Vivien Hamilton has secured an enviable reputation for the vibrant clarity and lyricism of her vocal tone and the emotional nuance of word and melody that she brings to her singing. 

Vivien studied at musicology at University of Western Australia with Professor David Tunley (Chevalier de L'Ordre des Palmes Académiques), and singing with acclaimed Australian singer/pianist Molly McGurk (a student of Lucy Manien), before returning to the UK where she explored contemporary music technique and repertoire with English soprano Jane Manning and opera with David Mason. 

After a stint as soloist in London with Kent Opera (Papagena,' The Magic Flute') she returned to Australia to undertake postgraduate studies at The University of Melbourne, where subsequently she was invited on staff to teach vocal pedagogy.

Vivien was director (2005-2015) of Early Voices (the student vocal ensemble at the Early Music Studio, The University of Melbourne), and has directed many choirs in Melbourne (including the Rockin' Jazz Swingers at Monash University and the Monash University Woman's Choir).   

Vivien has several professional recordings in her portfolio, including the first recording of Arvo Pärt's PASSIO for ECM with the Hilliard Ensemble, Venere, Adone, e Amore: serenatas and cantatas by Alessandro Scarlatti for ABC Classics with Chacona directed by Rosalind Halton, and Burns and Beyond for Move with pianist Len Vorster. While working in London Vivien sang for the BBC Singers, as well as with English Bach Festival Opera, Kent Opera and New Sadlers Wells Opera. 

Her early music career in Australia has included projects  with Consort Eclectus, Consort of Melbourne, Continuo Collective, Ensemble Gombert, Ensemble Solasta, e21,  La Company, La Romancesca, Ludovico's Band, Melbourne Octet, The Orpheus Ensemble, Collegium Symphonic Chorus, and others.   

Her students enjoy professional careers in early music with vocal groups such as Ars Nova Copenhagen, The Theatre of Voices, in church music with Westminster Cathedral etc.  Several have performed with Emma Kirkby.   

Currenty a number of her opera students have contracts with Vienna Volksoper, West Australian Opera, Victorian Opera and in opera companies in the USA. 

Like her colleagues Rosemary and Ruth in Auncient Hermony Vivien is dedicated to the reawakening of the stories of ancient music and sharing the inner emotional workings of the music they love.

Rosemary Hodgson has established an international reputation as soloist, chamber musician and recording artist. 

A Graduate of Melbourne University studying vihuela with Professor John Griffiths, Rosemary completed her post graduate studies in lute at the Royal College of Music London, with Jakob Lindberg.    

As well as her own solo programs, Rosemary performs with acclaimed historic instrument ensemble, La Compania. Rosemary has also enjoyed performances with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Opera Australia, Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, e21 and Consort Eclectus among others.  

Rosemary’s recordings are regularly aired on Australia’s classical radio stations. Her solo debut CD rosa, and Forlorn Hope Fancy–renaissance dances and fantasies for lute, (ABC Classics) both received exceptional reviews. 

Rosemary’s album of Dowland lute songs Sorrow Stay (ABC Classics) features Canadian tenor, Justin Burwood was released in August 2012. 

Ruth Wilkinson is a recorder, viol and violone player whose musical expertise and passions are based on the performance of music from the 12th to the 18th centuries. Her performances have been praised for their musical integrity, imagination and brilliance. 

Ruth studied early music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland with Hans-Martin Linde and Jordi Savall.  Ruth has been a member of many of Australia’s leading early music ensembles including La Romanesca, with Ros Bandt and Capella Corelli with Cynthia O’Brien. She has toured with them throughout Australia, Europe and South East Asia for Musica Viva.  

As a viol player she performs extensively with Consort Eclectus and the popular Melbourne based Ludovico’s Band.   In 2013 Ruth  participated in the Australian Chamber Music Festival in Townsville in collaborative projects with Neal Peres de Costa and Danny Yeardon.  

Ruth has recorded numerous CDs on ABC Classics, Move and Larrikin labels with her ensembles, including a solo recording of French recorder music by Dieupart entitled Countess of Sandwich and a duo recording Concert a deux with baroque violinist Cynthia O’Brien in the church of Santa Maria Nuova in Cortona, Italy.      

Ruth’s playing commitments are complemented by the teaching of Recorder and Historical Performance Practice at the Early Music Studio of the University of Melbourne. In 2012 she was made an honorary associate of the Monash University School of Music.  

She has produced a generation of talented professional recorder players who are working in Australia, Europe and America.  What's a product or service you'd like to show.