Elm House Chamber Series, classical music

ELM HOUSE CHAMBER SERIES

In response to popular demand, Elm House is proud to present eight classical concerts from some of Australia’s most renowned chamber musicians throughout 2025.

Hearing world-class music ring through the high wooden ceilings, the chapel-esque room lit by candlelight, rainforest birds singing in time…Elm House concerts are an experience unlike any other. Excellent acoustics offer guests and musicians alike the feeling of being inside a giant stringed instrument.

Tickets for each concert sold separately (see below) for $35-$65. Seats are strictly limited so please secure tickets early to avoid disappointment.

A private bus is available to and from the Wheel of Brisbane for certain concerts.

Two musicians playing cello and violin in a wooden room with sheet music.

ENSEMBLE CHERUBIM

SUNDAY APRIL 27, 3:30PM, $35

Ensemble Cherubim presents the second concert in the Elm House series: Radiance.

Join us as we delve into Schubert’s Masterwork: the String Quintet in C major. A cornerstone of western chamber music repertoire, the quintet runs the gamut of colours, emotions and styles.

This chamber ensemble is comprised of young, aspiring, dedicated musicians who aim to grace audiences with their energetic, high quality chamber music performances.

Ensemble Cherubim have achieved great success with sold out concerts and rave reviews from the Brisbane community. 

A woman playing a violin against a dark background.

NATSUKO YOSHIMOTO (SOLO)

SUNDAY MAY 25, 3PM, $55

We are proud to welcome Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster, Natsuko Yoshimoto, performing solo violin at Elm House on May 25.

“In this idyllic setting of Elm House, it’s my absolute pleasure to present  “Bach to tango”, a program I love and which showcases the unlimited colours and characters of one instrument- the solo violin.

The repertoire is incredibly diverse and spans around 350 years. There will be masterpieces and the pillars of the solo violin repertoire by Bach, Biber and Ysaye, some village fiddling by Georges Enescu, a beautiful song by Matthew Hindson and some fun Tango and Rag to finish.” 

Tickets include afternoon tea.

Group of four musicians sitting on a couch with instruments: cello, violin, flute, and viola.

ENSEMBLE TRIVIUM

SUNDAY JUNE 22, 3PM, $65

’REFRACTIONS’
An Afternoon of Intimate Conversations 

Step into a kaleidoscope of sound where every musical exchange offers a new perspective. Refractions invites you to experience chamber music in its most personal and multifaceted form—where melodies shift and shimmer like light through glass, revealing hidden colours and rare connections.

This concert transforms the traditional performance into a series of private conversations. Known for unearthing hidden gems and revitalising overlooked masterpieces, Ensemble Trivium brings fresh life to music that surprises, stirs, and speaks directly to the heart.

From the elegant storminess of Georg Abraham Schneider’s Flute Quartet to the playful charm of Hugo Wolf’s Italian Serenade (in a sparkling arrangement for flute and strings), the program moves effortlessly across time and style. At its core is the duo: each player sharing the spotlight in turn, revealing rare glimpses of musical chemistry—stormy, playful, lyrical, bold and contemplative.

Whether you're a devoted chamber music enthusiast or a curious newcomer, Refractions offers an afternoon of intimacy, brilliance, and surprise at every turn.

Home made Afternoon Tea is included in your ticket.

Musicians performing in a wooden interior with chandeliers, featuring a woman playing a double bass and another with a cello.

ENSEMBLE Q WITH ED LE BROCQ

SUNDAY AUGUST 3, 3PM, $50-$65

Ensemble Q team up with the much loved ABC Classic presenter Ed le Brocq in a touching and virtuosic program of works for string quartet, clarinet and narrator. Michael Leunig was close friends with composer Calvin Bowman, who composed a beautifully whimsical work to musically embrace Leunig's Curly Pyjama Letters, narrated read by Ed le Brocq and led by violinist Adam Chalabi. 

Australia's favourite clarinetist Paul Dean will dazzle with the incredibly virtuosic and fun Weber Clarinet Quintet, but before that, hearts will be broken with one of the saddest and most beautiful tunes ever written, the Langsammer Satz by Webern.  

Ensemble Q concerts include the option of private bus transport to and from the Wheel of Brisbane to Elm House.

Four musicians holding string instruments, standing in an arched doorway with a rustic background. Two are holding violins, one a viola, and one a cello. All are wearing black clothing.

BLACK SQUARE QUARTET

SUNDAY AUGUST 17, 3PM, $40

FIVE QUICK-TEMPERED DANCES

Rhythms that Stir, Melodies that Ignite 

Black Square Quartet (BSQ) brings an electrifying fusion of rhythm and movement to the stage with Five Quick-Tempered Dances—a dynamic program of contemporary string quartet music inspired by dance. At its heart is Thomas Green’s String Quartet No. 2, a high-energy work commissioned by BSQ during the pandemic. The journey continues with Jessie Montgomery’s percussive Voodoo Dolls, a brand-new work by BSQ’s own Mike Patterson, and a bold reimagining of Duke Ellington’s Blue Bubbles by Philip Eames. This pulse-driven program will be taken to audiences across Queensland and NSW in July and August 2025.

Violinist in a dress holding a violin beside a conductor in a suit holding a baton against a dark background.

NATSUKO YOSHIMOTO & UMBERTO CLERICI

SUNDAY 7 SEPTEMBER, 3PM

You may have witnessed Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor Umberto Clerici and Concertmaster Natsuko Yoshimoto in concert – but have you ever heard these powerhouse musicians take centre stage together? Clerici swaps baton for bow when he tears through a cello solo alongside showstopping violin superstar, Yoshimoto. There’ll be two virtuosic performers on stage, but it’s not a competition – rather you’ll hear a musical conversation that glows with genuine care and compassion.

Indoor music performance with audience and musicians in a wooden hall with vaulted ceiling and draped fabric.

FINALE: ENSEMBLE Q & ENSEMBLE CHERUBIM

SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER, 3PM, $50-$65

Ensemble Q's Sophie Rowell, Trish Dean and Phoebe Russell team up with Ensemble Cherubim for a very special performance of one of the greatest string works written - Metamorphosen, by Strauss. Handpicked to complement the extraordinary atmosphere and acoustics of Elm House, there will not be a dry eye in the house for this beautiful performance. 

Ensemble Q opens the program with a stunning work for string trio by Melody Eötvös and the sublime Adagio from the Finzi clarinet concerto. 

Ensemble Q concerts include the option of private bus transport to and from the Wheel of Brisbane to Elm House.