Women Who Dared

Streeton Trio

Emma Jardine violin

Rachel Siu cello

Bernadette Harvey piano

Women Who Dared

Bold, brilliant women in chamber music.

Join the Streeton Trio for a powerful and inspiring evening celebrating the brilliance and resilience of women in music. This program shines a light on four extraordinary female composers who defied convention and left a lasting mark on the classical world.

The concert opens with Fanny Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D minor (Germany), a passionate and lyrical masterpiece that rivals the works of her famous brother, Felix. Despite societal barriers, Fanny composed over 400 works, proving that talent knows no gender.

Kelly-Marie Murphy’s Give Me Phoenix Wings to Fly (Canada) soars with fiery intensity and breathtaking virtuosity, symbolizing rebirth and transformation—a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin’s Spirit and the Maiden blends haunting beauty with raw energy, drawing inspiration from folklore to tell a story of courage and resilience.

Clara Schumann’s Trio in G minor, Op. 17 (Germany) is testament to the child prodigy turned musical trailblazer. Clara balanced motherhood and a legendary career to create an enduring legacy as one of history’s greatest musicians.

This concert celebrates women’s voices, creativity, and determination, proving that the power of music—and the power of women—knows no bounds.

PROGRAM

Fanny MENDELSSOHN (1805–1847)
Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 11 (1846–1847)

Kelly-Marie MURPHY (b. 1964)
Give Me Phoenix Wings to Fly (1997)

Elena KATS-CHERNIN (b. 1957)
Spirit and the Maiden (2004)

Clara SCHUMANN (1819–1896)
Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 17 (1846)

Concert Runtime Approx. 55 mins. No Interval

About the Artists

Founded in 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland, the Streeton Trio is Australia’s most internationally successful piano trio. Named after Sir Arthur Streeton, the ensemble is now based in Sydney and features violinist Emma Jardine, cellist Rachel Siu, and pianist Bernadette Harvey.

Winners of the 2011 Musica Viva Chamber Music Competition, the trio has been laureates of prestigious international competitions and received support from the Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Victoria, and the Ian Potter Cultural Trust. They have performed at Wigmore Hall (London), Het Loo Royal Palace (Holland), and Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre (China), among other esteemed venues.

With four acclaimed CDs, their recordings are frequently featured on ABC Classic and Classic FM, praised for their “crisp, gutsy” interpretations (The Age). The Streeton Trio continues to captivate audiences across Australia and internationally, cementing its place as one of the country’s premier chamber ensembles.

Founder of the Streeton Trio, Emma Jardine studied in Switzerland and Germany, performing internationally as a chamber musician and soloist. A former violinist of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, she has toured extensively and won numerous awards.

An international prize-winning cellist, Rachel Siu has performed as a soloist with major orchestras and won top awards in competitions across Australia and Europe. She is known for her expressive artistry and technical brilliance.

A renowned concert pianist and educator, Bernadette Harvey has performed worldwide and is a recipient of the Centenary Medal for her contribution to Australian music. She is a passionate advocate for new music and an acclaimed recording artist.