home

2008 series

performances

biography

reviews

friends

contact

Freshwater Trio was formed in Melbourne in 2006 by three prominent Melbourne musicians, who together bring a unique collaborative and energetic style to chamber music performance. They have performed widely on radio for ABC FM, 774 AM and 3MBS, and been invited to perform in a variety of music series and festivals including; in the prestigious Castlemaine State Festival, Port Fairy Spring Festival, Macedon Music Series, at BMW Edge in Federation Square, Ballarat Art Gallery, ‘Music at St.Silas' Series, British Music Society Series, Camberwell Music Society, Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Concerts, Melba Conservatorium Series, and the University of Melbourne Lunch Hour Concerts. Their series at Melba Hall has been widely acclaimed by public and peers alike. Their interpretations have been described as “fearless” and “innovative” ( The Age ) and Herald Sun's Xenia Hanusiak commented ‘With its effusive spirit, Freshwater Trio appears determined to make a lasting impression.'

In 2007 Freshwater Trio presented a fresh and innovatively programmed subscription series, primarily featuring twentieth-century music based on French, Russian, American and Jewish themes, as well as commissioning new trio works from Australian composers. Recitals can include combinations of solo, duo and trio works, thus accentuating the intimate and virtuosic relationships between the players and their instruments. Freshwater Trio is testimony to the belief that chamber music deserves the attention of front-rank professional players. Violinist Zoe Black has held the position of Associate Concertmaster with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, cellist Josephine Vains was the winner of the inaugural National Chamber Music Competition, whilst Israeli-born pianist Eidit Golder brings more soloist credentials as a winner of the National Piano Award amongst other prizes.

In 2008, Freshwater Trio will be performing for Musica Viva's Coffee Concerts, various festivals in city and regional centres, and is planning a tour to St.Petersburg and European centres as well as continuing their popular concert series at Melba Hall. 2008 sees Freshwater Trio as the ‘Ensemble-in-Residence' at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne .

Eidit Golder – Piano

Eidit Golder received her musical education at the Talma Yalin School for the Performing Arts in Israel and the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, Australia.  Eidit has had five solo recitals broadcast nationally for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and appeared as a concerto soloist with the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne University Orchestras, and the State Orchestra of Victoria.

In 1999, Eidit received first place in the National Piano Award, Shepparton.  Since finishing her Masters at Melbourne University under Professor Stephen McIntyre, Eidit has completed the Advanced Performance Program of the Australian National Academy of Music.  In 2000, Eidit was invited to attend master classes at the Salzburg Festival and private lessons in New York with György Sandor and Richard Goode.  After attending the 2004 International Robert Schumann Competition in Zwickau, Germany, Eidit performed as part of Stephen McIntyre’s Piano Landmarks concert series.

Zoë Black – Violin

Zoë has won numerous awards including the National Youth Concerto Competition in 1989 and the String section of the ABC Young Performers Award in 1991. Graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1992, Zoë was awarded grants from the Australia Council and the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Trust and a major performance award of the Australian Musical Foundation in London where she studied at the Guildhall School of Music under David Takeno and subsequently at the Vienna Hochschule with Michael Schnitzler. During her time in London she studied chamber music with the Takacs Quartet, played with the London Symphony Orchestra, and in Vienna with the Wiener Kammerorchester.

She returned to Australia in 1996 to become Assistant Leader of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. An active chamber musician, Zoë has performed regularly in the MSO Chamber Music series, appeared as soloist with the Tasmanian and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras and the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and is a regular solo performer for the ABC Sunday Live series.

Josephine Vains – Cello

Josephine was born in Melbourne. After winning the 1997 inaugural National Chamber Music Competition with Trio 3.0.3 (Tony Berg Award and 1st Prize) she relocated to Europe for five years. Her training focused on solo cello and chamber music with Hatto Beyerle (Alban Berg Quartet), Walter Levin (La Salle Quartet) and Tilmann Wick (Hannover Musichochschule).

In Melbourne she regularly performs with the Melbourne Symphony, Orchestra Victoria, ASTRA, Australia Pro Arte, for the Piano Landmarks Series and the Team of Pianists. As a chamber musician she has performed throughout Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, China and Japan and competed in the Melbourne, Osaka and Trieste International Chamber Music Competitions. She enjoys teaching at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne, and Monash University. Josephine broadcasts regularly for ABC FM as a soloist and chamber musician, and in 2007 engagements include the Organs of the Ballarat Goldfields Festival, Castlemaine State Festival, Woodend Winter Arts Festival, Brahms Double Concerto with the Zelman Orchestra, and in the 3rd Melbourne Bach Cello Series. She will also undertake a period of pedagogic research and give performances in Courchevel, France.