home

2009 series

performances

biography

reviews

friends

contact

Taking its name from that which the first settlers gave Melbourne 's Yarra River , the Freshwater Trio has established itself as a piano trio of note, singular on the Australian landscape for its innovative and fresh style. Of stunning musical pedigree, its members are equally at home as soloists or chamber musicians. Violinist Zoë 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.

Now in the 4 th year of a popular concert series residing at the Melbourne Recital Centre, Freshwater Trio also performs for Arts Festivals and Series around Australia including: Musica Viva, Melbourne International Arts Festival, the prestigious Castlemaine State Festival, Port Fairy Spring Festival, Melbourne Chamber Music Feast, Macedon Music Series, at BMW Edge in Federation Square. Freshwater Trio has been active in the expansion of Australian piano trio repertoire through regular collaboration with Australian composers, commissioning original and arranged works. Their concert series has been widely acclaimed by public and peers alike with their interpretations described as “fearless and innovative” (The Age).Elsewhere, Anna McAlister wrote “Besides technical excellence, they have vision and assuredness. ..they bring genuine individuality to the often repetitive and derivative world of classical music.”

Their performances are regularly heard on the national broadcaster, ABC Classic FM, and are regularly requested by avid listeners around Australia .

Freshwater Trio audiences can expect mesmerizing interpretations of the mainstream piano trio literature and original works from Australian composers of renown. Widely known for its fresh and effusive spirit, Freshwater Trio will delight audiences with its versatile and collaborative approach (recitals may also include duo and solo works).

The members of Freshwater Trio also aim to further their love of chamber music through teaching – combining experience from major secondary and tertiary teaching institutions and as Ensemble-in-Residence at the Victorian College of the Arts.

In 2010, Freshwater Trio will travel to Canada and the United States , and will be guest tutors at the prestigious Australian Youth Orchestra National Chamber Music Camp.

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).

Since winning the inaugural Australian Chamber Music Competition, Josephine Vains has established herself as a sought-after chamber music partner, and cellist. Her myriad musical interests include performing with artists in Australia and Europe on diverse projects - notably piano trio, quartet, contemporary and electronic music, and argentine tango music, with a special interest in commissioning new work and working with composers. In Melbourne she is a regular guest with the Melbourne Symphony, Orchestra Victoria, ASTRA, Team of Pianists, Australia Pro Arte. 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. A regular performer at Australian festivals (Melbourne, Sydney, Port Fairy Canberra, Musica Viva, Townsville, Castlemaine) and on ABC FM, Josephine also enjoys teaching at Melbourne 's tertiary institutions.