About us

ThoroughBass is a baroque ensemble with a difference. Founded in 2008 by harpsichordist Diana Weston, the group consists of between three and ten members. We pepper the special sound of baroque music on period instruments with transcriptions, arrangements, unusual combinations and contemporary works. Drawing upon a pool of Sydney’s finest singers and instrumentalists – both experienced and emerging musicians – this formula guarantees freshness and vigour at the same time as allowing a platform for performance exposure under expert guidance.

The ensemble holds a regular concert series at St Luke’s Church, Mosman, under the banner of the church’s own St Luke’s Concerts series. Our focus is on the local community, and with the intimate setting and warm resonance of the St Luke’s acoustic making this a particularly appealing venue, we are rapidly growing in popularity.

ThoroughBass’ guest artists have included members of Sydney’s most prestigious early music ensembles – Monika Kornel (The Sydney Consort), Stan Kornel (The Sydney Consort, Sydney Symphony Orchestra), Tim Chung (Australian Brandenburg Choir), Susan Christie (The Renaissance Players), Anthea Cottee (Australian Brandenburg Orchestra), Anna Fraser (The Song Company, Pinchgut Opera), Belinda Montgomery (Cantillation), Inara Molinari (Australian Opera, The Tall Poppeas), Hester Hannah (The Tall Poppeas) amongst others.

biographies

  • Diana WestonDiana Weston – Director, Harpsichordist Diana has a Masters in Music (Performance Research) from the University of New England. Originally studying as a pianist with European concert artists Igor Hmelnitsky, Winifred Burston and Tessa Birnie, Diana has spent many years as an ensemble player and accompanist in Sydney. In 2004 she began studies on harpsichord performance and continuo accompaniment with Monika Kornel, further refining her skills under the guidance of Prof. Lars Ulrik Mortensen. Since exchanging piano for harpsichord, major performances have included Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with the St Mary’s Cathedral Choir, the New England Bach Festival with The Tall Poppeas, Haydn’s Die Jahreszeiten, with the Sydney University Grads Choir (later broadcast on Radio 2 MBS) and Handel’s Messiah with Penrith Symphony Orchestra. She performs regularly with the finest musicians and singers in the Early Music scene. Special events for 2010 have included the New England Bach Festival and Handel’s Water Music with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra. A recording featuring music for two harpsichords has been made with Monika Kornel. As well, there have been many appearances for the NG Art Gallery’s ‘Feast for the Senses’ and Music at St James series. Diana is now principal harpsichordist with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra. Concerts with her ensemble Thoroughbass, established in 2008, have occurred in many venues throughout Sydney, Canberra, Armidale and Mudgee. The group now has a regular concert series with St Luke’s Church, Mosman and has again been asked to participate in local festivals – Willoughby Spring Festival and Manly Arts Festival.Diana’s harpsichord was made by atelier Marc Ducornet in Paris and is maintained by Carey Beebe.
  • Joanne Arnott Joanne is currently completing her honours year of a Bachelor of Music (performance) degree majoring in recorder at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under the instruction of Hans-Dieter Michatz; she is undertaking research on the relationship between recorder and voice for her honours thesis. In 2005, Joanne participated in the Dolmetsch Summer Course in England and was invited to take part in advanced master classes with David Bellugi.  It was at this course that she internationally premiered works by the Australian composer Zana Clarke receiving a standing ovation. As a member of leading Australian recorder quartet Bellatrix, Joanne toured New Zealand in July 2007 and, with Bellatrix, has performed in concerts and demonstrations for schools in and around the Sydney area encouraging enthusiasm in young musicians. In 2008 Joanne was a finalist in the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s early music concerto competition and again reached the finals in 2009. She is a regular tutor for the Sydney Recorder Society and in September 2010 will tutor at the Sydney Recorder Society’s Bundanoon weekend. Joanne tutors individual recorder lessons at Cranbrook and St.Catherine’s schools; as a recorder and clarinet teacher, she has over 11 years experience and has tutored on both instruments at orchestral workshops
  • Hester Hannah graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with a Graduate Diploma of Vocal Studies and a Graduate Diploma of Opera Studies.  She is an Associate of The Royal College of Music, a Licentiate of Trinity College London and holds an AMEB Licentiate Diploma of Music.  Hester was awarded first prize in Australia’s most prestigious singing competition, The McDonald’s Aria. Hester has sung the soprano solos for Handel’s Messiah and Solomon, Bach’s St Matthew Passion, St John Passion, Madame Flora in Menotti’s ‘The Medium’, the Angel in a staged version of Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’, the title role in Donizetti’s ‘Anna Bolena’, Lucy in Menotti’s ‘The Telephone’, Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Countess in Mozart’s ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’. She recorded the vocals for 2 CDs ‘King Hit’ and ‘Dies Irae’ by Australian composer Matt Ottley. Hester freelances with Opera Australia. She has been a member of the vocal group The Tall Poppeas since early 2003, performing both in The Tall Poppeas’ concert series and the role of Passiona in its production of ‘Troppo Amore’ at the Darlinghurst Theatre and Melbourne Fringe Festival. She is delighted to continue her involvement with this vibrant and exciting group.
  • Inara Molinari Since graduating from the Opera Studio of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the early 90’s, following a brief stint as a solicitor, Inara has undertaken a wide range of roles in Australia and overseas including choir conductor, solo and choral performer, assistant director, artistic administrator and producer. A versatile performer, Inara’s professional experience has covered most musical genres including: early music, opera, musical theatre, contemporary music and children’s theatre. Memorable highlights include winning an Italian Government scholarship to attend master classes with Carlo Bergonzi in Siena, Italy; being interviewed by Joan Sutherland when a semi-finalist in the McDonald’s Aria; performing her first post-student operatic role with Rockdale Opera as Marguerite in Gounod’s Faust complete with high notes and a delicious mad scene and then her first professional role with The Australian Opera convincingly playing The 15 year-old girl in Berg’s Lulu while nudging her thirties; touring regional Australia with children’s show Postman Pat playing the sensible Mrs. Goggins and the batty Granny Dryden and touring San Francisco as Flora in Pocket Opera’s production of La Traviata; performing to spell-bound children in a mini version of the Magic Flute with Adelaide’s touring company Co-Opera; singing the American National Anthem at the Annual American-Australian Ball and singing the Australian Anthem at an event marking the one year countdown to the 2000 Olympics both in Los Angeles; appearing in the 2005 Sydney Festival with OzOpera, in the Sydney premiere performances of The Eternity Man by Jonathan Mills and the late Dorothy Porter; founding the female baroque vocal ensemble The Tall Poppeas which has provided the opportunity of working with so many talented musicians and singers and travelling throughout Australia for festivals, recitals, workshops and of helping to create the only show, Troppo Amore.
  • Angus Ryan Angus is a full-time student at the University of Sydney now studying Philosophy for his Honors year. In December of 2009 he completed his undergraduate degree in Arts (Advanced) while on exchange at Middlesex University (London). Angus has a strong interest in baroque music having studied for 10 years with baroque cellist and Australian Brandenburg member Anthea Cottee. As a result, he is well versed in the technique of cello continuo accompaniment. As an Arts student his particular areas of interest are Philosophy, Government and Music. He is a past member of the SBS Radio and Television Youth Orchestra and the Sydney University Symphony Orchestra, and is a recipient of an ARS Music Australis scholarship. While studying in the United Kingdom Angus continued his musical education performing with the provincial Southgate Symphony Orchestra. He also plays cello in the highly sought-after covers band Mimesis. Mimesis has won numerous competitions and prizes including ‘most outstanding group’ in the Sydney Provincial competition. Since then Mimesis have released a record and have gigged regularly. See http://www.myspace.com/bandmimesis . Angus’ cello is by Peter Walmsely, dated 1745. It arrived in Australia in 1880  having been sequestered in Wagga Wagga with the Catholic Church for many years.
  •  Alicia CrossleyRecorder player Alicia Crossley recently completed her Masters of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under the instruction of recorder virtuoso Hans-Dieter Michatz, researching the development of Bass recorder works in the 20th Century. In 2007 Alicia completed her Bachelor of Music (Performance) with first class honours. An experienced recorder player, Alicia has won several competitions including the Under 18 years division of the Australian Moeck Recorder Competition (2005) and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Early Music Concerto Competition (2007) with her performance of Telemann’s Suite in A Minor. She has performed in numerous masterclasses for artists such as Kate Clarke, Eva Legene, John Tyson and Genevieve Lacey. Alicia has also received a number of scholarships and awards throughout her undergraduate and post-graduate studies including the University Postgraduate Award (UPA), the Board of Governors Scholarship, the Margaret Henderson Scholarship and the John Ellyard Memorial Scholarship for a recorder player. Alicia enjoys ensemble playing, a former member of the Fipple Pipers and the Sydney Conservatorium Early Music Ensemble, directed by Neal Peres da Costa, and is currently a member of Bellatrix: The Australian Recorder Quartet.