chamber music
Cook & Co. curated events:
Renowned for fine musicians and creative artistry, Cook & Co. concerts are curated programs which present inspiring music in engaging formats. You are invited to listen to some musical selections on the SAMPLES page, check out the Facebook posts, or join the Cook & Co. mailing list via the CONTACT page,
Featured Cook & Co. artists have included – sopranos: Antoinette Halloran, Theresa Borg and Rada Tochalna, violinists: Markus Tomasi, Sarah Curro, Mark Drummond, and Markiyan Melnychenko; actors/narrators/presenters: Julie Nihill, Julie Houghton, Hunter Perske, Jac Sagot, Bernard Blestel, Joseph Janusaitis, Leah Filley, and Brett Kelly; french hornists: Geoff Lierse, Jasen Moulton, Robert Johnson and Jeffery McGann; clarinettists: David Griffiths and Sungpil Lee; saxophonist: Jason Xanthoudakis; visual artist: Debra Luccio, harpist: Allanah Guthrie-Jones; trumpeter: Josh Rogan, bassoonist: Brock Imison, flautist: Andrew Macleod, cellists: Josephine Vains, Michael Dahlenburg and Joanna Tidy, double bassist: Damien Eckersley, and percussionists: Robert Clarke and Hugh Tidy.
The Diaspora performers:
Philip Czapłowski is a Polish-Australian composer who lives in Melbourne, Australia. He studied music at the University of Melbourne and La Trobe University before completing a Doctorate in music composition at Monash University in 2007, where he also lectured in music theory. In 2005, Czapłowski attended the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków, Poland. Performers of Czapłowski’s music include the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the New York Miniaturist Ensemble, and many other Australian and international musicians. Czapłowski’s music has featured in numerous international festivals, ranging from the Encuentros Festival Internacional (Brazil 1995), to the 3rd Festiwal im. Elżbiety Chojnackiej, (Tarnowskie Góry, Poland 2025)
Bill Lowe was John Grayling’s piano teacher for about eight years before tertiary studies at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). There, John had three years of classes with Stephen McIntyre. After a period of parenting and teaching, John commenced 30 years as a repetiteur at the VCA School of Dance, performing much music from the solo repertoire for dance performances by leading Australian choreographers. In 1991, John was the repetiteur and solo pianist for Nureyev’s last Australian tour. As a freelance pianist, John has played much chamber music, the occasional solo recital, and several favourite concertos with amateur orchestras: works by MacDowell, Beethoven (4 & 5), Brahms, and Grieg, to name a few.
Melbourne-based Ukrainian soprano Rada Tochalna, who began her musical journey as a pianist, has portrayed various operatic roles, including Caroline, Constance, Amor, Fairy Godmother, Foreign Woman, Micaëla, Violetta Valery and the First Lady. Rada is a recipient of the prestigious Henkell Family Young Artist Fellowship at The Opera Studio Melbourne and the Alice Amy McDonald Trust Travelling Fellowship. Rada’s talent has graced renowned venues such as Her Majesty's, Hisense Arena, Recital Centre, Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne, and Wesley Music Centre in Canberra. In 2023, Rada founded Triumph of Good Incorporated, a non-profit organisation aiming to provide accessible music programs and concerts for Melbourne's Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and wider communities.
Anthony Wilson graduated from Monash University, studying music and mathematics. He studied the piano with Bill Lowe, and composition with Haydn Reeder. Wilson has worked as a private music teacher since 1994, teaching Piano, Singing and Theory of Music to people of all ages. His compositions include works for orchestra, solo piano, chamber groups and some vocal music. His works have been performed and recorded by many respected and accomplished musicians both in Australia and overseas. Many of his works have been released on the Navona record label. For more information about Wilson and his work, visit: www.facebook.com/AnthonyWilsonComposer or his website: www.anthonywilsonmusicstudio.com
Melbourne-born pianist Duncan Salton began his studies with Mona Lee and later Mack Jost. He graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Music (Performance Honours) and undertook further study with Bill Whitfield and Ian Holtham. His passion for technology led him to the University of Newcastle, where he completed a Master of Music Technology with High Distinction. In 1994, he joined The Australian Ballet’s music staff, becoming Principal Pianist in 2019 and also overseeing the Music Library. Duncan’s extensive performances as a solo pianist encompass a wide range of repertoire and numerous Australian and international venues.
Emma Kathryn has played a series of diverse roles, including TV appearances in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Wilfred, on stage as Mrs Cratchit in Scrooge CEO, Miss Money-Penny in Spy: The James Bond Musical, and in productions of The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, The Gondoliers, Iolanthe, Utopia Limited, and The Merry Widow. Emma is also a regular in the Carols by Candlelight and Southern Peninsula choirs. A writer by trade, Emma has showcased her own poetry and plays at Purple Emerald, Poet House, Open Studio, Absinthesalon, and Melbourne Fringe. Her books include Her Virtue and The Pathbreaker. She is currently working on Tales on a Journey with fellow author Bernard Blestel.
Born in Hobart, Paul Brickhill studied piano with Elizabeth Berger for ten years. Both a Tasmanian and Victorian finalist in the ABC Concerto and Vocal Competition, Paul also won the Judges’ Final (Instrumental Section) in the television programme, Quest. He attained a Bachelor of Music while completing his piano studies at the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide with Clemens Leske. Paul has appeared as a soloist with Tasmanian, Melbourne, Australian Youth and Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestras. For 37 years, Paul was a Dance Musician at The Australian Ballet School, becoming Head of Music and Audio Visual Coordinator. Now retired, Paul continues his long association with student dancers as a part-time Dance Musician with Cecchetti Ballet, Australia.
Guy Breaden is an aspiring Melbourne-based pianist, developing his artistic voice as a performer and collaborator. Guy is currently completing a Bachelor of Music (Honours) at the University of Melbourne, where he is building a broad and versatile repertoire and gaining performance experience studying under Caroline Almonte. Previously undertaking studies with Janis Cook, Guy has growing experience in both solo and chamber performance, engaging in various solo performances and collaborative projects with other instrumentalists. He holds a particular interest in the music and performing practice of Alexander Scriabin, exploring late-Romantic aesthetics, colour, and expressive nuance.
After studies with Fiona Fraser and Bill Lowe, Janis Cook’s early music career featured several years touring as a repetiteur with The Australian Ballet Company. Later, Janis became the regular principal pianist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, encompassing tours to Russia, Japan and Europe, numerous compact disc recordings, televised concerts, and special events. As a session musician, Janis can be heard on many film soundtracks, including Babe and The Dish. Her chamber music credits include MSO Players, ABC Sunday Live, 3MBS Radio, the Metropolis Series, and Music in the Round, and solo performances include Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Hindemith’s Four Temperaments, and McKimm’s Rhapsody for Piano and Concert Band (world premiere).