Artist Bio The Australian Haydn Ensemble, (AHE) was founded in 2012 by Artistic Director and Principal Violinist Skye McIntosh and is now in its twelfth year. AHE has quickly established itself as one of Australia’s leading period-instrument groups, specialising in the repertoire of the late Baroque and early Classical eras. It takes its name from the great Joseph Haydn, a leading composer of the late eighteenth century. AHE’s flexibility and inventiveness are inspired by Haydn’s fabled originality and the virtuosic musicians he worked with at the court of Esterházy for almost 30 years. The ensemble performs in a variety of sizes and combinations, ranging from quartet, quintet, or septet, to chamber orchestra, or full orchestra with choir, often inviting special guest soloists to perform also. The Ensemble has developed a flourishing regular series at the City Recital Hall, the Sydney Opera House Utzon Room and in Canberra, where it was Ensemble in Residence at the Australian National University in 2014. AHE also performs throughout regional NSW and presents education workshops to students of all ages, focusing on imparting eighteenth-century historical performance techniques. AHE is particularly interested in presenting unusual programs of eighteenth-century chamber versions of works by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, as well as presenting the music of lesser- known composers, such as Abel, Albrechtsberger, C.P.E. Bach, J.C. Bach, David, Graun, Hoffmeister and Vanhal. To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the Ensemble recorded its third CD featuring music by Mozart, recently released, and in October 2023 AHE undertook its first international tour of the United States, including performances at Carnegie Hall and at the opening of the new Australian Embassy in Washington DC, garnering full houses, standing ovations and glowing reviews. Touring Members (Please note, this differs from the quartet image provided. There will be individual images of each member provided also) Skye McIntosh – Artistic Director Skye is playing a violin by Tomaso Eberle, 1770, Naples Ella Bennetts Ella is playing a violin by André Mehler, 2014, Leipzig, after S. Serafino,1735, Venice Karina Schmitz Karina is playing a viola by Francis Beaulieu, 2011, Montreal after Pietro Giovanni Mantegazza, 1793, Milan Edwina Cordingley Edwina is playing a cello by Michael Watson, 1990, United Kingdom Artist Bios Skye McIntosh Skye McIntosh is the founder and Artistic Director of the Australian Haydn Ensemble, now in its twelfth year. This audacious undertaking is a testament to Skye’s musicianship and entrepreneurial spirit. AHE, known for its innovative and ambitious programming, was delighted to perform at the Adelaide Festival in 2022 and Canberra International Music Festival in 2022 and 2023, as well as continuing to tour to Canberra and across regional New South Wales each year. Skye attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Queensland Conservatorium, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and has made numerous concert appearances as soloist and director. Skye led AHE on its first tour to the US in 2023, including a performance at Carnegie Hall. She has also toured nationally with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, as well as performing with the Orchestra of the Antipodes (Pinchgut) and the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. ABC Classics has recently released AHE’s third CD, featuring Skye performing Mozart’s Violin Concerto in G major. Ella Bennetts Sydney-born violinist Ella Bennetts enjoys a varied career performing with numerous chamber ensembles and orchestras throughout Australia and Europe. After attaining her Bachelor of Music (Honours) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Ella moved to Germany in 2012 to pursue her classical and baroque violin studies in Freiburg. Ella has performed with various early music ensembles in Europe, including Freiburger Barockorchester Ensemble für Alte Musik, Chapelle de la Vigne and Main- Barockorchester Frankurt. Ella also has extensive experience as a contemporary violinist, having collaborated with numerous composers and contemporary ensembles in both Austria and Germany. Since returning to Australia in 2022, Ella performs regularly with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Australian Haydn Ensemble, Orchestra of the Antipodes (Pinchgut Opera) and various other ensembles. Karina Schmitz Hailing from the east coast of the United States, American violist Karina Schmitz has settled in Sydney and is thrilled to be immersed in the rich and vibrant musical scene in Australia. In addition to performing with the Australian Haydn Ensemble, she is principal violist with Orchestra of the Antipodes (Pinchgut Opera), and has performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, Van Diemen’s Band, Salut! Baroque, and Ensemble Galante. In the United States, Karina was principal violist of the Handel & Haydn Society in Boston, principal violist of Apollo’s Fire in Cleveland, principal violist of the Carmel Bach Festival in California, and founding violinist/violist with New York-based, seventeenth-century ensemble ACRONYM. Karina holds viola performance degrees from New England Conservatory of Music (Boston) and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her early music studies began as an undergraduate at Oberlin Conservatory with Marilyn McDonald, David Breitman, and Miho Hashizume, and she continued her training in the Apollo’s Fire Apprentice Program. Edwina Cordingley Upon receiving first-class honours Edwina was a full scholarship holder for three years at the Australian National Academy of Music. With a brief interlude to trek around South America for six months, Edwina then moved to the United Kingdom to further her studies and perform. She studied Baroque cello in Edinburgh with David Watkin before moving to London after receiving an apprenticeship with Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Edwina went on to tour Europe with Sir John Eliot Gardiner in his ensembles, the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique and to perform and tour Europe as Principal Cello for The Gabrieli Consort and Players. Back in Australia Edwina enjoys performing with many historically informed ensembles such as Genesis Baroque, Australian Baroque, Australian Haydn Ensemble, Accademia Arcadia and The Coomoora Ensemble to name a few.