Silo Strings Management

Blue haze

Aaron Barnden violin
Andrea Keeble violin
Ceridwen Davies viola
Caerwen Martin violoncello

Silo String Quartet was founded by Cellist and Composer Caerwen Martin in 1998 and is the only dedicated contemporary string quartet in Australia. Silo have performed at the Melbourne International Jazz Festivals, Melbourne Fringe Jazz Festival, and Melbourne International Women in Jazz Festivals since 1999 working with such artists as Fiona Burnett, Belinda Moody, Colin Hopkins, and Quinsin Nachoff (Canada). Silo performed at the Apollo Bay Music Festival 2007 and 2008 and was the resident string quartet for the Federation Music Week International Composers Forum.

Silo regularly record new music and have just completed After the Dark, a CD of new Australian compositions. Recent Silo recordings include Luminal by David Chisholm, Dreaming of… by Daniel Salecich, new Australian compositions commissioned by the Federation of Australian Composers, a live CD Shomyo with the Colin Hopkins Trio commissioned by the Melbourne Fringe Jazz Festival and a CD for Ballet Lab entitled Origami, by David Chisholm. Silo also feature on the live ABC CD Soaring at Dawn for Jazz trio and String Quartet composed by soprano saxophonist Fiona Burnett. Recent work has included performing at Assembly Hall, 3MBS live at the Convent Library, BMW Edge, Trinity Church, Collins St Baptist Church, Glen Eira Town Hall, Billilla House, Stonington Manor, Melba Hall, Bennetts Lane and Federation Square as well as many recording and performance projects for composers and popular Australian artists including Dan Brodie, Philip Gelbach, Antonio Tenace, David Chisholm, Lindsay Brundsdon, John Peterson and Johanna Selleck. Silo have broadcast live on ABC, 3MBS and other local Melbourne radio stations and feature on Caerwen Martin’s soundtrack to the Australian feature film ‘Lost and Found’ by David Blake.

|----top----|

Aaron photo Aaron Barnden

Hi! I started learning the violin at age four. So what did I do for the last 23 years? Well, I practiced as hard as I could until people stopped screwing up their faces and started giving me awards like: the Paul McDermott Violin Scholarship (1990), Gold Medal for Most Outstanding String Player and Harry Hutchins Award for Most Outstanding Violinist at the Dandenong Festival of Music and Art (1993-94), The Westpac Bank Scholarship for Most Promising Student at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (1996), and Manningham Eisteddfod’s Special Prize for the most outstanding violinist of the competition (1997). In 1998 I had my own little feature on ABC FM’s Young Australia program. But it didn’t stop there. In 1999, I was accepted into the Australian National Academy of Music’s Advanced Performance Program, in its inaugural year ( they actually payed me to do it ). Since 1998, I have worked in numerous orchestras, including Melbourne Symphony, Australian Pops Orchestra (as its periodic concert-master) and the Cologne New Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (Germany ), with whom I have toured for a number of years as a soloist and member. Earlier this year I was seen throughout the world in the documentary ‘Einstein’s Wife’ playing the role of the young Albert Einstein. I also played the role of ‘Darren’ in the feature film ‘Josh Jarmon’, which debuted at the Melbourne International Film Festival. And then bang! The Silo Quartet found me, and I knew I had finally found my niche.

Andrea Keeble

I am a free-lance violinist and I pretty much do everything possible that is related to violin playing. After graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts and studying at the University of Melbourne I performed regularly with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for a good 12 years, as well as other large ensembles and musicals such as the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, Pro Arte, Oz Opera and Fiddler on the Roof. I studied briefly with David Tokano in London. But as Life continued to throw considerable reminders that "Straight and narrow is the path... Waste no time", my outlook broadened, my intention became more specific and my choice now sways towards personal expression with some creative input imperative. Silo very much fulfils this credential. I regularly appear as guest leader and soloist with the Stonnington Symphony Orchestra and Kooyong Chamber Players.

I am a member of the Gypsy inspired quintet Cosmo Cosmolino and its CDs "Streetsweeper" and "Nektar" (ARIA award nominated 2005), feature my original works and collaborations. I also perform my own string compositions in the Ad Hoc String Collective.

In 2005, I toured to Portland USA, Brussels and Johannesburg with the Skin Quartet featuring a video based composition by Melbourne composer David Young.

I have appeared with the band My Friend the Chocolate Cake (accompanying them on their Australian 2004 tour) and have recorded with artists such as The John Butler Trio, Renee Geyer, Mick Harvey (of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds), David Bridie and Jimi Barnes.

In 2004, I formed the Contemporary Instrumental Rock outfit Stroll. A Honourable Mention was awarded in the "International Songwriting Competition" 2005 in Nashville (USA) for one of its original compositions and its debut CD Carnival of Lost Souls was released early 2006 to critical acclaim.

I have conducted a number of film scores including In a Savage Land, My Brother Jack and The Man Who Sued God, and in 2002, was Chief Adjudicator for The Melbourne Schools String Festival.

I am currently an examiner for the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB), a lecturer in violin at the University of Melbourne and teacher of violin and viola at Monash University.

Ceridwen photo Ceridwen Davies

I'm Ceridwen Davies, the violist with Silo (amongst many other things!) I studied in Melbourne and completed my Bachelor of Music Performance at the Victorian College of the Arts studying with Trevor Jones. I'm a very keen chamber musician and have played with Melbourne Symphony Chamber Players, Australian Chamber Soloists, Astra Ensemble, DeFLOCKeD, John Buter Trio. I have been playing with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 1999 and have toured with them to Europe and China. I have also enjoyed performances with the Tasmainian and Adelaide Symphonies, Academy of Melbourne and Australian Pops Orchestra. In 2001 i moved to London to further my studies with Ian Jewel (Gabrieli Quartet, ASMIF) and Stephen Broom (Principal Covent Garden Opera Orchetsra) and to also explore life a little.

I am very much looking forward to also playing Wagners Ring Cycle with the Adelaide Symphony at the end of this year.

Caerwen photo Caerwen Martin

Hello Caerwen is the Founder and Director of Silo. She also composes and arranges quite a lot of Silo's music.

Caerwen Martin (MMusPerfHons) has trained in instrumental music in Perth, Germany, England, Croatia and Melbourne. Caerwen is the founding member of Melbourne’s premier contemporary string quartet, Silo and also works as a composer and arranger for film, dance, theatre, live performance ensembles and recordings. Caerwen has participated in numerous international tours, performing in such places as New York, Washington, Johannesburg, Copenhagen, Dubrovnik, Amsterdam, Vienna and Berlin. She performs regularly at the Melbourne International Arts Festivals, Melbourne International Jazz Festivals and Melbourne International Women in Jazz Festivals. Her performances have been broadcast live by ABC Australia, 3MBS Melbourne, National Denmark Radio, Bremen Broadcast, Frankfurt Radio, Berlin Radio, Potsdam Radio and local Melbourne and Perth radio stations.

Caerwen has worked with ensembles and musicians such as Silo String Quartet, Dead Horse, Aphids, Libra Ensemble, Astra Choir, Chamber Made Opera, Oz Opera, Raga Dolls Salon Orchestra, Australian Pops Orchestra, Black Arm Band, David Chisholm, David Young, Kate Neal, Fiona Burnett, Dr Tony Gould, David Chesworth, Juliana Hodkinson, Yasutaka Hemmi, Johanna Selleck, Elena Kats-Chernin, John Butler, Lou Bennett, Blue King Brown, Dan Brodie, Missy Higgins, Lior, Kane Alexander and Barry Palmer. Caerwen also records regularly for film and television. Caerwen is highly regarded for her versatile and innovative approach to the cello.

|----top----|

The Silo String Quartet created an air of stillness and serenity with their first vibrating chord. Playing quietly lush works that recalled the music of Alexander Balanescu, the quartet were accompanied by saxophonist Fiona Burnett for two haunting movements from Burnett’s Soaring@Dawn.
Jessica Nicholas The Age

Caerwen Martin’s [composition] Human Forces, is built on a philosophy of transparent textures. The serenity of this work is reminiscent of an elegant haiku poem and the material reflects the same compression of ideas.
Xenia Hanusiak Herald Sun

The considerable talents of cellist Caerwen Martin were revealed not only through her engaging playing but also by her compositional prowess in her Human Forces.
Xenia Hanusiak Herald Sun

|----top----|

Links

Silo supported by Clifton Creative Arts Centre
http://www.yarranet.net.au/~ccac/index.htm

Silo supported by 3MBS Classically Melbourne
http://www.3mbs.org.au/

Silo dressed by: Marniinako by Niko and Marina Georgiadis
http://www.marniinako.com

Silo has performed regularly at the Melbourne International Jazz Festivals and Melbourne International Women in Jazz Festivals since 1999 working with such artists as Fiona Burnett, Belinda Moody, and Quinsin Nachoff (Canada) and was the resident string quartet for the Federation Music Week International Composers Forum. Silo feature on the live ABC CD Soaring at Dawn for Jazz trio and String Quartet composed by soprano saxophonist Fiona Burnett. Recent work has included performing at Glen Eira Town Hall, Billilla House, Stonington Manor, Melba Hall, Bennetts Lane and Federation Square as well as many recording and performance projects for composers and popular artists including Dan Brodie, Philip Gelbach and Johanna Selleck.

Silo has broadcast live on ABC and Melbourne radio stations and appears in the new Australian feature film Lost and Found. Silo have released a CD of New Wave and popular arrangements for American distribution and are currently working on a CD that showcases the works of young Australian composers. Silo has recently released a DVD including works by Caerwen Martin available at this site. Silo regularly work for Rock and Pop bands doing session work for popular releases. Also, we feature in a new film by David Blake.

|----top----|

Photos - Silo Live