Principal Artists
The co-founders of the Bowerbird Collective, Simone Slattery & Anthony Albrecht.
Simone Slattery | Co-founder and Curator
Violinist and composer Simone Slattery is one of Australia’s most versatile musicians and creators. She performs across Australia and internationally as both soloist and ensemble member, holds a PhD from the University of Adelaide, and was a 2019 Churchill Fellow. Her compositions have been performed across the world, and her artistic creations described as "stunning".
Anthony Albrecht | Co-founder and Producer
With a passion for making classical music accessible and relevant in the 21st century, cellist Anthony Albrecht began producing concerts shortly after graduating from The Juilliard School in 2014. With an international performance career, he has developed a reputation as an impresario of world-class events characterised by generosity, outreach and connection to issues of social justice, conservation and sustainability.
Associate Artists
Our team of wonderful collaborators, presented around Australia.
Katie Yap | Viola
Modern and baroque violist Katie Yap plays regularly with Australia’s finest ensembles including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Van Diemen's Band, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian World Orchestra, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, and has joined groups like the Academy of Ancient Music overseas. Her greatest love is chamber music, and she is a founding member of prog-baroque quartet Croissants & Whiskey, the Chrysalis Harp Trio, and crossover folk/baroque group Wattleseed Ensemble. She was the 2022 Freedman Fellow and is a 2023/24 Musica Viva FutureMaker.
Andrew Blanch | Guitar
Andrew Blanch is a classical guitarist from Sydney with a busy and active performing career. His solo recital debut at the Sydney Opera House in 2017 was critically acclaimed, and he boasts more than ten prizes in international music competitions including the Adelaide International Guitar Competition in 2019. Limelight Magazine featured him as one of 30 rising stars of Australian classical music. He is a member of the newly formed Australian Guitar Quintet.
Emily Sheppard | Violin
Emily Sheppard is a composer, performer and scientist based in Tasmania. She dwells in the uncharted territory between realms often considered opposites: classical and folk, improvisation and notation, art and science. Greatly inspired by the enduring mysteries of nature, she aims to bring a little more wonder to the world. Emily performs with Van Diemen's Band, and is a core member and composer for Where Water Meets (alongside Yyan Ng).
Yyan Ng | Multi-instrumentalist
Yyan Ng is a multi-instrumentalist, improviser, composer, collaborator. Yyan sings and plays acoustic guitar, wadaiko (taiko drums), Shakuhachi, and various stringed, percussion and woodwind instruments. He leads a few contemporary bands and the Launceston Taiko group Taiko Oni Jima, and has been involved in various projects as a guitarist and percussionists. He is core member of chamber folk trio Where Water Meets, and plays in a Wadaiko and shakuhachi duo with Brian Ritchie.
Presented Artists
A selection of the artists we have presented.
