After a year-long hiatus, ellipsis returns in their full form to present an evening of colourful and evocative works for clarinet, violin, and piano in Sketches. As in a gallery walk, musical artworks invite the audience to step in and out of scenes inspired by people, times and places, both real and imaginary.

The music of Sketches can be enjoyed by anyone; longtime audiences of chamber music and casual enjoyers of musical experiences. Alongside established works for piano trio by Francis Poulenc and Aram Khachaturian, contemporary compositions by Australian composers create a fascinating blend between past and present, approaching familiar sounds and musical traditions through a new and lighthearted lens. Sketches also includes the world premiere of ‘Staring Into Mundanity’, a piece for clarinet and piano composed by Alex Aidt.

Programme:

L’Invitation au Château - Francis Poulenc

Staring Into Mundanity - Alex Aidt

Paisajes - Frederico Mompou

**interval**

Classical Stories - Julian Yu

Trio for Violin, Clarinet and Piano - Aram Khachaturian

Artist Bio:

ellipsis brings together three musicians from unique musical backgrounds: Ella Summers (violin), Freya Parr (clarinet) and Lana Raftopoulos (piano). Since forming at Monash University’s Sir Zelman Cowan School of Music in 2022, the ensemble have taken on a number of exciting projects centred around the development of new piano trio repertoire by emerging Australian composers.

In 2024, ellipsis gave the world premiere of three new works: ‘Spring’ (Anusha Yellapragada, arrangement for piano trio), ‘How to Let Go’ (Sophia Mackson) and ‘Nebula’ (Daniel Jasper Parr). These were performed at the David Li Sound Gallery as part of the trio’s ‘Constellations’ concert.

In 2026, the trio continue to develop repertoire for violin, clarinet and piano through collaboration with young Australian composers. In addition to their recording of ‘Spring’, which appears on Anusha Yellapragada’s 2025 EP ‘Snapshots’, ellipsis performed the work live on 3MBS’s ‘Composer Special Episode’ of The Talent in April. ‘Staring into Mundanity’ is the result of the ensemble’s most recent collaboration with composer Alex Aidt. This piece for clarinet and piano will be premiered in June.

Storytelling is at the centre of ellipsis’ approach to music making and performance. By highlighting the people, places and ideas which have inspired works for piano trio both established and new, ellipsis aims to create accessible and engaging concert experiences which allow anyone to connect with chamber music.