ABOUT

Colin Ainsworth

Colin Ainsworth has been praised for his exquisite control and emotional directness and has long distinguished himself not only with his interpretations of the major Classical and Baroque tenor roles but also with his performances in contemporary opera. He has appeared with various opera companies including the Canadian Opera Company, Seattle Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Glimmerglass Opera, Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, Pacific Opera Victoria, Vancouver Opera, the Greek National Opera, and the Royal Opera (London) performing as Lensky in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, Tom in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, Tamino in The Magic Flute, and Steuerman in Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer. On the concert stage, he has appeared with the Montreal Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Music of the Baroque, and at Carnegie Hall with the American Symphony Orchestra and has worked with conductors Leonard Slatkin, John Nelson, Nicolas McGegan, Leon Botstein, and Dame Jane Glover.

Lauren Loewen, Piano

Praised for expressivity, virtuosity, and committed playing, Canadian collaborative pianist Laura Loewen has appeared in concerts throughout North America and in Europe, Asia and South America. Dedicated to sharing her passion for ensemble playing and coaching, she is Professor of Collaborative Piano and the Vocal Coach at the University of Manitoba’s Desautels Faculty of Music. She was a founding faculty artist of VISI (Vancouver International Song Institute) and is on the faculties of the NUOVA opera training program in Edmonton, Alberta and (art) song lab. Dr. Loewen recently accepted the position of Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs) at the Desautels Faculty. A fundamental aspect of this role is developing and promoting health and wellness initiatives for the Faculty. Administrative work gives her the opportunity to continue and expand the work she has done with students across Canada; teaching and mentoring are important elements of Dr. Loewen's career.

An extremely versatile pianist, Dr. Loewen has performed extensively with singers, instrumentalists and chamber ensembles. She is a regular recital partner of tenor Colin Ainsworth, with whom she developed Die Schöne Müllerin Project, a 3-day University residency in which the DSM team explores the song cycle from a Health and wellness perspective, culminating in a performance with Ainsworth, Loewen, and student voice-piano duos.

Helene Pohl – Violin I

Peter Clark – Violin II

Gillian Ansell – Viola

Rolf Gjelsten – Cello

HELENE POHL, First Violin

Born in Ithaca, New York to German parents, Helene Pohl spent her childhood on both sides of the Atlantic. At 17 she began tertiary study at the Musikhochschule Cologne. She continued her studies with members of the Cleveland Quartet at the Eastman School of Music and at Indiana University with Josef Gingold. As first violinist of the San Francisco based Fidelio String Quartet (1988-1993), Helene performed extensively in the USA, Germany, England, Italy and South America. The Fidelio Quartet was prize-winner in the 1991 London International String Quartet Competition and Quartet-in-Residence at both the Tanglewood and Aspen Music Festivals. Helene joined the New Zealand String Quartet as first violinist in February 1994. In 2001 she became Artistic Director, with fellow quartet member Gillian Ansell, of the Adam Chamber Music Festival. In 2014 she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her outstanding services to music in New Zealand. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and baking, getting out into nature and playing concertos with orchestras around New Zealand, including the Nelson Symphony Orchestra. Helene plays a Pietro Guarnerius violin made in Venice in 1730.

PETER CLARK, Second Violin

Violinist Peter Clark was honoured to join the NZSQ in 2024. Prior to his appointment, Peter divided his time between New York City and Australasia, combining his passions for chamber music, directing orchestras, and advocating for the central role of music in society.

Peter came to the NZSQ from his tenure as Principal Violin of Omega Ensemble, widely regarded as “Australia’s most exciting and forward-thinking chamber music ensemble” (Limelight Magazine). He was previously first violinist of the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s Inspire Quartet, and a core member of Melbourne’s Inventi Ensemble.

Peter is regularly featured at festivals such as the Warren Chamber Music Festival, Music by the Springs, Albury Chamber Music Festival, Orange Chamber Music Festival, Peninsula Summer Music Festival, and the Canberra International Music Festival. Internationally, Peter has appeared at the Thy Chamber Music Festival in Denmark; at Aldeburgh Music in the UK; and at the Festival International de Musique Universitaire in France, where he premiered numerous new Australian works for string quartet.

As concertmaster, Peter has appeared with New Zealand Opera, Sydney Chamber Opera, Victoria Opera, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Darwin Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Wellington. He has also appeared as Guest Principal Second of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Dublin, and has toured with the Australian World Orchestra, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Peter is passionate about the intersection of the highest artistry and music’s potential to be a force for good. His commitment to arts access has led him to perform in more than 130 regional towns and cities across Australia. Through his extensive work with the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s Inspire Quartet, he developed a beloved music program at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, which ran for six years. His research on social innovation and cohesion through music has been generously supported by Judith Neilson AM, the General Sir John Monash Foundation, and the American Australian Association. Peter plays violins by A. E. Smith, and renowned contemporary maker Joseph Curtin.

GILLIAN ANSELL, Viola

Born in Auckland, Gillian Ansell made her concerto debut as a violinist with the Auckland Philharmonia at the age of 16. At 19, an Associated Board Scholarship took her to the Royal College of Music in London for three years to study violin, viola and piano. She then won a German Academic Exchange (DAAD) scholarship for further study in Germany at the Musikhochschule Cologne with Igor Ozim and the Amadeus Quartet. After working professionally in London she returned to New Zealand to become a founding member of the New Zealand String Quartet in 1987. She was second violinist for two years before taking up the position of violist of the group. In 1992, Gillian founded the Adam Chamber Music Festival with a group of friends, performing five concerts in five days. In 2001 she became Artistic Director, with fellow quartet member Helene Pohl. In 2008 she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her outstanding services to music in New Zealand. She served on the jury of the Banff International String Quartet Competition in 2019. Gillian plays on a 1619 Nicolò Amati viola, generously loaned by the Adam Foundation.

ROLF GJELSTEN, Cello

Rolf Gjelsten began cello studies in his native city Victoria, Canada, with James Hunter and Janos Starker at the age of 15. At 22 he became the youngest member of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. Rolf returned to North America to study with Zara Nelsova which led to further study with the members of the La Salle, Hungarian, Vermeer, Cleveland and Emerson string quartets. As a member of the Laurentian Quartet for almost a decade he toured internationally, made five CDs and taught cello at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. During this time he was also a member of the New York Piano Trio. Rolf furthered his studies from 1990 with the great Pablo Casals protégé and Beaux Arts Trio cellist Bernhard Greenhouse at Rutgers University, where he received his doctoral degree in cello. He has performed with such eminent artists as Menahem Pressler, Anton Kuerti, Piers Lane, Tasmin Little, Nobuko Imai and Gervaise de Peyer. Rolf joined the New Zealand String Quartet in May 1994 and in 2014 he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his outstanding services to music in New Zealand. Rolf plays a Francesco Gofriller cello made in Venice in 1705.

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