Bembina Ensemble

Introducing our musicians 🤍

Julia began her musical journey on violin at age four in Albany, South Western Australia. A childhood immersed in the music of many world cultures, travel and adventure, undoubtably influenced her musical trajectory. Julia completed Bachelor of music at the University of Western Australia under renowned Violinist Paul Wright; and Masters of Research on Violin at Edith Cowan University under internationally acclaimed violinist Alexandre Da Costa. Julia’s Masters research focused on the collaborative possibilities of Western Art Music, particularly Baroque repertoire, and Middle Eastern musical traditions meet.

Julia trained with today’s leaders of Tango from Buenos Aries, attended Silkroad Ensemble’s Global Musician Workshop, including tuition from Arabic music specialist, late Bassam Saba, co-founder of the New York Arabic Orchestra. As well as training with David Dolan of Guildhall, London in the art of Classical improvisation, attended a residency at Banff Centre for Creativity, Canada, and in 2019 furthered her studies in the Persian Classical system, attending lessons with Kamencheh Master Shervin Mohajer in Tehran, Iran.

Julia performs with Perth Symphony Orchestra, Australian Baroque, WA Philharmonic, and Fremantle Chamber Orchestra, and has performed nationally and internationally including tours within Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe, USA and Canada.

Julia is Artistic Director of Bembina Ensemble, exploring intersections of Middle Eastern and Western Art Music in a multitude of cross-cultural creations that have been delighting and inspiring Perth audiences since the groups creation in 2021.

Introducing our musicians 🤍

Alix grew up in Perth and began learning the violin at the age of four. In early high school, Alix was encouraged to take up the viola and has since studied with internationally renowned teachers and ensembles - most notably William Coleman from the Kuss Quartet in Austria as well as the Silkroad Ensemble (Boston), Tafel Music Summer Academy (Toronto), Mattheiser Sommer Akademie (Sobernheim), Mozarteum Summer Academy (Salzburg) and the Orchestra De La Francophonie (Montreal).

Closer to home, Alix is known as a lead violist in the Perth music scene and performs regularly as both a chamber and orchestral musician with Australian Baroque, Aquila, Flamingo Strings, Perth Symphony Orchestra, Perth Chamber Orchestra, the Orenda Ensemble, and the West Australian Philharmonic.

Alix is a founding member of the Bembina Ensemble and loves introducing audiences to new soundscapes and cultures through the ensemble’s diverse and vibrant programmes. “Music has the ability to transport us through time and space, and the way that can make any wall in this world feel permeable, to me, feels magical.”

Join for our upcoming concert Anahita 🌊

Behind the scenes at our photoshoot ✨