BRENDAN JOYCE
Violin

Brendan is Violinist, Leader and Artistic Director of Camerata - Queensland's acclaimed chamber orchestra based in Brisbane, and he is an alumnus of the original version of Camerata that played to critical acclaim 1987-1997. Brendan frequently appears as soloist with Camerata, and has led through milestones such as its first recording, tours, broadcasts and in establishing its major concert series and residency at QPAC. He has also led for highly regarded performances and collaborations at the Brisbane Festival, Qld Music Festival, Brisbane Baroque, Darwin International Festival, Tyalgum Festival, the Festival of Tibet and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music.

Brendan performs on period instruments as violinist and occasional leader of the Orchestra of the Antipodes in Sydney, as well as the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra, and more recently with Tasmania’s Van Dieman’s Band. He played for many years with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra including in solo and leadership roles. During 2011-2013, Brendan performed the cycle of Bartok's String Quartets as a member of Brisbane's Kurilpa String Quartet and has performed as a guest player with the Australian String Quartet.

A graduate of the University of Queensland, Brendan later attained a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland, USA, receiving an award there for his leadership of the Maryland Festival Opera Orchestra and for his presentations and premieres of the music of twenty Australian composers. In 2013, Brendan was named a “Queensland Culture Champion” by the Queensland State Government.

Brendan plays a violin made in the workshop of Matthias Albani, Tyrol, Austria, in the 1700s and has played in eight productions so far.