The Members
JOHN BABBAGE (saxophone, clarinet)
John studied saxophone at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music graduating with a Diploma in Jazz in 1987. He has worked extensively around Australia with various groups including the Queensland Orchestra, Tony Hobbs Big Band Theory, the Nasty Saxophone Quartet with Dale Barlow, and Big City (with whom he released an album of his own music). He has been a member of Topology since 1996 and during this time has toured to the USA, Canada and Indonesia, working with many composers including Terry Riley, Michael Nyman, Tim Brady and Jeremy Peyton-Jones.
ROBERT DAVIDSON (bass)
s Head of Composition at the University of Qld. Davidson studied composition with Terry Riley after studying Indian music in Kerala and before completing his composition PhD. He was a bassist in the Australian Opera, Sydney Symphony, and Queensland Symphony orchestras, and has been featured as bassist in many festivals, performing chamber works with artists such as John Williams (guitar), the Brodsky Quartet and Ensemble 24. He has also tutored as bassist and composer in many conferences, including the Mt Buller Chamber Music Summer School and Australian String Association National Conference. He regular tours internationally with Topology and other ensembles, and his compositions are regularly performed, recorded and broadcast around the world. All of Australia’s professional orchestras and many leading festivals, soloists and ensembles have commissioned and performed his works, including the Brodsky Quartet (London), Australian String Quartet, Karin Schaupp, Southern Cross Soloists, Paul Dresher Ensemble (San Francisco), Newspeak (New York) and many more.
KYLIE DAVIDSON (piano)
Kylie (B.Mus., QLD Conservatorium, A. MUS. A.) is an experienced recording and broadcast artist, accompanist, teacher, chamber ensemble performer and soloist, and has received acclaim internationally and locally as a pianist. Her studies with William Corbett Jones in San Francisco have been a major influence on her understanding of piano performance style and ensemble work. Kylie has performed with the Queensland Orchestra, Vulcana Women’s circus and given numerous performances at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and the Sydney Opera House. She has performed in many festivals including the Sydney Olympic Festival, the Sydney Opera House Choral Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, and the Brisbane Arts Festival. She has lectured in Keyboard Musicianship at the Queensland Conservatorium and in Piano at the Queensland University of Technology. Weirder gigs include Topologising as backing bait-gig for Savage Garden, and in a cabaret duo with Kransky sister Annie Lee, and hard-core minimalist 60′s music/performance art.
BERNARD HOEY (viola)
Bernard studied viola at the Queensland Conservatorium (B.Mus 1987) and at Michigan State University (Master of Music 1993) with John Graham and Robert Dan. He studied in summer schools with Kim Kashkashian (Aldeborough), the Alban Berg Quartet and the Kronos Quartet. While in the US, he played with the Arlington Quartet, touring the US and UK.
He was a violist in the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra from 1994-2000, and is now Associate Principal Violist of the Queensland Orchestra, playing solo parts in works such as the sixth Brandenburg Concerto. He has directed several concerts for the Queensland Philharmonic’s Off the Factory Floor chamber series.
CHRISTA POWELL (violin)
Christa is a busy freelance musician. When she’s not playing with Topology, she plays a wide range of chamber music, her long-held passion. She also plays orchestral music with the Queensland Orchestra, and gigs with bands and teaches violin in her private studio and as guest at various education institutions. Christa studied at the University of Queensland (BMus Hon 1991) with Elizabeth Morgan, in London (1991 – 1993) with Emmanuael Herwitz of the Melos Ensemble and at the Queensland Conservatorium with Carmel Kaine, obtaining her Master of Music in 1996. In London, she played with the Olyver Gypsy Ensemble.
THERESE MILANOVIC (piano)
Therese is in demand as both performer and teacher. Previous performance highlights include ABC broadcasts, Musica Viva Country Wide and In Schools touring, with Collusion. Recently, she has enjoyed performing with Topology, including collaborations with the Brodsky String Quartet, Grant Collins, Brisbane Festival, festival performances in Indonesia and Singapore, and a tour of the Netherlands with the Kransky Sisters. Other performance projects, through Ikon Music, feature quirky music-making with soprano Emma Baker-Spink and other kindred spirits. In 2009, Therese completed her training with the Golandsky Institute in New York to become the first certified Taubman Instructor in Australia, the subject of her completed PhD. She teaches at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Young Conservatorium and privately.
