The Australia Ensemble UNSW is looking forward to working with guest cellist Miles Mullin-Chivers in March. We sat down with Miles to ask him what he is most looking forward to.

Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello! My name is Miles Mullin-Chivers. I graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2017 with First Class Honours studying under your very own Julian Smiles. Since then I have been fortunate enough to freelance and have some amazing opportunities, this being one of them! I am so thrilled to be invited to play with the Australia Ensemble UNSW, it truly is a lifelong goal of mine. 

This is your first performance with the Australia Ensemble UNSW. What are you most looking forward to?
I am very much looking forward to playing with the members of the Australia Ensemble, particularly with Julian. I distinctly remember coming to watch the Australia Ensemble whilst I was still at the Con. I would always walk away from these concerts with awe and inspiration, having lofty dreams of one day being able to play with these master musicians. I can’t quite believe I now have that opportunity, on the very stage that inspired me so much, not that long ago. It is quite surreal!

You are in two of the works in this March program, both very distinct in their own way. Do you have any listening tips for our subscribers?
I love this Brahms Sextet. The cello gets some truly superb melodies, especially in the first and last movement. One of my favourite spots in this work is a few bars before the repeat in the first movement. The accompaniment falls away, and the second violin and first cello are left to lead us either back to the beginning, or onwards to further development. After quite some time of thick texture and harmony, the sparsity is striking and allows for a moment of quiet introspection.
The Muczynski Fantasy Trio is a driven and rhythmic piece, save the slow movement, which opens with a searching cello melody. Later on in the movement, Muczynski has the cello and clarinet playing in unison, but two octaves apart, with the piano also using a wide range of pitch. This creates a magical and eerie timbre, one of which I haven’t heard before.

Patrons can see cellist Mile Mullin-Chivers as he joins forces with the Australia Ensemble UNSW musicians on Saturday March 18, 7:30pm in Sir John Clancy Auditorium for their first 2023 subscription concert: Fantasy.