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Jackie Luke

Performer, Teacher, Recording Artist, Arts
Organiser, Music Librarian (Retired), Board of Directors, National Folk Festival
 

Jackie has played hammered dulcimer since 1985.
As Australia's leading exponent of the hammered dulcimer, she continues to be fascinated by this beautiful instrument, and its unique place in Australian musical history.
A  teacher, performer, and composer for the instrument, she plays regularly with her trio Springtide joined by her husband and musical partner Greg Wilson, and cellist Rita Woolhouse. As a member of this, and other high profile ensembles, she has toured Australasia, UK, Europe, China and North America.
In 2015 she performed with the Sydney Millennium Ensemble conducted by George Ellis, playing Sandouri for the Australian premiere of Mikis Theodorakis' modern masterpiece, To Axion Esti, at the City Recital Hall, Sydney, and again in 2024 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

In 2016 she played hammered dulcimer with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in their highly successful concert series Lord of the Rings in concert - Fellowship of the Ring.  In 2016 Jackie organised a tour of New Zealand for Springtide. She enjoys the vibrant acoustic music scene and diverse cultural mix in Australia and has a special interest in the music of Greece, North America, UK and Ireland, and of course her native New Zealand. More recently she has curated a Greek ensemble in Canberra - The Eirini Ensemble - which brings together Greek and Australian musicians to perform the vocal music of modern Greece.
In addition to hammered dulcimer, she plays Greek sandouri, Irish bouzouki, piano, and electric cello. She sings in English and in Greek and enjoys writing songs.
As a music librarian at the Sydney Conservatorium for 25 years she understands the importance of collection and preservation of our musical heritage. In addition to her performance work she also directed two very successful festivals in rural NSW, before re-locating to Canberra where she enjoys being a part of the rich cultural arts scene of the nation's capital.
Jackie considers music to be part of a lifelong learning process, and continues to develop and nurture her own creativity and curiosity. In 2016 she took lessons with Sandouri master and teacher Dimitris Kofteros on the island of  Lesvos, Greece. She enjoys encouraging others and is a regular leader and participant in sessions around Canberra. As an accredited teacher she runs workshops, and offers tailored private lessons.

For more details of her activities over the last three decades please read on…


BANDS / ENSEMBLES
 

  • Performs with Springtide at folk festivals, clubs, restaurants, and theme concerts.
    In 2005 travelled to Beijing, China to perform at the World Cimbalom Congress
    In 2018 performed with Springtide at the World Dulcimer Congress, and O'Carolan Harp Festival. Ireland

  • Curates and performs with Ichoyennisi, a Greek Australian ensemble recently formed in Canberra, ACT

  • Organises and plays with the Burnt Roast Band (English Traditional)

  • Formed The Fellowship of the Strings which enjoyed success at major festivals in Australia including the National Folk Festival. The band also performed in Ferrara, Italy at the Ferrara Buskers Festival in 2008
     

  • Founded the Celtic band Mattawa which held a 3 year residency at the Settlers Arms Inn, St Albans, NSW.
     

  • Musician and organiser of Olde Empire Band which has played traditional English country dance music in Australia for 3 decades. Curretntly organises and plays with the Burnt Roast Band (Canberra).
     

  • Devised the Greek ensemble Musical Mezedes with mezzo-soprano Hellen Aristides which was featured in the Greek Festival of Sydney several years running
     

  • Duo with Gillian Alcock for the World Cimbalom Congress, Slovakia, and International Hackbrett Festival, Munich Germany 1995
     

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
 

  • Millenium Ensemble conducted by George Ellis - Sandouri - To Axion Esti - Mikis Theodorakis 2015, 2024
     

  • Queensland Symphony Orchestra - Lord of the Rings in Concert - Fellowship of the Ring conducted by Maestro Ludwig Wicki - Hammered Dulcimer
     

  • Sydney Symphony Orchestra - Lord of the Rings Symphony conducted by Maestro Howard Shore - Hammered Dulcimer
     

  • Greek Sandouri with Millenium Ensemble conducted by George Ellis, 2004 Olympic Torch Ceremony and City Recital Hall, Sydney
     

  • Toured as support act for Australian band Colcannon during ther NZ tour 1993.

 

TEACHING & WORSHOPS
 

  • Taught and performed at the Upper Potomac Dulcimer Fesitval, WV, USA 1995.

  • National Folk Festival Master classes, most recently 2009
     

RECORDINGS & SONGWRITING
 

  • Beauteous Grove 1992 - solo album
    Where the Waters Meet - Mattawa
    Fellowship of the Strings
    Singing My Family Tree - Springtide
    The Wisdom of Trees - Springtide
    Spindrift - Springtide

  • Top 5 Finalist in MusicOZ competition 2008 - River of Tears

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