Jackie Luke

Performer, Teacher, Recording Artist, Arts
Organiser, Music Librarian (Retired)
 

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. In 2016 she played a similar role 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 - Ichoyennisi - 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 understand 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…