Comprised of four of Melbourne’s leading improvising string players the Philharmonic Beats Quartet combines classical music with jazz and other popular tunes. They are also able to add electronica to create a unique and vibrant sound. This line-up is called Philharmonic Beats Electronica.

The Philharmonic Beats Quartet

Line-up: 2 x violins, viola & cello

The Philharmonic Beats Quartet has performed at many major events throughout Australia, including:

 - Launch of 2009 L'Oreal Fashion Week 
 - Wedding of Natalie Imbruglia and Daniel Johns
 - Wedding of Tara Moss
 - Circus Under the Big Top
 - the Red Ball

The Philharmonic Beats Quartet has done various studio and television appearances.

Recordings include:
 - One Perfect Day
 - Yellow Brick Dreams,
 - Velure, 
 - Rae Howell
 - True Live 

... Or Philharmonic Beats Electronica

Line-up: 2 x violins, cello & dj (electronic component)

Philharmonic Beats Electronica combines classical music with jazz and electronica to create a unique, edgy sound. Virtuosic strings soar over soundscapes, loops and electronic drop-ins. Sensational!

Please refer to sound sample five as an example.

The Artists

Rachael Kim - violin

Rachael Kim is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, where she founded the Abraxas Piano Trio in 2000.  The trio has toured extensively throughout Europe, receiving a scholarship for study at the Royal College, and performing at Sir Sidney Nolan’s Artist Retreat in Wales.  Rachael currently performs in a wide variety of ensembles throughout Melbourne, including jazz, tango and pop/rock formats, and also composes for silent-film project Silentbox, which featured at the Falls Festival last year.  She regularly appears as a soloist with the contemporary-classical Sunwrae ensemble, who have been invited to feature at an ABC Concert Series later this year.  

Tamil Rogeon - violin

Tamil Rogeon is a member of the Melbourne based hip-hop chamber ensemble, True Live. In 2000 he toured to Seoul, South Korea with the Blue Grassy Knoll and upon their return was invited to perform at the Sydney Opera House and the Woodford Folk Festival. During 1999 Tamil spent 6 months in New York studying and performing with some of the countries finest jazz violinists including John Blake and Mark Feldman. Tamil has also composed for various dance shows and films including The Futurist and Dance Card. Film Credits include Opposite of Velocity (2004), Astray (2003) and The Mercahnt of Fairness (2001).  Tamil is currently working on the release of his debut album, which is funded by Arts Victoria.

Louise Woodward - viola

Louise completed her Bachelor of Music in Melbourne, majoring in Performance and Ethnomusicology. After touring throughout Northern Italy and Spain as an orchestral violist, Louise commenced her honours degree in composition. During this time, her interest in improvisation led her to varied performance opportunities with many leading ensembles, artists and bands. Louise performs regularly for television, productions and sessional work, and at international and national festivals. Her continued passion towards performance outside the classical arena has also influenced her many compositions for short film, chamber works and advertising.  Louise has also worked with the management of Orchestra Australia, and was regularly contracted as Assistant Orchestra Manager for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra . In 2007, Louise toured the UK as principal violist for Nitin Sawhney's co-production Mahabharata , then moved to Vancouver, Canada where she managed the Pacific Baroque Orchestra for 12 months . 

Tim Blake - cello

After completing his formal qualifications at the Victorian College of the Arts, Tim Blake founded the Little Yarra Ensemble which has toured extensively throughout Australia and New Zealand. He has been playing cello for over 30 years and performs in many musical styles including traditional and contemporary folk, classical, pop/rock, jazz and hip-hop.  He has made many recordings, the most recent being on the Illawarra suite, a tribute to Don Harper which was funded by the Victorian Arts Council. He performs regularly with the Melbourne based group True Live and was recently involved in Aftershock - a Melbourne International Arts Festival concert with Nitin Sawhney.

The quartet require 4 x chairs for their performance.