The Stringybark Quartet

Belinda is a violinist, performer and composer who writes for chamber ensembles, orchestras, theatre, dance, live art, and screen. Her professional creative practice as a musician spans two decades.

Belinda was a member of the Australian Art Music and Ruby Award winning, Adelaide- based Zephyr Quartet for 15 years and with them has performed throughout Australia, The Philippines, England, Ireland, Germany, Scotland and The Netherlands.

Belinda enjoys a vibrant performing career as a freelance violinist in chamber groups, musicals, cabaret shows and bands. She is a regularly contracted freelance musician in the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and also performs with the Tasmanian and Queensland Symphony Orchestras. 

Emma studied at the University of Adelaide and was a member of the Australian Youth Orchestra. She has been a permanent member of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra since 2007, and has also played with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

Emma is an active member of the chamber music community and has performed with many different groups over her career, including Kegelstatt Ensemble, Adelaide Concert Collective, the Leonore String Quartet, the Ruby Frost Quartet, Adelaide bands Sirca and Golonka and the Zephyr Quartet. She has performed at festivals around Australia and overseas, and has appeared as soloist with the Adelaide Chamber players and the Norwood Symphony Orchestra.

Emma is also a dedicated teacher and is passionate about fostering a love of chamber music and musical diversity in her students.

With thanks to the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Robin Sanderson for loan of the Mary Pascoe Violin played by Emma Perkins.

Linda graduated from the University of Queensland in 2001 with a Bachelor of Music and university medal and went on to complete a Masters in Performance in 2003. She was a member of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra from 2008-14, then returned to Australia to play with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra before becoming a permanent member in 2023. She has also performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Macau Orchestra, Singapore Symphony and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Gemma Phillips is a cellist, chamber musician and proud member of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra cello section.

 Gemma immersed herself in the choirs and ensembles of the Brighton Secondary School’s special interest music program whilst studying cello with Paula Scott, Takao Mizushima and then Janis Laurs. She has also enjoyed classes with Michael Goldschlager, Niall Brown, Henk Guittart, Bernard Greenhouse of the Beaux Arts Trio and Peter Cropper of The Lindsays. In 2001 Gemma graduated from the Elder Conservatorium of Music with First Class Honours and toured Europe with the Australian Youth Orchestra and maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy.

As a member of the Leonore Quartet, Gemma attended the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove in the United Kingdom and completed a creative residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada. The ensemble also won the Sydney Eisteddfod Musica Viva Chamber Music Award and competed in the Asia Pacific Chamber Music Competition in 2009.

Gemma has had many rewarding collaborations with a wide range of artists including Natsuko Yoshimoto, Dean Newcomb and beatboxer Tom Thum. She performs regularly for Creative Original Music Adelaide and can be heard on numerous film and game soundtracks.

Gemma plays on the first ‘Adelaide Cello’, made by a team of expert Australian instrument makers led by renowned French Luthier Frank Ravatin at the inaugural Adelaide International Cello Festival.