“For whatever reason the term 'supergroup' was not used in classical music circles but today I declare I have come across one from Melbourne, Quercus Trio, made up of stars from other ensembles.”

– Classikon

“For whatever reason the term 'supergroup' was not used in classical music circles but today I declare I have come across one from Melbourne, Quercus Trio, made up of stars from other ensembles.”

– Classikon

All three members have established international reputations, performing with leading ensembles and in major concert halls worldwide. Each player brings a unique artistic voice, shaping the trio’s expressive range and collaborative energy. Quercus aims to expand the horn trio repertoire through new commissions and by bringing renewed attention to underperformed works. At its heart, the trio is a joyful partnership: Rhodri, Liz, and Carla share a deep affection for one another and for the art of making music together.

“It is hard to fault the coherence of their ensemble, rich tonal pallete, or sense of musical architecture.”

– Music Trust

Quercus Trio are a Melbourne-based horn trio dedicated to performing the finest chamber music. The distinctive combination of violin, horn, and piano offers a wide palette of colours and musical possibilities, which the trio explores with imagination and depth. Quercus is committed to championing new music, especially Australian works written for this rare and vibrant instrumentation. Quercus' debut album "Australian Horn Trios" was released through ABC Classic in 2023 to critical acclaim.

The group's name comes from Quercus, the Latin word for oak, a genus of around 600 species from the beech family. The name was inspired when a composer described Carla’s sound as “like an oak tree,” reflecting the connection between the horn’s resonance and the natural materials of the violin and piano. The symbolism of the oak—timeless, grounded, rooted in place yet reaching across time—resonates strongly with the trio. Like an acorn growing deep roots in Australian soil while remaining connected to its European origins, western classical music in Australia is shaped by its heritage yet becomes something wholly of the place where it takes root.

Meet the Trio

  • Rhodri Clarke

    PIANO

    Pianist Rhodri Clarke has always been fascinated by the piano’s collaborative potential across many instrument groups and combinations. He began his musical journey in the early 90s in South Wales where he had the opportunity to be a church organist and choral accompanist. This led him to study at the Royal College of Music with Roger Vignoles and develop his interest in both vocal and instrumental accompaniment, as well as chamber music. As a member of chamber ensemble Bolivar Soloists, Rhodri cultivated a love of Latin American music culminating in albums with Deutsche Grammophon and Costa records. Through his instrumental and vocal collaborations, he has performed with soloists such as Bryn Terfel, Edicson Ruiz, Rolando Villazon and David Helfgott in many of the world’s leading concert halls, including Berliner Philharmonie, Vienna Musikverein, Barbican Centre, Carnegie Hall and Sydney Opera House. 

    Now making his home in Melbourne he is in demand as a collaborative pianist and chamber musician. He is a founding member of horn trio Quercus, who have recently released their debut album Australian Horn Trios on ABC Classic. He is a regular staff pianist at Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Opera Scholars Australia and for Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus.

  • Carla Blackwood

    HORN

    Carla Blackwood maintains a diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer in Australia and internationally. She is committed to the performance and promotion of new music, historically informed performance on early instruments, and chamber music at the highest level.

    On historical natural horns, Carla is Principal Horn of the Orchestra of the Antipodes (Pinchgut Opera), the Australian Haydn Ensemble, and Genesis Baroque; her 2024 performance of Julius Caesar received critical acclaim. On modern horn, she performs regularly with leading Australian ensembles including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Quercus Trio, Lyrebird Brass, Ensemble Liaison, the Australian Wind Quintet, and the Australia Ensemble, and is a frequent guest Principal Horn with symphony orchestras nationwide.

    Carla is a sought-after teacher and mentor. She is Senior Lecturer in French Horn Performance and Associate Director, Individual Performance Studies, at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, and was Horn Faculty at the Australian National Academy of Music from 2021–2025.

    Previously, Carla was Principal Horn of the Tiroler Symphonieorchester Innsbruck and Professor of Horn at the Tiroler Landeskonservatorium. She has appeared as guest Principal Horn with major European orchestras and has held orchestral contracts across Australia and Europe.

    An active researcher, Carla recently completed her PhD, Making the French Horn Australian, and in 2023 released a critically acclaimed retrospective of Australian horn trios on ABC Classic with Quercus Trio.

  • Elizabeth Sellars

    VIOLIN

    Elizabeth Sellars is an Australian violinist known for her tonal refinement, expressive clarity and richly nuanced sound. As First Violinist of Flinders Quartet and a founding member of Quercus Trio, she performs extensively across Australia and internationally in chamber music settings.

    Born in Melbourne, Elizabeth studied piano with Nehama Patkin and violin with Andre Hadges, Arkady Feldman and Nathan Gutman before continuing her training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London with David Takeno and the Gabrieli and Takács Quartets. As a member of the Techinski Quartet she won the Royal Overseas League Ensemble Prize and performed widely throughout the UK and Europe.

    In Australia she has appeared as guest Concertmaster and Principal Violin with the Melbourne and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, Orchestra Victoria, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. A dedicated chamber musician, she performs regularly for Musica Viva and at major festivals, and has recorded for labels including ABC Classic, Naxos and Toccata Classics.

    Elizabeth’s work with Quercus reflects a strong commitment to collaborative performance and to exploring both core repertoire and contemporary works, including new Australian compositions.