Mythical Creatures

An example of artistic collaboration at its finest, Mythical Creatures is a 40-minute song cycle by Brisbane composer Paul Kopetz, featuring poems by Brisbane-based Svyetlana Hadgraft. Performed by local artists Limpinwood Ensemble, the work is scored for soprano and baritone voice, wind quintet, bass clarinet and piano. Each of the ten movements is a musical impression of a mythical creature that has existed in the folklore of various cultures around the world, and several movements pay homage to some of the great composers of 20th Century music, both classical and popular.

Performers

Leanne Kenneally

A graduate of Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, soprano Leanne Kenneally made her Opera Debut as Pamina in 1996 with Opera Australia and as Donna Anna with Opera Queensland. She has since appeared with all the leading opera companies throughout Australia and was a member of the Cologne Opera in Germany (1999–2001). She performed alongside all the major Australian Symphony Orchestras, Choirs and Australian International music festivals (including New Zealand and Bangkok). Notable stage appearances include the title role of Lakmé, Juliette(Roméo etJuliette), Countess (Le nozze di Figaro), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Anne Trulove (The Rake’s Progress), Leïla (Les pêcheurs de perles), Philomele (Richard Mills ‘The Love of the Nightingale), Mimi (La bohème), Third Norn (Götterdämmerung), Helena (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Despina (Cosi) Leanne’s concert schedule has included Bach’s Mass in B minor, Mozart’s Requiem and Mass in C, Handel (Messiah, Saul, Samson), Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Britten’s Les Illuminations Op. 18, Moya Henderson’s Anna Akhmatova’s Requiem, Brahms’ Requiem, Mendelsson’s Elijah, Mahler’s Symphonies 2, 4, 8, Rachmaninov’s The Bells and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Leanne can be heard in the role of Venus in Saint-Saëns’ Helene, released by Melba Recordings in 2008, and on Navona Records’ new album “Mythical Creatures” featuring music by Paul Kopetz. Leanne is Casual Lecturer in voice at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

Leon Warnock

Baritone Leon Warnock studied at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.  He has sung chorus and solo roles with Opera Australia, Victorian Opera and Opera Queensland, and toured NSW schools with Oz Opera. Leon’s concert performances include Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Brahms’ German Requiem and Haydn’s The Seasons.  He has also won prizes in the Herald Sun Aria and the National Eisteddfod Canberra and was a semi-finalist in the International Sacred Solo Competition in Rome. While based in Germany, Leon was a full-time chorus member of the Theatre Freiburg, also performing many solo roles including Kilian (Der Freischütz) and Paolo (Simon Boccanegra).  Since returning to Australia, he has been a regular chorus member of Opera Queensland, covered many major roles and performed as soloist with The Queensland Choir, Brisbane Chorale and the ensemble Soirees Musicales. He recently performed Schumann’s Dichterliebe, Handel’s Messiah with the Queensland Choir and the Bach Society, Carmina Burana with Brisbane Chorale and recorded for Opera Queensland’s “An Aria a Day”. Leon performed the role of Christus in St John Passion with Canticum Chamber Choir and the role of Elijah with Noosa Chorale, and frequently performs with vocal ensemble Soirées Musicales.

Dr Michał Rosiak

Flautist Dr Michał Rosiak has extensive experience in performance, composition and teaching. An inductee into the Australian music scene, he has spent most of his career to date in Europe, where he has won many accolades for his compositions and teaching, as well as being principal Flautist with Opole Philharmonic Orchestra in Poland, member of ESPRIT Flute Trio and a flute teacher in Chopin School of Music in Opole. At the age of 18, Michał made his debut as a soloist and composer by performing his composition “Adagio & Scherzo” for flute and orchestra with the Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra in Poland. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Capella Cracoviensis, Chamber Philharmonia Cologne and the Queensland Pops Orchestra. He has been a guest flautist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Camerata - Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, Queensland Festival Philharmonic and Queensland Pops Orchestra. Michał was the co-founder of the Brisbane Chamber Project, and has appeared as a performer and composer at the Australian Flute Festivals in Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra. Michał was Artist-in-Residence at the Banff Centre in Canada and at the Bundanon Trust in Australia.

Vivienne Brooke

Vivienne Brooke has been Principal Cor Anglais of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra since 2014. After relocating from Perth to study with Eve Newsome at the Victorian College of the Arts, Vivienne spent time at Orchestra Victoria and obtained a Masters of Performance from Monash University before moving to Brisbane.

Vivienne greatly enjoys the variety of the performances at QSO. Outside of the orchestra she can be found playing Oboe, Cor Anglais and Oboe d'amore in various settings (and particularly delights in playing the many wonderful Bach compositions for these instruments) and trying to fit in as much sport as possible, particularly soccer and athletics. Vivienne is Casual Lecturer in oboe at the University of Queensland.
 

Dr Rianne Wilschut

Dr Rianne Wilschut is a Brisbane-based clarinettist, educator, and clinician. She holds a Griffith University Doctor of Musical Arts degree, specialising in chamber music. An active chamber musician, Rianne is the clarinettist of the Limpinwood Ensemble and founding member of Ensemble Entourage, which toured under the banner of Musica Viva In Schools nationwide. As a freelance orchestral player, she frequently performs with Camerata - Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and with a variety of music theatre companies.

Born and educated in The Netherlands, Rianne obtained a Post-Graduate Chamber Music Diploma and a Masters in Advanced Performance, studying with Walter Boeykens and Nancy Braithwaite in Rotterdam, and a Bachelor in Clarinet Performance and Teaching under Oscar Ramspek in Zwolle. 

An experienced and passionate educator, Dr Wilschut is Casual Lecturer in clarinet at the University of Queensland, she teaches at Anglican Church Grammar School, and conducts independent master classes, workshops and clinics. Rianne is President of the Queensland Clarinet and Saxophone Society, and has presented at academic conferences in Malaysia and Australia, at the International Clarinet Conference in Louisiana (USA) and at the Australasian Clarinet and Saxophone Conference in Melbourne.
 

Timothy Allen-Ankins

Timothy Allen-Ankins is Associate Principal Horn of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. In 2019 Tim graduated with a Bachelor of Music at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music where he studied with Peter Luff, Malcolm Stewart and Ysolt Clark. He then relocated to Melbourne to study at the Australian National Academy of Music before commencing a 6 month contract with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. 

Tim enjoys a versatile career as a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician, holding casual positions with the Sydney Symphony, Auckland Philharmonic, Adelaide and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras. He particularly enjoys the thrill of playing Principal Horn and has performed this role with the QSO, MSO, Orchestra Victoria and the Australian Youth Orchestra among others. 

Tim also has experience performing ballets and operas, having worked with the Australian Ballet and Victorian Opera. He has worked with groups such as the Southern Cross Soloists, Ensemble Q, the Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute and the Orchestra Project.
 

Katharine Willison

Bassoonist Katharine Willison was a student of Peter Musson at the Conservatorium Music School before undertaking a BMus at the Royal College of Music. She was awarded a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she completed a Masters of Music in Performance and then spent a year in Paris studying with Pascal Gallois. As a member of the Linos Quintet she won the Royal Overseas League Ensemble Prize and a Hattori Scholarship before being invited to enter the ARD Munich Competition. As a Quintet they toured Italy and Australia as well as performing all over the UK including two Wigmore Hall recitals. She has performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, The Philharmonia, Northern Sinfonia, ENO and at the Aldeburgh, Edinburgh and Rye Festivals. Since moving back to Brisbane Katharine performs with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Pops Orchestra, Camerata - Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, Queensland Festival Philharmonic, and has tutored for the Australian Youth Orchestra and the Queensland Youth Orchestra. Katharine is the Executive Director of the Tyalgum Music Festival. 

Mitchell Leigh

Mitchell Leigh is a piano graduate of both the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in Brisbane and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Based in Brisbane for over thirty years, Mitchell has accompanied many Australian and International touring instrumental soloists and has accompanied at numerous International conferences and symposiums.

He has also appeared many times as a member of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and is also active as a solo performer, most recently performing a Chopin programme for the 4 MBS festival in May, 2024. Mitchell has been a staff member of Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University since 1991.
 

Paul Kopetz

Paul Kopetz is an award-winning composer and a multi-instrumentalist, arranger, conductor, and teacher. He is a graduate of The University of Melbourne, The Victorian College of the Arts, The Rotterdam Conservatorium, and Monash University. His works have been performed in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Australia. Paul’s music has been described as “a highly emotive and colorful mix of poly-stylistic soundscapes where Contemporary Classical forms provide a vibrant springboard for personal journeys of reflection, social commentary, explorations of the natural world and above all artistic integrity.” His music has been awarded numerous prizes in composition contests around the world. He has been commissioned and performed at festivals and in concert series by acclaimed international artists. His creative output includes music for symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles of various sizes and instrumentation, strings, choirs, wind orchestra, solo instruments, and voice. Paul’s works have been released internationally by RMN Classical, Ablaze Records, Petrichor Records, and Navona Records. He is the founder and curator of the global composer projects “Towards a Shining Light 50 for 50” (2023) and “Emocean” (2025).