About Ensemble East
Ensemble East is a chamber music project founded in 2015 by a group of musicians passionate about sharing and playing music with one another and the communities in which they live in. The ensemble has based itself in the Eastern suburbs of Auckland and has a growing musical following within the community.
Our core group of players frequently invites and collaborates with guest artists to perform a diverse range of music, from duos to large chamber works. We perform without conductor and thrive on close musical communication amongst players. The music making is spontaneous, versatile and inspiring to both the musicians involved and audiences alike. Please join us at our next concert!
Our core group of players frequently invites and collaborates with guest artists to perform a diverse range of music, from duos to large chamber works. We perform without conductor and thrive on close musical communication amongst players. The music making is spontaneous, versatile and inspiring to both the musicians involved and audiences alike. Please join us at our next concert!
Yid-Ee Goh - 1st Violinist
Singaporean born Yid-Ee Goh is former Concertmaster of Orchestra Wellington (formerly Vector Wellington Orchestra), violinist for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand String Quartet.
In 2004, Yid-Ee helped setup and run The Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre for children with special needs (www.rmtc.org.nz) In 2008, he taught violin and viola at St. Cuthbert’s College, Diocesan Girls School and Westlake Girls High School and tutored violin and chamber music at the University of Auckland.
Yid-Ee now runs his teaching studio at All Saints Church, Howick, and from his home in Greenlane. He teaches violin and viola at Pakuranga College, Sacred Heart College and Macleans College. He regularly appears as Concertmaster with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra.
Singaporean born Yid-Ee Goh is former Concertmaster of Orchestra Wellington (formerly Vector Wellington Orchestra), violinist for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand String Quartet.
In 2004, Yid-Ee helped setup and run The Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre for children with special needs (www.rmtc.org.nz) In 2008, he taught violin and viola at St. Cuthbert’s College, Diocesan Girls School and Westlake Girls High School and tutored violin and chamber music at the University of Auckland.
Yid-Ee now runs his teaching studio at All Saints Church, Howick, and from his home in Greenlane. He teaches violin and viola at Pakuranga College, Sacred Heart College and Macleans College. He regularly appears as Concertmaster with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra.
Dickson Fung - Violinist / Violist
Violinist Dickson Fung currently pursues a career which combines his dual passions for musical performance and medicine. As a violinist, he completed his undergraduate studies with Justine Cormack and Stephen Larsen at the Universities of Auckland and Canterbury, followed by post graduate studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire (Trinity College of Music) with Prof. John Crawford in London. His studies in the UK were generously supported by the Creative New Zealand/ Brent Estate NZ-Aotearoa Music Scholarship and a grant from the NZ-UK Link Foundation. During his time in London, he was a finalist at Trinity’s Leonard Smith and Felicity Young Duo Competition and performed in the college’s premier String Ensemble. He is a former member of the National Youth Orchestra, a former leader of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra, and has performed as freelance violinist in a number of professional ensembles within New Zealand and in London.
More recently, Dickson has expanded his musical focus to education, pedagogy and in helping musicians cope with health issues that may arise within the profession. His special interest in string teaching and technique has led to an interest in the Colourstrings Method of violin teaching. His interest in the health issues of musicians led him to complete a Masters of Science (with Distinction) in Performing Arts Medicine at University College London whilst concurrently completing his violin studies.
Outside of his musical pursuits, Dickson works as a medical doctor in General Practice.
Violinist Dickson Fung currently pursues a career which combines his dual passions for musical performance and medicine. As a violinist, he completed his undergraduate studies with Justine Cormack and Stephen Larsen at the Universities of Auckland and Canterbury, followed by post graduate studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire (Trinity College of Music) with Prof. John Crawford in London. His studies in the UK were generously supported by the Creative New Zealand/ Brent Estate NZ-Aotearoa Music Scholarship and a grant from the NZ-UK Link Foundation. During his time in London, he was a finalist at Trinity’s Leonard Smith and Felicity Young Duo Competition and performed in the college’s premier String Ensemble. He is a former member of the National Youth Orchestra, a former leader of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra, and has performed as freelance violinist in a number of professional ensembles within New Zealand and in London.
More recently, Dickson has expanded his musical focus to education, pedagogy and in helping musicians cope with health issues that may arise within the profession. His special interest in string teaching and technique has led to an interest in the Colourstrings Method of violin teaching. His interest in the health issues of musicians led him to complete a Masters of Science (with Distinction) in Performing Arts Medicine at University College London whilst concurrently completing his violin studies.
Outside of his musical pursuits, Dickson works as a medical doctor in General Practice.
Vanessa Tam - Violinist / Violist
Originally from Hong Kong, Vanessa started playing the violin at the age of seven and moved to New Zealand with her family at the age of eleven. She later went on to study with Mary O’Brien at the University of Auckland, graduating with a Masters of Music degree with first class honours.
Some highlights during her tertiary studies includes being selected as finalist in the Auckland University Concerto Competition and Chamber Music Competition, finalist in the Rotorua Music Competition, concertmaster of the University Orchestra, appearing as soloist with the Opus Orchestra, recipient of the Spring Scholarship, the Constant Herbert Memorial Scholarship and the Senior Prize in Music as Top Scholar.
She has performed in chamber groups and orchestras in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, America, Canada and Europe. After spending some time in London and Europe, Vanessa now resides back in Auckland and spends her time teaching, performing and running her own businesses.
Originally from Hong Kong, Vanessa started playing the violin at the age of seven and moved to New Zealand with her family at the age of eleven. She later went on to study with Mary O’Brien at the University of Auckland, graduating with a Masters of Music degree with first class honours.
Some highlights during her tertiary studies includes being selected as finalist in the Auckland University Concerto Competition and Chamber Music Competition, finalist in the Rotorua Music Competition, concertmaster of the University Orchestra, appearing as soloist with the Opus Orchestra, recipient of the Spring Scholarship, the Constant Herbert Memorial Scholarship and the Senior Prize in Music as Top Scholar.
She has performed in chamber groups and orchestras in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, America, Canada and Europe. After spending some time in London and Europe, Vanessa now resides back in Auckland and spends her time teaching, performing and running her own businesses.
Lisa Chou - Pianist / Cellist
Born in Taiwan, Lisa immigrated with her family to Auckland in 1995. Under the guidance of Associate Professor Rae de Lisle, Lisa completed Masters in Performance with First Class Honours at the University of Auckland. Previous notable teachers include Qu Yong, Carol Bognuda and Ashley Brown. As a solo pianist, cellist and chamber musician, Lisa received numerous prizes and scholarships, notably the Kerikeri International Piano Competition and NZCT Chamber Music Contest National Finals as a cellist in the winning piano quartet.
Lisa pursued further studies in Vienna from 2009, where she lived, studied and worked as a performing musician for over six years. During this time, she had the privilege of learning privately from acclaimed pianist and scholar Paul Badura Skoda. Mentionable masterclass participations include Christopher Hinterhuber, Alexander Melnikov, Maria Kliegel and Julian Lloyd Webber.
Lisa teaches at King’s School, King’s College, St Kentigern’s College and since 2017 runs a private teaching studio in Greenlane.
Born in Taiwan, Lisa immigrated with her family to Auckland in 1995. Under the guidance of Associate Professor Rae de Lisle, Lisa completed Masters in Performance with First Class Honours at the University of Auckland. Previous notable teachers include Qu Yong, Carol Bognuda and Ashley Brown. As a solo pianist, cellist and chamber musician, Lisa received numerous prizes and scholarships, notably the Kerikeri International Piano Competition and NZCT Chamber Music Contest National Finals as a cellist in the winning piano quartet.
Lisa pursued further studies in Vienna from 2009, where she lived, studied and worked as a performing musician for over six years. During this time, she had the privilege of learning privately from acclaimed pianist and scholar Paul Badura Skoda. Mentionable masterclass participations include Christopher Hinterhuber, Alexander Melnikov, Maria Kliegel and Julian Lloyd Webber.
Lisa teaches at King’s School, King’s College, St Kentigern’s College and since 2017 runs a private teaching studio in Greenlane.
Lisa Chung - Cellist
Lisa holds Doctoral degree in cello performance (D.M.A.) from University of Auckland. She had studied with prominent musicians including Andrew Joyce (NZSO principal cellist) and Ashley Brown (NZTrio cellist).
She has undertaken concert tours in Korea and Japan, and has appeared as a soloist with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and the Auckland Youth Orchestra. She won a number of competitions and scholarships in Korea and NZ including a full scholarship to study and perform in the prestigious international Music festival in Aspen, Colorado where she collaborated with top international musicians such as Darrett Adkins (Juilliard School). She has performed in master classes with Maria Kliegel, Torleif Thedéen and David Finckel (Emerson Quartet) and had participated in the Winter School at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow.
Her students are currently winning national and international competitions; one of them will be performing in Carnegie Hall and another one will be performing in Wiener Saal Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria this year.
Lisa holds Doctoral degree in cello performance (D.M.A.) from University of Auckland. She had studied with prominent musicians including Andrew Joyce (NZSO principal cellist) and Ashley Brown (NZTrio cellist).
She has undertaken concert tours in Korea and Japan, and has appeared as a soloist with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and the Auckland Youth Orchestra. She won a number of competitions and scholarships in Korea and NZ including a full scholarship to study and perform in the prestigious international Music festival in Aspen, Colorado where she collaborated with top international musicians such as Darrett Adkins (Juilliard School). She has performed in master classes with Maria Kliegel, Torleif Thedéen and David Finckel (Emerson Quartet) and had participated in the Winter School at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow.
Her students are currently winning national and international competitions; one of them will be performing in Carnegie Hall and another one will be performing in Wiener Saal Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria this year.
