Elizabeth Layton

Dr Elizabeth Layton

Senior Lecturer

Elder Conservatorium of Music

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

My research investigates music performance through string playing, and includes exploration of the collaboration, repertoire and innovative teaching required to enable any performer to reach their full potential.

My most recent research centres around violinist George Enescu, examining his seminal 1921 Bucharest Recital Series, innovative for the amount of repertoire and new work included. I also explore lesser known violin sonata repertoire from the early decades of the twentieth century, performing, recording and re-appraising neglected scores.

I welcome inquiries from string students at undergraduate and postgraduate level to the Elder Conservatorium.

My projects include:

  Violin Sonata in E flat major by Stan Golestan (1875-1956)

  i) Andantino ii) Andante sostenuto iii) Allegro animato. 

The first and only recording of Golestan's violin sonata since its composition in 1908, performed here with Larissa Schneider (piano). It represents the intersection of Eastern European and French culture in Paris at the height of the city's artistically fruitful period in the first decade of the twentieth century. An unjustly neglected work, this project advocates for a fresh appraisal of an under-appreciated composer and his music.

https://doi.org/10.25909/5d158df83c4e5

 

  Artaria - the string player in collaboration

  Chamber music by Britten, Finzi, Vaughan Williams and Bax

In a dynamic collaboration between strings and wind, the oboe is featured in this new CD recording. An added dimension is brought to the project through a multi-media approach, using visual footage of South Australian landscapes specifically filmed and edited to reflect the music's varying moods. This contemporary slant allows fresh insights into these works, traditionally associated with the English countryside of the 1930s. The inclusion of visuals allows a new audience access to this repertoire through film.

https://artaria.co

 

Ferruccio Busoni - Performer as composer

Pianist Ferruccio Busoni was hailed as one of the greatest performers of the early twentieth century, an outstanding musician who also composed and arranged music. This project examines the role of the performer as composer through a live recording of Busoni's second violin sonata with Lucinda Collins (piano). It seeks to provide an original interpretation of Busoni's work, informed by research on another virtuosic performer and composer, violinist George Enescu. Enescu's recorded performances of his own works and the parallel careers of these two artists prompt further re-examination of compositions by eminent performers.

https://doi.org/10.25909/5d1c82ba0c267

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2016 - ongoing Head of Classical Performance, Head of Strings and Senior Lecturer The University of Adelaide
    2005 - 2010 Violin Lecturer Royal Scottish Conservatoire
    1999 - 2010 Concertmaster BBC
    1997 - 1999 Associate Concertmaster Academy of St Martin in the Fields

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2016 - 2019 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    Royal College of Music United Kingdom ARCM

  • Research Interests
    Music Music Performance

  • Live Performance of Creative Works
    Year Citation
    2023 Layton, E. (2023). 'Radiance' with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (No. Of Pieces: 60 min.) [Concert, radio broadcast]. ABC: https://www.aso.com.au/events/matinee-series-1-radiance/.
    2023 Layton, E. (2023). 'Summer Music' (No. Of Pieces: 90 minutes) [Live concert]. Sydney.
    2023 Layton, E. (2023). Bendigo Festival (No. Of Pieces: Concerts over 5 days) [Concerts, seminars, community events, mentoring.]. Bendigo, Victoria, Australia: Bendigo Festival, Australian Digital Concert Hall.
    2023 Layton, E. (2023). A Matter of Heritage - Nigel Westlake Piano Trio / Selby & Friends (No. Of Pieces: Six concerts of 90 minutes) [Live concerts]. Sydney.
    2022 Layton, E. (2022). Trail Blazers 'She Speaks' (No. Of Pieces: One hour) [Live performance of violin works]. ABC: ABC.
    2021 Layton, E. (2021). Drama and Romance (No. Of Pieces: 50 minutes) [audio]. Radio broadcast: Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
    2020 Layton, E. (2020). Gédalge, André; Violin sonata no 1 in G major, Op. 12 (No. Of Pieces: 24 minutes) [online audio recording]. University of Adelaide.
    2019 Layton, E., & Collins, L. (2019). Busoni Sonata no 2 in E minor Op 36a for violin and piano (No. Of Pieces: 35 minutes) [Violin sonata]. Adelaide, Australia.
    2018 Layton, E. (2018). Blue Ginger (by Paul Dean) (No. Of Pieces: 10 minutes) [Performance]. Hepburn Springs, Victoria.
    2018 Layton, E. (2018). Blue Ginger (by Paul Dean) (No. Of Pieces: 10 minutes) [Performance]. Hepburn Springs, Victoria.
    2018 Layton, E., & Cox, M. (2018). Divertimento for Strings (by Aaron Pelle) (No. Of Pieces: 15 minutes) [Performance]. Elder Hall, University of Adelaide; Adelaide.
    2018 Layton, E., & Cox, M. (2018). Divertimento for Strings (by Aaron Pelle) (No. Of Pieces: 15 minutes) [Performance]. Elder Hall, University of Adelaide; Adelaide.
    2016 Cashman, P., & Pickering, C. (2016). World premiere of Three Persian Prayers by Anne Cawrse for Violin, piano and voice (No. Of Pieces: 20 minutes) [Performance]. Ukaria Cultural Centre.
    2016 Layton, E. (2016). Australian premiere of The Windhover for solo violin by Richard Chew (No. Of Pieces: 10 minutes) [Performance]. Ukaria Cultural Centre.
    2016 Layton, E. (2016). Australian premiere of The Windhover for solo violin by Richard Chew (No. Of Pieces: 10 minutes) [Performance]. Ukaria Cultural Centre.
    2016 Layton, E., & Cashman, P. (2016). Re-examination of Louis Vierne Sonata for Violin and Piano Op 23 (No. Of Pieces: 28 minutes) [Performance]. Ukaria Cultural Centre.
    2016 Layton, E., & Cashman, P. (2016). Re-examination of Louis Vierne Sonata for Violin and Piano Op 23 (No. Of Pieces: 28 minutes) [Performance]. Ukaria Cultural Centre.
    2016 Layton, E. (2016). Australian premiere of Secret Psalm for solo violon by Oliver Knussen (No. Of Pieces: 7 minutes) [Performance]. Adelaide.
    2016 Layton, E. (2016). Australian premiere of Secret Psalm for solo violon by Oliver Knussen (No. Of Pieces: 7 minutes) [Performance]. Adelaide.
    2015 Layton, E. (2015). World premiere of Animal by Daniel Portelli (No. Of Pieces: 10 minutes) [Performance]. Samstag Gallery, Adelaide.
    2015 Layton, E. (2015). World premiere of Animal by Daniel Portelli (No. Of Pieces: 10 minutes) [Performance]. Samstag Gallery, Adelaide.
    2014 Layton, E. (2014). National broadcast reinterpretation of Violin Concerto by Raymond Hanson (No. Of Pieces: 40 minutes) [Performance]. Sydney: Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
    2014 Layton, E. (2014). National broadcast reinterpretation of Violin Concerto by Raymond Hanson (No. Of Pieces: 40 minutes) [Performance]. Sydney: Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
    2014 Layton, E. (2014). National broadcast and re-examination of Violn sonata by Reynaldo Hahn (No. Of Pieces: 20 minutes) [Performance]. Sydney: ABC Classic FM.
    2014 Layton, E. (2014). World premiere of Hungarian Dances for violin, piano and cello by Quentin Grant (No. Of Pieces: 12 minutes) [Performance]. Adelaide.
    2014 Layton, E. (2014). World premiere of Hungarian Dances for violin, piano and cello by Quentin Grant (No. Of Pieces: 12 minutes) [Performance]. Adelaide.
    2014 Layton, E. (2014). World premiere of Attersee Tântze by Graham Chapman Smith for violin, cello and piano (No. Of Pieces: 10 minutes) [Performance]. Adelaide: The Firm.
    2014 Layton, E. (2014). World premiere of Attersee Tântze by Graham Chapman Smith for violin, cello and piano (No. Of Pieces: 10 minutes) [Performance]. Adelaide: The Firm.
    2012 Bodman Rae, J. (2012). World Premiere of Glossolalia by Erkki Veltheim (No. Of Pieces: Unknown) [Performance]. Elder Hall, Adelaide: Soundstream Collective.
    2012 Layton, E., Handsworth, P., & Ammer, S. (2012). World premiere of Ceol Mor by Charles Bodman Rae (No. Of Pieces: 13 minutes) [Performance]. Sydney: ABC Classic FM.
    2012 Layton, E., Handsworth, P., & Ammer, S. (2012). World premiere of Ceol Mor by Charles Bodman Rae (No. Of Pieces: 13 minutes) [Performance]. Sydney: ABC Classic FM.
    2011 Polglase, J. (2011). World premiere of Shining, Unbreakable for violin and piano by John Polglase (No. Of Pieces: 16 minutes) [Performance]. Adelaide.

  • Recorded/Rendered Creative Works
    Year Citation
    2022 Authors: Layton E. Title: Sallinen Dance Music Suite. Description: N/A. Extent: 20 minutes.
    2022 Authors: Layton E. Title: Sallinen Dance Music Suite. Description: N/A. Extent: 20 minutes.
    2020 Authors: Layton E. Title: Golestan, Stan; Sonata for violin and piano in E flat major (1908). Description: N/A. Extent: 27 minutes.
    2018 Authors: Craig C, Layton E, Horton A, Henbest C, Dahlenburg M, Shamray K, Watts L. Title: Artaria. Description: N/A. Extent: 64 minutes.
    2018 Authors: Craig C, Layton E, Horton A, Henbest C, Dahlenburg M, Shamray K, Watts L. Title: Artaria. Description: N/A. Extent: 64 minutes.
    2017 Authors: Sheldon J, Layton E. Title: Testimony II: Saltair. Description: N/A. Extent: 20 mins.
    2017 Authors: Sheldon J, Layton E. Title: Testimony II: Saltair. Description: N/A. Extent: 20 mins.

  • Curated or Produced Public Exhibition or Events
    Year Citation
    2021 Hajdu, T., Dollman, L., & Layton, E. (2021). Art of the Possible: Art of Classical (No. Of Pieces: 1 hour) [classical music concert]. https://artofthepossible.com.au: https://artofthepossible.com.au.
    2021 Layton, E., & Nairn, R. (2021). Baroque Academy (No. Of Pieces: 4 days of events) [Exhibition]. https://arts.adelaide.edu.au/music/engage/baroque-academy.

2019

MUSCLASS 

1200 

Classical Performance 1A 

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSCLASS 

1201 

Classical Performance 1B 

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSCLASS 

1301 

Classical Performance Adv 1B 

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSCLASS 

2200 

Classical Performance 2A 

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSCLASS 

2201 

Classical Performance 2B 

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSCLASS 

2301 

Classical Performance Adv 2B 

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSCLASS 

3201 

Classical Performance 3B 

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSGEN 

1202 

Music Prof Development 1B 

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSGEN 

2202 

Music Prof Development 2B 

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSHONS 

4005 

Honours Music Major Project 

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSHONS

4004

Honours Minor Music Project

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSGEN

1201

Music Prof Development 1A

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSCLASS 

1300 

Classical Performance Adv 1A 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 MUSCLASS

3200

Classical Performance 2A

 

 

 

 

 

  

MUSCLASS

2300

Classical Performance Adv 2A

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor Rehabilitating Romantic Performance Style in Robert Schumann's Late Violin Oeuvre Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Isabelle Laura Watson
    2024 Co-Supervisor Emanuel Moór's Creative Fervency; an Investigation of his Little Known Violin Oeuvre, it's Dedicatees and Place on Today's Musical Stage. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Simon Howard Monger
    2022 Co-Supervisor The Versatile Viola: an expansion of available repertoire through transcription, transposition, translation, and arrangement. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Cecilia Dowling
    2022 Co-Supervisor Performing the Cello Works of Friedrich Kiel in Context and Practice: a portfolio of premiere recordings and exegesis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Edith Salzmann
    2020 Co-Supervisor Musical confluences of the Violin and Erhu in the 20th Century: A performance-led investigation of historically informed performance of Erhu repertoire and the expansion of Violin-Erhu transcription vocabulary Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Hong Jun Lester Wong

  • Mentoring
    Date Topic Location Name
    2023 - 2023 String playing https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/violin-masterclass-with-dr-elizabeth-layton-registration-754428444787 Open Music Academy students
    2023 - 2023 String playing Pettman National Junior Academy String students, Melbourne
    2023 - 2023 String playing PNJA Pettman National Junior Academy, New Zealand via zoom
    2023 - 2023 String playing Concordia High School Concordia High School
    2023 - 2023 String playing Brighton High School, Adelaide Brighton High School students
    2023 - 2023 String playing Marryatville High SChool, Adelaide Marryatville HIgh School
    2023 - 2023 String quartets Bendigo Festival Artamidae String Quartet
  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83133600
  • Email: elizabeth.layton@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Elder Hall, floor Lower Ground
  • Org Unit: Elder Conservatorium of Music
Connect With Me
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