The Sitkovetsky trio prove three will be company when it comes to Carl Vine’s 60th birthday gift to Musica Viva.

I have the privilege of choosing performers for Musica Viva’s concerts and festivals, and it’s always a thrill to discover brilliant young players and keep track of how they thrive in the cut-throat world of international chamber music. One such ensemble is the Sitkovetsky Trio, which shares a background in common with many of the fine young musicians who now fall into Musica Viva’s ambit: they are all graduates of the Yehudi Menuhin School, in Surrey (England), for exceptionally gifted children.

Wu Qian (piano), Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin) and Leonard Elschenbroich (cello) are now all significant soloists, but their formative years playing together at the Menuhin School fostered an abiding love of the piano trio that brings them together for a national concert tour of Australia.

I turn 60 this year, and the Board of Musica Viva wanted to mark the occasion with a new composition. Julian Burnside AO QC kindly offered to support my commission for a new piano trio, to be premiered by the Sitkovetskys. While preparing various season promotion activities, I spent some time editing a video of...