Ilse de Ziah

Ilse de Ziah was born in Connecticut USA, where she started music theory classes and sat for hours under the piano listening to her mother play Chopin and Bach. From 7 she grew up in Sydney, Australia where over the years she had lessons in Piano, Cello, Pipe Organ, Harpsichord, Recorder and Violin. With sisters and father all musicians too, there was rarely a moment where music was not being played. Ilse’s great-grandmother, a Jewish Hungarian pianist living in Vienna used to sit on Brahms’ knee as a 3yr old, her father being his ear nose and throat specialist and an accomplished violinist. Her Austrian grandfather was a cellist and escaped from Vienna just before WW2 Her Czeck grandmother a pianist with a gypsy background, escaped with him. Her English grandfather was an accomplished violinist and was known to socialize with Jasha Heifez and Fritz Kreizler on their trips to Australia where he moved at 12yrs.


Her Irish Grandmother a pianist, improviser, move to Australia in her youth (her father was a harp and accordion player from Limerick) She began cello lessons at age 12 and continued her musical studies at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She spent many years touring with singers and folk bands around Europe, Australia and America, before settling in Ireland nine years ago. She is leader of the cello section of the Cork Symphony Orchestra, and has been involved in theatre, folk music, free improvisation, and dance.

She composes music for dance and film, does many recording sessions, and arranges strings for singers and other musicians. Ilse also performs with Contemporary Australian ensemble Ozmosis and experimental Quiet Music Ensemble, with her classical Scarlet String Quartet and Baroque Beyond the Pale, From Irish Airs to Australia Fair - Solo Cello Expressive, ‘out-of-the-ordinary’ performances of Irish Airs and contemporary cello pieces composed and arranged by Ilse, performed on modern and Baroque cello.

Well known and lesser known Irish airs sing gloriously in their new raiment. Modern compositional techniques create ancient ethereal atmospheres and earthy moods. Taking inspiration from the Irish and Australian landscapes Ilse creates a fresh, lyrical and emotional style of cello music.

 A magical musical journey to lose and find yourself.

Shane Supple interviews Ilse de Ziah by Shane Supple on Mixcloud

 Listen in to Shanes Interview here

 Visit Ilse de Ziah website here