Myee Clohessy has announced that she is leaving the Acacia Quartet, the ensemble she co-founded 11 years ago, alongside Lisa Stewart, Stefan Duwe and Anna Martin-Scrase.

In social media posts announcing the news, Clohessy said that it had been an enormous honour playing with Lisa, Anna and Stefan, but that it was time for her to move on and do something different. Hugh Robertson spoke with Clohessy about her highlights from her time with the quartet, and her plans for the future.

Acacia Quartet

Acacia Quartet. Photo © Chris Donaldson

What are some of the live performance highlights from the last 11 years?

With 11 years of concerts with Acacia under my belt there are just too many to name, but I think the performances that have moved me to tears whilst performing are probably the most vital memories I have. Two of these experiences include Lyle Chan’s beautiful tribute to his friends through his incredible An AIDS Activist’s Memoir, and Alice Chance’s loving Aloe Vera, written for the dying mother of a close friend of hers.

When music can capture and communicate intense feelings of love and loss when words cannot, this...