Ensemble Anja & Zlatna preserves the beauty of traditional melodies from the beautiful Balkans and beyond, enhancing them with the structural architecture of baroque, classical and modern languages.
Aleksandra (Anja) Acker: Artistic Director and Voice
Kirsty Morphett: Voice, Percussion
Donald Nicolson: Harpsichords, Synthesizers, Organ, Piano
Ryan Williams: Recorders
Andrew Tanner: Acoustic Bass, Balalaika, Mouth Harp
Tim Nikolsky: Guitars, Acoustic Bass, Balalaika
The ensemble performs in varied formations – duet, trio, quartet, quintet, sextet and septet, depending on occasion.
“With harmony intrinsic to these songs, the match of voices is a delight… (ABC Classics)
The versatility of the four instrumentalists is matched only by the charm of the unexpectedness of their combination…. The perfect music that makes the listener want to dance, sing or simply hear more…”
(Classic Melbourne)
Aleksandra Anja Acker (RMIT University) originally from Belgrade (Serbia) has formed Anja & Zlatna in 2013. In Serbian, this name means something like Anja & Golden Ensemble. The group seeks to preserve the beauty of traditional melodies and enhance them with the structural architecture of Baroque, whilst fusing the practices of 17th century and folk improvisational languages. It has a unique sound, due in part to original approach to instrumentation; the use of harpsichord in a predominant role is a key factor – sometimes one hears multiple guitars, sometimes a cimbalom or the texture of an accordion. The various possibilities of the recorders are explored, the sounds ranging from baroque flute to Eastern wind instruments such as kaval or ney with their intriguing vibrato and intonations. The versatility of the double-bass is derived from folk instruments such as the Russian balalaika family (and look out for a cameo appearance from the ever-popular mouth harp, also referred to as a Jew’s Harp) and a guitarist’s sophisticated touch of jazz.
Anja & Zlatna have become known for performances that are intimate, expressive, and deeply human, equally at home in concert halls, broadcast studios, and community settings.
The ensemble has released several critically acclaimed recordings:
- Moj Golube
- Ruse Kose
- Oj, Vesela Veselice
- Live in Concert (DVD)
Anja & Zlatna have been featured on ABC Classics Sunday Live and The Best of ABC Classics Sunday Live (2014, 2015) and have appeared regularly at Open Studio between 2013 and 2025. The group has been a recurring participant in Local Heroes at Melbourne Recital Centre (2015–2022) and has performed for The Boîte World Music (2019), Australian Digital Concert Hall (2021, 2022), the 3MBS Marathon, TOGETHER (2023), Monsalvat Artist Colony (2023), Global Village PBS Radio (2025) and Kew Court House (Boroondara Arts) (2026).
Aleksandra introduced ‘Music without Borders’ concert series, supporting humanitarian and community through fundraising and advocacy. These initiatives included Médecins Sans Frontières (2015), ‘Befriend a Child in Detention‘ (2016, 2017, 2018), Serbian Flood relief (2013), Majka Devet Jugovića (2016, 2021, 2025), and Open Studio – for children in Gaza (2024).
The ensemble has also collaborated with Melbourne Recital Centre on community engagement programs such as Share the Music, supporting people in aged care and those living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, depression, and disadvantage (2016, 2017, 2020), and Relaxed Performances (2019) for audiences with sensory sensitivities, including autism spectrum conditions, learning disabilities, and mental illness.
Anja and Donald have performed extensively in Serbia, incuding appearances at Art Pavilion “Cvijeta Zuzorić” (2014), Kolarčev Narodni Univerzitet (2015), Radio Television Serbia and Studio B Television. In 2025, they arranged and performed music for “By Far Kaymakchalan” documentary, directed by Boris Trbic & Dragan Gavrilovic.
We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.
Recordings are available via Bandcamp:
https://anjaizlatna.bandcamp.com
and through READINGS bookshops or online retailers.
Check out Anja & Zlatna Facebook page