Music Matinee - Musicians to You
Engage our young musicians to play at your Independent Living Villages.
Although Music Matinee has been organising concerts at The Scots’ Church for more than five years, our musicians have only recently started performing at venues like yours.
However, they have been a great success, enjoyed by both the audience (who also liked talking to the musician) and performer.
Our musicians have performed at:
· Uniting Agewell Manningtree Hawthorn (who have just purchased a piano) – ten visits
· St Joseph’s Mews Hawthorn· Rylands of Hawthorn
Rushall Park Raelene Boyle
Balwyn Conciege Streeton park
And many others Cameron Close
Over forty concerts performed and growing in number
Payments for performing at the Retirement Villages:
Unless otherwise indicated it is anticipated the musician will send an invoice and this invoice will be paid at the conclusion of the event by cash or bank transfer to the musicians bank account. (* denotes musicians that carry a square devise so they can receive payment by visa card.)
When you have selected who you would like to play for you, please inform us by email – musicmatinee.org@gmail.com – and we will put you in contact with the musician.
You will then make the necessary arrangements directly with the musician, including the payment (as an indication, most of our musicians charge about $250 an hour) in cash at the performance.
Below are details of the classical musicians able to play at your venue. This list is currently valid but will change over time. Please refer to our website www.musicmatinee.org for the most up to date list on the page ‘Musicians for You”.
A. Piano
Ben Fu *
20-year-old Ben Fu is a 1st year student (2024) at Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, studying piano with Glenn Riddle. He has won both Preston Symphony Concerto Competition and the Boroondara Concerto Competition and made his concerto debut in 2022 performing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No 3 with the Preston Symphony Orchestra. Other awards include winning the PolMusicA Music Competition, the Ann and Chris Krans Award, the Margaret Green Scholarship and the Reg Lewis Scholarship. Ben is a keen chamber music player, and recitalist, and he frequently records for 3MBS radio.
In 2023, Ben was invited to perform in the ‘Showcase series’ in Sydney International Piano Competition, performing Ravel’s Scarbo from Gaspard de la Nuit. Ben has also been invited to perform in the Lunchtime Concert Series at St. Peter’s Cathedral, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Diamond Creek Uniting Church.
In 2024 Ben has been invited to perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor with the Whitehorse Orchestra and Maroondah Symphony Orchestra.
Caleb Salizzo
One of Caleb Salizzo earliest memories involves spending countless hours with his grandmother, listening to opera, and dedicating even more time at the piano in an attempt to play the melodies he heard. Finally fed up with the cacophony of dissonance, his mother would urge him to take lessons, and ever since then his love and passion for music has only grown.
Shortly after beginning lessons, he made his debut as a soloist perform In Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto and would then go on to study at the University of Queensland with Anna Grinberg, and later at the Australian National Academy of Music under Australian virtuoso, Timothy Young. Caleb has performed extensively in both solo and chamber settings, with recent highlights including a regional tour with the acclaimed Topology Ensemble, collaborations with the Australian String Quartet, and vocalist Sara Macliver, performances at the Bangalow Music Festival, QPAC, and Hamer Hall as well as receiving the chamber music prize, and best performance of a work by Mozart during his time at ANAM.
Chai Jie Low
Pianist Chai Jie Low is a currrent PhD candidate and accompanist at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Chai Jie made her concerto debut with the Queensland Pops Orchestra at the age of 16 and has performed throughout Australia, Europe, USA and the UK. She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies with First Class Honours at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, and was awarded a scholarship to undertake postgraduate study at the Guildhall School of Music in London in 2022-23.
As a chamber musician, she performs regularly in a violin-piano duo (Duo Calore) and piano trio (Trio Conté), which performed live on air as part of the 3MBS Kawai Series in 2024.
Berta Brozgul
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Berta migrated to Australia at the age of 12.
She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, with highest honours.
She has received many prizes in Australia as well as overseas, and was the fourth place winner in the prestigious Lev Vlassenko piano competition in Brisbane, in 2015. She was also awarded the Queensland Symphony Orchestra vote for the best concerto performance of the evening, performing Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto.
During her studies at the Australian National Academy of music from 2016 to 2018, she was awarded the prize for the most outstanding performance in a solo recital, as well as the Ursula Hoff prize for outstanding performance of a work by Mozart.
She was also selected as a finalist in the concerto competition in 2018, performing Chopin’s E-minor Piano Concerto with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
She is an active collaborative artist as well as a soloist, and has performed alongside numerous international artists including the Australian tenor Steve Davislim and the internationally renowned violinist Ye-Eun Choi, and has been a guest pianist with the well known Australian piano trio, the ‘Firebird trio’, on numerous occasions.
In 2023, she made her debut with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, performing Bartók’s piano concerto no 3 conducted by Benjamin Northey.
Samuel Hill
Samuel seeks to tell new and compelling stories at the piano by championing under-performed works and composers, and placing music from the Western canon in fresh and interesting contexts. He is passionate about connecting and collaborating with people from different instruments, genres, mediums, and walks of life. He has studied piano under Glenn Riddle at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, where he completed his Bachelor of Music in 2023, and is currently undertaking his Honours. Samuel was a finalist in the 2024 Australian National Piano Award, and was awarded the Conservatorium's 2024 Bachelor of Music Keyboard Prize for his achievements during his studies.
Rachael Shindang
South-korean born, Melbourne based pianist Rachel Shindang is a Diploma of Music student at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, studying piano and chamber music with Glenn Riddle. Rachel was awarded her AmusA in 2017 and LmusA in 2019. Other awards include the Royal South Street Margaret Schofield Chopin prize, the Melbourne Recital Centre Great Romantics Anne Kantor Award, and the VMTA Kault Prize, as well as 1st prizes in the Boroondara Concerto Award, the Scotch College Piano Competition and the VCASS Outstanding Soloists Award. In 2023 Rachel was awarded the MCM Katherine Ellis Memorial Scholarship.
An experienced concerto soloist, Rachel has performed concertos by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Chopin with the Preston Symphony Orchestra and the Camerata Orchestra. In 2021, Rachel advanced to the semi-finals of the prestigious Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition. In 2024, Rachel was the finalist of the Australian National Piano Award and the MCM Concerto-Aria Competition.
Serena Zhang
Yitong (Serena) Zhang is a 17 year old pianist and biomedical science student. As a previous student at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, she has had extensive experience performing and competing as a soloist and chamber musician.
Serena made her recital debut playing a 40 minute program at the St Paul’s Cathedral and has been awarded many major prizes; from the Young Bach Scholar Award in 2023 to 1st prize in the prestigious Royal South Street Junior Chopin Award. She has also been selected as a finalist in the Sydney Eisteddfod Junior Kawaii Scholarship as well as semi-finalist in the Lev Vlassenko Junior Piano Competition. Apart from competitions, Serena has had the privilege of playing live on radio at 3MBS, at Parliament House for King Charles’ Coronation and as an orchestral pianist in the Australian premier of “Il Mago Di Oz.”
As a member of the Aneres Piano Trio, she has also regularly taken part in the Scot’s Church recital programs as well as being invited to perform at the Melbourne Recital Centre of VCE’s Top Class and the national Strike A Chord competition.
Although music is no longer her primary career, Serena is eager to continue sharing her passion and love for music with the community, hoping to captivate her audience with the same sense of emotional complexity, amusement and riveting power of music.
Nathan Glenn *
Nathan Glenn is a Melbourne-based composer, musician and arranger who began piano lessons at the age of three. He received his Associate and Licentiate Diplomas in piano from the Australian Music Examinations Board, and has released 4 solo albums and 2 collaborative albums.
Nathan started composing at the age of 8 and has won numerous awards for his performances and compositions. His original works have been played by orchestras and symphonic bands in Australia and internationally, as well as broadcast on Vision Radio and 3MBS. He was nominated as one of three international finalists for the SABAM Award for Best Young International Composer during the World Soundtrack Awards in Belgium where his entry was performed by the Brussels Philharmonic.
Nathan performs both classical and original works at various events and concerts, and enjoys collaborating with other musicians.
Rosa Hwang
Rosa is a piano accompanist at Wesley College (Glen Waverley) and Kilbreda College, working with their choirs and musical productions. In 2024, she started accompanying CHIME Choir Melbourne, who competed in the World Choir Games in New Zealand. Previously, she has also played piano for The Australian Ballet School, The Music Society of Victoria (Eastern branch) and the Australasian Orchestra.
Josh Hooke
One of Australia’s most exciting and versatile young pianists.” – Musica Viva Australia
“Josh brings with him knowledge and technique… you can see why he is forming such a solid career.” – CutCommon
Originally from country Victoria, Josh recently completed a PhD in Music Performance at the University of Melbourne, under the guidance of Professors Ian Holtham and Paul Kildea.
Previously, Josh was invited to undertake periods of intensive private study in Vienna with Paul Badura-Skoda, and was among his last students. He also studies regularly in London with Imogen Cooper.
In addition to performances throughout Australia, Josh performs regularly in Europe and the UK. Notable highlights include solo performances in London, Portugal, Austria, France, and The Netherlands. He has performed at various festivals and series, including at the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, The International Holland Music Sessions, as a laureate of the International Piano Seminar of Óbidos (Portugal), as part of the Musica Viva Regional Touring Program, the Brunswick Music Festival and the Melba Hall Lunch Hour Series.
He has performed regularly at many of Australia’s leading concert venues including the Melbourne Recital Centre, Hamer Hall, City Recital Hall, Phoenix Central Park as well as venues such as Victorian Parliament House. As a keen chamber musician, he has performed with Australian soprano Greta Bradman, and has given award-winning chamber music performances for the Music Society of Victoria as well as world premieres of new Australian works.
Josh has had performances and interviews broadcast on the BBC, Antena 2, ABC Classic, RN and 774, as well as PBS, Triple J, Triple R, and nationally on the MBS radio network. He has performed concertos of Beethoven, Schumann, Liszt and Ravel with orchestras including The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Hopkins Sinfonia, and the Whitehorse Orchestra and in 2015 he was selected as soloist for the UMSO’s Chancellor’s Concert Series in Sydney.
He has worked with conductors such as Benjamin Northey, Fabian Russell, Brett Dean and Richard Davis. He regularly collaborates with multidisciplinary artist Jack Vanzet, with their debut record ‘Composites’ released in 2021 to wide acclaim.
Josh has been a finalist and prizewinner in a number of competitions, including the Antena 2/SIPO prize, the Melbourne Recital Centre’s Great Romantics Competition and the Australian National Piano Award (where he also received the Peoples’ Choice Award and the prizes for the best performances of a work by Schumann and Chopin). He was also a recipient of a Victorian Premier’s Award for Music, the Melbourne Conservatorium’s Lady Turner Prize, as well as numerous other prizes and scholarships.
He has played in masterclasses for a number of distinguished pianists including Boris Berman (Russia/USA), Artur Pizarro (Portugal) Daniil Trifonov (Russia), Michel Béroff (France) Bernd Goetzke (Germany) Pavalli Jumpanen (Finland), Alessio Bax (Italy/USA), Josep Colom (Spain), Lisa Moore, Ronald Farren-Price, Anna Goldsworthy and Craig Sheppard (USA), among others.
B. Violin
Rollin Zhao
Rollin Zhao enjoys an extensive career as a performer and educator. Rollin regularly plays with the Queensland, Sydney, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Australian Chamber Orchestra Collective (ACOC) and Melbourne Chamber Orchestra.
As one of the top emerging string players in Australia, Rollin was selected as an ACO Emerging Artist in 2017 and a Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellow in 2018, allowing him to train alongside Australia’s premier music ensembles.
Rollin is a graduate of both the University of Queensland (First Class Honours) and Australian National Academy of Music. He is a recipient of numerous accolades, including the Richard Pollett Memorial Award, Howard and Gladys Sleath Scholarship, 4MBS Sid Page Chamber Music Prize, and the Ursula Hoff Institute Prize. Rollin has been broadcast on SBS Radio, ABC Classic FM, 2MBS Fine Music Sydney, and 3MBS FM Radio. A passionate performer-educator, he is a regular tutor with the ACO Academy, Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Melbourne String Ensemble and frequent guest mentor on the 3MBS FM The Talent series. Rollin currently teaches upper strings at Scotch College, Melbourne and performs regularly as a core member of Eclective Strings.
Isabel Hede
Originally from Melbourne, professional violinist and violist, Isabel Hede, has enjoyed a vibrant freelance career for over ten years.
After completing her studies at the Victorian College of the Arts and the Australian National Academy of Music, she has gone on to perform and educate with many artists and musicians in London, Europe and Australia. She has worked with organisations such as Opera Australia and Musica Viva and performed in numerous festivals such as Melbourne and Perth International Arts Festivals, Sydney Biennale, Metropolis New Music Festival, and the Aurora Festival in Sweden.
She has a particular interest in new music and regularly performs with the new music ensemble, Rubiks Collective. After completing an ArtsIceland Westfjörds residency in Iceland in 2018, Isabel founded Modulate Music; a collaborative organisation focussed on exploring how music can connect to audiences through combining sound, movement and meditation. In 2020 she released an album, Landscapes, which explores the body and mind and how it reflects the environment through electronic violin and viola soundscapes.
Raistlin Chan
Raistlin received his Licentiate Diploma (LMusA) with distinction in 2022 and is currently under the guidance of Sophie Rowell.
He has won numerous competition awards, including first prize in the Austral Salon Outstanding Soloist, Bach International, Boroondara Eisteddfod and MSV String Solo Competitions. He was awarded the Dr Bill Williams OBE Memorial prize in the national ACVC’s Open Instrumental competition and has won a selection of first prizes at various chamber music competitions. He was a recipient of both the Robert Stolz Viennese Music Society and Music Matinee scholarship at VCASS. He has performed in venues such as the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the Melbourne Recital Centre, Hamer Hall and enjoys playing live to air on 3MBS radio station.
C. Viola
Jamie Miles
Twenty-year-old violist Jamie Miles is a third-year student at both the Australian National Academy of Music and the University of Melbourne (BMus), studying with Caroline Henbest. He is currently principal viola of the Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO), a sessional/casual member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, has worked with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and was a featured performer in the 2024 Bendigo Chamber Music Festival and the 2024 AYO Momentum Tour. In 2023, he won the Richard Mills (1st) Prize of the national Melbourne Recital Centre Bach Competition and was the only Australian competitor in the German Broadcasting Association (ARD) International Viola Competition in Munich.
Jamie graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in 2022, achieving a perfect score (50/50) for VCE Music Investigation, and was awarded a Margaret Schofield Memorial Scholarship for his tertiary music studies. Jamie received his AMEB Licentiate Diploma (L.Mus.A.) with Distinction and the Australian String Teachers Association (AUSTA) Viola Award for the best viola exam nationwide in 2020.
As a keen and accomplished composer, Jamie’s Suite for Solo Viola (2019) was included in the AMEB Certificate of Performance Syllabus from 2023. He has won several local competitions, including the Australian Guild of Music’s ‘UNLOCK’D’ contest, winning the Solo Instrument category with his Caprice for Solo Viola (2020). Several of his compositions and arrangements are published by Sheet Music Marketplace and are available online.
Jamie plays an 1899 Béla Szepessy viola, generously on loan from Thomas Chawner. Jamie is accompanied on piano (and guitar, as appropriate) by his father Bill.
Bill Miles
In 2019, Dr Bill Miles retired from tertiary lecturing, having taught at the Australian Catholic, Melbourne, Monash and RMIT universities. He has been chairperson of the examination setting panels and a chief assessor of the VCE Music Performance (Solo & Group), Music: History & Styles and VCE-VET Music Industry (Performance) study designs, and the External Advisor–Music for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
Bill is a committee member of Kids’ Conference International and the Monash Youth Music Festival, conductor and musical director of the Vocally Wild choir based in the City of Bayside and of the Enrichment Orchestra at Balwyn Primary School, coordinator of Community Arts Voice for 3MBS–Melbourne and presenter of Sunday Night Late from 10 until midnight every week on 3MBS.
Lucas Levin
Lucas Levin has given solo, chamber and orchestral performances across four continents.
Starting on the Suzuki program with a cardboard violin, prize-winning violist Lucas has a wealth of performance experience, co-directing Qualia Ensemble in various chamber music recitals, regularly playing with Inventi Ensemble and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and also teaches a private studio of violin and viola students. He studied a Masters of Music at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied with Paul Silverthorne, Hélène Clément and Jon Thorne. There he graduated with a first-class degree, as well as a Dip RAM for an outstanding final recital.
Lucas plays on a 1992 American viola made by Tetsuo Matsuda in Chicago.
C. Cello
Oliver Russell
Oliver is an accomplished cellist based in Melbourne, currently serving as a fellow with Orchestra Victoria in the Richard Bonygne Fellowship program in 2025. T
hroughout his career, he has had the privilege of performing with some of Australia’s leading orchestras, including the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He has also showcased his artistry at festivals across Australia and the USA.
Oliver holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Queensland Conservatorium, where he studied with David Lale and Meta Weiss. He furthered his training at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) under the mentorship of Howard Penny. While at ANAM, Oliver won the Brett Dean Prize for best performance of an Australian work and the Chamber Music Competition in 2021 and 2022.
Ethan Chiao
Gemma Kneale
D. Harp
Isabel Amoranto
Isabel Amoranto is a passionate harpist whose music is rooted in the belief that sound has the power to console, unite, and transform. Whether performing solo, in chamber ensembles, or with orchestras, she seeks to bring sensitivity and intention to every performance. Isabel is captivated by the harp’s versatility and its rich, often overlooked, repertoire—constantly exploring ways to showcase the instrument in both classical and contemporary genres.
Currently deepening her studies at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Isabel is dedicated to sharing her evolving discoveries with enthusiastic audiences, inviting them to experience the harp in unexpected ways..
Gemma Tong
E. Flute
Kelsy De Prada *
Kelsy De Prada is a musician based in south-east Victoria, specialising in flute performance. A highly respected teacher, Kelsy teaches flute, clarinet and saxophone at a number of schools while balancing a busy performance schedule, which includes solo recitals, chamber music performances and orchestral performances. In 2025, Kelsy will present a flute quartet series at art galleries in the south-eastern suburbs as the director of the music collective, Blind Creek Ensemble. www.kelsydeprada.com.au
Maggie Xiwen Mai *
Maggie Xiwen Mai is an accomplished flautist and dynamic performer, renowned for her versatility across a wide range of musical settings. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Monash University and a Master’s in Teaching from the University of Melbourne, she has built a distinguished career that blends performance and education.
As a member of the Victorian Flute Ensemble, Maggie has contributed to the ensemble’s success, including first-place finishes in the 2023 and 2024 Victorian Flute Ensemble Competitions. The ensemble hold concerts annually, and actively participates in Victorian Flute Guild events, showcasing the group’s exceptional skill and artistry. In addition, Maggie performs with the Blind Creek Ensemble, a smaller chamber group that regularly presents engaging performances at retirement villages, weddings, and various functions. In 2024, the ensemble was featured in a series of performances for all exhibition openings at The Hut Gallery.
Maggie is also one of the first flutes in the Heidelberg Wind Symphony, conducted by Stephen Carpenter, where she performs in a series of concerts annually at St. George’s Anglican Church. Her diverse musical expertise and dedication to her craft have made her a sought-after performer in both large and intimate ensemble settings.
In addition to her work as a flautist, Maggie is also a drummer, regularly performing with a wedding band at various events and functions. Beyond her performance career, she is passionate about music education, as a flute teacher at St. Andrews Christian College, where she nurtures the next generation of musicians. With her extensive experience and commitment to excellence, Maggie continues to inspire audiences and students alike with her artistry and dedication to the flute.
F. Oboe
Brienne Gawler
Melbourne-based oboist, Brienne Gawler arts manager and educator. Her artistic practice has a focus on curating innovative musical experiences rooted in creativity and collaboration. She graduated with her Master of Music (Research) degree with First Class Honours from The University of Melbourne in 2022. Brienne is the recipient of numerous accolades including the John Gaitskell Memorial Mensa Prize and she has attained her Licentiate Diploma on oboe and her Associate Diploma on oboe and piano from the Australian Music Examinations Board. She has been broadcast on ABC Classic and has appeared in concert with Inventi Ensemble and Crosswinds Ensemble. Also, she was awarded first prize in the Gilbert Glausiuss Competition at the 11th International Akaroand.
G. Bassoon
H. Classical Guitar
Meredith Connie
Meredith Connie holds performance degrees from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has been actively concertizing, recording and composing for over twenty years. Meredith invites audiences into the world of the classical guitar – a world that has a very long history (over five hundred years of printed music) and influenced by many musics from around the world. She enjoys sharing the stories and the origins of this music, often quite different from that of other instrument families. She particularly enjoys unearthing historical works – or hidden gems – and music that is evocative of different experiences from around the world. www.meredithconnie.com
I. Ensembles
Duo 1. Illuminatio comprises (oboe) Brienne Gawler (piano) Chai Jie Low and special guest Chris Haycroft (bassoon). Their bios. are above
Illumiatio curate a bespoke musical experience that illuminate composers and their music through exhilarating performances. Making the unfamiliar familiar, they shine a light on contemporary Australian music as well as celebrated works from the classical Western canon. Their performances illuminate their shared passion for creativity and collaborative music making.
Duo 2. Qualia Ensemble comprises Yi-Shingi (Piano) & Lucas Levin (Viola).
Formed at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Qualia Ensemble features husband-and-wife duo Lucas Levin and Yi-Shing Cheng.
From their new home of Melbourne, Australia, they are bringing their extensive chamber music experience to the less-frequently heard beauty of the viola-piano duo repertoire.
Their credits are extensive, with prizes for solo playing, piano trios, quartets and Leider, performances in countries all the way from China, to the USA, to Norway, live radio broadcasts, and masterclasses with pre-eminent performers and educators such as Alfred Brendel, Imogen Cooper, Frank Huang, György Pauk, Maxim Rysanov, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, Maxim Vengerov, and many others.
Lucas's past teachers include Paul Silverthorne, Hélène Clément, Jon Thorne, Simon Oswell and Julian Quirit. He plays a 1992 American viola made by Tetsuo Matsuda in Chicago.
Yi-Shing is a former chamber music fellow and resident artist at the Royal Academy of Music and Birmingham Conservatoire. She studied under the tutelage of Michael Dussek, and also enjoys song accompaniment, having given many recitals alongside vocalists.
Duo 3. of Caleb Salizzo (Piano) and Oliver Russell (Cello). Their bios. are above.
Duo 4. Kelsy De Prada (Flute) and Rosa Hwang (Piano). De Prada’s is above.
Duo 5. Jamie Miles (Viola) and Bill Miles (piano) – see bios above.
These two musicians (number4) have been performing as a flute and piano duo for nearly a decade. Their performances present diverse range of music with engaging stories and commentary, and concerts have been positively received all over Victoria. They are looking forward to their first Music Matinee recital at Scots Church this year and are excited to continue sharing beautiful music with the community. Both musicians are graduates from the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music Monash, in fact this is where they met and established a duo together.
Duo 6. Duo de Graaf Connie: Soprano and Guitar
Christelise de Graaf (Soprano) and Meredith Connie (Guitar) are active performers in chamber and solo repertoire. Together they have been concertizing and recording for over four years, actively working to expand the repertoire for voice and guitar as well as reviving historical works for the combination. Ms de Graaf maintains a varied career performing Opera, show tunes and Art Song. Meredith maintains a varied career as a solo and chamber performing artist as well, and come together in their duo to explore their love of Art Song.
The pairing of guitar and voice has a long and distinguished history. Some of the earliest published music brings this pairing together. In the 19th century guitar accompaniments were a common way to bring to the drawing rooms and salons popular music of the stage. We explore and revive historical gems, such as those performed here, with a particular interest in finding works by female composers, and have premiered and revived marvellous literature from across three centuries. https://www.conniechambercollective.com/videos-and-work-samples
Trio 1. ECLECTIVE STRINGS
More than just an ensemble, Eclective is an artistic movement - one that thrives on experimentation, storytelling, and captivating performances. With a passion for crafting unforgettable experiences, they redefine what a string ensemble can be - delivering music to audiences in unexpected and powerful ways.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Eclective is a fluid and ever-evolving collective of distinguished musicians, each maintaining an active career across a wide spectrum of musical landscapes across Australia. They perform as string trios, quartets, with other artists and musicians. However at its core, Eclective is led by ensemble directors Amy You (violin), Eunise Cheng (viola), and Daniel Smith (cello) who have either studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London or at the Australian National Academy of Music.
Eclective have built enduring professional relationships and lifelong friendships through their travels across Australia and performances in concert halls worldwide. They have recorded with folk band Bush Gothic, shared the stage with Nai Palm, WAFIA, and JOY, and rocked out at the Medieval to Metal Festival at the Art Gallery of Ballarat. From teaming up with Fever Candlelight Concerts and Federation Square, to working with the Melbourne Theatre Company, Marnong Estate, RACV and SEA LIFE Aquarium, Eclective’s versatility shines through in their ever-growing collaborations with a wide range of organisations.
Quartet 1.
Yi-Shing Cheng (piano) and Luca Levin (viola) plus two musicians to be announced later.
Singers
Breanna Stuart (soprano), Olive Cullen (mezzo-soprano) and a pianist.
Olive Cullen is a Melbourne based performer, originally from the coastal town of Wollongong, where she trained with Karen Cummings, and undertook short courses at NIDA and with the NSW Arts Unit. She has performed in operas, concerts, plays, musicals, pantomimes, films, cabarets, variety shows and private functions. From 2020-24, she studied a Bachelors of Music Performance, learning from Suzanne Johnston, and she also completed a diploma of Languages majoring in German. She has been a Scholar with Opera Scholars Australia since 2022, is a Rising Artist with the Australian Contemporary Opera Company (ACOCo) and is a regular performer with ‘Opera in the Country. Olive is passionate about promoting the value of singing and music in communities, as a result winning the Union House Theatre’s 2021 Community Engagement Award for her work on the UMMTA Chorus. Some credits include ensemble in Mahagonny Songspiel and 7 Little Australians with Opera Carnivale, featured artist in the Crystal Clear Productions Cabaret, and featured performer in the Club Voltaire Vaudevillian nights. Her recent credits include Moth in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten), and Chorus/Third Spirit Cover in the Magic Flute (Mozart) with the University of Melbourne Masters of Opera.
Breanna Stuart
Originally from Tasmania, Breanna Stuart is a soprano based in Melbourne, Australia. In 2022, Breanna made her professional debut in the role of Ianthe in Lyric Opera of Melbourne’s Green Room Award winning production of IPHIS. Her other theatre credits include La Sorella Infermiera in Suor Angelica (Melbourne Opera), Hairy Girl in The Grumpiest Boy in the World, First Fairy in The Selfish Giant (both Victorian Opera), and First Lady in Die Zauberflöte (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music). Most recently Breanna participated in a six-week Master Course in the Interpretation of German Lied at the Franz-Schubert-Institute in Baden, Austria.
Breanna has been a member of Opera Scholars Australia since 2023, appearing as a soloist in several of their concerts, and most recently was awarded first prize in both their 2024 Art Song Competition and 2024 Aria Competition.
Breanna is also a 2024/25 Richard Divall Developing Artist with Melbourne Opera, and was a 2023/24 Australian Contemporary Opera Company (ACOCo) Rising Artist.
In 2023 Breanna graduated from a Masters of Opera Performance at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Her other qualifications include a Bachelor of Music (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, 2021), an AMusA in Classical Voice (2018), and a Diploma of Music (University of Tasmania, 2018).
Esther Greswell
Music Matinee Inc.
5 February 2025