Fellowship Alumni

FEATURED ALUMNI: TAHLIA PETROSIAN

Tahlia Petrosian was the Sydney Symphony Viola Fellow in 2004. From 2005 until 2008, she studied with Tabea Zimmermann at the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” Berlin. Additionally, Tahlia has performed in masterclasses with Yuri Bashmet (Sydney), Paul Neubauer (Melbourne), Thomas Riebl (International Musicians’ Seminar, Prussia Cove, UK) and Pinchas Zukerman (Canberra and USA). In 2005 and 2006, she was awarded Fellowships to Tanglewood Music Center in the USA. After completing her studies with Tabea Zimmermann, Tahlia studied briefly with Nobuko Imai (Geneva) and Yuri Bashmet (Accademia Chigiana, Italy), and she is currently completing “Konzertexamen” (Soloist Diploma) studies with Wilfried Strehle, Principal Viola, Berlin Philharmonic. Tahlia’s studies have been assisted by the German Government’s DAAD, the American Australian Association’s Dame Joan Sutherland Fund, and the Australia Council for the Arts.

In March, 2009, Tahlia commenced as Co-Principal Viola with the Royal Flemish Philharmonic, based in Antwerp. Shortly after, at the age of 25, she was engaged as Co-Principal Viola with the Deutsche Oper Berlin for the 2009/2010 season. Currently performing in Sydney as Guest Principal Viola with the Australia Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Tahlia performs at Wigmore Hall, London, in September, and, at the invitation of Daniel Barenboim, in October she joins the Staatskapelle Berlin for performances of the Mozart Piano Concertos with Daniel Barenboim as soloist and director.

FEATURED ALUMNI: KATE LAWSON

Since being a fellow in 2008, I have performed as guest principal flute in the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and was invited to participate in the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra summer academy in Salzburg. This was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from and mix with the incredible Vienna Philharmonic musicians and study alongside an international smorgasbord of young flute players, not to mention enjoying the many other delights of the Salzburg festival!

In 2010 I have been on contract playing second flute in the Sydney Symphony. It has been wonderful feeling that I’m back ‘home’, soaking up the collective experience of the players around me, and learning a new program of repertoire every week –sometimes quite a challenge!

September 2010 will be the beginning of a new chapter, as I move to The Hague to begin a Masters in orchestral performance. I’m looking forward to being exposed to some new musical ideas, exceptional teaching, and the wonderful cultural offerings of the Netherlands and wider Europe. Wherever I end up, I will always treasure the time I have spent at the Sydney Symphony and be indebted to the musicians and staff for everything they have taught me along the way.

FEATURED ALUMNI: ELLA BRINCH

Since her Fellowship year in 2002 with the Sydney Symphony, violist Ella Brinch has been a permanent member of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and performing with the Barbirolli String Quartet. Ella writes:

“The quartet has been going really well. We welcomed a new cellist in June and he's brilliant-a wonderful musician and great to have around. We had a really busy summer touring festivals including concerts in Lichfield, Buxton and Cheltenham, playing the Mendelssohn Octet with the Australian String Quartet. We also started our European Concert Hall Rising Stars series with the opening concert in Birmingham a few weeks ago. The next one is Paris in January. Next week we're leaving to perform in Singapore, New Zealand and Australia as well as some adjudicating work for the Royal Overseas League. We're all very excited about the trip.”

You can watch and listen to Ella with the Barbirolli String Quartet performing the Mendelssohn String Octet, and Britten String Quartet No.2 in a recording from their recent Cheltenham concert: http://www.plushmusic.tv/channels/DYA/the-barbirolli-quartets-channel.html