We’re delighted to announce the seven young musicians who will be Emerging Artists with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in 2024.
Following a rigorous and competitive audition process, these exceptional young string players will spend the year working closely with ACO musicians, and rehearsing and performing as members of ACO Collective, our education and regional touring ensemble.
Below, each of our new Emerging Artists introduce themselves and let us in on what they’re most looking forward to during their year with the Orchestra.
James Armstrong – Violin
On joining the ACO Emerging Artist Program...
The ACO Emerging Artist Program is an incredible opportunity to engage with musicians from the ACO through mentorship and through the ACO Collective projects and tours. It will be a privilege to make music in the ACO environment and collaborate with like-minded fellow Emerging Artists. It was also a great challenge for me to audition and I’m absolutely delighted to be a part of the program. I really love that a key part of the program is regional touring - it’s so important that we share our music as far and wide as we can, so it will be wonderful to have the chance to connect with regional communities with the ACO Collective.
My earliest musical memory is…
I remember loving watching Playschool’s Meet the Orchestra and I had piano lessons soon after I started school. My first primary school had a band program which only offered wind and brass lessons and I played the clarinet for a while - I remember playing ‘Mamma Mia’ with a CD backing track and actually I recently found the sheet music for it!
Beatrice Colombis – Violin
On joining the ACO Emerging Artist Program...
I have always loved coming to see the ACO, and I have very fond memories of my time in the ACO Academy back in 2013, so I'm really looking forward to rehearsing and performing with members of the Orchestra again!
My earliest musical memory is…
Playing in with hundreds of people at the Suzuki graduation concerts at the Opera House.
Liam Freisberg – Violin
On joining the ACO Emerging Artist Program...
Touring with the ACO as a member of Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) earlier this year was a huge inspiration. I was awestruck by the standard and how everyone strived to play their absolute best. It was satisfying to play with so many incredible musicians, who all challenged me to be better. It was a thrilling few weeks!
My earliest musical memory is…
I’d say listening to my mum practice, it would always put be in a trance hearing her play. I used to love falling asleep to the violin and I still love hearing her play for that reason.
Natalie Mavridis – Violin
On joining the ACO Emerging Artist Program...
In my time at Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), I’ve been lucky to play in two residencies with members of the ACO. I enjoyed them so much and was left wanting more, so I thought I’d better to go for it!
My earliest musical memory is…
I have a really early memory of being in my parent's room - at the time, the piano was in there - and my mum was accompanying me on the piano while I sang Edelweiss, and my dad was recording me on a black cassette tape. I haven’t heard that recording ever and I can confidently say I am not a singer!
Andrew Crothers – Viola
On joining the ACO Emerging Artist Program...
I really love listening to the ACO and I truly believe that they are one of the best and most inspiring orchestras around the world. I gain so many ideas and I learn so much about my own playing from just watching them.
My earliest musical memory is…
My first musical memory would be playing the piano with my amazing piano teacher. However, the first impactful musical memory would be at a piano eisteddfod far beyond my playing standard, where I was playing a classical sonata. Before going on stage, my mum reminded me to just play with sparkle. The adjudicator started to read out the reasons for the prizes and began saying how sparkly someone’s playing was. It turns out that I had won a prize.
Ariel Volovelsky – Cello
On joining the ACO Emerging Artist Program...
I’m looking forward to the chance to learn from ACO mentors and to absorb their unique and wonderful ensemble style in the ACO collective is what primarily attracted me to apply. I have also heard from other alumni that the program is exceptionally well run and a wonderful opportunity.
My earliest musical memory is…
Playing This Old Man in dedication to my kindergarten teacher Mr Harrigan at the end of 'kindy'. I didn’t realise at the time it could have been quite offensive but he was a very kind soul with a notorious sense of humour, so could certainly take a joke.
Caroline Renn – Double Bass
On joining the ACO Emerging Artist Program...
The ACO Emerging Artists Program as a double bassist is quite unique, as most musical education training programs for us are intended for careers in full sized orchestras. I wished to take this opportunity to absorb chamber music practices from members of an ensemble that I have admired since beginning double bass. I'm also especially looking forward to learning from Maxime, and reestablishing musical connections in Australia after being away in Europe for 3 years.
My earliest musical memory is…
Watching a concert with David Helfgott when I was 3 or 4 years old and had just started learning piano. I would love to say that that concert sparked a lifelong musical passion, but in reality I spent most of that concert running up and down the aisles to the annoyance of my mother and most of the other concertgoers...
Our new Emerging Artists will perform in The Lark Ascending, featuring ACO Principal Violin Helena Rathbone as soloist, this May. Click here to buy tickets. Click here to discover more in the 2024 ACO Collective program.
