While you were at BGGS you toured with the Australian Youth Orchestra and joined the Queensland Youth Symphony when you were 13. How did you balance music practice and study while at school?
Balancing music practice and schoolwork was definitely challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. I tried my best to stick to a strict schedule, carving out specific times for both, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing. I struggled with time management now and then, and I was occasionally late. Thankfully, I had a strong support system that helped me through. I’m especially grateful to my family—my mother drove me to school, violin lessons, and auditions, and I honestly couldn’t have done it without her. During busy times, I made the most of any spare moments to stay on top of things. This whole experience taught me a lot about managing my time and staying disciplined, and those lessons have been incredibly useful in other areas of my life.
What are you enjoying most about completing your Master’s degree at the Mozarteum University in Austria? How did this opportunity to study abroad come about?
I was fortunate to receive the QCGU Ena Williams Award during my Bachelor’s degree. This overseas study scholarship, along with the encouragement from my previous violin professor, Michele Walsh, really motivated me to pursue studies overseas. I decided to audition at Mozarteum University in Salzburg because I wanted to learn from my current violin professor, Lily Francis, who is so inspiring, and to immerse myself in Austria’s rich classical traditions and the European approach to performance. Living in a country with historic concert venues and as the birthplace of legends like Mozart and Haydn has been incredibly inspiring for my music studies. Currently, I’m focused on improving my chamber music skills. I feel very fortunate to play with my Alpenrose Trio colleagues, Bernice and Jan, who make the experience so rewarding. We receive fantastic support and guidance from professors like Professor Cibrán Sierra Vázquez and Professor Connie Shih, who help us truly appreciate and grow in this collaborative aspect of classical music.
Having already graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University with a Bachelor of Music, what would you like to do after you complete your Master of Music?
I want to continue performing. Being on stage means the world to me. I thrive on the adrenaline of being on stage and love sharing music with an audience that enjoys it. Next year, I’m excited to join the Australian Chamber Orchestra as an Emerging Artist. I plan to start auditioning for orchestral positions while continuing to freelance as a chamber musician. I’d also love to teach a few violin students if I find the time to do so. Seeing young violinists like my younger self grow and helping them along their journey is something I find truly rewarding.
This is your first Australian tour with the Alpenrose Trio, what are you most looking forward to or have enjoyed the most?
We’ve really enjoyed playing music together as a team. Every time we perform Brahms’ Piano Trio No. 1, it feels a bit different, and that’s one of the things we love about music. It’s exciting to explore new nuances and interpretations with each performance. We also enjoyed connecting with audiences across Australia and discovering each new city. This tour was especially exciting for Jan, who grew up in Poland and was visiting Australia for the first time.
What are some of the standout performance moments in your career and why?
One of the standout moments in my career was being the concertmaster of the Australian Youth Orchestra. This role was really significant for me because it pushed me to balance leadership with teamwork in a way I hadn’t experienced before. Guiding my fellow musicians while making sure we all played together seamlessly was both challenging and incredibly rewarding. It was a transformative experience that helped me grow as a leader and gave me a deeper understanding of how an orchestra works together. Last year, I also had the incredible opportunity to tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra through a side-by-side project with the Australian National Academy of Music. It was such an eye-opening experience, getting to work with some of the best string players in the country. Sharing a music stand with Liisa Pallandi was a highlight for me—she taught me so much about chamber orchestra playing and was both inspiring and a fantastic violinist. Her skill and passion really motivated me and made the experience unforgettable.
