1. You have moved to Melbourne and are now studying at ANAM. What are you hoping to gain from that experience and what are you most looking forward to?

I moved to Melbourne in February 2024 and have been enjoying my first few weeks at ANAM immensely! ANAM is different to other music institutions in Australia as the program focusses exclusively on music performance and musician enhancement. The opportunity to focus exclusively on developing my performance skills on viola is what I am most excited for, but I am also looking forward to performing in the different chamber groups, orchestral programs, and masterclasses that ANAM has to offer. Additionally, the ANAM Faculty is world class, and I am eager to learn all I can from them over the next three years.  

Some highlights so far include performing at the Finnish Embassy in Canberra and at Beleura House on the Mornington Peninsula alongside fellow ANAM musicians, ANAM Resident Faculty Adam Chalabi and ANAM’s artistic director Paavali Jumppanen. I am also in a wonderful string quartet that is currently preparing works by Mozart and Beethoven and also working on the Spohr Nonet in F Major with upcoming performances in ANAM Term 2. 

       2. You joined Camerata on several projects in 2023 as an Upbeat. How did the program help develop your skills and career, and what are the key learnings you took from it?

Participating in Camerata’s Upbeat Artist program in 2023 allowed me to develop my skills as an orchestral musician in an energetic, supportive and kind environment. Key learnings that I took from the program include how to prepare an orchestral part in my personal practice, orchestral etiquette, and how achieve work/life balance while working in a professional orchestra. Most of all, performing with Camerata as an Upbeat Artist taught me how enjoyable working in a chamber orchestra can be and it has set my standards for future professional work as an orchestral musician!