Keith Hempton (bass) – Voice category

From 1995- 2010, Keith was Head of Vocal Studies and Co-ordinator of the Performance Honours Programme at the Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide University.
After graduating from Sydney University, Keith taught modern languages for three years at Sydney Grammar School. Turning his attention to singing, he studied in England where he sang with Glyndebourne Opera and gave recitals at the Wigmore Hall in London and in the provinces. He returned to Australia in 1976 as principal bass with the State Opera of South Australia.
During his career,  Keith has appeared as a principal with the Australian Opera, Queensland Lyric Opera and the Western Australian Opera Company.. His roles include the title role in Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale”, Seneca in Monteverdi’s “Coronation of Poppea” and Bartolo in Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro”.
Keith has sung with many of the state symphony orchestras and with conductors such as Mark Elder, Barry Tuckwell,  Carlo Felice Cillario and the late Myer Fredman. He was a member of the Song Company from 1986-1990. In his (semi) retirement, Keith maintains  his performance career,  lectures extensively on opera and  in French at the University of the Third Age, adjudicates Eistedfoddau and presents classical music programmes on radio.
Hear Emily Sutherland speak to Keith Hempton on a Kaleidoscope program.

Tom Marlin – String category

Rapidly emerging as one of Australia’s pre-eminent cellists, Thomas Marlin tours nationally with the Alma Moodie Quartet and the Tarrawatta Trio, and is principal cellist of Adelaide Baroque, all with whom he regularly performs with Australia’s leading musicians. Having performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia and Australia, he has graced numerous prominent concert halls including Wigmore Hall (London), the Rudolfinum (Prague) and the Barbican (London), and has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and ABC Classic FM.
Thomas’s performance with Michael Ierace for Tarrawatta’s Exclusive Musical Soiree in December 2022 was described by Limelight as “chamber music playing at its best.” Recent highlights include solo performances with the Adelaide Chamber Singers and the Elder Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra, as well as multiple appearances at the Utzon Room (Sydney Opera House), Canberra International Music Festival and the Adelaide Festival. He has recently recorded an album in collaboration with leading Australian flautist, Sally Walker – Boccherini: Chamber Works for Flute – which was released under Avie Records in August.
Thomas is also a very passionate educator, teaching some of South Australia’s leading young cellists, amongst whom are a number who hold senior positions in the Adelaide Youth Orchestra and participate in Australian Youth Orchestra and other national training programmes.
Originally from Adelaide, he studied with Janis Laurs at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, before completing undergraduate studies with Li Wei Qin at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (Singapore) and completing a Masters with Distinction under Louise Hopkins at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London).

Lisa Gill – Wind category

Lisa Gill was born in Adelaide and studied with Elizabeth Koch at Flinders Street School of Music where she was awarded an Advanced Diploma of Music (Performance) and a Bachelor of Music (Orchestral Studies). She then graduated from the Elder Conservatorium of Music with First Class Honours in 1999.
Lisa’s studies continued in the UK where she studied with both Michael Cox and William Bennett.
Lisa has been a prize winner in Adelaide Eisteddfods from 1993–1996 and has also won the David Cubbin Prize (1997), Allans Prize and ZONTA Award (1997). Lisa has been awarded distinctions for both AmusA and LmusA diplomas of the Australian Music Examinations Board.
Prior to her appointment as Second Flute with the ASO (2002), Lisa performed extensively as a casual player for several local and visiting orchestras. During her career with the ASO she has also performed regularly in the role of Principal Piccolo and on occasion as Principal Flute.
Lisa teaches privately, has been a flute tutor for the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, State Music Camp, Elder School of Music and 2009 Australian Flute Festival and has adjudicated the Adelaide Flute Eisteddfods.

Vivian Milton – Piano category

Acclaimed by Fanfare as “an exemplar of the modern global pianist”, VIVIAN CHOI MILTON is renowned for her musical insight in a wide-ranging repertoire, from classical to contemporary works, presented in thoughtful and imaginative programs.
Vivian has toured extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North America, and Asia as a concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. Recent highlights include concerto appearances with the Grammy Award®-winning Boston Modern Orchestra Project and the world premiere of Kate Moore’s Piano Concerto “Beatrice”, which was nominated as a finalist for the 2020 APRA AMCOS Art Music Award’s Work of the Year.
An avid chamber musician, Vivian has performed regularly as a guest artist with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, the Chameleon Arts Ensemble of Boston in the US, and the Herz Ensemble in the
Netherlands.
Recent engagements include Tanglewood Festival in the US, the Coriole Music Festival and Bowral Autumn Music Festival in Australia, solo recitals in Spain, the Netherlands and Australia, as well as appearances with the Sydney Soloists for Sydney Mozart Society and Herz Ensemble at the Muziekgebouw and the Korzo in the Netherlands.
Vivian released two critically acclaimed albums on the BMOP/Sound label with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, with their recording of Harold Shapero’s Partita in C for Piano and Orchestra selected as one of the best in 2020 by The Arts Fuse, Sequenza21, and ClassicsToday in the US.
First Prize winner of the Maria Yudina International Piano Competition in Russia, where she graduated summa cum laude from the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, Vivian has won top prizes in international piano competitions in Italy, the Netherlands and Bulgaria. She holds graduate degrees from the New England Conservatory and Carnegie Mellon University (USA), and currently serves on the
piano faculty at University of Adelaide Elder Conservatorium. www.vivianmilton.com