Meet our wonderful contestants!
Jenny, a recent Bachelor of Music (Advanced) graduate, is currently pursuing an Honours degree in Classical Performance under the guidance of Lucinda Collins. She received the Wilf Mader Memorial Medallion in 2021 and won the Senior division during both of her attending years, specifically in 2021 and 2023. Jenny has also been a recipient of multiple scholarships, including the Maude Harriot Scholarship for Piano, the Patrick Cecil Greenland Scholarship for Pianoforte, the Daisy Burmeister Salotti Scholarship for Piano forte and the Jack De Vos Scholarship. Jenny has attended masterclasses with renowned pianists including Paavali Jumpannen, Stephan Kovacevich and Phillip Moll. Notable performances include the Art of Possible Festival and PianoLab, where she performed the work of Chopin and the Australian Showcase for the Sydney International Piano Competition. In August, Jenny collaborated with Stephen King and Helen Ayres for the AGSA Ruby Festival as well as the Lunch Hour Series in September, performing Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G minor.
Shawn Hui was an honours-year piano student at the Elder Conservatorium studying under Dr Anna Goldsworthy and Eleonora Sivan. In his undergraduate study, Shawn was the recipient of multiple scholarships, including the Muriel Perry Scholarship, and the Patrick Cecil Greenland Scholarship for Pianoforte. Some notable concert appearances include performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23, with the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra in 2021, as well as being a finalist in the 2021 Geoffrey Parsons Award and the 2022 Collaborative Pianist Award. Shawn is also the 2022 recipient of the Adelaide Eisteddfod’s The Wilf Mader Memorial Medallion and The Lady Anne Miller Award, as well as being one of the 2022 Recitals Australia Elder Conservatorium Fellowship recipients.
Shawn is currently on the Board of Recitals Australia and presents programs on 5mbs.
Philippa McAuliffe graduated from the Elder Conservatorium with first class honours. She holds many scholarships and awards, has been the principal harpist of the Australian Youth Orchestra and plays casually for the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. She has recently performed concertos with the Norwood Symphony Orchestra and Conservatorium Orchestra, played in the Coriole Chamber Music Festival, streamed live many times for Recitals Australia and was honoured to be nominated for the prestigious 2021 National Freedman Fellowship. A Helpmann grant provided her with online masterclasses to prepare for the 2021 triennial Israel International Harp Competition but unfortunately travel proved impossible. She quickly turned her attention to orchestral studies, reaching the final round in the Sydney Symphony principal auditions. Further Helpmann support is currently enabling her to further her interest in historical harp performance. Philippa is also a highly accomplished pianist, teaches piano and harp and enjoys writing program notes professionally.
Tim Tran is an Adelaide-based violist currently completing his Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance at the University of Adelaide, and was studying at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England up until 2020. Previously studying under Keith Crellin OAM and currently under Stephen King, Tim has been affiliated with various ensembles such as the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, Norwood Symphony Orchestra, as well as numerous string quartets and trios. Aside from playing viola, Tim also enjoys playing piano, teaching music, and reading.
James is a Year 11 student at Trinity College, Gawler. He studies piano with Monika Laczofy OAM and clarinet with Darren Skelton. In 2019, James performed with an International Youth Orchestra in London’s Royal Festival Hall; he has been a member of AdYO and in 2022 was Principal Clarinet in the Australian Youth Orchestra “Young Symphonists”.
James won the 2022 Metropolitan Male Choir Scholarship and the 2023 Lobethal Harmony Club Instrumental Scholarship. He won the Gabor Reeves Woodwind Medallion at both the 2021 and 2022 Adelaide Eisteddfods. Additionally, as first prize winner in the Concerto Competition, he was presented with the USO Medallion. He won the MTSA “Grace Barbara Turner Award for Excellence in Performance” in both 2022 and 2023.
James performed as soloist for the 2023 Recitals Australia Lunch Hour Concerts in May (accompanied by Jamie Cock) and won First Prize (Berenice Harrison Award) in the series finale event in July.
James recently achieved his L.Mus.A Diploma (Clarinet) and is currently working towards his A.Mus.A (Piano). James studied Year 12 Solo Performance and Ensemble Performance in 2022 while still a Year 10 student at Trinity College, resulting in a SACE Merit Award in both subjects and hopes to continue his music studies in London upon finishing school.
Alex Byrne is currently a second-year student at the University of Adelaide, Conservatorium of Music, studying the advanced flute course under the tutelage of Julia Grenfell and previously Elizabeth Koch AM. He has been a member of the Adelaide Youth Orchestra for three years, along with the affiliated wind quintet, and he is currently a part of the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra as well as the Wind Orchestra. Alex graduated from the special interest music program at Marryatville High School in 2021, where he featured as a soloist, performing the Flute Concerto of Gordon Jacob with the Marryatville High School Symphony Orchestra. He was also the recipient of a SACE merit in solo performance in 2021.
Adelaide-born Tenor Callum McGing graduated from the Elder Conservatorium of Music in 2020, where he studied under Rosalind Martin.
Callum is currently touring The Frog Prince with State Opera South Australia, and also performs regularly in the chorus. Recently he has appeared in Macbeth, G&S Fest, La Traviata and the Festival operas.
Previously he has appeared in the Art Gallery of South Australia’s Sonic Blossom exhibition, and the Chinese Bridge television programme in China.
Millicent is in her final year at the Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide, studying Classical Voice. Singing and drama have always been her passion and she has enjoyed many performing opportunities growing up in the UK, including singing with the renowned Farnham Youth Choir and winning Gold Medals at the European Choir Games.
Millicent wishes to pursue classical singing and opera performance professionally and plans to study for her Masters interstate next year. She performed with State Opera in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance in May and also sung the Plaintiff role in Trial by Jury at a Charity Gala event in June.
Millicent was delighted to successfully audition for the Berlin Opera Academy’s summer programme and spent July in Germany rehearsing for the academy’s performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute in the Berlin Opernfest, working alongside a multinational cast.
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