Jessica Mah is 14 years old and is a Year 9 student. Musically, she is actively working towards her Associate Diploma in flute, as well as studying piano and vocal.
She began playing the flute at the age of four under the tutelage of Linda Pirie.
In the last few years, Jessica has steadily achieved successes in several notable scholarships and competitions in South Australia. These include winning First Prize in the David Cubbin Memorial Scholarship, the Reimann-Robinson Prize, the Robert Brown Prize, the Carolyn White Scholarship, and the annual Adelaide Eisteddfod flute competitions.
She has also performed as a guest flautist with choirs and at masterclasses, gaining valuable experience performing alongside and learning from other musicians.
Through these opportunities, Jessica has continued to develop her confidence, technique, and musicality as a young musician. She is passionate about the flute and enjoys challenging herself to improve and grow as an accomplished performer into the future.
Beginning her pianistic training at the age of 4, Maria Tynan grew up in Leeton NSW, before relocating to Adelaide to study classical performance with Lucinda Collins at Elder Conservatorium.
Since moving to Adelaide, she has been awarded numerous prestigious scholarships and prizes at Elder Conservatorium and at the Adelaide Eisteddfod. She has recently returned from a study tour to Berlin and Hamburg, taking lessons and summer courses with pedagogues such as Annika Treutler, Konrad Maria Engel and Herbert Rutkowski.
In Adelaide, Maria enjoys performing as a soloist, collaborative pianist and member of the Aventine trio.
Despite living in the practise studio, Maria enjoys cooking and baking elaborate dishes, fantasizing about her next international trip and making pottery.
Natasha Paran is a Year 11 Music Scholar at Pembroke School. Upon commencing studies with Dr Elizabeth Layton in 2020, she has given multiple solo recitals at Recitals Australia, North Adelaide Baroque Hall and Flinder’s Street Baptist Church.
She was awarded the Adele Anthony Violin Medallion in 2022, the Jane Peters Violin Medallion in 2024, and the Australian Strings Association Award in 2025 from the Adelaide Eisteddfod. Natasha went on to perform in the 2025 5mbs Young Virtuoso Awards.
As a soloist, Natasha performed with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, the Unley Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Male Choir of South Australia’s Orchestra, and the Norwood Symphony Orchestra. She has been extensively involved in various orchestras and ensembles such as the Australian Youth Orchestra, the ACO Academy, the University of Adelaide’s Open Music Academy, and the Pembroke School Senior String Quartet.
In 2026, Natasha was a finalist in the Melbourne Recital Centre Baroque Competition and the winner of the Recitals Australia Autumn Final.
Henry Sawers has been singing since he was eight years old, joining the St Peter’s Cathedral Choir in 2013.
He was head chorister and is currently a lay clerk, vocal scholar, and was awarded the James Thacker medal in 2025. The scholarship has enabled Henry to take singing lessons since April 2025. Since then, he has been a member of the Adelaide Festival Statesmen and has joined the production of Der Freischütz with Co-Opera.
Although his first love is liturgical choral music, Henry has a developing interest in singing a range of classical music, including from Opera, Oratorio, and Art Song.
This year’s Adelaide Eisteddfod was Henry’s first outing in a competition, where he enjoyed significant success, including winning the Neville Hicks Memorial section and the Youth Opera prize.
Henry is also studying a Bachelor of Construction Management at Adelaide University and anticipate graduation in 2027.
Bien Jarloyan is a young pianist from the rural city of Mount Gambier, South Australia. He is currently School Vice Captain and completing year 11 at Grant High School.
It was only in 2024 that Bien discovered and became passionate about classical music. With the support of generous grants from the Stand Like Stone Foundation, Bien is able to travel regularly to Adelaide where he has his lessons with Lucinda Collins.
In 2024, Bien was awarded the Peter Ulyett Memorial Award in the Mount Gambier Eisteddfod and the ML Performing Arts Development Award. In 2025 he was awarded the ADF Future Innovators Award, and in 2026 the AMEB Gold Award, as well as the David Lockett Award for outstanding recital performance in the Adelaide Eisteddfod.
Recently, he was selected to participate in the state final of the Young Virtuoso Award. After he finishes school, Bien hopes to study a Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance) at the Elder Conservatorium.
17-year-old soprano Melanie Cavanagh has been studying classical voice since the age of five. Based in regional South Australia, Mel’s musical journey began in the junior chorus of the South West Opera Company in WA before she moved to SA. Music is her true passion!
Mel’s recent achievements include the 2025 Ralph Hatcher Memorial Prize for Best Classical Vocalist and the Metropolitan Male Choir June Genders Scholarship, as well as SACE Merits in Solo and Ensemble Performance. She holds her Gold AMEB Performer’s Award and Certificate of Performance in Voice.
As both a singer and an emerging educator, Mel is a member of the Elder Conservatorium Chorale under Carl Crossin OAM, and a previous chorister in Young Adelaide Voices (1CC), where she attained the role of Head Chorister. In 2026, Mel achieved her Primary Level 1 qualification of the Australian Kodály Certificate. She recently performed in State Opera South Australia’s Opera Gala at Elder Hall and regularly sings with Classical Singer Sundays. Her masterclass experience includes the 2026 German-Australia Opera Grant Series, and sessions with Catherine Carby, Penelope Cashman, and Erin James.
Mel is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, studying under Stephanie Acraman, in the voice department directed by Teddy Tahu Rhodes.
Jude Owens-Fleetwood is an Adelaide-based violinist studying Classical Performance at the Elder Conservatorium of Music under Liz Layton.
He started violin at two and a half, when he was inspired by his sister’s peculiar ability to make music from a piece of wood and some horse hair. Since then, Jude has applied a similar sense of curiosity and inspiration to his music making, often composing his own works and arranging others’.
Jude’s musicality has received numerous accolades from Adelaide’s musical community. In 2025, he was a recipient of the Don Maynard Prize for SACE Solo performance, after playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with live orchestral accompaniment. He has also won the Jane Peters Violin Medallion, Jean Adelaide Madeline Dent Prize and MMC first place scholarship. Jude was also a finalist in the 2025 Young Virtuoso Award competition.
Looking forward, Jude hopes to explore as many exciting musical pathways as he can.
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