Noted by The Strad for her 'blazing insight and dazzling virtuosity', New Zealand violinist Amalia Hall displays natural and dynamic versatility as a frequent soloist, as Concertmaster of Orchestra Wellington, and as the violinist of NZTrio, which has been described as 'New Zealand’s most indispensable ensemble'. In 2024 she appeared as Guest Concertmaster of Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, alongside soloist Martha Argerich.

In 2025, engagements include the Mendelssohn concerto in Teatro Colón with conductor James Judd and the Buenos Aires Philharmonic, Bartok’s 2nd concerto with conductor Gábor Káli and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and the Beethoven concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba.

Born and raised in New Zealand, her numerous competition successes include laureate prizes at the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover, the International Violin Competition ‘Premio R. Lipizer’, the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, and the Kloster Schöntal International Violin Competition. She won the top prize at the Tunbridge Wells, Jeunesses Dinu Lipatti, Leos Janacek, Postacchini, and Gisborne International Competitions.

Since making her solo debut at the age of 9 with the Auckland Philharmonia, Amalia has been a regular soloist with all of the major orchestras in New Zealand. She performed the world premiere of violin concertos by Claire Cowan and Michael Norris with Orchestra Wellington, under the baton of Marc Taddei.

Hall has been a soloist with orchestras including I Virtuosi Italiani, NDR Radiophilharmonie, National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, United Strings of Europe, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba, Mexico State Symphony Orchestra, Filarmónica de Querétaro, Filarmónica de Acapulco, Filarmonica Marchigiana, Orquesta Sinfónica de Michoacán, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Vallejo Symphony and Brno Philharmonic Orchestra.

As soloist she has worked with conductors including James Judd, Christoph Altstaedt, Douglas Boyd, Benjamin Northey, Tobias Ringborg, Tianyi Lu, Holly Mathieson, Eckehard Stier and Christopher Dragon.

Amalia was the first New Zealand classical musician to perform in Uzbekistan, when she made her debut with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan. On her second visit to Tashkent, she performed all 5 Mozart Violin Concertos in one concert.

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Amalia studied under the tutelage of renowned violinists Pamela Frank and Joseph Silverstein. Amalia currently plays on the c. 1700 Vincenzo Rugeri ‘Baron Knoop’ violin, generously on loan from a private benefactor.

Concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra since 2013, Andrew Haveron has been described by The Sunday Times as ‘…a charismatic and brilliant soloist who needs fear no comparison.’

A laureate of some of the most prestigious international violin competitions, Andrew studied in London at the Purcell School and the Royal College of Music. Andrew is a highly respected soloist, chamber musician and concertmaster. As a soloist, Andrew has collaborated with conductors such as Jiří Bělohlávek, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Roger Norrington, David Robertson, Stanislaw Skrowachewski and John Wilson, performing a broad range of well-known and less familiar concertos with many of the UK’s finest orchestras.

His performance of William Walton’s Violin Concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2015 was nominated for a Helpmann Award. Andrew’s playing has also been featured on many film and video-game soundtracks, including Disney’s Fantasia game, which includes his performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the Fields. Andrew has also appeared recently in recitals around Australia with pianists Anna Goldsworthy, Piers Lane and Simon Tedeschi.

In 1999 Andrew was appointed first violinist of the internationally acclaimed Brodsky Quartet. A busy schedule saw the quartet perform and broadcast in their unique style all over the world. Amassing a repertoire of almost 300 works, they enjoyed collaborations with outstanding artists and commissioned many new works from today’s composers, and were famed for their barrier-breaking cross-genre projects. Andrew recorded more than fifteen albums with the quartet, receiving numerous industry awards. Andrew has also appeared with other chamber groups such as the Nash and Hebrides ensembles, the Logos Chamber Group, Kathy Selby and Ensemble Q.

Andrew is also in great demand as a concertmaster and orchestra director, and has worked with all the major symphony orchestras in the UK and many further afield. In 2007 he became concertmaster of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, broadcasting frequently on BBC Radio and enjoying many appearances at the BBC Proms including the famous Last Night. Joining the Philharmonia Orchestra in 2012 Andrew also led the World Orchestra for Peace at the request of its conductor Valery Gergiev, and again in 2018 at the request of Donald Runnicles. In 2004 Andrew received an honorary Doctorate from the University of Kent for his services to music.

He plays on a violin made in 1757 by GB Guadagnini; a generous loan to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra by Vicki Olsson for Andrew’s use.

'Possessed of a superb talent' (The Australian), violinist Emily Sun is in demand internationally for her compelling and captivating interpretations which have won her international renown.

Her genuine connection with audiences and engaging presence have thrilled her growing audiences, as she performs as a concerto soloist with leading orchestras, and as a chamber musician and recitalist in major concert halls around the globe.

In recent seasons, Emily made her debut with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, London Mozart Players and returns to Sydney Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, and West Australian Symphony Orchestra. She was Artist-in-Association with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra across two seasons, including the critically acclaimed world premiere of Elena Kats-Chernin’s Violin Concerto.

Emily has worked with conductors such as Vasily Petrenko, Andrew Litton, Mark Wigglesworth, Jaime Martin, Benjamin Northey, Ascher Fisch and Johannes Fritzsch. She made her China debut with the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tan Dun, and has performed with the South Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Arlington Symphony Orchestra, Garland Symphony Orchestra (USA), and across Europe with the European Union Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre de Royal Wallonie and Orchestre de Chamber Namur.

Internationally praised for his clarity, depth of expression, virtuosity and versatility, Melbourne-born Stefan Cassomenos is regarded as one of Australia’s leading concert pianists. His concerto repertoire now exceeds forty works, and has led to performances with the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Opera Australia Orchestra, and Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. He has performed as a soloist at Tonhalle Zurich, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Beethoven Festival Bonn, and at concert halls across Germany, Netherlands, England, Italy, Malta, Greece, Slovenia, Poland, Estonia, Russia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. In 2013, Cassomenos was a grand finalist and recipient of the Second Grand Prize and Chamber Music Prize at the International Telekom Beethoven Piano Competition Bonn. He is a founding member of acclaimed ensemble PLEXUS, which since launching in 2014 has commissioned and premiered over 110 new works. Cassomenos began composing at an early age, giving the premiere of his own Piano Concerto No. 1 with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra at age 16. His recent commissions include Victorian Opera, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, and Festival Neue Musik Rockenhausen. Cassomenos is currently co-Artistic Director, together with Monica Curro, of Port Fairy Spring Music Festival. He is generously supported by Kawai Australia.

Described as an exhilarating performer with faultless technique and fearless command of the piano, Australian based pianist Konstantin Shamray enjoys performing on an international level with the world’s leading orchestras and concert presenters.

In 2008, Konstantin burst onto the concert scene when he won First Prize at the Sydney International Piano Competition. He is the first and only competitor to date in the 40 years of the competition to win both First and People’s Choice Prizes, in addition to six other prizes. He then went on to win First Prize at the 2011 Klavier Olympiade in Bad Kissingen, Germany, and, he was awarded the festival’s coveted Luitpold Prize for ‘outstanding musical achievements.’

Since then, Konstantin performs extensively throughout the world. In Australia recent and future highlights include engagements with the Sydney Symphony (with Umberto Clerici) Australian Chamber Orchestra, West Australia Symphony (with Dmitri Matvienko) Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (with Andrew Litton) Tasmania Symphony (with Otto Tausk) Queensland Symphony (with Benjamin Northey) and the Dunedin Symphony (with Umberto Clerici).

Konstantin has also enjoyed highly successful consecutive season national tours with Musica Viva with players of ANAM directed by Sophie Rowell, and most recently with Avi Avital. Outside of Australia, he has performed with the Russian National Philharmonic, the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Moscow Virtuosi, Orchestre National de Lyon, Prague Philharmonia, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra and the Calgary Philharmonic.

Chamber music plays a strong role in Konstantin’s musical career and collaborations include engagements with the Australian String Quartet, Richard Tognetti, Satu Vanska, Li-Wei Qin, Kristian Winther, Daniel Muller-Schott, Jeroens Berwaerts, Kristof Barati and Andreas Brantelid to name a few. He is a firm favourite at the Ukaria Cultural Centre appearing frequently each season. Konstantin is also a regular guest artist at the Adelaide Festival, the International Piano Series and the Melbourne Recital Centre. He performs frequently for Piano+ and was appointed their Artistic Director of their OutWest Festival. Konstantin is also Senior Lecturer in Piano at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne.