The Talent 2026 Season 2 Episode 10

Anya is a 17 year old violinist currently studying under Sophie Rowell. She is a dedicated musician who was awarded her AmusA in 2022 and LMusA in 2024. She has achieved numerous successes in Eisteddfods, the Monash Youth Festival and the Christine Cochrane Competition. A passionate orchestra, ensemble and quartet player, she has participated in MYO, MSE and the AYO Summer Music Program. Anya plans to study at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music after graduating. 

Anya will perform:

• Bach: Violin Sonata No. 1 G Minor, BWV 1001: I. Adagio
• Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen 

Lisa was a member of the Irish Chamber Orchestra for 15 years, performing across Europe, America, and Asia. She regularly collaborated with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the RTE Concert Orchestra, and served as the solo violist for Crash Ensemble. Additionally, she directed the “Sing Out with Strings”, the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s education program, inspired by El Sistema, working with over 300 children from under-served communities. Since returning to Australia, Lisa has held several prominent teaching roles. She has recently been appointed as a Lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and is also currently a sessional Lecturer in Viola at Melbourne Conservatorium, University of Melbourne and Head of Strings at Xavier College. She was formerly the Director of the Viola Programme at Monash University and has also taught at the University of Queensland, Melbourne Conservatorium Young Artists Academy, and the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. Lisa is an active performer, and has performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, and the Opera Australia Orchestra. Lisa has played with the Australian World Orchestra since 2011. She is in demand as a chamber musician, performing and giving masterclasses internationally at festivals in New Zealand, Ireland, and Italy. With the Fidelio Quartet, Lisa performed the entire Beethoven String Quartet Cycle at the Melbourne Recital Centre, as well as making numerous broadcasts on 3MBSFM. Lisa has performed and given masterclasses at the Akaroa Festival (NZ), Ceol na Mara festival (Ireland), Monash Music Sessions (Prato, Italy), Mt Buller Festival, the

Jakarta International Summer Music Festival, the Darwin Festival, and at many youth orchestra and Suzuki festivals in NSW and Victoria. In January 2027, she will be directing one of the string chamber orchestras at the Melbourne Youth Orchestra summer school, and also teaching at the Akaroa festival in New Zealand. She studied with Alice Waten at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Australian Institute of Music. After taking up the viola, Lisa was a student at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) before receiving a scholarship to study with Professor Bruno Giuranna at the University of Limerick, where she completed her Master of Arts in Classical String Performance. She continued her studies with Professor Giuranna for a further two years at the Walter Stauffer Institute, (Corso di Perfezionamente), in Cremona. She currently plays a viola by Giuseppe Vignali, supported by the E.V. Llewellyn Memorial Fund.