The Talent 2026 Season 2 Episode 6 - Violinist Weiwei Bao & Pianist Stephy Cai

Weiwei is a 14 year old music scholar at Caulfield Grammar School. She has been studying the violin since the age of 5 and is now under the tutelage of Sophie Rowell. A keen performer and competitor, Weiwei has received awards at several eisteddfods, including 1st place in the Monash Youth Music Festival’s 18& under in 2025. She participated in the AYO Symphonists earlier this year and the Melbourne Conservatorium Chamber Music Academy program. 

John Noble believes that talent can be found everywhere opportunity is not - and much of his musical life has been devoted to changing that. A violinist, educator and passionate advocate for young musicians, John has spent his career moving between the professional stage and the rehearsal room, sharing his energy, experience and belief in what musicians can achieve.A s a violinist with Orchestra Victoria, John works alongside some of Australia’s leading performing arts companies, including Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet and Victorian Opera. Since 2003, he has also been a foundation tutor with Orchestra Victoria’s mOVe education programs, helping develop and deliver orchestral training experiences for emerging musicians. But it was a simple idea in 2011 that would come to define much of John’s work. He  founded Itet – John Noble’s Quartet Program to give young string players, particularly those in regional and rural communities, access to something geography can too often deny them. Ongoing mentorship from exceptional professional musicians, inspiring repertoire, and the experience of performing side-by-side with their mentors. What began with two quartets has grown into a remarkable network of professionally mentored ensembles across Victoria. With Flinders Quartet as Artistic Patrons and collaborations with leading professional musicians and ensembles, Itet has created a musical community where mentorship, friendship and opportunity travel well beyond the metropolitan concert hall. John is particularly proud that many former Itet musicians have gone on to tertiary music study, teaching and professional performance — and are now inspiring the generation coming behind them.Alongside Itet, John is highly sought after as a teacher and mentor, preparing musicians for scholarships, tertiary study and professional auditions. His approach combines high expectations with enormous enthusiasm and an unwavering belief that young musicians thrive when someone gives them both opportunity and confidence.And music isn't his only canvas. John is also a pointillist/impressionist artist, marathon runner, committed gym-goer and holds a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Karate — perhaps explaining some of the energy he brings to everything else. For John, however, it always comes back to people. His greatest satisfaction isn't simply making music — it's opening a door for someone else and seeing where they take it.