The Talent 2026 Season 2 Episode 8 - Ben Gittins (Cornet and Flugelhorn) & Pianist Ayana Fridkin
This week on The Talent, competitors Ben Gittins and Ayana Fridkin will be performing pieces for piano, cornet and flugelhorn, with Louisa Trewartha joining Kevin Tamanini as guest mentor. Tune in to hear pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and more!
Ben Gittins
Cornet & Flugelhorn
Ben Gittins started trumpet at eight years of age and in 2022 was awarded AMusA with Distinction. Ben enjoys performing and has won around 100 music awards including: the Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod’s Open Instrumental Scholarship and Open Brass Scholarship and Ringwood Eisteddfod Open Concerto. In 2025 he was runner up in the MSV Hephzibah Menuhin Memorial Awards wind section.
Ben participated in Australian Youth Orchestra programs and Young Mannheim Symphonists. Ben is a scholarship recipient studying trumpet at Melbourne University.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bengittins9321
Ben will perform:
Morceau De Concert by J.G.Pennequin - Cornet
Flugelhorn Concerto (3rd movement) by Louisa Trewartha - Flugelhorn
Ayana Fridkin
Piano
Ayana Fridkin is a 16-year-old musician from Caulfield Grammar School, studying piano with Dr. Tamara Smolyar. She was awarded her AMusA (2021) and LMusA (2024), both with distinction, and has won first prizes in numerous competitions, most recently at the Ringwood Eisteddfod, Monash Youth Music Festival, and Eisteddfod By the Bay. Ayana also enjoys exploring different styles of music as a contemporary vocalist and keyboardist. She believes that music transcends language barriers and speaks to people’s hearts in a unique way.
Ayana will perform:
1. J.S Bach – French Suite No.1 in D Minor, Allemande
2. Beethoven – Sonata No.1 in F Minor 1st movement
3. Chopin - Nocturne op. 9 no. 1 in B flat minor
4. Prokofiev - Suggestion Diabolique
Louisa Trewartha
Guest Mentor
Louisa Trewartha leads a diverse career as a trumpet player, composer, and educator. As an orchestral trumpet player Louisa has performed with the Melbourne, Auckland, Tasmanian and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, and since 2009 has played in over 40 operas, ballets, and musicals with Orchestra Victoria. Louisa has been a Yamaha artist since 2022. After studying at The University of Melbourne from 2008-2010 and ANAM in 2013, she completed a Master of Arts in Scoring for Film and Visual Media in 2016 at Pulse College, Dublin. Louisa has since been commissioned to write works for Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, and ANAM Set '25. In 2024, her EP Suite Water for brass quintet was released as an ABC Classic Commission. Louisa's solo works have been selected as test pieces for state and national band competitions, and are also on the VCE and AMEB music performance repertoire list.