Mary Johnston – Instrumental Solos Adjudicator (Strings)
After majoring in performance and composition at Sheffield University, Mary Johnston gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Orchestral Studies in London training with renowned conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Lorin Maazel, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Colin Davis, Sir John Elliot Gardner, EsaPekka Salonen, Vernon Handley, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Vilém Tausky and Gennady Rozhdestvensky.
She studied violin with Peter Cropper from the Lindsay String Quartet and Rosemary Furniss from the Nash Ensemble, St. Martin in the Fields and assistant teacher to Ivan Galamian.
After an orchestral career with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for many years, Mary dedicated her energies to the education of young musicians.
In 1997, as Director of Chamber Music at The Mac.Robertson Girl’s High School, then from 2004 appointed Head of Strings at Melbourne Girls Grammar School.
As an orchestral educator she has been violin tutor for the Melbourne and Percy Grainger Youth Orchestras, conductor of the Melbourne Youth Chamber Strings at Melbourne Youth Music, Associate Concertmaster of the Tasmanian Discovery Orchestra at the University of Tasmania and violin mentor for the Monash University Academy Orchestra.
Mary has been Concertmaster of the Camberwell Camerata Orchestra for 20 years and recently formed the duo MV2 with harpist Vanessa McKeand.
In December 2017 Mary retired from fulltime teaching but continues as a private teacher and regular freelance violinist with various Melbourne ensembles.
This year she has performed with the Stonnington Symphony Orchestra, Citi Opera, Melbourne Bach Choir, The Art of Sound Orchestra, chamber music with pianist Hoang Pham and continues her involvement with the Monash Academy Orchestra projects.
A founding member of both eminent Australian chamber groups, Arcadia Winds and Ensemble
Jayne is a local to the area and has been involved in music from a young age.
Jayne studied piano and completed a Bachelor of Music (Therapy) at The University of Melbourne.
Jayne went on to broaden her skills in this area by completing a Master’s of Occupational Therapy at LaTrobe University.
Jayne has worked as an Occupational Therapist for the past ten years in a range of areas including Early Childhood Intervention, physical rehabilitation and com- Françaix, Matthew Kneale is making his name as a leading bassoonist of his generation and a bold artistic thinker.
He is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and in addition to critically acclaimed solo and ensemble performances, has served as Casual Bassoonist of the Melbourne, Adelaide, Queensland and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras.
His repertoire ranges from traditional masterpieces to the latest new compositions and commissions for bassoon by György Ligeti, Brett Dean, Paul Dean, Peter de Jager and Lachlan Skipworth, among others.
In 2018, Matthew will be giving the world premiere of Holly Harrison's new work for Bassoon and String Quartet as part of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra's Australian Series.