Described by Limelight Magazine as “a soloist of superb virtuosic skill and musicality”, Australian classical pianist Alex Raineri (b. 1993) is internationally active as recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician. International performances include tours throughout California, South-East Asia, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Germany and Austria. He is the Artistic Director of the annual Brisbane Music Festival and is a passionate exponent of contemporary music having given over 130 World Premieres to date.

Alex has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Radio NZ, California Capital Public Radio, ABC Classic FM and all of the Australian MBS Networks. As a concerto soloist he has featured with the Queensland, Tasmanian, Darwin and West Australian Symphony Orchestras, Southern Cross Soloists, Orchestra Victoria, Four Winds Festival Orchestra, Bangalow Festival Orchestra and the Queensland Pops Orchestra.

Alex has been the recipient of a number of major awards including the Kerikeri International Piano Competition and Australian National Piano Award. Alex is the pianist with the Southern Cross Soloists and other notable chamber partnerships include; Andreas Ottensamer, Twoset Violin, eighth blackbird, ELISION, Sara Macliver, Natalie Clein, Greta Bradman, Li Wei Qin, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Jack Liebeck, Kathryn Stott, Slava Grigoryan, Brett Dean and many others.

Discography includes; Transfiguration (2019), Inventions (2019), I’ll Walk Beside You – Teddy Tahu Rhodes & Southern Cross Soloists (2018 – ABC Classics) and braneworlds – Kupka’s Piano (2017).

Recent recipient of the prestigious New Colombo Plan Scholarship, violinist Julia Hill has flourished into passionate performer of classical music. Guided by former Arditti String Quartet violinist, Graeme Jennings, she was appointed Concertmaster of the Curro Chamber Orchestra at the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp 2020 and has achieved an Award with Distinction on her Licentiate of Music, Australia. In December 2020, Julia graduated from a Bachelor of Music from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University with distinction.

Since moving to Brisbane in 2018 from Hervey Bay, Julia has enjoyed many musical engagements including being appointed Principal Second Violin in Queensland Youth Symphony 2019, and performing alongside professionals in national ensemble, Southern Cross Soloists. In 2019, she performed as a soloist alongside the Indooroopilly Chamber Orchestra and the Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra and is looking forward to playing Beethoven’s Romance no. 2 in F major with the Brisbane Concert Orchestra this year. Additionally, she will be curating a series of concerts with emerging ensemble, the Jacaranda String Quartet, and will perform as part of the Brisbane Music Festival as a young artist.

With a 2020 New Colombo Plan Scholarship, Julia has turned to overseas study to propel her love for music. In 2022, she will undertake study, internships and language training in Japan. During her program, she will investigate the role music plays in Japan’s society and is looking forward to collaborating with Japanese musicians and educators as part of her Honours thesis.

Rebekah Hall graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with a BMus (First Class Honours) in 2018, studying under Michele Walsh. During her studies, she was selected to represent the Conservatorium as a member of a string quartet for the Musical Chairs Festival in Montreal, Canada, and was also concertmaster for a variety of orchestral projects. In her final year, she led the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra at QPAC for Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand. She also appeared as a next generation artist with Southern Cross Soloists and performed in Ensemble Q under the baton of Simone Young.

​As a passionate orchestral player, Rebekah has been involved in various Australian Youth Orchestra programs, including two international tours to Europe and China. In 2019, Rebekah played in the Momentum Ensemble and participated in the Chamber Players program in Sydney. She also appeared as a soloist with Cadenza Chamber Players, performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. In 2020 Rebekah was selected as an Upbeat Artist with Camerata, and performed Symphonie Espagnole with the Moreton Bay Symphony Orchestra.

This year Rebekah is excited to be involved in the Brisbane Music Festival as a young artist. She will also be touring in a piano trio for “A Morning with Bernstein” by Lynch and Paterson, and continuing to perform in various Cadenza Chamber Orchestra programs throughout the year. Rebekah enjoys passing on her love for the violin through teaching, both at her private teaching studio and at several schools in North Brisbane.

Harry Swainston is an enthusiastic and approachable violist who has recently graduated a Bachelor of Performance at the prestigious Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, having being guided by competition-winning performer and pedagogue, Michele Walsh.

Harry has been invited to perform alongside leading musicians, including the Australian String Quartet, Queensland and Sydney Symphony Orchestras. As a result of his diligence, Harry was awarded a Distinction for his Bachelor of Music, and won the 4MBS Chamber Music Prize. He commences at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) in 2021 under the guidance of Caroline Henbest.

Harry has loved sharing his passion for teaching in Brisbane under the pedagogue guidance of Andrea Messenger OAM. Having led the Queensland Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, Harry has played with groups such as Ensemble Q, Dots and Loops, Lisa Gasteen National Opera, and the Australian Youth Orchestra. He has also travelled and performed in New Zealand, Japan, Europe and most notably America for the Aspen Music Festival. Harry has been additionally mentored by James Dunham, Choong-Jin Chang, the Borodin and Jerusalem string quartets and others.

Harry is excited to explore the management side of the music industry in Australia and looks forward to meeting new musicians and creatives. Outside of music, Harry enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and anything to do with cats.

Japanese Australian cellist Shuhei Lawson’s (pronounced Shu-hey) performances have taken him to places overseas including New Zealand, the USA and domestically in Australia.

He has performed at festivals including the Australian Festival of Chamber Music 2018 (Townsville), The University of Oklahoma String Academy 2019 (USA), The Adams Chamber Music School 2020 (NZ), and as a 2020 Brisbane Music Festival Young Artist. Through these festivals, Shuhei has performed in masterclasses with leading cellists including Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, István Várdai and Guy Johnston. He has won many prizes such as the RSL Youth Development Program, the 4MBS Virtuoso Award and the Ross Peters 4MBS Prize.

In addition to performing at a variety of music festivals, Shuhei has also performed with Australia’s leading ensembles such as the Queensland Symphony Orchestra cello section, Queensland Pops Orchestra and members of the Goldner String Quartet.

Shuhei completed a Bachelor of Music at Griffith University, Queensland Conservatorium in 2020 under the guidance Hyung Suk Bae (QSO). His teachers have included Simon Cobcroft (ASO), David Lale (QSO) and Dr Meta Weiss (Boulder, Colarado). He has also benefited by such luminaries as Julian Smiles, György Déri and Yoshika Masuda.

Shuhei will begin his training at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) in 2021 under the guidance of Howard Penny. Outside of music, Shuhei has a passion for cooking and fishing.

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