Category: Year

Australian Hometown(s):
Education:

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Splitting his time between New York City and Australia, violinist Peter Clark is widely celebrated for the unique breadth and scope of his leadership across the arts sector.

As concertmaster, Peter has appeared with New Zealand Opera, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Chamber Opera, Victoria Opera, Darwin Symphony, and Orchestra Wellington. He has also appeared as Guest Principal Second of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Dublin.

Peter’s commitment to arts access has led him to perform in more than 130 regional towns and cities across Australia, as well as to develop a beloved music program at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, through his extensive work with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

In the field of public speaking and advocacy, Peter has developed a reputation as one of Australia’s most sought-after speakers, presenting for orchestras around the world. His audiences range from young school students, through to Australian Prime Ministers, as he communicates and passionately advocates for the central role of music in society. His recent work includes delivering the late Richard Gill’s 2023 Voyage of Musical Discovery series.

Peter’s doctoral research on social innovation and cohesion through music is generously supported by Judith Neilson AM, and the General Sir John Monash Foundation. He is also completing an MBA in Arts Innovation, with the generous support of the American Australian Association.

Peter first played in Carnegie Hall with the Australian Chamber Orchestra at the age of twenty. He plays a fine 1936 AE Smith violin, and is Principal Violin of Omega Ensemble.

Peter’s fiancée is the celebrated New Zealand-American violinist Jessica Oddie. She is the love of his life.

Last updated 2023

Australian Hometown(s):
Education: Royal Academy of Music

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Benjamin enjoys a varied career as an orchestral and chamber musician on both violin and viola. Recently he performed at the first night of the proms as guest principal viola of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, a position that has also taken him to the London Philharmonic, Philharmonia and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Also as guest concertmaster he has appeared with both the Sinfoniorchester Aachen and Sinfoniorchester Wuppertal in Germany. He is also a regular guest to several international chamber music festivals, including the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville, Stift international Chamber music festival in Holland, Oxford May Music Festival and the Highgate International Chamber Music Festival in London. 

He studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall in London with Lydia Mordkovitch, Emanuel Hurwitz and David Takeno before continuing with Ilya Grubert in Amsterdam and later Ivry Gitlis in Paris. 

Benjamin is an enthusiastic collector of violin bows and plays a Joseph ‘filius Andrea’ Guarneri c.1720

Last updated 2023

Australian Hometown(s):
Education: Royal College of Music, London;

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
British-American-Australian violinist Emma McGrath is the Concertmaster of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. She enjoys an international and varied career as a Concertmaster, soloist, chamber musician, conductor, teacher, educator, and mentor.

Emma has appeared as a Guest Concertmaster/Leader with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, West Australia Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Wellington, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hallé, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra, and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. She has performed as a soloist all over Europe, Asia, Australia, and the USA. Highlights include Max Richter’s ‘Recomposed’ to sold-out audiences as part of the Dark Mofo Festival, and concerti and solos by Britten, Mozart, Bruch, Saint-Saens, Vivaldi, Piazzolla, Vaughan Williams and Bottesini with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, Emma was a member of the award-winning Panormo Quartet in London, the Starling Quartet in Pittsburgh, and the Kettering Piano Quartet and the Tasmanian String Quartet in Hobart. She has also participated in the Bangalow Music Festival, the Tasmanian Chamber Music Festival, and the Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs.

Prior to moving to Tasmania, Emma was the Assistant Concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony, and the Associate Concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony.

She is also a professional singer, baroque violinist, and conductor – and enjoys bushwalking in Tasmania’s wild places in her spare time!

Last updated 2023