MAREINE (MARLENE) ITO (winner)

Marlene commenced her violin lessons at the age of four in Japan with Hiroko Suzuki of the Suzuki Method. She continued lessons in Australia with Yasuki Nakamura. Her teachers at tertiary level include Goetz Richter (Sydney), Nora Chastain (Berlin), Zakhar Bron (Yokohama) and Toru Yasunaga (Orchestral Academy of the Betliner Philharmoniker). From 2009-2011 she was Associate Concertmaster of the Komische Oper Berlin and from September 2011 she will begin her engagement with the Berliner Philharmoniker as 2nd violinist.
August 2011

ZHU WEN
Zhu Wen was born in China and began learning the violin at the age of five. In 1996, she was awarded a full scholarship to study at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. This Conservatory is the most prestigious in China boasting a very high standard.

Zhu Wen has been a prize-winner in many International violin competitions, her awards include second prize in the 2006 Gisborne International Music Competition (New Zealand), first prize in the 2005 Richard Goldner Award (Australia), Merit Diploma in the 2004 International Violin Competition Sion-Valais (Switzerland), third prize in the 2001 Novosibirski International Violin Competition (Russia).

Since she moved in Australia in 2002, Zhu Wen has studied at the Australian Institute of Music, where she was awarded Bachelor of Music Degree First Class Honours. Since 2006, she has also studied Master of Music under Ms Charmian Gadd, as a full scholarship holder of the Australian Institute of Music. In 2007 Zhu Wen received Distinguished Talent Permanent Residency of Australia. In 2008 she received the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) scholarship to study in Tasmania Conservatory of Music for PhD in Music. In August 2008, she chose to study her second Master degree in music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music as a full scholarship holder.

In December 2008, Zhu Wen was appointed as a full time Tutti violinist by the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. In November 2009, Zhu Wen completed her Master of Music Studies (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under Ms. Charmian Gadd. Though she had to take full-time loads in both study and work that year, Zhu Wen successfully received High Distinction on average of all subjects in this Master degree. She is currently studying a Doctor of Musical Arts at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under Ms. Alice Waten.

Since 2008, Zhu Wen has been teaching at the Australian Institute of Music, Young AIM Program.

Recently she has also represented AIM to perform a concert at St. Andrews’ Cathedral.
August 2011

EMMA SKILLINGTON
Emma was born and raised in country NSW, moving to Melbourne at age 16 to take up a music scholarship at the University High School and continue her studies with violinist Deborah Fox. In her final year of school she received a Young Artists Award from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and graduated from University High School as one of their highest achieving students, receiving perfect scores for both English and English Literature and a Victorian Premier's Prize.

Emma completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours at Melbourne University under Deborah Fox and Wilma Smith, receiving numerous prizes, scholarships and awards during her studies. Whilst a 1st year student of the University, Emma co-founded the TinAlley String Quartet, with whom she later won the Grand Prize and String Quartet Award at the 2005 National Chamber Music Competition (now the Asia-Pacific Chamber Music Competition). With the assistance of an Ian Potter Foundation Grant, TASQ travelled to the USA to take masterclasses with members of the Takacs and Emerson Quartets, and to participate in the Muir Quartet's Emerging Artists Program. Upon return, she set up a residency for TASQ at the Australian National Academy of Music for the academic year of 2006. During this year Emma travelled with TASQ to the UK and USA to study with past and present members of the Takacs, Tokyo, Keller, St Lawrence and Vermeer Quartets, and to compete in the 2006 London International String Quartet Competition. At the end of 2006 she resigned her position in TASQ to focus both on academic work and her own playing.

From 2007 until 2009 Emma was privileged to study with Prof. Nelli Shkolnikova, who returned to Australia after teaching at Bloomington for many years. Whilst with Nelli Emma began freelance work with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and auditioned successfully for Festivalensemble, an orchestra formed by the Internationale Bachakademie to study and perform Bach's St. Matthew Passion. With FES Emma performed across southern Germany as a part of the European Music Festival, and the Rheingau Musik Festival. Once home, and with the assistance of an Australian Postgraduate Award, she also began part-time postgraduate research at the University of Melbourne, looking at the role of the violin in J.S. Bach's early sacred cantatas. In 2010 Emma deferred her degree.

Emma and her long-time partner Osman married in mid 2010. After a tempting job-offer for Osman, and many amazing trips 'across the ditch', they moved to Wellington, New Zealand. Shortly after the move Emma was invited to Germany to work with the Internationale Bachakademie and eminent Bach scholar and musician Helmuth Rilling. Emma performed Principal 2nd Violin in performances of St John Passion both in Stuttgart (as a part of the IBA's Bachwoche celebrations) and in Erfurt (as a part of the Thuringia Bach Festival). This last performance was a highlight of the year - performing St John Passion with Helmuth Rilling in the church in which young Bach was baptised, sitting above the baptismal font! Since her return Emma has worked with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and is currently preparing her first program with the Auckland Philharmonia. 
October 2011