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 including:
• 3rd prize in Novosibirski International Violin Competition, Russia in 2001
• Took part in the Guangxi New year Musical Festival, where she played violin solo with Guangxi Symphony orchestra in 2001
• Played the Violin Concerto in D Major Op.35 by Tchaikovsky with East-West Orchestra in Sydney in 2002
• Was a finalist in the Kendall National Violin Competition in 2003 and was awarded the Audience Choice prize as well as the Australian Composition prize. She also gave a recital in Port Macquarie.
• Won the Merit Diploma in the International Violin Competition Sion-Valais, Switzerland in 2004
• Won the Richard Goldner Award in 2005, and wasinvited to play as a soloist with Balmian Sinfornia, and later invited to be the Concert-master with the Orchestra.
• Won the 2nd Prize in the 18th Gisborne International Music Competition in New Zealand, amongst 49 participants from different parts of the world in 2006

Zhu Wen regularly represents the Australian Institute of Music on prestigious occasions, including the important concerts held at the Art Gallery of N.S.W and Young Music concert series at St.Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney.

Since arriving in Australia in 2002, she has been studying at the Australian Institute of Music, where she was awarded Bachelor of Music Degree First Class Honours. Currently she is studying Master of Music under Ms Charmian Gadd, as a full scholarship holder at the Australian Institute of Music.
July 2010

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, enabling a concerto performance and recording. In addition to her musical endeavours, Emma 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 in 2005, 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.

Emma has since been privileged to study with Prof. Nelli Shkolnikova, who recently returned to Australia after teaching at Bloomington, USA for many years. She is concurrently pursuing academic interests, completing a Masters in Musicology at the University of Melbourne with the assistance of an Australian Post-graduate Award.
August 2009