RAY CHEN (Winner)
Ray was born in Taipei and grew up in Brisbane. At age 4 he began learning the violin in the Suzuki method. He made his concert debut at age 8 with the then Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra.

Following his success in the Kendall and Australian National Youth Concerto Competitions at the age of 15, Ray was accepted into the Curtis Institute  of Music.

Towards the end of his third year at Curtis, Ray won the 2008 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for young violinists. This was followed by wins in the 2008-09 Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York and then in the 2009 prestigious Queen Elizabeth Violin Competition in Belgium.

These impressive successes have resulted in contracts; recordings; the loan of not one, but two Stradivarius violins and numerous concert engagements in hallowed musical venues throughout the world.

In mid-February Ray was delighted to share news of the addition of his name to CAMI Music's roster of distinguished artists.CAMI Music has taken on the worldwide general management of Ray, who can be heard and seen on the CAMI website. Also see Ray's website www.raychenviolin.com.

Ray's interesting website will update you on the numerous recitals he is now giving throughout the world, using both of the Stradivarius violins which he has won on extended loan. Not yet listed there is the fact that he will soon be performing in Australia. On November 6, 2010 he will be playing Mozart's Violin Concerto No 4 in D Major with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, then on 10, 11, 12, 14 February 2011, he will be playing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
May 2010

JANET ANDERSON
Janet graduated in 2005 with 1st class Honours from Bachelor of Music in Advanced Performance at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music where she studied with Michele Walsh, and then continued her studies in Munich at the Hochschute fur Musik und Theater with Professor Gottfried Schneider. In 2006 she was given the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Post-Graduate Award.

While in Queensland Janet played with the Fyra String Quartet, well known for its participation in the Australian Festival of Chamber Music tours, where didgeridoo player, Andrew Barton, featured strongly, premiering works by Sculthorpe, Edwards and Hindson.

Then came a move to South Australia, where, since 2007, Janet has played full-time with the Adelaide  Symphony Orchestra She also plays regularly with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra 2 (emerging artists and in different configurations).

Janet's Adelaide-based quartet, the Leonore String Quartet, participates in many chamber music festivals and competitions and is well regarded by its audiences
July 2010

JENNEN NGIAU-KENG
See 2006

XI MAY ZHEN
Born in Sydney in 1992, Xi May Zhen began to learn violin at the age of five. She passed LMusA with distinction in 2002, and 6th grade musicianship with honours the following year. In 2003 (aged 11) she was the youngest semi-finalist selected among 186 competitors from 29 countries to compete at the Menuhin International Violin Competition 2004 in London.

In 2005, at the age of 13, she was a finalist in the String Category of the ABC Young Performers Awards and the Kendall National Violin Competition. In the same year she won First Prize (Gold Medal) in the 2005 International Violin Competition in Germany and was a finalist in the Tchaikovsky International Competition. She was also a finalist in the National Youth Concerto competition (2004,05 & 06)

Xi May's solo performances include the NSW School Spectacular, the Premier's Gala Concert, NSW Public Schools Choral Concert, International Boat Show concert and Christmas Eve concerts at Olympic Park and Darling Harbour. In 2006 she was invited to Japan to perform Mozart's A major concerto in the concert celebrating Mozart's 250th anniversary. She has appeared as soloist with Udmurt Orchestra (Japan, 2006), Melbourne String Ensemble (2006), Queensland Youth symphony (2004, 2005 and 2006)Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (2005), SBS Youth Orchestra (2004), Sydney Concert Orchestra (2004), East West Philharmonic Orchestra (2001) and NSW State Schools' Orchestra (2001).
September 2006