Three talented young Australian violinists – all of whom began violin lessons as pre-schoolers – will battle it out with bows and strings this Sunday for the University of Melbourne’s Dorcas McClean Travelling Scholarships.

One of Australia’s richest violin competitions, the scholarships are awarded by the University’s Faculty of the VCA and Music biennially, with three prizes of $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000 to support the winners’ travel for opportunities to enhance their musical careers.
 
The three finalists this year are Ms Ji Won Kim, Ms Sujin Park, both from New South Wales, and Ms Tessa Ho, from Victoria. 

During the third and final stage of the 2009 competition each finalist will perform a Mozart Concerto (no 3, 4 or 5) with the Parkville Chamber Orchestra, led by guest director and violinist Rachael Beesley. They will also perform two Paganinni Caprices.

The Travelling Scholarships for violinists were established by the University of Melbourne in honour of one of Australia’s most gifted musicians, Dorcas McClean, folllowing the bequest of her estate upon her death. 
 
Ms McClean began her musical studies at the age of three at the New South Wales Conservatorium. By the age of eight, she was appearing as a soloist at public concerts in Sydney as well as performing for numerous radio broadcasts.  At the age of twelve, Dorcas caused a sensation in Sydney with her performance of the Finale from Concert No 2 in D minor by Wieniawski.  She was hailed by critics as a child virtuoso.
 
A panel of judges of five distinguished violinists will select the winner from the three finalists performing. In recommending a candidate for the award, the committee will take into consideration the ability of the candidate to demonstrate the highest standard of musicianship and excellence as a performing violinist.
 
What: The 2009 Dorcas McClean Travelling Scholarship for Violinists Final
When: Sunday 6 September, 6:30pm
Where: Melba Hall - Faculty of the VCA and Music. Gate 12, Royal Parade, Parkville

About the finalists:

A graduate of the University of Melbourne’s Master of Music program, which she completed with high distinction under the guidance of Nelli Shkolnikova, Ji Won Kim is currently a student of the Sydney Conservatorium’s Alice Waten.  She has studied in Vienna, and performed as a soloist with national and international orchestras.  She has won numerous violin prizes in Australia and overseas, including the string section of the 2009 ABC Young Performers Award.
 
Sujin Park received her Associate of Music Australia (AMEB) at the age of 11, and Licentiate of Music Australia (AMEB) at the age of 13, both with distinction.  Sujin is an experienced soloist and chamber musician, and has won many awards and prizes.  After graduating from high school, Sujin spent two years at Macquarie University studying law and business administration.  She realised she was much more passionate about music, however, and is now studying with Professor Goetz Richter at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
 
Currently a student of Mark Mogilevski, Tessa Ho holds a Licentiate Diploma of Music and Associate Diploma of Music and is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Music, specialising in Music Performance, at the University of Melbourne. In 2007, Tessa was the recipient of the Lady Turner Exhibition award and in 2008 she received the Ormond Exhibition award, both from the Faculty of the VCA and Music at the University of Melbourne. In 2009, Tessa received the Faculty Merit Scholarship.

About Rachael Beesley - Guest Director/Violin

Violinist Rachael Beesley is one of Australia’s most versatile and dynamic performers. Based in The Netherlands over the last 14 years, she has established an exciting career as concertmaster and soloist with the finest European orchestras specialising in Early Music.

Now based in Australia, Rachael has made a resounding impact on the music scene in Australia, performing, educating and directing programs around the country. A graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor and Graduate Diploma of Arts in Music and a Master of Music from The Royal Conservatoire, The Hague, Rachael is much in demand as a chamber musician and soloist, regularly collaborating with contemporary composers and exploring repertoire from the 17th to 21st centuries on period instruments.

Rachael appears as guest concertmaster with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, director and soloist with the Tasmanian Symphony and Melbourne Chamber Orchestras as well as concertmaster with Opera Australia, Victorian and Pinchgut Opera and has recorded over 50 CD recordings.

As a professor at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague Rachael has developed unique courses on Historical Performance Practice and Practising In Flow and in collaboration with Alchemy Road is developing a unique program in Australia for businesses and schools on Creating Flow. A devoted educator Rachael teaches and guest lectures at the Conservatoriums of Music in Melbourne and Sydney and the Australian National Academy of Music.