Miwako Abe

Head of Department
Violin

A prize-winning graduate of London's Guildhall School of Music, Miwako Abe has performed widely as a soloist in recitals throughout England, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, New Zealand, and the United States. Since coming to Australia in 1982, Ms Abe has toured extensively for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Musica Viva, and performed at international music festivals in Salzburg, Madrid, Ankara, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth.

In Australia she has performed with the Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras and with ensembles such as the Sydney String Quartet and the Australia Ensemble. As a founding member of the Austral Trio, Ms Abe took part in numerous tours sponsored by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Musica Viva, both within Australia and overseas.

Ms Abe specialises in performing classical as well as contemporary music and many prominent Australian composers have dedicated their works to her. Ms Abe is regarded as an outstanding performer as well as a highly successful teacher of the violin. She is currently Head of the String Department at the Victorian College of the Arts, affiliated with the University of Melbourne. Her reputation continues to bring invitations to give recitals and masterclasses at universities and conservatoria in Australia and overseas.