Top Class!!! Meet the top classical performance students from the Elder Conservatorium

Jenny Su, a recent Bachelor of Music (Advanced) graduate, is currently pursuing an Honours degree in Classical Performance under the guidance of Lucinda Collins.

Jenny has earned multiple scholarships, including the Maude Harriot Scholarship for Piano, the Patrick Cecil Greenland Scholarship for Pianoforte, the Daisy Burmeister Salotti Scholarship for Pianoforte, and the Jack De Vos Scholarship. She has enriched her musical journey through masterclasses with renowned pianists such as Paavali Jumpannen, Stephan Kovacevich, and Phillip Moll.

In 2021, Jenny was awarded the Wilf Mader Memorial Medallion and emerged victorious in the Senior division for both attending years, 2021 and 2023. Recently, Jenny earned her spot as a finalist for the 5MBS Young Virtuoso Award, where she not only received the piano prize but was awarded the overall winner's title. Her success has led to her participation in the upcoming National Music Broadcasting Society final in Brisbane next month.

Jenny's notable performances include the Art of Possible Festival and PianoLab. In August and September, she collaborated with Stephen King and Helen Ayres for the AGSA Ruby Festival as well as the Lunch Hour Series, delivering performances of Beach, Bridge, Massenet, Faure and Mozart. Furthermore, Jenny had the honour of representing Adelaide in the Australian Showcase for the Sydney International Piano Competition.

Millicent Brake is in her final year at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, studying Classical Voice under the tutelage of Rosalind Martin and Carl Crossin OAM. Singing and performance have always been her passion and she has enjoyed many performing opportunities growing up in the UK, including singing with the renowned Farnham Youth Choir and winning Gold Medals at the European Choir Games. Millicent wishes to pursue classical singing and opera performance professionally with plans to further progress her studies inter-State next year. She performed with State Opera in Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance in May and also sung as the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury at a Charity Gala event in June. Millicent was delighted to successfully audition for Berlin Opera Academy's summer programme and spent July in Germany rehearsing for the academy's performance of Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' in the Berlin Opernfest, working alongside a multinational cast. More recently, Millicent has enjoyed competing in various competitions including the Adelaide Eisteddfods where she received the Lady Anne Miller Award for the highest aggregate in the vocal division as well as being the vocal section winner of the 2023 Young Virtuoso Awards South Australia.

Millicent enjoys being a member of the Elder Conservatorium Chorale which has offered her many exciting performance opportunities alongside the talents of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Graduate Singers and the Adelaide Festival. With only a few weeks left of her Bachelor studies Millicent has been enjoying the planning of her Graduation Recital and is looking forward to performing for the teachers, friends and family who have supported her throughout her studies at Elder Conservatorium.

Tim Tran is an Adelaide-based violist currently completing his Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance at the University of Adelaide. Previously, Tim studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England up until the end of 2021 with Boris Kucharsky. Prior to this, he studied under Keith Crellin OAM and currently studies under Stephen King. He is passionate about chamber music and has been affiliated with numerous ensembles. Tim has won numerous awards including The Australian String Association Award in 2022 for most outstanding string competitor and was a finalist in the national Young Virtuoso Award Competition in 2022.

Alevia Evci is currently an honours-year classical saxophone student at the Elder Conservatorium under the tutelage of Damien Hurn. Alevia attended Brighton Secondary School as a part of their Special Interest Music program, and dabbled in many other wind and brass instruments alongside taking regular saxophone and trombone lessons. She was a dedicated ensemble musician at Brighton, participating in as many ensembles as she could. Alevia also enjoyed playing in extracurricular ensembles, playing with the Adelaide Youth Orchestras (2017-2020), and the JazzSA Superbands program (2019 & 2020). Whilst she enjoyed playing jazz trombone and orchestral bass trombone, Alevia’s passion for classical saxophone truly sparked in Year 11 and led her to audition at the Elder Conservatorium for entry in 2019.

During her time at the Elder Conservatorium, Alevia has enjoyed playing alto and baritone saxophone with the Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra. She has also played with the Elder Music Lab, and in numerous chamber music groups. Outside of University ensembles, Alevia also plays with the Unley Concert Band and The Bigfoot Collective. Alevia has been the grateful recipient of the Cowan Family Scholarship (2019 & 2023), Elizabeth Matthews Prize for Woodwind (2020), Arno Pontt Scholarship (2020), and the Kamala Khurana Music Scholarship (2021).

Alevia has an immense passion for music education, and currently privately teaches saxophone, clarinet and trombone. She also directs the Open Music Academy’s Wind Ensemble. Alevia is looking forward to commencing a Master of Teaching degree next year, with aspirations of working as a secondary school music teacher at the conclusion of her studies.

Friday 27 October, 1:10pm, Elder Hall. For tickets, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/2kkube6v