ANAM Finalists | Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

On Saturday 24 October, Hobart's Federation Concert Hall becomes the final stage of the Australian National Academy of Music’s annual Concerto Competition – and entry is free.

Finalists Felix Hughes Chivers (Qld), James Monro (SA) and Jamie Wallace (NSW) will each perform with the full TSO under conductor Giordano Bellincampi, before the winner is announced on the night.

For audiences, it’s a chance to hear some of Australia’s most promising young classical musicians at a major point in their development, backed by the full sound of the TSO.

As the TSO's Interim Programming Director Anna Melville puts it: 'It was a tough task to help select just three finalists to perform with the TSO this October – the depth of young solo talent in Australia right now is pretty darn exciting!'

All three finalists are in their first year at ANAM.

Queensland viola player Felix Hughes Chivers began learning the instrument at 11 and has already performed with the Australian Youth Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Ensemble Q. He is also a composer, with works for soloists, chamber groups and orchestra.

For the final in Hobart on Saturday 24 October, Felix will perform William Walton’s Viola Concerto.

South Australian cellist James Monro has an unusual combination of interests: alongside his music career, he holds a degree spanning physics, mathematics and music performance, and was awarded the Australian National University Medal in physics.

For the final, he will perform Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto, which he describes as 'such a visceral piece of music'.

NSW cellist Jamie Wallace began playing at just three years old. A two-time first-prize winner in Musica Viva’s Strike a Chord competition, a recent highlight for Jamie was performing Dvořák's Cello Concerto with the Chungnam Philharmonic Orchestra in South Korea.

He will perform Haydn’s C Major Cello Concerto – the first concerto he ever learned and still one of his favourites.

The finalists will spend several days in Hobart rehearsing with Bellincampi and the TSO before performing in front of both the audience and a judging panel.

Whether you’re learning an instrument, curious about classical music or simply looking for a great (free!) Saturday night out, this is an opportunity to see the next generation of Australian performers taking on the full orchestral stage.