Our first guest mentor for Season 2, 2021 is pianist Julia Hastings.

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Julia is a Melbourne-based pianist who defies stereotypes by being equally at home on stage as an actor. Julia’s extensive piano studies, culminating with the Professional Performance Program at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), have equipped the synthesis of her multi-disciplinary talents in pushing the boundaries of classical music performance and enabling her goal of guiding audiences through a narrative, musical world where stories matter. Her first work, Fame, Fortune & Lies: The Life and Music of Eileen Joyce, combining live music performance and drama has been performed to critical acclaim nationally, and has been adapted as a radio play for 3MBS which was named a finalist in the 2017 Community Broadcasting Association of Australia Awards for Excellence in Music Programming. 

Known for expressive pianism and virtuosity, Julia is in demand as a soloist, chamber musician, collaborative artist and educator.  Julia’s solo performances have been praised as “breathtaking,” “delicious,” and “simply wonderful” by reviewers, while her collaborative work has been recognised for its empathy, intelligence and synchronistic partnering. Collaborative partners have included pianists, Lisa Moore, Kathryn Stott and Penelope Thwaites as well as singers, Sara Macliver and Christopher Watson.  Orchestral stints have seen Julia performing with the UK-based Aurora Orchestra as well as under the baton of Australian conductors, such as Brett Dean and Simone Young. 

As a musician of the 21^st century, Julia combines her performance work with that of music educator as Head of Chamber Music at Trinity College, University of Melbourne as well as teaching piano at Balwyn High School and Kilvington Grammar School, and eisteddfod adjudicating. She is also a staff pianist at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne. Through her work as an educator, Julia inspires her students to embrace and energetically explore the narrative qualities of music which have informed her own musical practice. 

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Tune in to Episode 1 of The Talent Season 2 this Tuesday 3 August! Listen to the live broadcast at 3mbs.org.au or on 103.5FM, and don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast to catch up with the show later!