For our second episode of the season, we welcome violinist Emma Li and pianist Jack Brunialti-Sykes to the studio. Emma and Jack will perform live to air programmes including Bach, Elgar, Rachmaninov, and Parker before receiving feedback from mentors Coady Green and Monica Curro. Continue reading to learn more about Emma and Jack.

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Violinist Emma Li

Emma was introduced to music via piano learning at the age of 5. She was determined to learn violin the day she heard its sound on the radio and was touched by the beauty of the instrument. She received her first violin as her 8th birthday present and started to learn violin from Teresa Zhou. Emma is currently learning from Fintan Murphy, and enjoys pieces with contrasting sections as well as exhilarating peaks where she is free to express her own interpretations. However, Emma also wants to explore other styles of music. She obtained AMUS with distinction on violin last year at the age of 12. She was a member of MYO, a current violin player in the Melbourne String Ensemble, and a member of the Musical Society of Victoria. Emma placed first in different competition sections in Bendigo, Ringwood, and Boroondara Eisteddfod. She was also featured as a “stand out Eisteddfod performance” in the Piano Concerto Final Award video in Boroondara Eisteddfod, playing the violin.  Emma will appear as a finalist in the upcoming Boroondara Eisteddfod strings section of the Gala Finals Concert.

Emma will perform:

• J.S.Bach: Sonata no.2, Andante
• E.Elgar: Violin Sonata, mvt. 1

With associate artist Yi-Shing Cheng

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Pianist Jack Brunialti-Sykes

Jack Brunialti-Sykes is an emerging pianist and composer. He began his musical education 4 short years ago and has already achieved much success.

In 2020 Jack entered his first competition, Eisteddfod By The Bay, winning his category.

In 2021 he successfully auditioned for Victorian State Schools Spectacular Orchestra for keyboard. Later that year he completed his Grade 5 AMEB Classical Piano exam, achieving a High Distinction.

Jack gave his first public solo piano recital in 2022, performing a program he created. Later that same year he was a successful applicant of the Artology “To Country” program, where his composition was performed by the Adelaide Youth Orchestra. He again was part of the Victorian State Schools Spectacular Orchestra and finished the year with another High Distinction in his Grade 7 AMEB exam.

This year Jack has begun secondary school, given another solo piano recital, culminating in a triumphant rendition of Liszt’s “Paraphrase de Concert sur Rigoletto”. In May he accompanied the Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra as they performed his own composition, “Scenes from The Dance”, which he also orchestrated. He has been selected for the Musica Viva Strike a Chord Winter Workshop at Monash University in June.

Jack will perform:

• J.S.Bach: Sonata in D minor, BWV 964, mvts 3&4
• S.Rachmaninov: 13 Preludes, Op. 32, No.1 in C Major
• K.Parker: A Water Colour

Tune in to The Talent every Tuesday night at 7pm to 103.5FM 3MBS Melbourne. You can also stream the live broadcast at 3mbs.org.au or catch up later on our podcast! Just search for “The Talent 3MBS“ in your favourite podcast app and subscribe.