Our violin expert this season is the delightful Monica Curro who will mentor alongside Coady Green for Episodes 2 and 9.

Monica has been Assistant Principal 2nd Violin of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 1998, and was previously a core member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 1987 and completed a Masters Degree at Michigan State University in 1991, studying with Walter Verdehr. She has played with the Australian World Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, as Principal 2nd Violin with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and as Guest Concertmaster of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and The Auckland Chamber Orchestra.

Monica was a member of the Board of Directors of the Australian Youth Orchestra for 9 years. She has tutored regularly for AYO, and has taught at various tertiary institutions. In 2016, Monica was the Director of the Smalley Chamber Orchestra at AYO’s National Music Camp. Also in that year, she was Artistic Director of MSO’s outreach program in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In 2009, Monica was honoured to be invited as the only Australian to play in the World Orchestra for Peace conducted by Valery Gergiev, and has since joined them regularly for concerts around the world, including Poland, Sweden, London, Salzburg, Künzelsau, Abu Dhabi, New York, and Chicago. Monica has appeared as soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and recently gave the world premiere of Stefan Cassomenos’ Double Violin Concerto.  

Monica is sought after as a public speaker, giving regular pre-concert talks and conversations for major concert presenters, as well as keynote addresses at universities and educational organisations.  Monica is currently joint Artistic Director of the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, with pianist and composer Stefan Cassomenos.  Monica is also Artistic Director of Melbourne’s annual Women in Music Festival, and Curator of the 2022 Sunday Soirees series at McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery.  Monica is a founding member and co-Artistic Director of acclaimed ensemble PLEXUS, which since launching in 2014 has commissioned and premiered more than 110 new works.

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