On this week’s episode we welcome double bassist Derek Wei and pianist Olivia Zhu. Derek and Olivia will perform programmes including works by Bach, Bottesini, Barber, and Liszt before receiving live-to-air feedback from Tamara Smolyar and guest mentor Rohan Dasiki. Continue reading to learn more about Derek and Olivia.

---

Double bassist Derek Wei

Derek Wei is a 14-year-old music scholar at Camberwell Grammar School. He began his musical studies on piano at the age of 5 and began learning the double bass five years later, under the tutelage of Dr Emma Sullivan. Derek is highly accomplished on both instruments, achieving his LMusA on piano and double bass in 2023.

A passionate solo performer on piano and double bass, Derek has been the recipient of prizes in various local and international competitions. He was the first prize winner of the 2020 International Music Competition Bonn “Grand Prize Virtuoso” for his performance of Beethoven Sonatine on Double Bass. Derek has been awarded prizes in the Monash Youth Music Festival String and Piano Festival competitions, and the Ringwood Eisteddfod. In 2023 he was selected to perform at the Ringwood Eisteddfod Gala Concert, as the overall winner of the String Competition.

Derek is a committed ensemble musician and has participated in a number of programs to develop these skills, including ARCO Young Mannheim Symphonists and ACO Academy.

Derek was recently accepted into the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School in London, England and is planning to commence his studies there in the future.

Derek will perform:

• J.S.Bach: Suite BWV 1007 II No.1 Allemande
• Giovanni Bottesini: Fantasia La Sonnambula

With associate artist Scott Zheng

---

Pianist Olivia Zhu

Olivia Zhu is 15 years old and was introduced to music at the age of 4, upon receiving a piano as her birthday gift. She started pursuing her musical studies in Beijing, China. There, Olivia was an active charity concert performer, received numerous first prizes in national competitions, and has assisted young children at music summer camps in Aranya. When she was 8, Olivia started learning the cello. Not long after, she received her ARSM diploma from the ABRSM for both piano and cello, both with distinction. She is now studying with Rosy Hunt and is a MYO cellist. In 2017, Olivia was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York as an award recipient of the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition. Olivia has also had the privilege of receiving masterclasses from acclaimed concert pianists such as Arie Vardi, Ewa Poblocka, Xiaomei Zhu and many others.  

Olivia is currently learning under Dr Julie Haskell’s guidance. She is a music scholar at St Michael’s Grammar, having been awarded the Anne and Joan Jones Music Scholarship. She has also received various prizes at Eisteddfods By the Bay, Boroondara, and Ringwood. Recently, Olivia was awarded her associate for piano as well as for cello with distinction. She is now working towards her licentiate this year for both instruments.  

Olivia exceptionally enjoys music from the Romantic period, particularly that of Liszt, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. She strives to pursue music as a career in the future, since she believes that is what she feels most comfortable and happy with.

Olivia will perform:

• Samuel Barber: Nocturne, Op. 33
• Franz Liszt: Transcendental Etude No.9 “Ricordanza”
  

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.