New Zealand born Mark Walton is a highly respected and popular figure in the Australian and New Zealand musical scene and widely acknowledged as a virtuoso clarinet and saxophone performer, and inspiring teacher.

For many years Mark held the position of Chair of Woodwind, then Chair of Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Mark has performed in many parts of the world, recorded numerous solo albums, arranged and composed a large number of works, many of which have been performed far and wide.

Mark has also written two inspiring books about his musical life, How Did That Happen and Who Would Have Thought.

For the past two years Mark has written the highly popular Saturday social history column, Our Kiwi Home for the Christchurch Press.

Sumiko Yamamura is a freelance accompanist born in Japan. She completed her Bachelor of Music in performance with Elizabeth Powell, and a Graduate Diploma in piano accompaniment with David Miller at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She is an active ensemble pianist working with instrumentalists and singers including recitals with Berlin Philharmonic Principal Trombone Jonathon Ramsay, former SSO Principal Bassoon John Cran (with ABC-FM), Orana Trio (ABC-FM), Kammer Trio, Sirius Ensemble and many others. Sumiko has been involved in the premiere performances of many works by Australian and European composers, often in conjunction with the clarinetist Richard Rourke. 

These composers include Enis Mullaj, Eriona Rushiti, Johanna Selleck, Andrián Pertout, Paul Moulatlet and Alan Holley and many more.

Since their debut in 2011, Mirabella Trio; originally clarinet, violin, and piano trio, has performed concerts of classical and contemporary music across Sydney, and regularly performed at Classics at Picton. Using the uniqueness of instrumentation of this trio, they are passionate to perform both well established repertoire such as Trios by Khachaturian, Milhaud, Bartók, and Stravinsky and also the less exposed but fantastic works such as Serenade for Three by Peter Schickele, and Trio by Gian Carlo Menotti. In 2019, Minah (violoncello) joined the Trio as the newest member and replaced Sayaka (violin). Mirabella Trio continues to discover exciting repertoire for the new combination. 

Cello: Minah Choe 

Born in Seoul, Korea, Minah began her studies at the age of 8. She graduated with Bachelor of Music with First Class of Honours from the Sydney Conservatorium where she was admitted whilst at high school and received scholarships throughout her studies. She was a full scholarship holder at the Australian National Academy of Music under the guidance of Prof. Janos Starker and continued with doctoral degree as his teaching assistant at IU.  Minah graduated with Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium. Currently she works as a freelance cellist in major orchestras and performing widely in various chamber music concerts and recitals.

Minah has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including Sydney Symphony, Christchurch Symphony, Nizhny-Novgrod Philharmonic, Indiana University Philharmonic, Bloomington Camerata, and so on. Minah has won numerous awards including 'Most Promising Performer' in 4th Adam International Cello Competition, Australian Postgraduate Award, inaugural Janos Starker Scholarship, Dorothy Fraser Scholarship and Australian University of Women Federation Commemorative Fellowship.

Minah is passionate about teaching cello. Currently, she teaches at Abbotsleigh school for girls, Cranbrook school and the King's school. She was a tutor at AYO Young Symphonists in 2010 and tutor at the Riverina Summer School for Strings in 2013 and 2015. Minah worked as a Music Co-ordinator of the Australian Korean Classical Association. Minah plays a cello by Joseph Hel (18690).

Piano: Kayoko Nishiwaki

Kayoko studied at Mukogawa Women's University in Japan with Boris Bekhterev and with the late Naoyuki Inoue, himself a pupil of Rudolf Serkin. She also holds a Master's degree from Moscow State Conservatoire. Kayoko is an experienced Chamber Musician. In Japan, replacing Boris Bekhterev, she appeared a number of times at Russian Embassy, both as a soloist and an accompanist. For several years she participated in the Kobe Memorial production of Verdi Requiem.

She and her husband, a former pianist Dong-Jun Ha, established a duo called 'Piano Duo'. In 2005 they played in Kobe International Competition and received an award. Kayoko now lives in Sydney where she studied with Phillip Shovk and runs a home studio. She has recorded for ABC Classics.

Clarinet: Hanae McLean

Hanae grew up in a small town called Komono, outskirts of Nagoya, Japan. She began learning piano at the age of 4. During high school, she joined the school band and switched her instrument to clarinet at the age of 15. Hanae studied with Professor Floyd Williams at the Queensland Conservatorium before moving to Sydney. She completed her Bachelor of Music in Performance, and Post Graduate Diploma in Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium, studying with Franceco Celata. 

Hanae was a member of Sydney Sinfonia, the Sydney Symphony Education Programme. She was a guest musician for Sydney Symphony Fellowship Program in 2005 and a member of Camerata programme for Australian Youth Orchestra in 2006. She has performed with Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonic Choir Orchestra, Pacific Opera, Eminence Symphony Orchestra, and The Occasional Performing Sinfonia.  Hanae teaches clarinet at various schools and conducts the Clarinet Ensemble at one of her schools.

Emily Cavey is an accomplished cellist from England, now based in Australia. She trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London on a full scholarship, and has performed extensively across Europe as both a soloist and chamber musician with the Chekhov String Trio.

Since relocating to Australia in 2008, Emily has established herself as a versatile performer, playing regularly with The Metropolitan Orchestra and the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra, and performing in several musical theatre productions each year.

She is a core member of both the Strings Attached Ensemble and the Aurelian Ensemble, presenting numerous recitals that reflect her deep passion for chamber music.

Outside of her musical career, Emily is a devoted mother of three and enjoys creating and decorating exquisite cakes in her spare time.

Dr Brett McKern
PhD DCA BMus BTh BEd FRCO FTCL FRSM FGCM FLCM FCompASMC LMusA AMusA ACertCM CertRS HonGCM FGMS MMTA

Dr Brett McKern is an organist, composer, choir director, lecturer, music teacher, and consultant on music and music education.

Brett has an international career as a composer with his music being performed in at least eight countries including England, Belgium, France, Germany, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. His music has been performed and broadcasted in multiple Australian states. Brett is an award-winning composer (Australia & Canada) and has published over one hundred works in Australia and abroad. Brett is often commissioned by professional soloists (particularly organists), liturgical choirs, secular choirs (such as the Song Co), school choirs, orchestras, and others. He has also composed pedagogical material (such as the latest AMEB piano sight-reading book). His music has been performed at such prestigious venues as Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral, London; and Washington National Cathedral.

Brett holds degrees in music, education, theology, and two doctorates in musical composition including a PhD from Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, Trinity College of Music, London, the Royal Schools of Music, London College of Music, and the Guild of Church Musicians. He has lectured at various universities and at theological college, and was an Adjunct Associate Professor. He examines written music both online and as one of three national diploma examiners, and is a syllabus adviser for the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB), as well as being called upon to examine university research degrees. Brett has adjudicated multiple composition competitions, and sits on the Advisory Panel for the music publisher Wirripang. He is a Represented Composer of the Australian Music Centre. Brett consults on music and music education including for an international music education software developer; as well as lecturing to music teachers on pedagogical technique.

Brett has performed as an organist and choir director in four countries, and been recorded for DVD, CD and film. He was the organist on the soundtrack for the Australian feature film Animal Kingdom. He has released a solo CD of organ music and improvisations, and features as organist, choir director or composer on numerous other CDs.

Brett also teaches and many of his private organ, theory and composition students have gone on to read music at universities and conservatoria in Australia and abroad, and a number are now professional musicians.