We are excited to announce the AUSTA VIC Spring Pedagogy Series!

This September, join us online for three inspiring sessions led by outstanding educators from across the East Coast.

• Lachlan Dent – Making Young Ensembles Sound Great!
  Thursday 18 September, 7:00 pm
  Practical strategies for tone development, rhythm, intonation, and repertoire.

https://www.trybooking.com/DFHUS

• Stephen Chin – The Art of Scales
  Monday 22 September, 6:30 pm
  A hands-on exploration of how scales can nurture technique, musicianship, and expression.

https://www.trybooking.com/DFIBN

• Bernardo Alviz – All Things Double Bass
  Wednesday 24 September, 7:00 pm
  A deep-dive into repertoire, posture, technique, and everything double bass.

https://www.trybooking.com/DFIBO

Stay at home, recharge, and connect with colleagues while gaining practical tools to energise your teaching.

SATURDAY 4 & SUNDAY 5 October– AUSTA Q Professional Weekend

Registration is now open!
https://www.trybooking.com/DFQQH 

The Professional Weekend is another staple of the AUSTA Q Calendar. This year we have an incredible weekend:

A Musical Career in Strings Playing and Teaching

with Doretta Balkizas, Patrick Murphy and Colleagues

Whether you are a highly experienced teacher, early career teacher, tertiary student, or high school student interested in a career in music, the AUSTA Q Professional Weekend 2025 will provide a variety of sessions to extend your skills and perspective as players and teachers. No string teacher or student aspiring to a career in music can afford to miss this invaluable event!

Please remember to bring your instruments!

The ‘AUSTA NQ Celebration of Strings’ Festival is an annual workshop which brings together hundreds of the string players from primary schools in the Townsville region for a great concert celebrating the fun of string playing. For to students up to year 8, in five massive orchestras, our concert promises to be a hit, especially for an auditorium full of adoring family and friends.
Come and enjoy the fun and festivity as these keen string players strut their stuff on the big stage.

Download a copy of the schedule for the weekend here.

The ‘AUSTA NQ Celebration of Strings’ Festival is an annual workshop which brings together hundreds of the string players from primary schools in the Townsville region for a great concert celebrating the fun of string playing. For to students up to year 8, in five massive orchestras, our concert promises to be a hit, especially for an auditorium full of adoring family and friends.
Come and enjoy the fun and festivity as these keen string players strut their stuff on the big stage.

Download a copy of the schedule for the weekend here.

AUSTA ACT

Workshop For Teachers with John Ma

Date & Time: Sunday 30th November 2025

Venue: Orana Steiner School – Unwin Street Weston

Cost: Members $40, Non-Members $60, Tertiary Students $20 with student ID on the day

Online Registration: www.trybooking.com/DFODM

Contact: austaact@gmail.com

John Ma

John Ma is a Violinist/Violist and Viola d’amore player specialising in Early Music. He has performed in various roles with groups around the world including Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (NL), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (UK), Academia Montis Regalis (IT), Bach Collegium Japan (JP), Musica Poetica (NL), Apollo Ensemble (NL), Fantasticus (NL), New Collegium (NL), Collegium 1704 (CZ), Helsinki Baroque Orchestra (FIN), B’Rock (BG), Trondheim Baroque Orchestra (NOR).

In Australia, John has appeared with groups such as Pinchgut Opera, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Australian Haydn Ensemble, Australian Bach Akademie, Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Salut!, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, and Sinfonia Australis.

As a teacher and ensemble leader, he is keen to seek a balance between technique and exploration. A robust technique is meaningless if it does not form the basis for a playful exploration and communication with colleagues and audience.

John is an avid gamer, comic book reader, and tech-nerd. He retains an interest in scientific and mathematical developments and tries to stay up to date with the latest news and advances related to his previous studies. He is now based in Canberra where he has decades of learning the finer points of gardening and vegetable growing ahead of him.

AUSTA ACT

Christmas Dinner

Date & Time: Saturday 6th December 2025

Venue: Snapper & Co – Mariner Place Yarralumla

Cost: Buy your own dinner

Online Registration: coming

Contact: austaact@gmail.com