New Colombo Plan scholar and winner of the Junior Category of the Queensland International Chamber Music Competition, Eden Annesley is a violinist hailing from regional NSW, Australia. She obtained her Bachelor of Music (Distinction) at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, with Associate Professor Michele Walsh, winning the Rita Tetheridge Scholarship and Robert S Alva Memorial Award for Highest-Achieving third-year student. Chamber music has always been Eden’s passion, having been invited to perform with the Australian World Orchestra and Regional Youth Orchestra String Quartet, and collaborations with Ensemble Q, including the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School, 4MBS Opera Gala, Opera at Jimbour series. Eden has been invited to collaborate with esteemed Australian performers including Arcadia Winds and the Partridge Quartet, as well as being selected for programs with the Australian Youth Orchestra, Queensland Youth Symphony and Adam Summer School for Chamber Music. As part of the Scythian String Quartet, she was invited to undertake a masterclass with Guildhall School of Music Head of Chamber Music, Matthew Jones. Sponsored by the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan, in 2024 Eden undertook a year of exchange in Yamanashi, Japan, researching Japanese cultural influences in the violin music of Tōru Takemitsu. Eden is also an award-winning author, alongside her keen addiction to coffee and outdoor adventures.

Māori/ Japanese violinist, Mana Waiariki (Te Whānau- ā- Apanui) is a freelance musician that is based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington. At the end of 2023, Mana completed her Bachelor of Music under the tutelage of Helene Pohl at Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music. Mana was generously supported by the Deane Endowment Trust throughout her undergraduate studies and they will continue to support her as she pursues her postgraduate studies with Peter Clark from the NZSQ in 2025. During her time at NZSM, she was also awarded the Wellington Totoweka Scholarship, Barbara Finlayson Scholarship, and the VUW Ensemble Music Performance Award. Mana has performed as a guest soloist, concertmaster, and section player for orchestras around the country as well as trialing for a core violin position for Orchestra Wellington. Notable classical chamber music moments include self presenting concerts in Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Whanganui-a-Tara with the Eden Quartet in 2021 and participating in the annual Adam Summer School. Mana is an advocate for new music and cross genre collaborations and she has premiered chamber music works at the Lilburn Composer’s Competition as well as being featured on recordings. Mana plays a violin on loan to her through the Hill Family Foundation’s Instrument Bank by Karla Mitchell.

Tal Amoore is a passionate violist born in Sydney, now residing in Aotearoa. As a recipient of the NZSM Director’s Award, he is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Music with Honours at Te Kōkī, the New Zealand School of Music, under the guidance of Gillian Ansell, violist of the NZSQ. Tal’s musical journey includes performing as both a soloist and principal violist with the Afflatus Ensemble. Through Afflatus, Tal has performed in Auckland and Seoul, culminating with a solo recital series in Auckland, and Seoul. As a founding member of the Eden Quartet, he has gained recognition for the group’s expressive performances. The quartet has performed extensively throughout New Zealand, most notably collaborating with Steinway Artist Jason Bae. Tal’s ardent commitment to chamber music is reflected in his selection as a Young Artist for the 2025 Whakatipu Music Festival, an Emerging Artist at the World’s Edge Festival in 2022 and 2024 and through his regular participation at the Adam Summer School. Recipient of the Robert Heuser Viola Award from the NZSO National Youth Orchestra, Tal’s musical versatility extends to his orchestral engagements. He regularly performs with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and has appeared as Guest Principal Violist with Orchestra Wellington, the Hawke’s Bay Symphony Orchestra, and the Nelson Symphony Orchestra.

Nelson born cellist Lavinnia Rae has resided in London for the last six years, following her undergraduate studies at the Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music, and Waikato Conservatorium of Music. In London she studied with Richard Lester at the Royal College of Music, where she completed a Master of Performance with Distinction. As a Leverhulme Arts Scholar she completed a MPerf with Distinction in Orchestral Artistry in association with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, under the tutelage of LSO principal cellist Rebecca Gilliver. Since her graduation, she was on trial in 2023 for tutti cello with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and regularly freelances with the LSO, and Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. This year she was on contract for eight weeks with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra as guest section cello, and she enjoyed performing with the orchestra again that inspired her to pursue a professional music career. Chamber music highlights for Lavinnia include attending the Hellensmusic Festival in Herefordshire performing Dohnányi’s Piano Quintet No. 1 in C minor alongside incredible professionals, Tom Poster, Maya Iwabuchi, and Lawrence Power, and the three week intensive String Quartet Seminar mentored by the Takács Quartet at the Music Academy of the West in California.