Freya Franzen began violin studies in Canberra at the age of six with Gillian Bailey-Graham, later continuing as a pre-tertiary student at the Canberra School of Music. In her final year of school, she was the recipient of the ACT Board of Secondary Studies Recognition of Excellence Award for Performing Arts (Music). Studying under Associate Professor Goetz Richter and Mr Christopher Kimber, Freya completed a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, graduating with First Class Honours in 2008.
In 2011 Freya was awarded a Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellowship, giving her the opportunity to play with, and be mentored by, the orchestra for a year. Having been through all the orchestras of the Canberra Youth Orchestra Society, and also participating in a number of Australian National Music Camps, Freya was aware of a very keen interest in orchestral repertoire, and this opportunity with the Sydney Symphony opened a very important door into the professional world of orchestral playing. Freya has since toured internationally with the Sydney Symphony, held a position as a member of their Second Violin section, and performed with them as a soloist in Malcolm Arnold’s Concerto for two violins in Sydney’s Angel Place Recital Hall.
In 2012 Freya travelled to London to complete a Masters of Music at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Stephaine Gonley. During this time she was given numerous opportunities to play in leadership positions in the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, and receive mentoring by members of the London Symphony Orchestra. The same year saw Freya attend the Salzburg Festival Masterclasses, studying with Professor Ulf Hoelscher, with whom she has continued to travel to have lessons over the past few years.
2014 saw Freya win her current position as a member of the Melbourne Symphony’s second violin section, which she loves being a part of. Besides orchestral life, she regularly engages in chamber music and is a founding member of the upcoming Melbourne Ensemble.
Outside the music scene Freya loves cooking, travel, spending time outdoors, and exploring Melbourne’s endless selection of great bars and restaurants.
