Louise Turnbull, now aged 18, began her musical journey playing a ukulele with a drumstick. But it wasn’t until she was introduced to the violin at age 3 that her passion for music could really take flight. She has subsequently been a student of the late Lesley Quatrough (dec), and Ivana Tomaskova, who has been her teacher and mentor since 2015.
Growing up on the Mornington Peninsula, Louise was involved in community music-making from a young age. She was welcomed into the Frankston Symphony Orchestra at age 8, then performed as soloist in 2019, and will be doing so again in 2023. Louise participated in the Melbourne Youth Orchestra ensemble programs since age 7 on various instruments including violin, viola, flute and piccolo. She has since been both principal viola and concertmaster of the flagship orchestra. In 2022, Louise returned as an Alumni to perform the Sibelius Violin Concerto with MYO’s Percy Grainger Youth Orchestra. Louise has also participated in the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music’s Young Artist Academy, the Australian Chamber Orchestra Academy, and is a current member of the Australian Youth Orchestra.
Louise was awarded the R&M Dipnall Memorial Trophy for best instrumentalist at the 2022 Ringwood Eisteddfod, as well as second prize in 3MBS The Talent Series One. Louise has placed first at the Melbourne International Piano and Strings Festival, the Eva Malewicz Polish music competition, and in numerous other eisteddfods and competitions. She has also been a finalist in the MRC Bach Competition and Preston Youth Concerto Competition. Additionally, Louise was the recipient of the Mornington Peninsula Shire Bursary and Monash Emerging Artist Award, and has completed both AMusA and LMusA (Distinction) diplomas on violin.
After leaving school early to commence accelerated tertiary studies through Open Universities Australia, Louise is now working towards a Bachelor of Music Performance at the University of New England (Armidale, NSW). Having performed as a guest musician in the ANAM orchestra in 2022, Louise is excited to have commenced her first year at ANAM in 2023 with Sophie Rowell and Adam Chalabi.
Photo credit: Pia Johnson