

Melissa has also appeared as soloist with major Australian orchestras, including the ACO, and Sydney and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras. She is the winner of several awards including the ABC Young Performers Competition String Finals, Radio 2MBS-FM Listeners Award and a British-Australian “Big Brother” Award for UK studies. She has also been a recipient of an Australia Council Performing Arts grant.
In between her frequent travels with the ACO, Melissa continues to give solo and chamber music recitals and record for ABC Classic, collaborating with fine local and international artists and particularly with American pianist Brenda Jones, her duo partner in the new ensemble Opus 2. Outside of her music she enjoys cooking, yoga and scuba diving in warm tropical locations.
Melissa performs on a beautiful 1846 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume cello, which is loaned to her by the ACO.
Meet The Orchestra

Richard Tognetti
Artistic Director & Lead Violin
Meet Richard

Helena Rathbone
Principal Violin
Meet Helena

Satu Vänskä
Principal Violin
Meet Satu

Aiko Goto
Violin
Meet Aiko

Ilya Isakovich
Violin
Meet Ilya

Liisa Pallandi
Violin
Meet Liisa

Maja Savnik
Violin
Meet Maja

Ike See
Violin
Meet Ike

Stefanie Farrands
Principal Viola
Meet Stefanie

Elizabeth Woolnough
Viola
Meet Liz

Timo-Veikko Valve
Principal Cello
Meet Tipi

Julian Thompson
Cello
Meet Julian

Maxime Bibeau
Principal Double Bass
Meet Max