In 2025 we are delighted to be collaborating with the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) in a placement program for talented ANAM musicians. Each artist has been selected for their immense talent and strength as players and will be taking on the role of a professional player, mentored by Ensemble Q artists and ANAM faculty, and delivered in a demanding yet nurturing environment that enhances their learning journey at this very high level.
Helena Burns, violaappears in SUNDAYS BY THE LAKE May 4 - Schubert
Helena Burns is a Brisbane-born violist currently in her second year at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), studying under Caroline Henbest. She holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Queensland (UQ), where she studied with Professor Patricia Pollett, and will complete her Master of Philosophy at UQ in early 2025. A passionate orchestral and chamber musician, Helena has performed widely across Australia with ensembles including Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and the Auckland Philharmonia. She appears on Camerata’s 2024 recording of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and is a founding member of the Amiti String Quartet, which will release new recordings of Australian works by Abigail Lui and Ollie Muller in 2025. Helena will also tour internationally with the Australian Youth Orchestra in 2025. 
Jamie Miles, violaappears in SUNDAYS BY THE LAKE June 15 - Brahms & Bosmans
Jamie Miles is a 20-year-old violist currently in his third year at both the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) and the University of Melbourne, studying with Caroline Henbest. He has held principal positions with the Australian Youth Orchestra and the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Melbourne, Sydney, and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras through ANAM’s side-by-side programs. A standout soloist, Jamie was the 2023 winner of the Melbourne Recital Centre Bach Competition (Richard Mills Prize), a finalist in the 2024 Great Romantics Competition, and the only Australian selected for the 2023 ARD International Music Competition in Munich. Jamie has performed viola concerti with several Melbourne-based orchestras, including the world premiere of Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata (arr. Ruth Lomon) with orchestra. Also an emerging composer, his Suite for Solo Viola was recently added to the AMEB syllabus, and he was the winner of the Australian Guild of Music’s “UNLOCK’D” composition competition. Away from music, Jamie enjoys playing cricket with Middle Park CC and cheering on the Geelong Cats. He performs on a 1899 Béla Szepessy viola, generously on loan from Thomas Chawner. 
Oakley Paul - bass (ANAM Alum 2024)appears at UKARIA CULTURAL CENTRE March 23 Dvorak, Berwald, Golijov
Oakley Paul, born in Perth (WA), is a double bass player with a deep passion for orchestral and chamber music. He holds casual positions with the West Australian, Melbourne, and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras, as well as Orchestra Victoria, and has performed widely with professional ensembles across the country. As a soloist, Oakley has appeared at the Warana Concerto Competition and performed with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra through ANAM’s Concerto Competition. After completing his training at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) in 2024 under Damien Eckersley, Oakley was selected in 2025 for the prestigious Australian Chamber Orchestra Emerging Artist program. He previously studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and has been actively involved in Australian Youth Orchestra programs for over seven years, shaping a strong foundation for his dynamic performance career. |
Braden Simm - fluteappears in QPAC SERIES May 19 - Ravel & Tchaikovsky
Originally from regional Queensland, flautist Braden Simm began his musical journey performing in local eisteddfods and has since developed into a dynamic performer across ballet, opera, and symphonic repertoire. He has appeared on stage with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Q, and Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra. As Principal Flute of the Queensland Youth Symphony in 2023, Braden toured Europe and Singapore, performing in iconic venues such as the Musikverein and Mozarteum. He has also performed Carl Vine’s Pipe Dreams as concerto soloist with the Queensland Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and was awarded the 2023 James Carson Memorial Prize. Braden completed his Bachelor of Music with distinction at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, studying under Virginia Taylor and receiving mentorship from Alison Mitchell and Timothy Munro. He has performed in masterclasses with celebrated flautists including Michael Cox, Adam Walker, and Denis Bouriakov, each contributing to the development of his expressive and imaginative style. 
Sebastian Coyne, viola (ANAM Alum, 2024)appears in SUNDAYS BY THE LAKE October 26 - Farrenc & Schumann
Sebastian Coyne is a passionate violist currently in his third year at the University of Melbourne, studying under Caroline Henbest. He began music at the age of six, playing violin and piano, and soon transitioned to viola, studying with Louise Ray throughout high school. He later trained at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) with Christopher Cartlidge and Gabrielle Halloran, and was a finalist in both the MRC Bach Competition and Strike a Chord in 2021, earning accolades for performances as both violist and pianist. Seb went on to study at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), where he participated in masterclasses with Lawrence Power, Timothy Ridout, and Carla Maria Rodrigues. His performance highlights include Schubert’s String Quintet with Jakub Jakowicz, the Schumann Piano Quartet with Anthony Marwood, and Virgil Thompson’s Sonata da Chiesa during the George Crumb Festival. He has also been actively involved in several Australian Youth Orchestra programs, which have played a formative role in his musical journey. Ensemble Q mentors include Adam Chalabi, violin (ANAM Faculty, Head of Violin), Zöe Black, violin (ANAM Faculty), Alison Mitchell, flute (ANAM Faculty)
Images by Pia Johnson
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