We’re delighted to share the news of two ANAM alumni violinists who have been successfully appointed orchestral fellowships in our International Academy Partnerships program.
After rigorous auditions, Josephine Chung (alum 2022) is the latest recipient of the ANAM Eva Besen AO Scholarship to attend the Karajan Academie of the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Open to current musicians and ANAM alumni under the age of 27, the scholarship facilitates a two-year position for an outstanding violinist or cellist to attend the prestigious Karajan Academie in Berlin, honing their orchestral skills in classes and individual lessons, as well as performing alongside members of the Berliner Philharmoniker in rehearsals and concerts.
Josephine will commence her position on 1 September 2025, receiving mentorship from First Concertmaster of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Noah Bendix-Balgley. Previous recipients of the ANAM Karajan Academie position include violinists Harry Bennetts (alum 2016, now Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Associate Concertmaster), Riley Skevington (alum 2017, now West Australian Symphony Orchestra’s Associate Concertmaster), and Harry Ward (alum 2020, now Section First Violin with the Berliner Philharmoniker). The most recent recipient, Phoebe Gardner (alum 2021), will complete her two-year position shortly and commence a contract position with the Staatskapelle Dresden from September 2025.
Josephine began her training at ANAM in 2017, then returned for a further two years in 2021-22 following undergraduate study at the Curtis Institute of Music in the US. She is currently based in Berlin where she has spent the last 12 months studying at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, with Belcea Quartet’s violinist (and also ANAM alum) Suyeon Kang.
“I am humbled by the incredibly generous support of Naomi Milgrom AC, who has allowed me the opportunity to embark on this next chapter of my musical life,” says Josephine. “Being able to witness the music-making in Germany these last few months has already been an entirely transformative experience for me, and I have a deep admiration for the musicians of the Berliner Philharmoniker in particular.”
The second celebrated appointment is violinist Harry Egerton (alum 2024), who is the latest recipient of the Jane Hansen AO Scholarship to the Hermann Levi Academy of the Bayerisches Staatsorchester, in Munich. This Scholarship enables an ANAM musician or alum under the age of 26 to undertake two years of training with one of Germany’s oldest opera and ballet orchestras, receiving mentorship from members of the Bayerisches Staatsorchester, diving in-depth into operatic and ballet repertoire, from classical to contemporary, and performing in rehearsals and productions alongside professionals.
Since the Academy was founded in 2002, countless graduates have gone on to professional orchestral careers in concert halls and opera houses all around Europe. Previous recipients of the ANAM Scholarship include Johnny van Gend (alum 2019, formerly Section Violin in the Nationaltheater-Orchester Mannheim, and now Principal First Violin of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra), and Mana Ohashi (alum 2018), who is currently performing on contract with the Bayerisches Staatsorchester following her two-year Academy position.
Harry trained at ANAM for nearly three years with Sophie Rowell and Dr Robin Wilson, and from September 2024, he has been undertaking postgraduate study at the Mozart University Salzberg, Austria, studying with Lily Francis. He was also selected as one of six Emerging Artists with the Australian Chamber Orchestra earlier this year.
“I am hugely excited to be participating in the Hermann Levi Akademie very soon,” says Harry. “It will be greatly inspiring for me to be able learn and discover as much as I can from within such a fantastic ensemble, and I am very thankful to be taking part!”
We congratulate both Josephine and Harry on their successful appointments, and we look forward to following their musical journeys with great interest.
Words by Laura Panther
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