Violist Jamie Miles is a first-year student at both the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) and the University of Melbourne (BMus), training with Caroline Henbest. He was awarded second prize in the 3MBS Victorian Young Performer of the Year Awards in 2022. Jamie was Principal Viola of the Australian Youth Orchestra for their 2022 National Tour, under the baton of conductor Sir Mark Elder, and has held principal positions at other AYO programs, including twice at National Music Camp. He completed VCE at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS), achieving a perfect score in Unit 3/4 Music Investigation.
Jamie received his Licentiate Diploma (L.Mus.A) with Distinction in 2020, and was awarded the Australian String Teachers Association Viola Award for best viola examination that year. He has won first prizes in competitions such as the Melbourne International Piano and Strings Festival, VCASS Outstanding Soloists and the Boroondara Eisteddfod (Open Age Strings). Jamie was also a finalist in the 2022 Preston Youth Concerto Competition, performing the Australian Premiere of Clarke's Viola Sonata, arranged for Viola and Orchestra by Ruth Lomon.
As a keen composer, he has won several composition competitions, including the Australian Guild of Music's 'UNLOCK'D' competition, where he won the 'Solo Instrument' category with his 'Caprice for Solo Viola'. His most recent composition, 'Caprice for Viola and Cello', performed by himself and his sister, Charlotte, was recorded, produced, and aired by 3MBS in November 2022.
Jamie is a founding member of the Eureka Quartet, which won first prize in Musica Viva's Lockdown Legends competition (2020), receiving coaching by the renowned Flinders Quartet as a result. He has benefited from mentoring from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, as a member of the ACO Academy from 2017 to 2019, and from international masterclasses while touring Europe with the Melbourne String Ensemble. He performed all four symphonies of Johannes Brahms as part of Fabian Russell's 'Orchestra Project' in 2021, fostering a passion for Brahms' chamber and symphonic repertoire.
Aside from music, Jamie is obsessed with sport, holding unnecessary amounts of knowledge about AFL and cricket, and is a die-hard Geelong Cats supporter.
FROM: Melbourne, VIC. Lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung
Jamie's training at ANAM is supported by ANAM Syndicate donors Andrew Boyle, Jannie Brown, Barbara Friday, Merilyn and David Howorth, Pam Montgomery
Jamie plays a John D Johnston 2003 Viola #85, Smith model, generously on loan to ANAM from Jannie Brown
Photo by Pia Johnson