Sebastian Coyne is a passionate violist who started playing violin and piano at the age of six. From a young age, he was a part of Suzuki group classes, and performed in local contemporary music performances with his siblings.
He transitioned to viola early in his primary school years, and shortly after studied viola with Louise Ray for the majority of his high school education. He then furthered his studies in music at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS), where he studied with Christopher Cartlidge and Gabrielle Halloran.
Seb was a finalist in both the MRC Bach Competition and the Strike a Chord Chamber Music Competitions in 2021. In the Strike a Chord final, he won awards for both his performances, where he featured as a pianist and violist. After his completion of high school, he was invited to premier his lockdown composition at the VCE Top Class concert series at the Melbourne Recital Centre.
As an experienced orchestral musician, Seb has featured as Principal Viola of VCASS orchestra and the Melbourne Youth Orchestra. Seb has participated in multiple Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) programs, winning viola fellowships for the Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras, as well as piano for AYO National Music Camp.
Seb is currently undertaking his third year at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) and his second year at the University of Melbourne, under the tutelage of Caroline Henbest. He looks forward to collaborating with more ANAM and the University of Melbourne musicians in a wide variety of chamber and orchestral settings.
Highlights during Seb’s time at ANAM so far include masterclasses with Lawrence Power, Timothy Ridout and Florian Peelman. Some memorable performances during his time at ANAM include Virgil Thompson’s Sonata da Chiesa during the George Crumb festival, Schumann Piano Quartet with guest artist Anthony Marwood for a Mostly Mozart concert, and the opera Capriccio by Richard Strauss conducted by Simone Young.
Seb currently plays a John D. Johnston 2023 viola.
FROM: Melbourne, VIC. Lands of the Kulin Nation.
Recipient of the Georgina Grosvenor Scholarship generously supported by the Bokhara Foundation
Photo credit Pia Johnson