Biography

Katrina

Katrina is the founder and Manager of Carinya Strings; which she established with a vision to provide high quality strings music for all special functions and occasions.

A violinist, Katrina received two performance scholarships during her tertiary studies at the Sydney Conservatorium.

Since completing her Bachelor Degree, Katrina has performed in a number of high profile orchestras, including The Willoughby Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble 143 and The Metropolitan Orchestra. Katrina also directs Musical Ensembles in several Sydney Schools.

Steve

Steve is an accomplished musician who graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with the highest mark in his year for performance. He is currently Principal Cellist with The Metropolitan Orchestra and has been soloist with several Sydney orchestras including Orchestra 143, the Bourbaki Ensemble and the Sydney Chamber Orchestra.

Steve is also a regular theatre performer and has appeared as solo musician for the Belvoir St Theatre production of The Book of Everything performing on Broadway in New York. He has also played cello for recent professional productions of The Lion King, Les Miserable and Matilda the Musical. Steve currently teaches chamber music at the Sydney Conservatorium High School and has played with the Carinya Quartet since 2004.

Neil

Having begun on viola in his hometown Whyalla, Neil's career has taken him all around the world, including to Europe as soloist. Neil has performed and toured with the Adelaide, Melbourne, Tasmanian and Sydney Symphony Orchestras (upon holding an SSO fellowship in 2012), as well as with the Australian Chamber Orchestra He enjoyed two years of touring with 'The Cat Empire' and features as soloist and guest artist on their DVD 'Live at the Bowl'. Neil regularly performs at the Sydney Opera House with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra for Opera Australia and the Australian Ballet.

Neil is also currently conductor/director of Killara High's orchestras and has directed performances with the Mosman Symphony Orchestra, Sydney.

Naomi

Naomi was born in South Africa and grew up in Cape Town. She began learning the violin at the age of 4. After years of training, she was professionally engaged to play with the Cape Town Baroque Ensemble.

In 1996 Naomi moved to Durban where she studied a Bachelor of Music Degree at the University of KwaZulu Natal and was awarded the KwaZulu Natal University Postgraduate Scholarship. She then embarked on a Master of Music Degree. At the same time she successfully auditioned with the KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra as a tutti violinist. Naomi also began teaching violin lessons at a number of private schools in Durban.

Since moving to Sydney in 2011 Naomi has been teaching violin and professionally performing in orchestral and ensemble work.

Guest Musicians of Carinya Strings

Michal

Michal is our guest cellist. He has been performing with the Carinya Strings for eight years.

He has held the honorable position of Principal Cellist in a number of orchestras, including the Willoughby Symphony, the Manly-Warringah Symphony and the Novacastrian Arts Orchestra. Michal played with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and, in the past, has been recorded as a soloist and in chamber ensembles for the Polish Radio Station.

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