Bridges Collective presents Visionaries featuring: Brenna Wee, Piano, Associate Artist, Linda Lin, Cello and students of Brenna Wee.

Rose Copsey - Sonny Chua: Around the World in 2 minutes... or less 

Emma Zhao - Frederic Chopin: Nocturne in F major, Op 15, No 1

Suwan Liu - Frederic Chopin: Revolutionary Etude, Op 10, No 12

Linda Lin, Cello and Brenna Wee, Piano:

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Seven Variations in Eb major, WoO46 

• Dmitri Shostakovich: Sonata in D minor for Cello and Piano, Op 40 

• Niccolo Paganini: Variations on One String on a theme by Rossini 

Choose Concert 1 for Brenna Wee

Brenna Serrenti Wee, Pianist

Brenna Serrenti Wee is a highly regarded pianist, collaborative artist and educator. She holds two Masters’ degrees from the University of Melbourne, with specialisations in Collaborative Pianism and Piano Pedagogy. A versatile pianist, she also studied Jazz Piano performance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Scholarships from both the Singapore and Australian governments funded her musical studies and her Graduate Diploma in Education.

Having grown up in South-East Asia and lived in many countries, Brenna founded Bridges Collective, a fine art ensemble which facilitates cross-cultural interaction through music-making. As Artistic Director of the ensemble, she was awarded multiple grants and awards from the Australia Council for the Arts, the Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in recognition of the ensemble’s valuable work in bridging cultures. These awards have enabled Brenna to take the ensemble on musical exchanges to Canberra, Melbourne, Singapore and West Malaysia where the ensemble has a well-established artist residency and composition workshop program.

Brenna continues to share the joy of music-making in her work, both in performance and education. She currently holds a position as an accompanist at Monash University, as Deputy Head of Keyboard at Haileybury College and is engaged in regular visits to Singapore and Malaysia as a pianist, associate artist and educator. She is excited to be part of the Stretto Festival and believes that the availability of alternate-sized keyboards will facilitate future generations of young and established pianists with smaller handspans to engage in music-making with ease and confidence.

Linda Lin, Cellist

Linda Lin is one of the most innovative and dynamic cellists of her generation, praised for her “penchant for flamboyance.” At just 15, she won Young Artist of Australia and made her debut with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at Melbourne’s ABC Iwaki Auditorium, broadcast live on ABC Classic FM and 3MBS FM. Since then, she has built an international career as a soloist and recitalist across the UK, Asia, and Australia.

Linda has performed at many prestigious venues including Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Cadogan Hall, and St Martin-in-the-Fields. Her Wigmore Hall debut followed her win of the Derek Butler Award and included an appearance on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune. She has received numerous honours, including the Sir Edward Cooper Prize, Florence Hooton Concerto Prize, Leverhulme Trust Scholarship, and Associated Board International Scholarship.

As an orchestral musician, Linda has performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra and English Chamber Orchestra, collaborating with conductors including Vladimir Ashkenazy and Sir Colin Davis. She has also performed for members of the British Royal Family, including at Princess Diana’s Memorial Service in London, broadcast worldwide.

Linda studied at the Royal Academy of Music with David Strange, Colin Carr, and Felix Schmidt, graduating with first class honours before joining the Academy as a Leverhulme Fellow. Alongside her classical career, she composes cello fusion music inspired by Latin tango and jazz and released her debut CD with pianist Ian Brown in 2013.

Rose Copley, Pianist

Rose has been playing piano for approximately three years and has developed a particular love for classical music. She especially enjoys playing Mozart and is drawn to technically challenging pieces that help her grow as a musician and performer. In addition to solo piano, she enjoys performing in school ensembles, bands and community events, and has recently taken up the clarinet, further expanding her musical interests. She has also participated in Eisteddfods, achieving prizes and Honourable Mentions in the Graded and U12 sections.

Outside of music, Rose enjoys writing and is an active participant in both soccer and taekwondo. She loves opportunities to perform and is delighted to be performing in this year’s Stretto Festival and looks forward to sharing her music with the audience.

Emma Zhao, Pianist

Emma Zhao is a piano student at Haileybury College where she has been under the guidance of Brenna Serrenti Wee for four years. In 2023, she was awarded an Honourable Mention in the Geoffrey McFerran Young Victorian Piano Competition. She enjoys participating in school concerts and performance seminars, VMTA concerts and Eisteddfods, and is currently preparing for her AMEB Grade 8 piano exam. Through her study, Emma has developed a special appreciation for the lyrical and expressive characteristics of the Romantic period repertoire. Her performance piece, Frederic Chopin’s Nocturne in F major, Op. 15 No. 1, is a work recognized for its graceful melodies, contrasting middle section, and poetic style and she is excited to share her performance with the audience. Outside of music, Emma enjoys badminton and reading. 

Suwan Liu, Pianist

Already participating in concerts and recitals at the age of four, Suwan Liu has been playing the piano for eight years, and knew from the start that she had a true passion for the vivid, beautiful art of music. 

She has performed at the Victorian Music Teachers Association (VMTA)’s concerts and participated in the Boroondara Eisteddfod 2026 Under 12 section, earning herself an Honourable Mention. Suwan has also achieved first place in the Great Composers Competition Series, Bartók Category among contestants from Europe and the USA. Despite entering these larger competitions, she still loves performing at school and in front of smaller crowds. 

Other than piano, Suwan has played the cello for five years, and been part of various ensembles and choirs since the age of five. Suwan also enjoys collaborating with other instruments and accompanying ensembles. When she isn’t engaging in music, Suwan enjoys learning languages, mountain biking, and travelling. 

Roger Zhang: 

• J S Bach: Prelude and Fugue no 17 bk1

• Chopin: Fantasie Impromptu 

Vivian Shen – Czerny:  Etude op 740 no 24

Eric Liu:    

• Ravel:  Sonatine Mov 1

• J S Bach: Prelude from English Suite no 2

Jennifer Kong:

• Beethoven: Rage over a lost penny by Beethoven 

• Chopin: Etude Op 10 no 1. 

Charlotte Feng – Chopin: Etude op 25 no 1

Leah Gui – Chopin: Nocturne op 48 no 1

Felicity Sui: 

• Rameau: Gavotte and Variations

• Kachaturian: Toccata

Catherine Jiang:

• J S Bach: Toccata from Partita no 6

• Ravel: Movement 3 from Sonatine

Nancy Tsou – Chopin: Preludes op 28 nos 1-9

Choose Concert 3 for Nancy Tsou

Nancy Tsou, Pianist

Nancy Tsou is an experienced pianist, educator, AMEB examiner based in Melbourne. She began piano studies at the age of five and later completed a Master of Music at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Nancy has taught at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, and the University of Wollongong, and has performed extensively throughout Australia and overseas. Her recordings with Move Records, including Chopin Nocturnes and Latin Muse, are regularly broadcast on ABC Classic FM.

Nancy is an experienced adjudicator and examiner, having adjudicated major competitions including the Melbourne Star International Music Competition, the Musical Society of Victoria, and the La Trobe Eisteddfod. She is widely recognized for her insightful, constructive and encouraging feedback to the performers.

In 2025, Nancy was invited to the Tianjin Conservatory of Music to present masterclasses and participate in an educational exchange program. Following the success of the visit, she received a return invitation for this year. 

Leah Gui, Pianist

Leah Cathrine Gui, born in Australia, began her musical journey at the age of four with the piano and later took up the violin at seven. She currently attends Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School in Melbourne, having been awarded a prestigious music and academic scholarship in 2019. Since 2020, Leah has served as the first violist in various ensembles and the school orchestra. In 2022 and 2023, she performed as a first violinist in the Melbourne Youth Orchestra. In 2023, she was awarded her Associate in Music, Australia (AmusA) in both piano and violin, a diploma granted by the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) in recognition of advanced musical achievement. In 2026, she performed as the first violinist in the orchestra for Lowther Hall’s production of Wendy and Peter Pan. 

Leah’s musical talent has led to numerous competition successes, including First Prize in the Melbourne regional round and Second Prize in the international final of the 2018 Melbourne International Youth Music Competition. Her recent achievements include Second Prize in the Piano Solo category (15 and under) at the 2025 Ringwood Eisteddfod, First Prize in the Solo Piano category (14 years old) at the 2024 Charleston International Music Competition, and Second Prize in the Piano Solo category (14 and under) at the 2023 Boroondara Eisteddfod. She also achieved finalist placements at the National Bernstein Piano Competition from 2023 to 2025 and won Third Prize in the senior category in 2024. 

Alongside her musical pursuits, Leah is an active volunteer at various local and international music events, including the 2024 and 2026 Melbourne Star International Music Competitions and its associated masterclasses and workshops. She also enjoys sports, travel, and debating. In 2025, she was awarded the Swannie Award for Best Speaker in the Essendon region in the DAV Schools Competition and was recognised as Best Speaker in both the Top Asia and WSDA Public Forum debating events. 

At school, Leah is actively engaged in co-curricular activities and currently holds several leadership positions, including serving on the Student Representative Council, acting as House Assistant Deputy, and being Captain of the piano ensemble, debating, and softball teams.

Roger Zhang, Pianist

Roger Zhang, 11 years old, began learning piano at the age of five and is currently studying towards the AMEB Certificate of Performance (C.P.E.). He has performed regularly at school events, for peers, and in various music competitions, developing strong technical skills, musical expression, and confidence as a performer.

At age seven, Roger commenced clarinet as his second instrument and is now working towards AMEB Grade 8. He is an active member of his school concert band, where he enjoys ensemble playing and has developed strong listening and collaboration skills.

A highlight of Roger’s musical journey was participating in an international music exchange program with the Tianjin Conservatory of Music. During this program, I attended masterclasses with highly respected professors from both Melbourne and Tianjin, gaining valuable musical insights, and performed to a large audience. He looks forward to continuing to develop as both a soloist and ensemble musician.

Vivan Shen, Pianist

Vivian Shen, aged 14, is a talented young pianist with a natural musicality and expressive sensitivity that make her performances a genuine pleasure to hear. She achieved an A in her Grade 7 AMEB piano examination in November 2025 and was awarded Third Prize in the 2025 Melbourne Star International Music Competition. Vivian has also performed in concerts at the Steinway Gallery, where her warm and thoughtful musicianship has been warmly appreciated by audiences.

Despite her achievements, Vivian remains modest and unassuming, approaching music with sincerity and quiet enjoyment rather than ambition. Her playing is distinguished by its natural flow, sensitivity of tone, and genuine connection to the music, qualities that continue to develop beautifully through her studies and performances.

Eric Liu, Pianist

Eric Liu is a 14-year-old pianist known for his emotional and lively playing style. He brings a natural sense of storytelling to the keyboard — balancing expressive phrasing with vibrant, energetic delivery.

In 2024, he was placed second at the Melbourne Star International Music Competition (MSIMC). The following year, he returned and earned 3rd place. He has also achieved an A in COP (Certificate of Performance).

Whether shaping a tender melody or driving through a spirited passage, Eric plays with intention, Feeling and youthful exuberance.

Felicity Su, Pianist

Despite her young age, Felicity has already established herself as a promising and accomplished young musician. She recently completed her AMEB Certificate of Performance and has achieved notable success in a number of prestigious competitions and performance events.

In 2024, she was awarded Third Place in the Minor II Piano Performance section of the Melbourne Star International Music Competition, as well as receiving an Honourable Mention in the Junior I Piano Performance division. Continuing this success in 2025, she was awarded Second Place in the Piano Solo (10 Years & Under) category at the same competition.

She was also selected as one of only eleven pianists from more than 60 applicants to perform in the Shine on Stage Christmas Talent Concert 2025 presented by Steinway Melbourne — a recognition of her outstanding musical potential and stage presence.

Passionate about piano performance and continuing to develop her artistry, she enjoys sharing music with audiences and looks forward to further musical studies and performance opportunities in the future.

Jennifer Kong, Pianist

Jennifer Kong is a young pianist known for her expressive depth and technical precision. Currently she has been studying under the guidance of Ms. Nancy Tsou, a celebrated Australian pianist and AMEB examiner.

Jennifer has distinguished herself in national competitions, having won First Prize at the 2025 Melbourne Star Piano Competition and Second Prize at the 2024 Melbourne Star Piano Competition. In addition to her achievements in Australia, she has performed at the Tianjin Conservatorium Public Recitals, demonstrating her commitment to cross-cultural musical exchange.

Catherine Jiang, Pianist

A Music Scholar at Firbank Grammar School, Catherine is an accomplished young pianist who has demonstrated exceptional artistry from an early age. Her credentials include High Distinctions (A+) in AMEB Grade 8 and the Certificate of Performance, as well as Second Prize at the 2024 Melbourne Star Piano Competition. She is driven by a profound passion for performance and a commitment to continuous artistic growth.

Charlotte Feng, Pianist

Charlotte Feng, aged 12, began her studies at the age of five.  In 2024, she was awarded a music scholarship to St. Michael’s Grammar School and received Second Prize at the Melbourne Star International Piano competition.   Charlotte is passionate about music and enjoys sharing her love of piano through performance. 

PROGRAM

• Robert Schumann – Forest Scenes, Op. 82

• Edvard Grieg – Lyric Pieces, Op. 54

  • Shepherd's Boy

  • Norwegian March

  • March of the Dwarfs

  • Notturno

  • Scherzo

  • Bell Ringing

• Cécile Chaminade – Les Sylvains, Op. 60

• Franz Liszt – Concert Étude No. 3, La Chasse

BIO

The Brazilian pianist Camila De Oliveira began her musical studies at the age of 6. She completed her bachelor's degree in piano performance after attending the Faculdade de Artes Alcântara Machado, Brazil. In 2019 Camila received her postgraduate diploma in Music with a specialisation in piano performance at the University of Auckland under Dr Rae de Lisle, and in 2021 she completed her master's degree in Piano Performance also at the University of Auckland. Camila is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Auckland.

Camila won many prizes in piano competitions, such as the 20th ArtLivre Piano Competition, 8th Piano Competition Maestro Rodrigo Tavares, 24th "Paulo Giovanini" Piano Competition, 7th National Piano Competition Maestro Spartaco Rossi, 1st Piracicaba International Piano Concerto Competition. In 2020 she not only was the recipient of the Ada Kathleen and Barbara Ellen Watson Scholarship, but she also won the Llewelyn Jones Prize in Music for Piano at the University of Auckland for the second consecutive year.

She has played with many orchestras, such as the Symphonic Orchestra of the Municipal Theater of São Paulo, Bachiana SESI-SP Foundation Orchestra, São Pedro Theatro Orchestra, and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

For four years, Camila was the principal pianist of the Academic Choir of the OSESP, Symphonic Orchestra of São Paulo State.

Furthermore, she has maintained an intense career as a collaborative pianist and piano teacher.

Program

Debussy, Claude Achille : 12 Etudes "Pour les cinq doigts, d'après M.Czerny"

Schumann, Robert : Sonate für das pianoforte Nr.2 g-moll Op.22

BIO

Originally from Niigata Prefecture, Japan, Sahoko Otsuka began playing piano at the age of three and studying ballet at five. At 18, she entered the Faculty (School) of Medicine, where she also formed a piano trio with a classmate and performed at concert halls, hospitals, and other venues. She now works as a physician while continuing to enjoy music as a hobby, and is a member of the Narrow Key Piano Society. Welcome her for her festival debut on the KAWAI RX2 grand with 6.0-inch octave keyboard.