Year 11 violist Hayley Lau has won the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2023 NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition.

Also awarded the $500 KPO Player’s award for best work in rehearsal, the Wenona Girls’ School student walks away with $5,000 and an engagement with the orchestra in 2024 for her performance of Paganini’s Sonata per la Grand Viola.  

Each finalist and the winning duo performed their works as accompanied by the Ku-ring-gai Orchestra, under the baton of Artistic Director Paul Terracini to an audience and a board of adjudicators, including Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s ex-Principal horn Robert Johnson, and star violinist (and previous finalist) Emily Sun. 

Hayley Lau. Photo © Stephen Reinhardt

The $1,000 Barbara Cran Award for Junior runner-up went to cellist Clara Molony from Fort Street High School, who performed Elgar’s Cello Concerto.

Meriden Girls’ High School violinist Teresa Yang took out the the $1,000 Barbara Robinson Award for Senior runner-up for Korngold’s Violin Concerto.