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Tuesday, 26 July 2016

Internationally recognised violinist and Artist-in-Residence at The University of Western Australia’s School of Music Shaun Lee-Chen and the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra have won a prestigious Helpmann Award.

Described as “one of the most exciting and inspired violinists of his generation”, Mr Lee-Chen is concertmaster for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra  which won the award in the Best Chamber and/or Instrumental Ensemble Concert category for its French Baroque with Circa.

Mr Lee-Chen graduated from UWA in 2000 with First Class Honours and the Lady Callaway Medal for Music, awarded to the most outstanding student in the final year of an undergraduate music degree. He also took out the ABC Young Performer of the Year Award in 2007.

Perth-born Mr Lee-Chen has appeared as soloist with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO), Queensland Orchestra and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO). He has been guest Assistant and Associate Concertmaster with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the TSO and the WASO. Mr Lee-Chen continues to work with WASO on a part-time basis.

He returned to UWA in early 2015 to work closely with his former mentor, national violin icon Professor Paul Wright, after being appointed Artist-in-Residence. Professor Wright was himself concertmaster for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra during its formative early years.

In French Baroque, Circa acrobatic and aerial artists explored the music of Rameau, Lully, Marais and other Baroque composers as it was performed on period instruments by the Brandenburg Orchestra.

UWA Arts graduate Tim Minchin was also a winner, taking out the Helpmann for Best Original Score for his internationally acclaimed Matilda the Musical. Matilda won every one of the 13 categories for which it was nominated.

Media references

Pip White (UWA School of Music)                                                               (+61 8) 6488 2054

Jess Reid (A/UWA Media and Public Relations Manager)                           (+61 8) 6488 6876

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