The Musicians

Having completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours in Performance on Violin, Michael has performed in a number of Australia’s youth orchestras, including the Australian and Queensland Youth Symphonies, before joining the GCCO as a principal Second Violinist.

Michael has had the privilege of playing in the Sydney Opera House with the Australian Youth Orchestra, and for the Archibald Prize. He has worked with London’s Guildhall School of Music to promote Jammin’ and other musical exchange programmes with the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

Michael’s eclectic taste in musical performance ranges from classical to rock to cabaret and musical theatre. He has played for many of Queensland’s theatre groups works performing Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music to name a few.

One of the highlights of Michael’s classical musical performances was as Concertmaster of the Queensland Conservatorium’s Symphony Orchestra, performing Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf with Australian Indigenous TV personality Ernie Dingo as the narrator. He has also been a frequent guest soloist of the Queensland Accordion Orchestra.

During the day Michael manages large Information Technology environments as a Global Operations Manager, but then becomes the Bat-Dad (not trademarked) Web Developer who makes sure you can book your tickets for the next concert at GCCO!

Dr Hugh Won – Violin

Hugh obtained his Associate Diploma in 1991 whilst studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He won the National Youth Concerto Competition in 1992 and was a finalist in the 2MBS-FM Young Performers Award and a state finalist in the ABC Young Performers Award.

Hugh played in the Australian Youth Orchestra and took part in seven international tours. He was also Concertmaster of the Sydney Youth Orchestra for two years. Professionally, he has played in the Australian Chamber Orchestra and for professional theatre productions in Sydney.

Chen Yang – Violin

As his first professional musical undertaking, Chen was the Concertmaster of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra. In 1981, he joined the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in the first violin section until 1989. For a change, Chen then spent two years as Musician in Residence on Dunk Island Resort leading a string quartet and performing as a cabaret violinist.

He has been a freelance musician for many major musical productions at QPAC. Chen has conducted various ensembles for the Queensland Youth Orchestra and is presently leader and conductor of the Sinfonia of St
Andrews orchestra in Brisbane. He is also often guest conductor of this orchestra.

Nigel Bardsley – Violin

Having begun his studies at the Stolliarsky School of Music, Nigel
continued his studies at the University of Queensland. He was a participant
in the Australian National Academy of Music’s Master Course Program and
Youth Music Australia’s Fellowship program with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. He is also a member of faculty at the Cremona International Music
Academy in Italy.

Alison studied flute and piano as well as violin before graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium with an Associate Diploma in Music Performance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Performance in 1991. She has played in several chamber groups and regional orchestras and is currently Concertmaster of the
Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra.

Michael McCabe – Viola

Michael has qualifications from both the NSW State Conservatorium in Sydney and the Newcastle Conservatorium. In the mid 1990s, he studied conducting with Myer Freedman whilst working with youth and community orchestras in Penrith. He was on the committee of the NSW chapter of AUSTA for six years
and was the first administrator of The Orchestras of Australia Network. Michael plays in many groups including the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra.

Byron Mengel – Viola

Byron received his Bachelor Degree in Violin and a second Bachelor Degree
in Composition from the University of Missouri in 1971. He was then accepted into a conducting masters program at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. From 1977, Byron played with the Royal Opera of Turin before receiving
a permanent position with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, playing with them for seven years.

Harry Mulhall – Double Bass

Harry completed a Bachelor of Music at the Queensland Conservatorium. He has since been working as a freelance musician on the Gold Coast and plays in several orchestras such as the Brisbane Philharmonic and Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra.