Featured Collaborator: Michelle Wood
Source: Michelle Wood
Michelle is a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra cello section, having joined the orchestra in late 2009. She began her cello studies at the age of seven, completing her both Bachelor and Masters of Music degrees at the University of Melbourne under the tuition of Arturs Ezergailis, and then Christian Wojtowicz in Tasmania.
Michelle is a passionate chamber musician, touring extensively during her time at university with the Young Piano Trio of Melbourne, and then subsequently becoming the founding cellist of the Tinalley String Quartet. Performances with the Quartet have led to both national and international acclaim, and tours to some of the finest concert halls in the world, including the Berlin Konzerthaus, Concertgebouw, Musikverein, and Frankfurt AlteOper. Alongside the quartet’s illustrious career, Michelle’s chamber music performances have also extended to appearances as guest artist with the Australian String Quartet, Australia Ensemble, Wilma & Friends, Daniel de Borah & Friends, Melbourne-based new music ensemble Plexus and numerous festival appearances both in Australia and in Europe.
Michelle is also at home within the orchestra, spending her youth as Principal Cellist of Melbourne Youth Orchestra, and as a member of Australian Youth Orchestra. She is currently a member of the cello section of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and has been an acting Principal and Guest Associate Principal Cellist in both the Melbourne and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras respectively. She has had the honour to perform and tour as part of the Australian World Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta in concerts at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, as well as its recent tour to India in 2015. Michelle was also a core player in the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra where she has performed as soloist, principal cellist and as a member of the Australian Octet.
Michelle is also sought after as a chamber music coach and cello tutor and adjudicator, having worked with ensembles from the University of Melbourne, Australian National Academy of Music, Melbourne Youth Orchestra programs and at the Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp and Fellowship Programs with the Melbourne Symphony.