Echoes of Christmas 2025 — Festive Classical Concert

Celebrate the magic of Christmas with some of Brisbane’s most talented young musicians in a joyful evening of live music, friendship, and festive cheer!

🗓 Saturday, 20 December
🕕 90-minute concert with intermission
☕ Light refreshments and buffet available
📍 St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Brisbane

The concert features two vibrant halves:
Part I – Classical Favourites – timeless masterpieces performed by rising stars.
Part II – Christmas Melodies – heart-warming seasonal songs to welcome the holidays.

Come and enjoy a night of wonderful music and Christmas spirit in one of Brisbane’s most beautiful churches.
It’s the perfect way to celebrate the season — surrounded by great music, warm company, and festive joy!

🎤 Amalia Safonova — Soprano & Flautist
An emerging Australian soprano and flautist whose performances captivate audiences with warmth, sincerity, and a distinctive tone that blends lyrical beauty with emotional depth. Amalia has appeared in productions with Opera Australia and Opera Queensland, and performed at prestigious venues including Brisbane City Hall, Parliament House, and the Queensland Conservatorium. Over the past few years, her concerts alongside pianist and composer Artemii Safonov — have drawn full houses, often with more than a thousand people in attendance. Audiences eagerly await her performances for the clarity of her voice, her artistry, and her natural connection with the stage.

Amalia has been taking lessons with Helena Dix and is currently studying voice at the Griffith Conservatorium under the mentorship of Margaret Schindler, as well as flute with Timothy Munro. She has received numerous awards, including prizes from the Australian Concerto and Vocal Competition, as well as various international competitions.

Amalia continues to be recognised as one of the most promising young vocalists in Australia’s classical scene.

🎹 Artemii Safonov — Pianist & Composer
Artemii Safonov is a Brisbane-based pianist and composer with extensive experience as a soloist and collaborative musician across Australia.

His performance highlights include appearances at the Brisbane City Hall and QPAC, performing both as a soloist and as a chamber musician alongside the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Ensemble Q. A recipient of the John Nesbitt Endowment and the Raoul P. Neil Foundation Scholarship, Artemii has also received awards in national and international piano competitions.

As a collaborative pianist, Artemii regularly works with a wide range of musicians, providing accompaniment for recitals and competitions, and has recently served as an official accompanist for the 2025 Queensland Vocal Festival Competition. Artemii is a committee member of the Accompanists’ Guild of Queensland.

🎻 Helen Brereton — Violinist & Educator

Helen Brereton is a Brisbane-based violinist and educator with over two decades of performance and teaching experience. A graduate in both Music and Education, she is admired for her expressive playing style, versatility, and warm stage presence. Helen has appeared in numerous chamber and orchestral performances across Queensland and is deeply dedicated to nurturing young musicians through her private teaching studio and community music initiatives.

She holds a Bachelor of Music from the National University of Music, București, Romania, and a Master of Education from ULIM, Chișinău, Moldova.

🎶 Maria Brereton — Flautist

Maria Brereton is a talented young flautist whose performances are distinguished by warmth, precision, and expressive musicality. Based in Brisbane, she has appeared at numerous concerts and cultural events, where her lyrical phrasing and elegant tone consistently captivate audiences. Maria performs both as a soloist and as part of chamber ensembles, displaying maturity and artistry well beyond her years.

In 2025, Maria participated in the Cluj International Flute Competition and continues to develop her musicianship as a student at John Paul College in Daisy Hill. Her passion for music and natural stage presence make her one of the most promising young instrumentalists on the local classical scene.

🎻 Oliver Murphy — Double Bassist
Oliver Murphy is a Brisbane-based double bassist and multi-instrumentalist known for his warm tone and musical versatility. He has performed with several orchestras and chamber ensembles across Queensland and is recognised for his expressive playing and creative approach to performance. Alongside his work as a performer, Oliver is also interested in composition and film scoring, recently winning the QCGU ScoreIT competition.

🎻 Ally Liu — Violinist
Ally Liu is a talented young violinist currently in her second year at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. Known for her refined tone and musical sensitivity, she has already built an impressive record of performances across Queensland. Before joining the Conservatorium, Ally received numerous awards for excellence in performance, and was invited to perform at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Festival of Instrumental Music. Today, she continues to delight audiences with her expressive playing, artistry, and dedication to her craft.

🎹 Bradley Nolan — Pianist & Accompanist
Twice recipient of the Griffith Award for Academic Excellence, Bradley Nolan is a passionate and diligent classical pianist with experience in performing, accompanying and teaching on the piano. Known for his gentle and thoughtful style of playing, he has appeared at Brisbane venues such as the King George Square, St Mary’s Anglican Church and Sandgate Hall. He has also frequently performed at the Caloundra Chorale Theatre in his hometown, the Sunshine Coast.

He started learning piano at age nine under the guidance of his family and began receiving private lessons shortly thereafter. After seven years of training, he was accepted into the Queensland Conservatorium, where he studied with the highly respected Moscow Conservatory graduate and Head of Piano, Natasha Vlassenko OAM. He now studies with pianist and musicologist Dr Stephen Emmerson.

He has great experience and passion for accompaniment, having cooperated with many instrumentalists and singers for exams, concerts, competitions and rehearsals. He also has a passion for - and experience with - other keyboard instruments such as the harpsichord, fortepiano and celeste. His involvement with period music afforded him the opportunity to have a masterclass with expert keyboardist Dr Kirill Monorosi in 2024.

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