Lisa Smith started playing violin at the age of four and recently completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Western Australia, where she received the Ann Brett Scholarship, the Lynn Kan Memorial Prize, and the Flora Bunning Prize with her piano trio JULIMA. 

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In 2022 she was a top three finalist in the VOSE competition, winning the People’s Choice Award, playing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. 

This year, Lisa is enjoying taking part of QSO Academy, while pursuing an honours degree at Griffith University. 

Bridget Wegner is a Townsville-born, Brisbane-based violist currently studying a Bachelor of Music (Honours) and Science degree at the University of Queensland (UQ), majoring in viola under the tutelage of Professor Patricia Pollett. Bridget is principal violist for both the UQ Symphony Orchestra and the Pulse Chamber Orchestra.

In 2023 and 2024, she toured with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Opera Queensland for the Festival of Outback Opera in Winton and Longreach. She has also performed in various chamber ensembles at university events and was a finalist in the Sleath and Richard Pollett String prizes last year. Before her university studies, Bridget received the Youth Development award in the Australian Concerto and Vocal Competition and won first place in the Townsville Eisteddfod Instrumental Championship.

This year, Bridget was featured live on ABC Classic FM, performing Beethoven’s Septet with members of the Australian Youth Orchestra. She is excited to collaborate with the Southern Cross Soloists.

Stirling Hall, 20 years old, is the youngest of four
musical siblings. Now in his third year at the Queensland Conservatorium, he learns from Hyung Suk Bae and György Déri. Stirling was a Finalist in the QSO Young Instrumentalist Prize in 2022 and has been principal cellist of QYS (2023, 2024) and AYO (2025 NMC). He is also a young artist for Southern Cross Soloists in the 2025 season whilst being a member of 2025 QSO Academy.

Stirling has performed as a soloist with the Queensland Youth Orchestra, Queensland Conservatorium and Indooroopilly Chamber orchestra. He was invited to take part in several masterclasses in 2023 with Francois Thirault from the LSO, Peter Bruns from Germany, and Michael Dahlenburg from the Australian String Quartet.

Caleb Christian is an emerging Brisbane-based cellist known for performances that are both precise and heartfelt. Since earning his AMusA in cello at 15, he has built a reputation as a compelling and collaborative artist – thriving on festival stages, in intimate chamber settings, and with leading orchestras.

As a Bachelor of Music candidate under Senior Lecturer Dr György Déri at the Queensland Conservatorium, Caleb has captivated audiences both locally and internationally. His dynamic appearances include the Stradbroke Island and Tyalgum Music Festivals, and the Schulich School of Music’s Musical Chairs Festival – where he joined a distinguished string sextet alongside mentors from the Mozarteum, Guildhall, and Sibelius Academy.
A dedicated chamber musician, Caleb received the 2024 Ross Peters 4MBS Chamber Music Prize and has collaborated with artists from the Australian String Quartet and LA Philharmonic Wind Quintet through the Conservatorium’s Side-by-Side program.

In 2025, Caleb embarks on an international tour with the Australian Youth Orchestra, following his leadership role with their Walsh Chamber Orchestra at National Music Camp under Andrew Haveron. As a member of Camerata’s 2025 Upbeat and Southern Cross Soloists’ 2025/26 Next Gen programs, he continues to deepen his artistry through mentorship and performance.

Amy Tashjian is an emerging flautist from Sydney, Australia. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Music at Queensland Conservatorium under the tutelage of Alison Mitchell and Tim Munro, and formerly studied at the Royal College of Music, London under the tutelage of Gitte Marcusson. She is a graduate of the Conservatorium High School, studying with Jocelyn Fazzone during her time there. She has played for some of the great flute players of the world including Michael Cox, Denis Bouriakov, Patricia Morris, Adam Walker, Juliet Bausor, and Joshua Batty. 

She has played Principal Flute with several ensembles, including the QCGU Symphony Orchestra, University of London Symphony Orchestra, RCM Wind Ensemble and NSW Arts Unit Symphony Orchestra. She has most notably featured as a soloist in the NSW Festival of Instrumental Music, making her debut performance at the Sydney Opera House. Amy is also very passionate about chamber music, participating in the Hayes Street Studio Young Artist Program this year and a masterclass with the LA Philharmonic Wind Quintet in 2024. She is a previous winner of the Yamaha Woodwind Prize in Musica Viva’s Strike a Chord Competition and has been in a featured ensemble for the NSW Festival of Instrumental Music at Sydney’s Town Hall.

William studied at UQ and holds a Bachelor of Mathematics majoring in Pure Maths and a Bachelor of Music. He was awarded the UQ Percussion Prize (2020, 2022) and has also received several awards for composition, including the Percy Brier Prize (2020). His flute sextet, Launch, was performed and professionally recorded (2022). 

William was invited to perform Histoire du Tango for flute and marimba alongside QSO musicians in a 2022 UQ Concert. He has played with AYO since age 14 and alsoplayed timpani with Brisbane Excelsior Band. William has performed with Ensemble Q, The Queensland Choir and is a casual percussionist with QSO.