Australian Youth Orchestra
AYO National Music Camp 2025: Profile Interview with Michele Walsh
AYO Blog
By Julia Hill
Michele Walsh is a violin teacher to hundreds of students, many of whom have gone onto study and work overseas. Despite being a ‘go-to’ violin teacher in Australia, she initially never saw herself going into music education. So, what life did Michele live before transitioning into her education career?
Michele’s father played the violin. Her three older brothers also tried learning it, but after convincing her dad to let her play, it was Michele who kept going with music.
Her dedication to the instrument was evident from a young age, and at only 14 years old, she was accepted into her first AYO National Music Camp. Like many who participate in camp, it was a highlight of each year for her:
“It was a thing I looked forward to both musically and socially because I really found people I identified with. It was such an amazing experience discovering all this new music I hadn’t played.”
Michele has toured extensively around the world, performing and teaching. In 1976, she was appointed concertmaster of the AYO’s international tour to America, and she also toured to China as concertmaster of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, her chamber ensemble, the Griffith Trio, with pianist Stephen Emmerson and cellist Markus Stocker, has toured South-East Asia.
For those wanting to create a travelling career like Michele has, the answer is networking. In Michele’s case, the cellist had contacts in South-East Asia and used them to organise concert and teaching opportunities.
“Music is a passport … every single time I have gone anywhere, it’s primarily to do with music. Music has taken me everywhere.”
Turning to Michele’s career in violin teaching, she emphasises that she takes each student’s individuality into consideration.
“I try not to teach everybody the same way. When I get a student, I want to set them up physically and their technique so that they’re able to realise what they want to do musically.”
Whilst technique remains a focus of Michele’s lessons, she maintains that “the absolute is the music.” Once a musical idea is born, Michele guides her students to achieve the sound they want.
Does it sound like you’d like to learn from Michele? Here are her top tips to young people considering a career in music:
- Be passionate about music – both listening and participating
- Recognise that music requires discipline. Be creative with your practice, and make short-term goals in your sessions to eventually achieve long term goals
- Make music with others
- Sing!