“Incendiary” — Limelight
“Fresh, exciting and inventive” — Classic Melbourne
“An artist of sincerity and integrity” — Arts Hub
Australian violinist Natalia Harvey is known for her artistic authenticity, versatility and sensitivity. She is a sought-after concertmaster, chamber musician, teacher and collaborator, her expertise ranging from contemporary music to historical performance.
Natalia currently appears as a regular Guest Director with chamber ensembles such as Ensemble Offspring, Omega Ensemble and the Melbourne Chamber Players. She collaborates closely with many living composers, recording and premiering new works. She has directed world premieres at festivals such as the Extended Play Festival, the Port Fairy Festival, the Four Winds Festival and the Dots+Loops Festival.
A recipient of the Holdsworth Family Bach Prize and the Kate Buchdahl Memorial Award, Natalia is a laureate of international solo competitions such as the Gisborne International Music Competition (NZ), and was a solo artist in the 2022 International Musicians Seminar in Prussia Cove (UK). She has also been a featured soloist with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and with festival orchestras around Australia.
Natalia’s passion for chamber music has seen her perform with some of Australia’s finest ensembles, including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Flinders Quartet and the Australian Octet. Internationally, she has performed with the London-based Echea Quartet, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra (Germany), and with acclaimed artists such as Pekka Kuusisto and Malin Broman.
Natalia was Principal Second Violin of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (MCO) for seven years, and during this time was regularly engaged as MCO’s Acting Concertmaster/Director.
Natalia recently developed her skills in Concertmastership, cultural leadership and artistic management through the innovative Concertmaster Artist program at the Stauffer Center for Strings in Cremona (Italy), and through her studies in orchestral conducting with Professor Mark Shapiro through the Juilliard School (USA).
Natalia’s educational outreach has taken many different forms. She has been a guest lecturer at Monash University, a juror for the Melbourne Recital Centre Bach Competition, and a mentor for young chamber musicians in educational programs around regional Australia.
Natalia is currently a Principal violinist with the Sydney-based Omega Ensemble, and performs on a modern Cremonese violin by G. Grisales.