​ADJUDICATOR BIOGRAPHY

Katherine Austin
Piano

Katherine Austin, Senior Lecturer in Piano, Concert Coordinator, Undergraduate and International Student Adviser, holding a Master of Music with First Class Honours in Piano Performance from Auckland University.

She was the winner of the 1982 New Zealand Young Musician of the Year and the NZ National Piano Award in the same year. Seven years of study and performance in London and Europe included a full scholarship at the Royal College of Music London, as well as postgraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Katherine won Top Duo Prize in the 1987 Stresa International Chamber Music Competition in Italy, performing with cellist Vincenzo Giuliani.

​Her work as the pianist of the New Zealand Chamber Soloists (NZCS) now occupies a large portion of her performing and concert life. The group’s numerous concerts include national tours in 2008, 2010 and 2011, and outstandingly successful tours, to Europe and the USA in 2009, to China in 2011, to the Singapore Festival of Chamber Music (January 2012) and Europe in mid-2012, appearing in the Pontino Festival in Italy, the Casa dei Mezzo Festival in Crete, and the Festival of the Aegean in Greece (July)

Manshan Yang
Stringing Instruments

Dr. Manshan Yang, a native of China, graduated from Northwestern University (USA) with a M.M. degree, where she studied with Almita Vamos.

During her years in the United States, she won first place in several competitions and was invited to perform as a solo artist with Monroe Symphony Orchestra, Rapides Symphony Orchestra, Marshall Symphony Orchestra, and Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra. She was also a member of the Aspen Music Festival in 2002 and was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 2004 to 2005.

After finishing her studies in the US, Manshan was invited to join the faculty of Arts College of Jinan University, China, and taught from 2006 to 2013. Her students have been admitted to major music schools in the US, France and Russia. She also served as the tutor of the Master’s Chamber Music Program at Xinghai Conservatory of Music from 2006 to 2008.

​She was an engaging soloist and chamber musician, performing regularly in China, North America and New Zealand. Manshan came to New Zealand in 2013 and received the degree Doctor of Musical Arts from the New Zealand School of Music in 2017. She has been the first violinist of the Orchestra Wellington from 2015 to 2017 and was the chamber music tutor of the ASQ International Music Academy, 2017.

Jasmine Sun
Woodwind & Brasswind

Jasmine graduated from the University of Auckland with Masters of Music (first class Honours first division) in flute performance.

Having to commence her musical journey as a pianist, she holds an ATCL in piano and flute, and has picked up the double bass and was the section principal of a youth orchestra prior to her moving to New Zealand. She was the winner of ensemble category in the International Australia Flute Festival in 2007 and was also a semifinalist at the International Stratford-upon-Avon Flute Festival in 2004 where she was the only participant who received the critic's special mention for her town hall performance.

She has worked at the School of Music as an Artist Teacher in flute performance and chamber music. Maintaining a busy schedule and fruitful results, Jasmine's students have also claimed winner of KBB young performer's competition (in association with APO) and has produced the highest admittance rate with students pursuing performance flute major at the University of Auckland.