Josephine
Vains

Cellist • Chamber musician • Educator
A woman wearing a dark blouse with neck-length brown hair holding a cello, against a grey backgroundA woman wearing a dark blouse with neck-length brown hair holding a cello, against a grey background
Josephine Vains is a cellist, chamber musician and educator active across modern and historical fields. Performing around Australia and internationally to acclaim, she thrives on collaboration and exploring the emotional relationship between musician and audience.
As an educator at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and the University of Melbourne, Josephine’s teaching focuses on each unique individual, to foster confidence, flair and stylistic curiosity.
About

Areas of Expertise

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Performing

Josephine is an Australian cellist and avid chamber musician with a performance career that encompasses modern and historical cello. An adventurous spirit has taken her to some far-flung concert venues - from an 1000 year old cave in the heart of China to mountain-top Bach in the French Alps.

She is a founding member of Firebird Trio, also performing to acclaim with Accademia Arcadia, Genesis Baroque, CellOZ, Gryphon Baryton Trio, Imaginista Quartet and more.

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Educator

Passionate about education, Josephine is currently training the next generation of musicians at Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, University of Melbourne. She is a regular tutor for Melbourne and Australian Youth Orchestra, Mt. Buller Chamber Music, Clunes Music, Melbourne Young Con Artists Academy, Pettman National Junior Academy (NZ) and for iartschool (China).

Josephine was thrilled to be present at the 2022 National Australian String Teachers Association Conference, on one of her favourite subjects, creating ‘speaking’ musical performance using Rhetoric.

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Mentor

Josephine regularly mentors early and mid-career cello teachers, helping to illuminate their natural pedagogical strengths and guiding them to develop more rigour and inspiration in their own teaching. She also mentors her own students as they navigate their way through secondary and tertiary study, and beyond into the professional world.

Events

8PM, 28 NOVEMBER, 2025

'Rasumovsky' and 'Dissonance' with Imaginista Quartet

Tempo Rubato, 34 Breese St, Brunswick
A joyful final concert in our 2025 series at Tempo Rubato, come and hear Imaginista perform one of the highlights of the string quartet repertoire, Beethoven's masterpiece, the 3rd 'Rasumovsky' quartet, alongside Mozart's 'Dissonance'. With violinists Zoë Black and Liisa Pallandi and violist Caroline Henbest. $35/$25
2.30PM, 30 NOVEMBER, 2025

Firebird Trio with Mozart, Schumann + Ravel in Macedon

Lowland Farm, 70 Brougham Rd, Mt Macedon
Returning to the gorgeous Macedon Music series in the lush surrounds of the Macedon Ranges, Firebird Trio performs Ravel's Trio alongside a perfectly elegant Mozart E major trio and Schumann's turbulent Adagio + Allegro. This event is currently SOLD OUT (sorry!)
10.30AM 21 December, 2025

Christmas Cello + Coffee at BENCH

BENCH COFFEE CO. Roastery, 38 Breese St, Brunswick
My annual Christmas Cello concert combines my favourite cafe, stellar coffee + pastries baked onsite, and good vibes. It's relaxed, dogs are welcome. FREE entry
2PM, 13 JANUARY, 2026

Suites + Songs at the Ballarat Organ + Fine Music Festival

St Paul's Anglican Church, 5 Humffray St South, Bakery Hill
A solo concert championing the glorious solo suites of Bach and Britten, alongside works by Henryson, Edwards and more. The newly branded Ballarat Organ and Fine Music Festival has a fabulous line-up, all curated by the ever classy Laura Vaughan. $45/$35/$10
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Projects

Bach Suite VI on 5-string cello

A live recording of the Solo Suite VI played on 5-string historical cello
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