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

1PM, 5 AUGUST, 2025

Gryphon Baryton Trio for Lunchbox Concerts Hobart

Hobart Town Hall
If you're in Hobart Town come and hear the Gryphon Baryton Trio with Laura Vaughan (baryton) and Katie Yap (viola). We bring a collection of Baryton Trios by Haydn plus the premiere of a delightfully humorous new work by Australian composer Brooke Green. Best book, these Lunchbox Concerts are very popular!
3PM, 24 August, 2025

Le Bellezze d'Italia

Toorak Uniting Church, 603 Toorak Rd, Toorak
Curated by Hannah Lane (harp) and Nicholas Pollock (lute), this program journeys from the rich harmonies of early Italian repertoire to the sparkle of Handel's italianate concertos and overtures. Thrilled to be joining them as a member of the band (Melbourne Baroque Orchestra)
8PM, 12 September, 2025

Resonate and Ring with the Gryphon Baryton Trio

Tempo Rubato, 34 Breese St, Brunswick
A rare chance to hear Gryphon Baryton Trio as they return to the inner-city venue Tempo Rubato. Celebrating the resonance of these three 'low' instruments, bathe in sonorous music by Haydn and his colleague Burgksteiner; alongside two premieres - by Brooke Green and by the trio's own Laura and Katie. $30/$25/$20
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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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