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

14-16 February, 2025

Music by the Springs Festival

Mineral Springs Hotel, Hepburn Springs
3 days of chamber music with friends at this gorgeous boutique festival in the heart of the Spa country. Music, food and wine all brilliantly curated by Festival Director Stewart Kelly. Repertoire by Schubert, Bach, Barvinsky, Popper, Queen and more.
8PM, 19 February, 2025

Firebird Trio at the Brunswick Beethoven Festival

Brunswick Uniting Church, 212 Sydney Road, Brunswick
In our first performance for 2025, Firebird Trio presents the iconic Ravel Piano Trio alongside some of Benjamin Britten's Sea Interludes arranged by our pianist Benjamin Martin. A quirky neoclassical work by Alfredo Casella and a surprise Beethoven offering complete the program. Tickets $35/25/20 with Full and Half Season passes available.
8PM, 24 February, 2025

Imaginista Quartet with oboist Emma Black

Tempo Rubato, 34 Breese Street, Brunswick
Premiere performance of the Imaginista Quartet alongside internationally renowned oboist, Emma Black. With Zoe Black and Liisa Pallandi (violins), Caroline Henbest (viola) playing on historical instruments in string quartets by Haydn, and virtuosic oboe quintets by Boccherini and Myslivecek. Tickets $35/25
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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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