Alina Zborowski

Name: Alina Zborowski
Teaching focus: I was very lucky to have brilliant teachers, especially my first one, Vincent Edwards. One of the things they were always focused on was relaxed posture and no tension in hands and arms, especially the bow arm. It's amazing how much it affects the sound!
Musical influences: Shostakovich, Brahms, David Oistrakh, Josef Suk, Eugene Ysaye, Kreisler, Sibelius, Pekka Kuusisto, Wieniawski, Arthur Grumiaux – pretty much any amazing violinist and a composer who knows how to write music for them.
Career highlights: Probably one of the more exciting experiences was leading the Sydney Conservatorium Orchestra when the renowned conductor Carlo Felice Cillario took us. I hadn't had a lot of experience with orchestral playing before the Sydney Con and being conducted by him was definitely a career highlight.
The instrument you wish you could play: I've always wanted to learn the bass guitar, ever since I first heard Led Zeppelin when I was about eight or nine years old. I've just started learning it and it's every bit as fantastic as I thought it would be.
Scariest stage moment: Ooh, when I had a massive memory lapse whilst performing Shostakovich's 1st Violin Concerto for my 3rd Year recital at the Sydney Conservatorium (that's a mouthful!). I ended up shuffling back to the piano accompanist to read the part from his music. The rest of the performance was okay; quiet fiery because I was so angry about the memory lapse!
What’s your favourite thing outside music? Probably like everyone else – spending time with family and friends with good food and a lovely bottle of wine. And French classes with Margaret!

Alina started playing the violin when she was five years old, studying under a scholarship with Vincent Edwards at the Canberra School of Music. Throughout her childhood Alina participated in a number of Eisteddfods in Cairns and Sydney and received numerous awards. She received high distinctions in her AMEB exams culminating in receiving her A.Mus A in 1995.

Alina graduated from high school in 1996 and studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, majoring in Performance, under the tutelage Christopher Kimber. During her time there she received a number of scholarships and the highest honours for numerous performances. Alina led the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra on occasion, was a member of the Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra and participated in a number of international tours, including South Africa and Germany. She was also a member of Sydney Sinfonia orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s internationally recognized mentoring program.

Whilst studying at the Conservatorium, Alina was lucky to be involved in a number of masterclasses with renowned musicians, including the Takacs Quartet, Brodsky Quartet and the Kalichstein Laredo Robinson Trio.

Alina’s diverse musical experience has stemmed from performances within orchestral, chamber music and solo repertoire to working as a Product Manager distributing classical recordings for international music labels.

Alina has been teaching at the ORC now since 2007.