Brandenburg Mentorship Program

Alexis Chin – Perth

Theorbo 
Mentor – Nicholas Pollock

Alexis Chin is an emerging theorbist, guitarist, and researcher. Alexis has a particular interest in early music, performing works from the 16th  to 18th  century on theorbo and baroque guitar, and studying these instruments under the tutelage of Nicholas Pollock (Melbourne). Alexis has also received solo masterclasses from Peter Croton (Basel), and Josep Marti Maria Duran (Barcelona).

Alexis has presented papers at the Musicological Society of Australia (MSA) National Conference in 2024 and 2025 and was awarded the 2024 WAMSA student paper prize for his honours paper on rubato in late-romantic guitar playing. He is currently nearing the completion of a Master of Music (performance) at the University of Western Australia

Benjamin Roe – Melbourne

Baroque Oboe
Mentor – Adam Masters

Ben began learning the oboe at the age of 11 and has studied with Anne Gilby, Jeffrey Crellin, Emmanuel Cassimatis and Ann Blackburn. He completed a Bachelor of Music and Science at Monash University, during which time he played with the Monash Academy Orchestra, Melbourne Youth Orchestra and founded his own wind quintet called Zephyrs Quintet.

While studying at Monash University he began learning the Baroque oboe with Adam Masters. He has performed on both modern and historical instruments with groups in Australia, including Bach Akademie Australia and Melbourne Baroque Orchestra.

Ben is an avid photographer and birdwatcher and enjoys spending time outdoors bushwalking and camping.

Patrick Shannon – Melbourne

Baroque Viola
Mentor – Monique O’Dea

Patrick is a current member of the Australian National Academy of Music, where he studies with Caroline Henbest.

Originally a violinist, he began playing at age twelve and completed his Bachelor of Music at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music with Dr Elizabeth Sellars and Mark Mogilevski. In 2022, he moved across to viola, studying with Wenhong Luo, before continuing at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg with Sào Soulez-Larivière.

From 2023 to 2025, Patrick was an orchestral academist with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, performing under Semyon Bychkov and touring throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. He has also performed with Czech Student Philharmonic Orchestra, the Australian Youth Orchestra and the Melbourne Youth Orchestra.

Alongside this, he has studied historical performance with Rachael Beesley, Shane Lestideau, and Donald Nicolson, and appeared with the MCM Baroque Ensemble and Melbourne Baroque Ensemble.

A passionate chamber musician, Patrick is a founding member of the SPELL Quintet, winners of the 2022 MCM Chamber Music Competition.

Justice Karol – Melbourne

Harpsichord
Mentor – Robert Nairn

Justice Karol is a harpsichordist and recent Bachelor of Music graduate from the University of Melbourne (Harpsichord).

Beginning her musical journey on piano, she discovered the harpsichord at age 16 and was immediately captivated by its sound and the histories surrounding its repertoire. An active member of the Conservatorium Baroque Ensemble since 2023, she was the first emerging artist with Genesis Baroque in 2025, as well as giving many solo recitals, including in the Hanson Dyer Hall Series.

Justice loves performing and takes every opportunity to do so. In addition to early music, she loves the avant-garde, leading her to work closely with up-and-coming composers at the Melbourne Conservatorium and beyond.

Alice Dawson-Damer – Sydney

Baroque Flute
Mentor – Melissa Farrow

After completing two years of a historical voice degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Alice transitioned to Baroque flute in 2025 and is currently undertaking Honours, with a thesis on Telemann’s sacred vocal music. As a Baroque flautist, she has performed concertos with the Conservatorium Early Music Ensemble, including a solo concerto in 2024 and two double concerto programmes in 2025.

Alongside her instrumental work, Alice is active as a freelance singer. As a scholar with Christ Church St Laurence, she toured internationally, with residencies at Westminster Abbey, the Thomaskirche Leipzig and the Berliner Dom. With St Paul’s College Chapel Choir, she toured the UK and Europe, singing at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster and in Paris.

Rory Smith – Brisbane

Baroque Cello
Mentor – Jamie Hey

Described by Limelight as possessing “lyricism with star quality”, cellist Rory Smith is an emerging Australian artist known for his versatility as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer. He began his musical journey on the Sunshine Coast, QLD, and has since appeared in performances across Australia and internationally.

In 2023, Rory became an Artistic Associate with Camerata and has on occasion performed as Principal and soloist with the group. He also plays regularly with Queensland Symphony Orchestra and worked on contract with the orchestra in the OA Ring Cycle in Brisbane. He is also Co-Artistic Director of Ensemble Cherubim. The group is dedicated to presenting high-quality performances while supporting the next generation of classical artists.

Rory graduated from the University of Queensland in 2020 with a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours), studying under Patrick Murphy, and later continued his development with Queensland Symphony Orchestra Section Principal Cello, Hyung Suk Bae.

A passionate chamber musician, Rory has been a prize winner in the 4MBS Sid Page Chamber Music Prize, finalist in the Sleath String Prize (2017, 2018) and the Richard Pollett Prize (2017- 2019). He has performed in multiple national and international festivals including the Brisbane Music Festival, Mackay Chamber Music Festival, Orange Music Festival and Bangalow Music Festival as well as Virtuoso & Belcanto Festival in Lucca, Italy (2022), where he received masterclasses from Peter Bruns, Istvan Vardai, and Xenia Jankovic.