Violist Jamie Miles is a second-year student at both the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) and the University of Melbourne (B.Mus.), training with Caroline Henbest. A “gifted young musician"" (Classic Melbourne), Jamie was awarded the Richard Mills (first) prize in the 2023 national Bach Competition, hosted by the Melbourne Recital Centre, and he was awarded second prize in the 3MBS Victorian Young Performer of the Year Awards in 2022. Jamie was one of 43 violists selected from 153 global applications to compete in the 2023 ARD International Viola Competition in Munich, Germany, as the only Australian competitor. He was Principal Viola of the Australian Youth Orchestra from 2021-2023, including for their 2022 National Tour, under the baton of conductor Sir Mark Elder. He has also held principal positions at various other AYO programs, including twice at National Music Camp. Jamie completed his Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS), achieving a perfect score for Music Investigation.
Jamie received his Licentiate Diploma (L.Mus.A.) with Distinction in 2020, as a 15-year-old, and was awarded the Australian String Teachers Association Viola Award for best viola examination that year. He has won first prizes in competitions such as the Melbourne International Piano and Strings Festival, the MRC Bach Competition, VCASS Outstanding Soloists and the Boroondara Eisteddfod (Open Age Strings). Jamie was also a finalist in the 2022 Preston Youth Concerto Competition, performing the Australian Premiere of Clarke's Viola Sonata, arranged for Viola and Orchestra by Ruth Lomon.
As a keen composer, he has won several composition competitions, including the Australian Guild of Music's 'UNLOCK'D' competition, where he won the 'Solo Instrument' category with his 'Caprice for Solo Viola'. His most recent composition, 'Caprice for Viola and Cello', performed by himself and his sister, Charlotte, was recorded, produced, and aired by 3MBS in November 2022.
Jamie is a founding member of the Eureka Quartet, which won first prize in Musica Viva's Lockdown Legends competition (2020), receiving coaching from the renowned Flinders Quartet as a result. In 2023, Jamie performed Mendelssohn’s String Octet as a guest player with the Flinders Quartet, including a performance in Avenel (regional Victoria). He has benefited from mentoring from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, as a member of the ACO Academy from 2017 to 2019, and from international masterclasses while touring Europe with the Melbourne String Ensemble. He performed all four symphonies of Johannes Brahms as part of Fabian Russell's 'Orchestra Project' in 2021, fostering a passion for Brahms' chamber and symphonic repertoire.
FROM: Melbourne, VIC. Lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung
Jamie is supported by ANAM Syndicate donors Andrew Boyle, Jannie Brown, Barbara Friday, Merilyn and David Howorth, Pam Montgomery, James Turnbull.
Jamie plays a John D Johnston 2003 Viola #85, Smith model, generously on loan to ANAM from Jannie Brown
Photo by Pia Johnson