Vanessa Tam holds a First Class Master of Music Degree in violin performance. She studied under Mary O’Brien at the University of Auckland. She started playing the violin at age 7 in Hong Kong. On arriving in New Zealand in 1993 she began studying with George Liu.
Vanessa has been an active member of the University of Auckland Orchestra and has held the position of Concert Master. She has also been a member of the New Zealand National Youth Orchestra (2001-2003). As a violist, Vanessa has been section leader in the Auckland Youth Orchestra. Vanessa also plays both the violin and the viola for the Adesso String Quartet.
In 2004 Vanessa had the honour of being a finalist in the University’s annual Concerto Competition. In other competitions Vanessa has also achieved highly. In 1999 she came second in the Kaleidoscope Competition, and was a finalist in the National Secondary School’s Chamber Music Competition. In 2001 she was a finalist in the Rotorua Recital Competition. In 2005 Vanessa’s trio was a finalist in the University’s chamber music competition. In the course of her undergraduate degree Vanessa was the recipient of the Spring Scholarship for String Players and the Senior Prize in Music as Top Scholar in 2002, and the Constant Herbert Memorial Scholarship in 2003.
In 2006 she participated in an ensemble performing at the Fondation des États Unis in Paris under the direction of Elizabeth Askren. Vanessa is currently teaching and freelance performing.
