Beatrix Francis

Born in Katoomba, Australia, Beatrix began playing the violin at the age of six.

She completed a Bachelor of Music Performance with Honours at the Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne) in 2011. During her studies, she was awarded the Brunner Prize, Mabel Kent Scholarship and Corinna D’Hage Mayer Prize. She also participated in the Australian Youth Orchestra and Australian International Orchestral Summer Institute.

After completing university, Beatrix spent three years in the Professional Performance Program at the Australian National Academy of Music. It was during this time that she switched from violin to viola, studying under Caroline Henbest.

She has undertaken masterclasses with Lawrence Power, William Coleman and Andra Darzins.

Before moving to Wellington in 2018 to join the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Beatrix frequently performed with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House, the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra.

I always like to have a quiet coffee before I go on stage and make sure I have plenty of time to warm up. I also have a routine of double checking my chair as I have a fear of missing the chair and landing on the floor after the orchestra stands for the conductor!