LORETA FIN - COMPOSER

In addition to her teaching commitments, Loreta was the State President of the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) from 2001 to 2004 and was the National President from 2005 to 2007, during which time, she co-ordinated one of AUSTA’s most successful National Conferences. At the 2009 National Conference, Loreta was presented with the State Award for services to the string community in Qld.  She has taught at the Young Conservatorium and lectured in String Pedagogy at the University of Queensland. Loreta is a Federal Examiner with the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB). She is currently the Senior Syllabus Advisor for Strings.

Now in demand as a guest conductor and clinician, she has conducted workshops for AUSTA and the Australian Band and Orchestras Association. She has presented pedagogy sessions at many Austa National String Conferences and Education Qld Music Conferences. Loreta has also presented at two American String Teachers’ Association Conferences (ASTA), in Albuquerque and Atlanta.

Loreta has been a frequent guest conductor for Education Qld, including Advanced Music Camps, the MOST and Creative Generations Programs. Loreta is a frequent conductor of Griffith University, Queensland Conservatorium’s State Honours Ensembles Program, which runs events throughout the year for school students of all ages, all over Queensland. She has published over 100 pieces for young string ensembles, as well as a series of string tutor books for young beginners. Published by Wilfin Music and distributed by Alfred Publishing, Loreta’s pieces have consistently been selected as set works in competitions and for the Arts Unit Festival of Music, held at the Sydney Opera House. Her string orchestra works have been recorded and performed all over the world.

Loreta is an experienced adjudicator, having judged all major Queensland festivals and competitions, including the Australian Academy Festival of Music, the Gold Coast’s Tropicarnival, the Qld Catholic Schools’ Music Festival, the Redlands Eisteddfod, Sunshine Coast Eisteddfod, the Golden Fiddle Awards and the Australian Strings Association’s Junior and Senior Concerto Competitions. She has also adjudicated competitions and festivals in Perth, Sydney Melbourne and Nth Queensland. Loreta also adjudicates for the Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival in Sydney, where one of the string sections is named after her.

Loreta has been Principal Violist with the Queensland Pops Orchestra for over 30 years. She has played violin and viola in many freelance professional productions at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, including Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera. Over the years, she has worked with many well-known artists, such as Natalie Cole, Dionne Warwick, Shirley Bassey, Jerry Lewis, Gene Pitney, Sarah Brightman, Rod Stewart, Kate Ceberano, Marina Prior, John Farnham, Olivia Newton John, Silvie Paladino, Philip Quast, Rob Mills, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Bert Newton, Anthony Warlow and Hugh Jackman.

At the 2015 AUSTA National Conference, Loreta was appointed to the National Advisory Committee and was honoured to receive the AUSTA National Award, “In recognition and appreciation for outstanding service, within the string and music communities of Australia”.

In the 2024 Australia Day Honours, Loreta was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. Loreta received the award for “significant service to music, to education and to professional associations”.