Player Biographies

Concertmaster – Adam Chalabi

Born in 1977 Adam Chalabi began his violin studies at the age of 4 with the Suzuki Method. He subsequently attended the junior department of Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Purcell School of Music before completing his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester under the tutelage of Maciej Rakowski.

In 2001 Adam won a position in the Zuerich Chamber Orchestra 1st violin group and in 2004 moved to the position of Principal 2nd violin. In Switzerland he also worked as Principal 2nd violin in Camerata Bern and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and more recently as Guest Concertmaster of Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg in Austria and Suedwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim in Germany.

Adam has appeared as soloist with the Zuerich Chamber Orchestra in performances of Bach,Vivaldi and Schnittke Concerti and has given performances of Nielsen Violin Concerto in England and Sweden and the Alban Berg Chamber Concerto.

Adam plays on an 1805 Joseph Panormo violin purchased from Sotheby’s auction house with considerable luck and very little judgement! He is also very grateful to have been supported by the Countess of Munster, Ian Fleming and Lawrence Atwell Charitable Foundations.

Adam was appointed Concertmaster of Orchestra Victoria in July 2009.

Deputy Concertmaster – Roger Jonsson

Roger Jonsson has held regular positions in nearly all of Sweden’s leading orchestras, including the Swedish Radio Symphony, the Baroque Orchestra, Stockholm’s New Chamber Orchestra and the Stockholm Sinfonietta. Roger has performed in many tours throughout Sweden and Europe.

Roger was awarded a Distinction for his Degree in Music from the Edsbergs Music Institute. For this he won a scholarship to the distinguished Royal College of Music in London, and studied with Levon Chillingirian.

Following his success in the orchestras, Roger has also been involved with many of his own recitals and concerts throughout Sweden, as conductor and/or solo recitalist.

Roger now lives in Melbourne and holds the position of Deputy Concertmaster with Orchestra Victoria.