Mia's Inspiring Musical Journey

Mia Quist (2017)

Mia Quist’s passion for music was first ignited when she commenced Preparatory at Loreto Toorak in 2005 and flourished throughout her education, culminating in her graduation in 2017.

Following her time at school, Mia completed her undergraduate and honours degrees at the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, having received scholarships from both Melbourne and Griffith Universities prior to completing Year 12.

Her exceptional musical talent has recently led to a prestigious appointment with Symphoniker Hamburg, a tier-one orchestra in Germany. In this academy position, Mia will perform on bassoon and contrabassoon under a one-year contract that encompasses orchestral concerts and projects, as well as mentoring, lessons, and audition training—an invaluable step toward her aspiration of securing a permanent orchestral role.

This achievement follows a year of rigorous auditions across Germany while completing her Master’s in Bassoon at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, where she has studied for the past three years. Mia will continue her studies next semester in the highly regarded Konzert Exam program.

During her time in Hamburg, Mia has embraced numerous opportunities, including earning a chamber music scholarship, performing with Staatsoper Hamburg and other orchestras, and playing in the NDR Youth Orchestra. She has also achieved fluency in German, further enriching her professional and personal experience.

Upon completion of her academy year, Mia plans to audition for permanent positions in leading orchestras across Germany and Europe. Mia’s remarkable journey from Loreto to performing with one of Germany’s leading orchestras is a testament to her talent, dedication, and the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.

Read more stories like this in The Mandevillian, 2025, Vol. 40 No. 2.