Kayla Flaxman currently studies a double Bachelor degree in music and in education at the University of New South Wales. She is an enthusiastic artist who aspires to be an influential role model for other people. Kayla is inspired by her relative, a popular composer Nigel Westlake, and aims to be artistically inspiring like him.

She started learning clarinet and picked up self-teaching with other instruments such as the piano, guitar, violin and bugle. Kayla’s passion influenced her swift flourishing musical skills and with ambitious desires she started self-teaching on the violincello at the age of 14. She soon discovered that the cello was a strong missing part of her identity and so with lessons, she aimed to develop into a professional. After four years of intensive study with Dr Brian Chatpo Koo, Kayla achieved her Grade 8 AMEB practical violincello certificate and preparing the AmusA examination.

Kayla’s creative abilities have allowed her to win prize money, as well as a scholarship with the Berklee College of Music.  She is the first person to receive Dr Koo Music Scholarship.  Kayla begun learning the life within the orchestra by being a part of the youth orchestras of the SCO Youth Symphony.  Under Dr Koo’s instruction, Kayla quickly grasped orchestral conducting techniques and has been appointed as an Assistant Conductor.  

She now continues improving her ensemble skills by performing with the UNSW Orchestra, Sydney Contemporary Orchestra and. Next year she is determined to form a chamber ensemble for musicians at her university. Kayla sets high goals in life and yearns to achieve a PhD in music and to become an influential artist.

Kayla Flaxman in rehearsals and concerts.