Ellie Foulkes is currently in the third year of her Bachelor of Music Performance and Mathematics at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying under James Kortum, and supported by the University of Sydney’s Chancellor’s Award. 

Ellie’s musical journey began on the recorder (like many); although she picked up viola and classical guitar along the way, they were incomparable to the love she has had for the flute since age seven. Before relocating from her hometown of Adelaide, Ellie had been a member of Adelaide Youth Orchestras since 2020, and participated in Australian Youth Orchestra’s Young Symphonists program.

Under the guidance of teachers Dr. Julia Grenfell and Elizabeth Koch AM, Ellie received numerous awards including the Don Maynard Music Prize, David Cubbin and Carolyn White Memorial Scholarships, and prizes in the Adelaide Eisteddfods.

Since being selected to tour Japan and South Korea with the Conservatorium’s Wind Symphony in her first year in Sydney, Ellie has also appeared with Sydney Conservatorium’s Symphony and Opera Orchestras, and the Modést Orchestra.

Highlights of Ellie’s first year with SYO in 2025 include playing principal flute for SYO Philharmonic under Steve Williams, touring to Broken Hill with Benjamin Northey, and performing Mahler’s 7th Symphony under Stanley Dodds. She is beyond excited to be joining the SYO Flagship orchestra as principal this year.