Sebastien del Rosario Hibbard - Cellist
Sebastien del Rosario Hibbard started learning cello at age 8 at the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music. The 17-year-old is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Rising Stars program and is currently studying with Susan Blake.
Between 2016-2019, Sebastien was the recipient of the Rising Stars William McIlrath Foundation Music Scholarship. He was also a full Music Scholar at Central Coast Grammar School from Year 7 to Year 12. In 2017, Sebastien obtained the LMUS Cello diploma, the highest qualification attainable by the Australian Examination Board (AMEB). Also an accomplished pianist, Sebastien was awarded his Grade 8 Piano (High Distinction) in 2013 at age 10.
In 2019, Sebastien achieved many solo performance awards as well as engagements with several Symphony Orchestras. He was the 2019 Overall Winner of the prestigious Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra (KPO) NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition and also received the KPO Players Award on the night. The following day, Sebastien performed the full Shostakovich Cello concerto with Symphony Central Coast (SCC) as the 2018 SCC Concerto Competition 1st prize winner. This concert was part of the Symphony Central Coast subscription concert series in 2019.
Sebastien was awarded the John Bell grant for the 2019 Bouddhi Foundation for the Arts. He received an Encore nomination by the NSW examination board for exemplary musical performance work in his HSC practical examinations for Music 2 and Music Extension. He is a spirited and lively solo performer who always expresses his musical conviction and constantly embraces the audience into his artistic presentation.
He was one of the guest artists for the Annual Charity Gala at The Radisson Blu Hotel, guest artist for the Pearl Beach Scholarship Concert and the Bouddhi Foundation for the Arts Award presentation. At age 11, Sebastien was one of the soloists for the Festival of Instrumental Music at the Opera House.
Sebastien is also a very talented chamber musician. His rhythmic stability and verve, combined with his amiable personality and people skills, have given him concert opportunities playing with Charmian Gadd and Erin Hellyard in the Crossroads Chamber music Festivals in 2018 and 2016.
In 2017, Sebastien performed the Vivaldi Double Concerto with the L'Estro Armonica String Orchestra. As an Orchestral musician, Sebastien has been appointed as Principal cellist for the CCGS Symphony Orchestra, CCGS String Orchestra, Central Coast Youth Orchestra and HICES Music Festival Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, he was invited as a guest Principal cellist for the NSW Youth Orchestra. Sebastien has worked with renowned Orchestras such as the Australian Chamber Orchestra Academy, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra project, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra project, Australian World Orchestra project and Australian Youth Orchestra.
