"Music is my Passion and always has been," says Melinda, an accomplished musician of 33 years, "My music is very personal to me ... when I'm playing, whether to an audience or practicing alone, it's like my soul is speaking through my music and I loose myself completely ... virtually transcending to another dimension within the music."

Melinda began studying the Suzuki method of Violin playing at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music in NSW when she was 7 and then toured and performed in Japan when she was 8. She now lives in Brisbane and teaches music in a number of private colleges, as well as tutoring individual students in her home. Although Melinda has been teaching music for 17 years, she has been performing publicly throughout most of her life in Orchestras and Classical concerts, in both Irish and Bush bands and in Chamber groups at countless public and private functions across Australia.

This portrait of Melinda which she named 'Passion', was commissioned by her loving lifelong partner for her 40th Birthday. The painting not only incorporates and expresses her passion for music, as well as her much loved instruments, but also for her love of all things feminine such as roses, candles and ribbons.

Melinda is also the director of Moreton Celtic Fiddle Club
MCFC is for celtic musicians of any age or standard to get together once a month to learn tunes and prepare for concerts and performances.

MCFC meet the first friday of each month in Burpengary QLD (north of Brisbane) from 6pm - 9pm

Melinda can be booked to play Violin, cello or Harp at weddings and private venues in the Brisbane area
MCFC can be booked to perform at concerts, private functions and community Celtic celebrations in the brisbane area.

for details and prices please contact Melinda   melinda.gilkes@gmail.com
or visit her homepage:

http://web.me.com/melindagilkes/moretoncelticfiddleclub/Welcome.html