About Estrella Strings
Estrella Strings; we are group of modern string musicians, based on the Gold Coast QLD Australia.
We saw the need to create vibrant all-female String Groups that focus on fresh, fun, light pop music.
With a wide range of music including contemporary covers as well as the classical standards, Estrella Strings is sure to provide you with the perfect live music for your wedding, corporate function, restaurant launch or other special event.
Yana Wells - Violin
Yana Wells is a Gold Coast–born violinist with a lifelong passion for music. She began learning the violin at the age of six years old and received classical training under Austrian-trained violinist Victoria Lakatos, a highly respected and inspiring teacher.
A full Music Scholarship student at All Saints Anglican School, Yana was awarded her Associate of Music Australia (A.Mus.A) qualification at 16 years old. She was lead violin in the All Saints Anglican Chamber Orchestra under the baton of David Maddick, a distinguished chamber string orchestra tutor who has made a lasting impact on the Queensland music education scene. Yana lead the orchestra and won the National Premier Division at the Australian Music Fest in Sydney in 1999. In addition to this, she performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra conducted by founder Bruce Davidson.
Yana later attended the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, where she studied under the late John Curro AM MBE — one of Australia’s most esteemed conductors.
Over the years, Yana has performed with numerous respected orchestras and ensembles, and she currently plays with the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra. Alongside her musical career, Yana is also a Web Designer and Art Print business owner.
In 2024, Yana founded Estrella Strings, an all female Gold Coast String Quartet who plays at various Weddings and Corporate Functions. Since its debut, the group has made a vibrant impact on the Gold Coast music scene. Their performances have been featured in the Gold Coast Bulletin, broadcast live on ABC Radio, and showcased on the Triple M stage at The Gold Coast Show. The trio has appeared at many of the region’s most prestigious events, including the Frizelle Sunshine Awards Ball, the Homecorp Ball at The Langham, and the Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year Awards at The Star — two years in a row. Most recently, Yana was honoured to perform on New Year’s Eve at the award-winning Nineteen at The Star and as a Violinist in the famous band Chocolate Starfish.
Estrella Strings brings a fresh and modern twist to string music, delighting audiences at weddings, corporate functions, and special events across the region. We look forward to bringing the perfect musical touch to your special occasion!
Yana Violinist Website
Brigette Smith - Viola
Brigette began her journey in music as a violinist and choir member at the young age of five years old. Brigette is a multi-talented musician, playing the violin, viola, pipe organ, bassoon and voice, going on to complete a Bachelor of Music from the University of Tasmania.
Brigette has since performed as a viola player in orchestras such as the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra, the Gold Coast Philharmonic, and the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra as well as performing as a solo vocalist with the National Youth Choir of Australia, Schola of St Stephen’s and Brisbane Chamber Choir.
Outside of music, Brigette holds a Masters in Applied Finance from QUT, as well as a Certificate IV in Fashion Design. A true creative, Brigette expresses her visual creativity through fashion design and dressmaking, and maintains an extensive portfolio of projects and an active following on Instagram.
Katherine Hopkins - Cello
In 2005 cellist Katherine Hopkins performed Peter Sculthorpe’s Requiem for Cello Alone at the Queensland Conservatorium to critical acclaim. Sculthorpe himself remarked that her playing “was wondrous and so assured in the way that it covered an enormous range of emotion…Rarely have I heard [the Requiem] played so well”.
Katherine began her cello studies at 8 years of age and at 14 she gained her Licentiate Diploma of Music. She was a finalist in the Queensland Youth Concerto Competition performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D with the Queensland Youth Symphony. At the age of 17 she moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music and later the Royal College of Music, where she completed her Performance Degree with Honours, learning with the noted cello pedagogue, Steven Doane.
Katherine was the principal cellist for Camerata - Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra for seven years. She has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, the Queensland Symphony, Southern Cross Soloists and the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra. Contemporary engagements include performances with Katy Perry and Tina Arena.
Katherine is an experienced and dedicated teacher and she has taught at many prestigious schools in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast. She currently runs a busy and successful private teaching studio.
Lauren Bradnam - Violin
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Lauren was exposed to the world of music from a young age and started playing the violin when she was just five years old. By the age of nine, Lauren was performing in competitions and concerts. Classically trained in Brisbane by Helena Munoz Fernandez, she was a prominent violinist in the Symphony Orchestra and Silver Strings.
Lauren has performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra as a classical violinist, yet her repertoire expands many genres including classical, pop, rock and film. She weaves her magic on the violin with talent, grace and professionalism. Having achieved high-level Certificates of Performance in piano and violin, Lauren is passionate about music and has played the violin in the Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra for many years.
Lauren is an award winning wedding violinist, in 2024 attending the prestigious ABIA Wedding Awards at Brisbane City Hall. The event, which celebrates the best in the Australian wedding industry, featured a special highlight as Lauren was invited to perform a special performance during the event’s evening.
Saraya Beric - Violin
Saraya Beric is a dynamic violinist whose career has taken her from Australia’s biggest stages to international events. A graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium, she began performing at just nine years old with the Gold Coast Youth Symphony before moving into the Queensland Youth Symphony. From those early classical foundations, she branched into Australia’s commercial music scene, carving out a career that blends versatility and flair.
She is best known as the fiddle player for multi-award-winning country group The McClymonts, touring nationally and appearing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and Gympie Muster. Saraya also became known as Australia’s “hip-hop violinist” after working with Illy and 360 on ARIA Award–winning albums. Her adaptability has seen her perform with artists including Lisa Mitchell, Patrizio Buanne, Boy & Bear, Josh Groban, and UK’s Goldfrapp at the Sydney Opera House, as well as feature at major festivals such as Big Day Out, Good Vibrations, Tropfest, Bluesfest, and Homebake. She has also appeared on national television, including The Morning Show, Sunrise, and The NRL Footy Show, and was even flown internationally to perform at a Bollywood celebrity wedding in Mumbai.
Offstage, Saraya is passionate about social justice and community causes, bringing her creativity and strategic marketing skills to organisations across Australia to help drive positive change. She is the owner of The Social Tone Marketing Agency.
The Social Tone Marketing Agency
Rebecca Sullivan - Violin & Viola
Rebecca began her musical journey on the violin at the age of seven, later extending her love
of strings to the viola. Awarded a music scholarship to All Saints Anglican School, she went
on to achieve her A.Mus.A diplomas in Violin, Viola, and Quartet Ensemble.
She has performed with the Australian Youth Orchestra and collaborated across genres,
appearing at major music festivals such as Bluesfest, Good Vibrations, and the Big Day Out
alongside leading hip hop bands. Rebecca has also played in iconic venues such as the
Sydney Opera House for UK singer Goldfrapp, and has travelled internationally to perform,
including at a Bollywood celebrity wedding in Mumbai. She went on to study viola at the
Queensland Conservatorium of Music under the guidance of Professor Patricia Pollett, further
developing her artistry and performance experience.
Now based on the Gold Coast, Rebecca continues to perform regularly in ensembles such as
the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra, while also sharing her passion for music as a
primary school music teacher. A mother of two daughters, she delights in nurturing a love of
music both at home and in her classroom.