Abi travels to Newcastle fortnightly for lessons after she received a scholarship from the Newcastle Conservatorium in 2014.

On alternate weeks Abi participates in teleconferencing lessons between the Newcastle Conservatorium and St Columba Anglican School where she is currently in Year 9.

“It’s one of the frustrating parts of living away from the city and studying music at that level is that you have those barriers,” Abi’s father Greg French said. 

“Technology is starting to break those down a little bit.

“Still it’s not as good as being face to face and the request has been made for her to do a weekly journey this year.” 

Mr French said it is expensive to commute to Newcastle and Abi has to miss a day of school. 

However Mr French said the benefits of musical education outweigh the issues that arise with distance. 

Abi said she is excited to practice her violin everyday.

In 2017 Abi will be complete her eighth grade under the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) and will participate in the production of Into the Woods at The Players Theatre.

It is Abi’s dream to play with an international orchestra and be involved in a couple of seasons on Broadway.

Abi has gone through times when she hasn’t been motivated to practice but she said it is important to commit to the instrument. 

“I went through patches where I didn’t want to pick it up but once you get over them it’s so much fun,” she said. 

Abi started playing Suzuki violin when she was four-years-old in Perth. 

She was inspired by watching her mother play the flute in a Perth orchestra. 

At 13-years-old Abi was the youngest recipient of the James Hannah Scholarship with Sinfonia Mid North Coast.

Abi is also involved with the Mid North Coast Strings Alliance (MNCSA) and was leader of the youth orchestra when the group went on tour to Adelaide in April, 2016.