Bonita Han-Williams

Tutti Double Bass

Bonita has been a permanent member of the Opera Australia Orchestra since 2016, as Tutti and a seasonal Acting Principal. She is a highly qualified professional double bassist and teacher.

Bonita holds degrees from prestigious performing arts institutions. She was awarded a full scholarship to complete her Master of Music (Performance) from Boston University, College of Fine Arts and was fortunate to study orchestral repertoire under renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra bassists Todd Seeber and Principal Ed Barker. Bonita received her Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the University of Melbourne, Victorian College of the Arts, under the tutelage of Sylvia Hosking (Assistant Principal, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra).

Bonita has enjoyed engagements as Guest Principal Bass with several esteemed orchestral ensembles, such as the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, and the Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra. Her breadth of experience extends to engagements as Guest Principal Bass with prominent early music ensembles such as the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Pinchgut: Orchestra of the Antipodes, Australian Haydn Ensemble, and the Cantata Singers Orchestra (Boston).

Bonita has been fortunate to work with prominent orchestras within Australia and around the world. In Europe, she has enjoyed touring and performing with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, as well as performing with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Dutch Ballet Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, and South Netherlands Philharmonic. In the USA and Australia/New Zealand, Bonita has been fortunate to perform with orchestras such as the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

With over fifteen years of teaching experience, Bonita runs her own private teaching studio in Sydney as well as offering online lessons. She loves teaching students of all ages and levels, and feels passionate about music education. She has tutored at several music education programs such as Sydney Youth Orchestra, Kuringai Youth Orchestra, State Music Camp, and Melbourne Youth Orchestra.