Bow down to a classic winner

Classical musician Natasha Hanna describes the violin as her first love.

She took up the instrument aged just three, before adding a second string to her bow by learning the piano three years later.

The 21-year-old is now a highly accomplished violinist and pianist and plays with the Australian National Academy of Music, is a casual with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and was formerly part of the Melbourne Youth Orchestra.

Last week she was singled out by Hume council for one of five $3000 Hume arts awards.

The Roxburgh Park resident said she would use the money to buy a car. A prize pool of $20,000 was up for grabs, with $3000 the greatest monetary prize any one recipient could receive. Twenty-five entries were received this year, down from 40 last year.