A decade ago, Australian music-lovers were caught up in a documentary film. Filmmakers Bob Connolly and Sophie Raymond had spent 18 months tracking the preparations for a concert at the Sydney Opera House by MLC Burwood, a musical powerhouse in Sydney’s inner west.

The anti-hero of Mrs Carey’s Concert (2011) was a 16-year-old violinist. Pouting and uncooperative and battling all kinds of inner demons, the sullen teenager was music teacher Karen Carey’s worst nightmare. But persistence paid off and, over time, the teen gave a performance of Bruch’s Violin Concerto which had audiences cheering.

Emily Sun. Photo Supplied

There were cheers too in the Melbourne Town Hall on Friday evening as Emily Sun gave a ravishing performance of Erich Korngold’s Violin Concerto. She is now a much acclaimed soloist with an international performing and recording career. Her recent recording for ABC Classics with pianist Andrea Lam, Nocturnes, was one of the highlights of last year’s releases. Few in the Melbourne audience would have been aware of the backstory of Sun’s emergence through the transformative power of music.

Instead, for 25 minutes, we witnessed a truly memorable performance of graceful poise...