Open Music Academy Teaching Staff

The Open Music Academy is staffed by some of South Australia’s leading instrumental pedagogy and performance experts.

Our staff lead by example through their commitment to the highest standards of instrumental performance, with backgrounds as international chamber music artists, soloists, and members of professional orchestras. All our teachers share a keen commitment to passing on their skills to the next generation, with a focus on helping young musicians to fulfil their musical potential. This is achieved through a supportive yet challenging program of study that fully develops each student’s general musicianship, creativity, technique and performance skills, allowing each student to establish their personal musical voice.

  • Brass

    Timothy Frahn

    Trumpet

    Timothy Frahn commenced study of the trumpet in 1996. Involvement in primary and secondary school ensembles, extensive music education and competition successes led him to further studies in brass performance.

    A graduate of the Elder Conservatorium, studying trumpet performance with James Dempsey and Robin Finlay; and conducting with Carl Crossin OAM, Keith Crellin OAM and Dr Luke Dollman, Tim has established himself as a highly sought-after performer and conductor. He has performed with the Australian Youth Orchestra, Australian Brass Quintet, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Black Dyke (England), and has studied at the Australian National Academy of Music.

    In 2012, he became the founding President of Adelaide Wind Orchestra, an ensemble dedicated to premiering and commissioning new wind band repertoire focussing on Australian composers, and providing performance opportunities for the finest wind players in South Australia.

    He now divides his professional time between teaching, performing regularly with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Concert Orchestra, and Adelaide Wind Orchestra, tutoring with Adelaide Youth Orchestras, and conducting various ensembles. He was appointed Musical Director of A-Grade brass Kensington and Norwood Brass Band in 2019, and continues his love for making quality music with friends and colleagues.

    In his spare time, he can be found walking the puppy with headphones listening to jazz since “he never gets to play jazz”, gardening with his numerous chickens, cycling of the push and motor variety, exploring orchestral recordings, and enjoys a good game of chess.

  • Percussion

    Jamie Adam

    Jamie completed his studies with a first class Honours Music degree under the guidance of Jim Bailey at the Elder Conservatorium of Music.

    From drumming with Jessica Mauboy to the symphonies of Gustav Mahler, Jamie has proven to be one of the country's top percussionists by way of winning awards such as the Australian Marimba Competition, David Galliver Memorial Award, John "Slick" Osborne scholarship and the Adelaide Bank Arts Award.

    Concerts on the international stage include Slavko Suklar’s concerto for marimba titled The Corridors. This world premier performance was accompanied by the Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra of Slovenia. Jamie has also performed in Malaysia, England, Germany and the United States of America.

    On home soil he gave the Australian debut performance of Keiko Abe’s Prism Rhapsody alongside The Queensland Orchestra. He was fortunate enough to play it once again in the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House accompanied by none other than the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic’s Marimba Concerto No. 2 was also another Australian premier and this time Jamie performed the work with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

    Age is no obstacle! Jamie has taught many students over the years from the very young to those most mature. He loves sharing his musical knowledge with the next generation so they too may experience the wonders music has brought his way.

    Andrew Chan

    Andrew Chan completed his musical studies specialising in Classical Percussion at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. Over the years, he has enjoyed a teaching career specialising in drum and percussive studies, educating throughout several schools and institutions. Some of these include St Peter’s College, Prince Alfred College, St Andrew’s School, State Music Camp of South Australia, and the Adelaide Youth Orchestra’s. 

    Alongside his one-to-one tuition, Andrew has built up and established several Percussion Ensembles and Drumlines (both Junior and Senior) around the state to a competing standard, often placing strongly in events such as ABODA and the Balaklava Eisteddfods. Teaching has been a passion of Andrew’s as he welcomes the opportunity to share his musical knowledge with students from all ages!

  • Piano

    Lucinda Collins

    Lucinda Collins has performed widely throughout Australia, as well as giving numerous broadcasts for ABC Classic FM. After undergraduate study at the Elder Conservatorium under German pianist Professor Stefan Ammer, in 1984 she was awarded the Elder Overseas Scholarship in Music by the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide. She has given concerts in the United Kingdom and Korea.

    By July 1997 Collins was a lecturer in piano at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. Since 2000 she has held the position of Head of Piano and coordinates the chamber music program.

    In addition to solo repertoire, Collins has worked extensively as a chamber musician and has partnered many distinguished artists including internationally acclaimed cellists David Geringas and Lynn Harrell. She has also performed with William Hennessy on violin: The Age's Clive O'Connell described Collins and Hennessy's playing of César Franck's Sonata in A major for Violin and Piano in July 1997, "[it] is well, suited to a player of his character, the slashing strokes and powerful chromatic colours getting a solid hearing, in which Collins took equal honors."

    Collins performed with the Australian String Quartet and they toured nationally in March 2010. She collaborated with the quartet in 2017 to perform Ernő Dohnányi's Piano Quintet No. 1, Op. 1 in C minor, alongside appearing as soloist with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra performing Mozart's G major Concerto, K.

    Kenan Henderson

    Kenan Henderson is a First Class Honours graduate of the Elder Conservatorium of Music, studying with Lucinda Collins. Kenan has been the recipient of many awards and prizes including the inaugural Peter Schodde Memorial Scholarship, presented by Recitals Australia and the Helpmann Academy. Kenan is also the recipient of the Emirates Artist's Development Award, presented by the Adelaide Festival. Kenan was also nominated for the prestigious Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Award in 2014: the sole candidate from the University of Adelaide. Kenan also received the City of Adelaide Award at the inaugural Helpmann Academy Classical Music Awards and has won First Prize among other prizes within Recitals Australia's Lunch Hour concert series.

    With a focus on chamber music performance, Kenan regularly performs with members of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Benaud Trio and with former members of the Australian String Quartet among others. As soloist, Kenan has performed with the Elder Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra, the Unley Symphony Orchestra and the Burnside Symphony Orchestra. With a strong passion for the arts, Kenan has worked as Artistic Administrator with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and has enjoyed producing and presenting a number of highly-successful productions that combine written word with musical performance; inviting new audiences to experience and enjoy the history and profound artistry within the world of Classical music.

    Matthew Binion

    Matthew is a graduate from the Elder Conservatorium of Music, receiving his Bachelor of Music with Honours, under the tutelage of Dr David Lockett and Lucinda Collins. Matthew is head of education and manager at the Allenby Gardens Forte School of Music, an examiner for the AMEB, and is a respected educator and accompanist at leading schools throughout South Australia.

    At the commencement of his studies, Matthew was awarded the D.B. Salotti Scholarship for his first year at the Conservatorium, and in his second year was awarded the Maude Harriett Riley Scholarship for piano. He was awarded Young Citizen of the Year for the City of Adelaide, receiving his award on Australia Day in 2008. In 2012 he won the annual Lance Dosser Memorial Prize at the Elder Conservatorium of Music.

    In 2006 Matthew was accompanist for Adelaide Voices, for which he received the Norman Chinner Scholarship. Matthew has performed in master classes for many distinguished artists including Bart van Oort, Angela Hewitt, Malcolm Martineau, Roy Howat, Clemens Leske.

    During Matthew’s residential time at Lincoln College in 2006-08, he was music co-ordinator and musical ambassador for the College, which included organising concerts for various relief funds in Sudan. He received the Lincoln College Marion Kuechen music prize in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Matthew has and continues to work extensively with a variety of artists in Adelaide and nationwide, as both an accompanist and repetiteur.

    Monika Laczofy

    Pianist and harpsichordist Monika Laczofy graduated from both Australian and Austrian universities. She has performed and broadcast both here and overseas as soloist and chamber musician.

    During several years of post-graduate study (piano and harpsichord) in her native Austria, she took part in courses at the Salzburg Mozarteum, also in numerous performances for the International Chamber Music Festival of Oberschützen. She was engaged as coach and repetiteur for singers, as solo and ensemble recitalist, concerto soloist, as well as for studio recording in England and for Austrian Radio.

    In Australia she has broadcast for the ABC as soloist, accompanist, concerto soloist and orchestra member with the Melbourne and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras. As Harpsichordist, Laczofy performed for several years with the Melbourne-based Bach Players, the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and the Melbourne Musicians, touring and recording much of the Elizabethan & Baroque repertoire, including the keyboard concertos of Bach and his sons.  She has appeared with ensembles for the “Music in the Round” and Barossa Festivals, also the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra.

    Since joining the staff of the Elder Conservatorium in 1985 as Staff Accompanist and Part-time Lecturer in Piano, she has accompanied regular student masterclasses, examination recitals and performed with a long list of renowned overseas artists as well as interstate and local soloists, in recital and broadcast. She has also toured much of south and eastern Australia with the Fleurieu Ensemble and more recently performed also with the visiting Swiss “Aura” String Quartet in a series of city and country concerts. An experienced teacher of music at all levels, she has been Chamber Music Tutor and Adjudicator for national competitions.

    At present she is widely involved in the Adelaide music scene as Chair and Artistic Coordinator for Recitals Australia Lunch Hour Concerts, Past President/now Secretary of the Accompanists’ Guild of South Australia, Convenor of the Geoffrey Parsons Award and Collaborative Pianist competitions, Advisor and Federal Examiner for the AMEB. In 2020 Monika was awarded an OAM for her services to music education.

    Kyle Fraser

    Kyle Fraser is an Australian born pianist having returned from the UK where he studied at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, with renowned British concert pianist Jonathan Plowright, and was awarded a Master of Arts in Music (Performance) degree with distinction.

    A former student of Lucinda Collins, Kyle is a graduate of the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide, and holds a first-class Honours degree in Music (Classical Performance). He is recipient of numerous awards and prizes, notably the Frederick E. Baxenhale Scholarship in second year of his studies and The Patrick Cecil Greenland Scholarship for Pianoforte in third year. Kyle made his Concerto debut performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, K. 414 with the Elder Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra in 2016 and has performed for Recitals Australia in the Lunch Hour and Alumni Concert Series. Notably, he received the Recitals Australia Piano Scholarship in 2017, presented in memory of Peter Schodde, which enabled him to attend a series of UK masterclasses.

    In 2022, Kyle has performed with the Adelaide Hills Chamber Players for the Concert Series ‘Concerto Rhapsody’ at Ukaria Cultural Centre. In addition to teaching commitments, he is an experienced accompanist and chamber musician, having performing overseas and Australia as a collaborative artist.

    Jennifer Chen

    Jennifer Chen graduated from the Elder Conservatorium of Music with an Honours degree in performance, and is now completing a performance-based research master’s degree under Mr. Stephen Whittington, Dr. Anna Goldsworthy, and Mrs. Eleonora Sivan. Awards were granted during Bachelor and Honours period, including The Maude Puddy Prize for Piano, Thelma Dent Memorial Prize, Recognition of High Achievement, and Piano Certificate of Performance Prize in recognition of outstanding work in AMEB. Jennifer also performed numerous concerts during this time, including solo recitals, piano duets and two pianos concerts, and piano trio concerts with Recitals Australia; ‘Nocturnes by Candlelight’ at Ukaria Cultural Centre; Chinese Music Day with Adelaide Festival Centre’s OzAsia Festival 2021 at Elder Hall; and householding concert series with Living Choice Retirement House.

    Jennifer has more than ten years of teaching experience with students of all ages. She believes that every student has their personality and character, and different teaching methods should be carefully used to develop students’ interests in real music, confidence in piano performance, and skills in many musical-related aspects.

    Shawn Hui

    Shawn Hui has completed his Bachelor of Music Classical Performance with First Class Honours studying under Dr Anna Goldsworthy and Mrs Eleonora Sivan. He was one of three recipients of the 2022 Recitals Australia Elder Conservatorium Fellowship program in which he had the opportunity to perform regularly throughout Adelaide. He has been a regular performer for Recitals Australia and Flinders University, both as a soloist and a collaborative pianist. Shawn was involved in several music festivals, including She Speaks and PianoLab. His regular performances earned him the 2022 Emerging Artist of the Year Award from the Adelaide Critics Circle. 

    In his undergraduate study, Shawn was the recipient of multiple scholarships, including the Muriel Perry Scholarship, and the Patrick Cecil Greenland Scholarship for Pianoforte which assisted him greatly in his studies. He also appeared as a soloist with the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra in 2021 as his concerto debut, performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. He was also awarded The Lady Anne Miller Award and The Audrey Lees Prize for Excellence in Piano Performance by the Adelaide Eisteddfod, as well as being a finalist in the 2021 Geoffrey Parsons Award, 2021 Autumn Recitals Australia Emerging Artist Awards, 2022 Collaborative Pianist Award, 2022 Elder Conservatorium Top Class, and the winner of the Piano Prize for the 2022 5mbs Young Virtuoso Award.

    Simón Pazos Quintana

    Simón Pazos Quintana is a classical pianist, accompanist and teacher. He obtained his Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide, under the tutelage of Professor Stefan Ammer. In 2018, Simón performed Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of maestro James Lowe. Later that year, Simón was the recipient of the Peter Schodde Memorial Piano Scholarship, which allowed him to travel throughout Germany, Austria and England, playing for highly respected professors to further his technical abilities and musicianship.

    Upon his return to Adelaide, Simón was a finalist in both the 2019 and the 2021 Geoffrey Parsons Award for piano accompaniment. Most recently, he has performed alongside William Hennessy AM and the Adelaide Hills Chamber Players as part of their 2023 Summer Season concerts.

    Simón is currently completing his PhD at the Elder Conservatorium, centred around the works for solo piano by composer Aleksandr Mosolov.”

  • Strings

    Caleb Lavery-Brook

    Guitar

    Caleb Lavery-Brook completed his Master of Philosophy in 2021 at the Elder Conservatorium while studying with Dr. Oliver Fartach-Naini. He undertook a Mentorship in 2021 with Australian ARIA award winning guitarist and Artistic Director of the Adelaide Guitar Festival Slava Grigoryan with the assistance of Helpmann Academy. Caleb also holds a Licentiate of Music (LMusA) for classical guitar performances from the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB).

    Caleb has won numerous awards and prizes including the Classical Guitar LMusA award for outstanding achievement (2018), First Prize in the South Australian final of the Young Virtuoso Award (2018), First Place at the Adelaide Eisteddfod (in years 2015, 2017 and 2018). First Plave in the open age, open instrument category of the Balaklava Eisteddfod (2017), First Place in the open string division of the Adelaide Eisteddfod (As a member of the Opan Guitar Quartet in 2018). Alongside these awards Caleb has also received grants for numerous projects from funding agencies Helpmann Academy and Carclew.

    Notable performances include appearances at the Adelaide Guitar Festival in years 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021 and at the 3rd Korean International Guitar Festival in 2017. Caleb is also a regular performer in Chamber Music Adelaide’s (CMA) annual ‘On the Terrace’ event and has also performed regularly for Recitals Australia. Other career highlights include being part of the ‘Perspectives Trilogy’ by the Adelaide-based Kegelstatt ensemble which saw a subsequent commercial release and his involvement in the production of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas through the South Australian State Opera.

    Heather Lander

    Cello

    Heather Lander is a dynamic performer, passionate classical musician, and dedicated teacher. Heather holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the prestigious Sydney Conservatorium. She is currently the only Australian with a Post Graduate Certificate in Specialised String Teaching from the European String Teachers Association and the University of Chichester. Heather is also an accredited Colour Strings and Stringbabies teacher.

    As a teacher, Heather has a proven track record of success. Her students frequently win prizes and scholarships and perform exceptionally well in exams. Heather takes a holistic approach to teaching, focusing not only on technique but also on the importance of creativity, expression, and enjoyment of music. Heather uses her studies in Dalcroze methodology to improvise and explore the intrinsic link between movement and music and she incorporates this into her teaching philosophy.

    As a performer, Heather is equally impressive. She plays in many different capacities, whether performing solo or as part of an ensemble, Heather's musicianship is always top-notch, and her passion for music is infectious. Heather is a true artist, dedicated to her craft and constantly striving to improve and innovate. Her unique approach to teaching and performing has made her a sought-after musician and teacher. With her talent, dedication, and passion, Heather Lander is sure to continue making a significant impact on the world of music for years to come.

     

    Helen Ayres

    Violin

    Helen Ayres is a Doctoral graduate of the University of Melbourne and founding member of Seraphim Trio. She has appeared as guest with numerous Australian small ensembles including Flinders Quartet, Syzygy, the Australian Octet and Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. After spending two years living in London and studying pedagogy at the Yehudi Menuhin School, Helen has now returned to Adelaide to teach violin at Elder Conservatorium’s Centre for Young Musicians.

    While living in London Helen performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony and London Philharmonic Orchestra. As part of these orchestras she performed across England, Scotland, Germany, Austria and China. Closer to home, Helen is a past member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and has performed as guest principal with Orchestra Victoria and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

    With Seraphim Trio Helen has regularly performed at various festivals including the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, Adelaide Festival of Arts, Adelaide French Festival, the Peninsular Summer Music Festival and in 2013, Opera Australia’s Ring Festival in Melbourne. Seraphim has recorded numerous CDs for ABC Classics and are currently part way through a series of trio recordings for ABC Classic FM titled The History of the Piano Trio.

    Lester Wong

    Violin

    Lester graduated with First Class Honours in Violin performance from the Elder Conservatorium of Music, studying with Wendy Heiligenberg and Keith Crellin. He is the recipient of the Elder Conservatorium Directors Award, Arved and Suzanne Kurtz Scholarship and Florence Cooke Violin Prize. Lester performs regularly at festivals and concerts around Adelaide, and has led and toured nationally in Co- Opera productions of La Boheme, Eugene Onegin, Mikado, Magic Flute, Barber of Seville, and Don Giovanni. He has also completed the Orchestral Traineeship and Professional Pathways program with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and was also invited to present at an international workshop as part of the Double dialogue Arts journal publication in 2017 at New York’s National Opera Centre.

    As an active chamber musician, Lester has performed and attended various chamber music festivals and schools across Australia, most recently at the Australia Chamber Music Festival. He is also an active performer in the Baudin Trio, Maple String Quartet, Bronzewing Quartet and the Royal Commonwealth Society Instrumental Ensembles. Lester is the strings coordinator at Pembroke school and tutor strings and ensembles at St Mary’s College and the South Australian Music Camp. Born and raised in Singapore, Lester has also spent many years studying the erhu with renowned erhu player Zhang Yu Ming. In 2019, he commenced his postgraduate research Master’s in music performance under full scholarship, investigating the cultural and performance meeting points between the violin and erhu.

    Madeline Melrose

    Violin

    Madeline Melrose is a Doctoral graduate of the Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide and was awarded the prestigious University Medal for her outstanding research. She completed her studies on full scholarship after being awarded the Australian Postgraduate Award. Her research areas of interest are closely related to her teaching and performance work and include topics that cover violin technique, music pedagogy, music performance, psychology, Australian music education, and chamber music.

    Madeline’s performance career includes solo, orchestral, and chamber music performances with various organisations including the Adelaide Symphony Orchestras, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Australian Youth Orchestra, and various chamber music festivals across Australia. She is a founding member of The Academy Piano Trio which launched in 2022.

    As an educator, Madeline currently holds teaching positions at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, the University Senior College, and is a nationally accredited examiner for the Australian Music Examinations Board. She is passionate about teaching music in a way that creates excitement, inspiration, and enjoyment. She is enthusiastic about progress and musical direction, and inspiring a new generation of musicians.

    Paris Netting

    Violin

    Paris Netting (née Williams) completed a Bachelor of Music (Advanced) with First Class Honours at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in 2021, where she studied violin under the tutelage of Dr Elizabeth Layton. Over the course of her studies, Paris received the Marnie Cowan Music Scholarship, The Franz and Catherine Anders Prize, and the John Robert Mitchell Violin Prize. She held the position of Concertmaster of the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, as well as a number of Principal and Associate Principal roles in the Elder Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra. Paris also performed on a number of occasions with the Elder Music Lab, presenting contemporary classical music in a variety of venues around Adelaide.

    Paris performs regularly as a chamber and orchestral musician, playing as a casual violinist with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and performing with ensembles including Adelaide Baroque, the Adelaide Festival Orchestra, Adelaide Cantata Band and Adelaide Hills Chamber Players. Paris is the violist and a founding member of Raindance Trio, who won the Peter Brooker Prize for Music Excellence after their performance at the Elder Lunchtimes Series ‘Top Class’ concert in 2021. She is also the violinist and a founding member of Eurelia Trio, who recently gave their debut concert in Adelaide to critical acclaim. Paris performed as a member of the Adelaide Youth Orchestras and Australian Youth Orchestras for a number of years, and has been an active member of numerous chamber ensembles. Paris has been honoured to perform for the Governor and Premier of South Australia on a number of occasions, as well as for Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

    As a music educator, Paris teaches violin and viola at St Andrew’s School and Seymour College, and also tutors a number of ensembles and immersion programs at each of these schools. She began teaching at OMA in 2021. Paris is passionate about sharing the joy of creating music with young people, and has helped to facilitate a number of creative music workshops and schools tours presented by the Open Music Academy, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Adelaide Youth Orchestras, Julian Ferraretto, and Connecting the Dots Through Music, both in Adelaide and through regional South Australia.

    Michael Robertson

    Viola

    Michael has a B mus.(Hons) from the University of Melbourne. He also studied at the Elder Conservation of Music and the Australian National Academy of Music. He has been a member of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra since 2002.  He has also performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria and Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. Michael has played chamber music with many ensembles and plays regularly with Adelaide Baroque. He has taught violin and viola since 2002 and has prepared many students for SACE, IB and AMEB exams.

    Rob Nairn

    Double bass

    Returning to Australia from the U.S. in 2017 Rob was appointed as an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, taking over as head of the Early Music department and director of graduate studies. In 2020 he was appointed Master Musician in Residence at the Elder Con and teaches in The Open Music Academy and both graduate and undergraduate students.

    He was perviously a Distinguished Professor of Music at Penn State’s School of Music and on the Faculty of The Juilliard School in New York for 11 years and a Kulas Visiting Artist at Case Western Reserve University. He has lived and worked in Germany, England, Australia and the United States performing with such groups as the London and Oslo Philharmonic Orchestras; the Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestras; the English, Scottish and Australian Chamber Orchestras, the Bavarian Radio Symphony, the Melbourne, Sydney, Queensland, West Australian and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras, the London Sinfonietta, the Halle Orchestra, and the London Mozart Players. Rob has played in all seasons of the Australian World Orchestra and featured as one of the AWO’s 8 double bass soloists in the 2016 premiere of Elena Kats-Chernin’s commissioned concerto “The Witching Hour”.

    Rob is a specialist in historical performance, and has been principal bassist with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra since 2017 and a member of both Ironwood and Adelaide Baroque. He was principal bass of Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society since 2003, and also principal bass of the Boston Early Music Festival and Juilliard Baroque. He has performed with the English Baroque Soloists, Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, Concerto Caledonia, Washington Bach Consort, Rebel, Florilegium, The Smithsonian Chamber Players, The Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra, Muffat Collective, Bach Akademie Australia, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

    He has commissioned and premiered more than forty new works for solo double bass and chamber groups including concerti by Barry Conyngham and Doug Balliett, and he has given solo recitals in Europe, Scandinavia, China, the United States, and Australia.

    He can be heard on over 60 commercial CDs and has recorded for Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Sony, EMI, Virgin, ABC Classics, and Channel Classics. His first solo CD ‘Tremor’ was released in 2022 on the U.S. Ablaze label.

    Rob is a Past President of the International Society of Bassists from whom he received a Recognition Award for Historical Performance in 2009. He is a Howard Foundation Fellowship recipient from Brown University and DAAD German Government Scholarship recipient.

  • Voice

    Sara Lambert

    Sara Lambert is a professional singer of great versatility. Critically acclaimed in Australia and Europe, her voice has been said to be “world-class…we could have listened to her all night and not grown tired”. Sara’s professional career began on the operatic stage and has also led to her being invited to perform in radio, television, Operetta and Cabaret.  She is a popular soloist on the concert platform in a wide variety of repertoire and has become a sought-after National Anthem singer and guest vocalist at community events.

    Sara’s initial musical training began playing clarinet, but she moved to voice before being accepted at Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide University, where she then graduated with a Bachelor of Music Performance (Honours). She then went on to graduate with the 3-year Diploma in Operatic Art from the Sydney Conservatorium.

    Following her tertiary studies, she immediately became a full-time company member of Opera Australia where she performed small roles, covers and chorus. After performing for Opera Australia for numerous years she was awarded a travelling scholarship through the company to continue her professional soloist development in London with conductors and coaches from The Royal Opera and English National Opera.

    Sara has won an array of awards in Australia and the UK including competitions, scholarships, and industry recognition prizes. Since returning to Adelaide Sara has been a principal artist for Co-Opera in Australia, Europe, and SE Asia and is a regular performer with the State Opera of SA.

    Over her career Sara has had a keen interest in vocal production, voice teaching and in professional development and mentorship. She has worked as a teacher and coach with primary, secondary and tertiary students, and with emerging and professional artists. Sara is a firm believer in the importance of maintaining wonder and that the voice can be a lifelong source of exploration, development and fascination.

    Fiona McArdle

    Fiona McArdle is a professional opera singer with a Master of Music (Voice and Opera Performance) from the New England Conservatory, Boston, USA, and an Honours Degree in Classical Voice from the Elder Conservatorium of Music.

    Fiona made her professional operatic debut in 2017 as La Ciesca in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi with the State Opera of South Australia. With the company she has played a number of other roles and is engaged for further principal work with them in 2022. Fiona’s performing history is extensive and global, having played numerous roles in the USA, the UK, and around Australia. She has also appeared as a recitalist internationally and locally.

    Fiona is the recipient of several awards including the 2014 Beta Sigma Phi Classical Music Award, the 2017 Kinnon Award, and in the Encouragement Award in the 2017 German-Australian Opera Grant competition, the Australian International Opera Awards Special Study Award in Melbourne (2017), and more.

    Fiona has been placing more focus on her private singing teaching work since 2020 and is passionate about her current role as an instrumental tutor at the Open Music Academy. Fiona prioritises building a strong foundation of classical singing technique which enables students to sing a variety of repertoire healthily and with versatility. A Kodaly trained singer, Fiona believes that it is incredibly important for all singers to have some proficiency in sight-singing and includes sol-fa exercises and musicianship in lessons to build confidence in all students.

    Fiona has also toured Australia as a performer with Co-Opera, and through this has been involved with outreach programs for school children in regional communities. She has a passion for developing innovative musical education programs for children, and is currently completing her Master of Teaching through the University of Adelaide.

  • Woodwind

    Charles Klein

    Oboe

    Having previously studied and taught fine art photography at ENSAV La Cambre in Brussels, Belgium, Charles commenced his studies of the oboe at age 30 under the guidance of Grant Dickson, Celia Craig, Peter Duggan, and Renae Stavely – the entire wonderful oboe section of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.  Charles is today nearing completion as a PhD candidate in Classical Oboe Performance at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide.  As well as enjoying teaching a wonderful group of budding young oboists in a variety of different Adelaide institutions, including Marryatville Special Interest Music School, and the Open Music Academy at the Elder Conservatorium, Charles is a casual oboist with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly with the Adelaide wind quintet Windsong. 

    Charles is currently the South Australian Representative of the Australasian Double Reed Society (ADRS), and a member of the State Music Camp Committee of South Australia.

    William Branson

    Clarinet

    William Branson began learning the clarinet at 9 years old and continued to learn the instrument throughout his time at school. He graduated from Trinity College in 2017, receiving the music subject prize as well as two SACE Subject Merits. From 2018 to 2020, William studied his Bachelor of Music under the guidance of Elizabeth Koch and Dean Newcomb, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Clarinettist.

    William is a member of many different ensembles, including the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, Adelaide Wind Orchestra, the Elder Conservatorium Symphony and Wind Orchestras, and currently teaches at several schools around Adelaide. William has also travelled overseas, twice previously being the Principal Bass Clarinettist of the Honors Performance Series in Carnegie Hall, New York.

    Mark Gaydon

    Bassoon

    Mark Gaydon has been Principal Bassoonist with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra since 2003. During this time he has appeared as soloist with the orchestra on numerous occasions performing solo works by Mozart, Weber, Zwilich, Williams, Franciax and Strauss. He has also appeared as guest principal bassoon with the Sydney Symphony, the New Zealand Symphony, the Queensland Symphony and the Tasmanian Symphony orchestra.

    As a chamber musician he has performed with Ellision Ensemble, The Southern Cross Soloists, the New London Chamber Ensemble, the Tancibudek Wind Quintet and his own group Ensemble Le Monde. An avid teacher, Mark has been Associate Instructor at the Indiana University School of Music, a guest artist at the Australian National Academy of Music, bassoon tutor for the Australian Youth Orchestra, AYO National Music Camp and Young Symphonists programs, and Bassoon Instructor at the Elder Conservatorium since 2005. Mark has a PhD in music from the University of Adelaide and was awarded a Dean of Graduate Studies Special Commendation for Thesis Excellence. In 2005 he won the ABC Young Performer of the Year wind, brass and percussion section and in 1999 was awarded grand prize in the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Competition in the USA competing against players of all instruments. Mark is a keen supporter of Australian composers and has commissioned and premiered works for the bassoon by Gerard Brophy, Andrew Schultz, Katy Abbott, James Cuddeford, Luke Altmann and Charles Bodman Rae. In December 2013 many of the commissioned works were featured on ABC Classic  Fm's New Waves Podcast series forming a bassoon odyssey into new Australian bassoon works. In 2011 he was a featured artist on 3MBS's Musical Portraits series and performed Berio's notorious Sequenza XII for solo in a live radio broadcast. Mark's teachers include Kim Walker and Stephane Levesque.

    Anna Henwood

    Flute

    Anna Henwood is a Doctor of Philosophy candidate at the University of Adelaide and gratefully acknowledges the support she receives for her research through the provision of an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. Anna’s thesis relates to the flute pedagogy and contribution of her teacher, Raymond Guiot, a student of Marcel Moyse, flute teacher of the 1900s and writer of many flute books. Anna acknowledges all teachers who have impacted her life over the years and is thankful for the many ways they have contributed to her learning.  

    Anna has a rich musical, linguistic, and educational background, and her experiences in Australia and overseas have helped shape her strong intercultural and teaching skills. Anna accepted a full scholarship for Bachelor of Music (Performance) study at Flinders Street School of Music, offered to her following her year twelve results for Performance and Performance Special Study. It was after year twelve that Anna met Raymond Guiot in Rome and decided to one day return and study with him in Italy. After graduating with Honours in Performance at the Elder Conservatorium, Anna moved to Italy to complete a triennial course with Raymond Guiot at the Italian Flute Academy in Rome and was awarded a First Prize on examination. Anna was awarded a Graduate Diploma in Italian from Flinders University, Graduate Diploma of Education from the University of Adelaide and a Masters in Modern Languages Education from the University of Melbourne. Anna strives to be an educator who meets students where they are at, and aims to support students of all levels and ages to achieve their own individual goals.

    Derek Pascoe

    Saxophone

    Derek Pascoe has been playing saxophone professionally for over 45 years including regular TV, radio broadcasts and studio recordings across a range of genres. At the age of 17 he was a member of acclaimed pop group Flintlock, who produced 5 albums and were featured weekly on UK national television including Top of the Pops and Tomorrow's People. Pascoe has played at many of London's Jazz venues including Ronnie Scott's, Bass Clef, and the Jazz Cafe. He has toured extensively throughout Europe, Japan, and Australia. In 1998 Pascoe moved to Australia from London. He completed a Master of Music at the Elder Conservatorium Adelaide in 2010, exploring performance and spontaneous improvisation techniques. Since 2000, he has lectured in Jazz Theory and Improvisation across the Jazz, Classical and Contemporary disciplines at the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide.

    Pascoe has an extensive recording, arranging and composing history that includes the National Youth Jazz Orchestra UK, Jacqueline Dankworth UK, Shaolin Afronauts, the Zeitgeist Orchestra, John Aue and the Yearlings. His work in film includes improvised performance for the film documentary These Heathen Dreams, with music composed by Mike Darren and directed by Ann Tsoulis. In 2016 he composed and performed the music to accompany the silent masterpiece The Crowd as part of the APRA Silent Remasters series.

    In 2014, Pascoe composed music to Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, which received its world premiere in the Elder Hall Lunchtime Series in Adelaide. A subsequent CD recording was released in 2015 by Finepoets.

    Pascoe is part of the UnPiano trio, their composition Grand Silence, a poignant commemoration of the people who lost their lives in World Wars 1 and 2, has been performed in Adelaide, Poland and Berlin. Pascoe has just released an album on Wizard Tone Records with his own group She Gave Him Oleander playing an evocative mixture of words and music encompassing jazz, folk, and traditional songs in a contemporary setting.

  • Ensembles

    Alevia Evci

    Wind and Brass ensemble

    Alevia began studying piano in Katherine, Northern Territory at the age of 5. Upon moving back home to Adelaide, she began learning saxophone at age 10. She later attended Brighton Secondary School as a part of the Special Interest Music Program, where she was heavily involved in many of the school’s ensembles – primarily on saxophone and bass trombone. Aside from school ensembles, Alevia was also involved in the Adelaide Youth Orchestras, JazzSA Superbands program as well as community bands around Adelaide.

    Alevia commenced tertiary studies at the Elder Conservatorium in 2019, completing her Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance) on saxophone at the end of 2021. She is currently completing her Honours year in performance, under the tutelage of Damien Hurn. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Alevia was a member of the Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra, saxophone quartets, a saxophone/percussion duo and also participated in other university ensembles in this time.
    She currently still plays with the Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra under the direction of Bryan Griffiths, and regularly mentors newer members of the ensemble. Alevia is a big advocate for the wind ensemble, and has played in wind bands for nearly 15 years. She loves the unique sounds and textures created from the ensemble, as well as the sense of community and camaraderie developed through playing music with like-minded musicians.

    Alevia also took conducting classes from Dr Luke Dollman and Carl Crossin OAM through her undergraduate studies, and has gained practical experience from community bands and school band direction. When Alevia is not studying/practicing/performing, she enjoys teaching saxophone, clarinet and trombone through the Department for Education and privately at Loreto College, Gleeson College and Pedare Christian College.

    Caleb Lavery-Brook

    Guitar ensemble

    Caleb Lavery-Brook completed his Master of Philosophy in 2021 at the Elder Conservatorium while studying with Dr. Oliver Fartach-Naini. He undertook a Mentorship in 2021 with Australian ARIA award winning guitarist and Artistic Director of the Adelaide Guitar Festival Slava Grigoryan with the assistance of Helpmann Academy. Caleb also holds a Licentiate of Music (LMusA) for classical guitar performances from the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB).

    Caleb has won numerous awards and prizes including the Classical Guitar LMusA award for outstanding achievement (2018), First Prize in the South Australian final of the Young Virtuoso Award (2018), First Place at the Adelaide Eisteddfod (in years 2015, 2017 and 2018). First Plave in the open age, open instrument category of the Balaklava Eisteddfod (2017), First Place in the open string division of the Adelaide Eisteddfod (As a member of the Opan Guitar Quartet in 2018). Alongside these awards Caleb has also received grants for numerous projects from funding agencies Helpmann Academy and Carclew.

    Notable performances include appearances at the Adelaide Guitar Festival in years 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021 and at the 3rd Korean International Guitar Festival in 2017. Caleb is also a regular performer in Chamber Music Adelaide’s (CMA) annual ‘On the Terrace’ event and has also performed regularly for Recitals Australia. Other career highlights include being part of the ‘Perspectives Trilogy’ by the Adelaide-based Kegelstatt ensemble which saw a subsequent commercial release and his involvement in the production of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas through the South Australian State Opera.

    Andrew Chan

    Percussion ensemble

    Andrew Chan completed his musical studies specialising in Classical Percussion at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. Over the years, he has enjoyed a teaching career specialising in drum and percussive studies, educating throughout several schools and institutions. Some of these include St Peter’s College, Prince Alfred College, St Andrew’s School, State Music Camp of South Australia, and the Adelaide Youth Orchestra’s. 

    Alongside his one-to-one tuition, Andrew has built up and established several Percussion Ensembles and Drumlines (both Junior and Senior) around the state to a competing standard, often placing strongly in events such as ABODA and the Balaklava Eisteddfods. Teaching has been a passion of Andrew’s as he welcomes the opportunity to share his musical knowledge with students from all ages!

    Stephen King

    String ensemble

    Stephen King’s impressive career spans a decade as the violist of the Australian String Quartet and nine years with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Throughout his extensive experience, he has participated in numerous performances, tours, recordings, and collaborations on a global scale. Stephen's academic accomplishments include a Doctorate in Chamber Music, with studies under esteemed quartets like the Emerson and Guarneri. He has also held notable positions in renowned orchestras, including the Boston Philharmonic and the Adelaide, Melbourne, and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras. Stephen imparts his expertise by teaching viola and chamber music at the University of Adelaide, Elder Conservatorium, and regularly offering guidance at National Music Camps for AYO.