Teaching and Administrative Staff

The RCM's Team is an amazing group of teaching and Administrative staff. They are highly qualified, skilled and experienced to deal with your or your child's music education needs. 

All RCM staff have full Child Protection screening and are required to undertake annual training in Child Protection and CPR. Staff are also actively engaged in professional development and are frequent presenters and attendees at major national and international conferences. 

Many of the RCM's teaching staff are also busy professional musicians performing in some of Australia's leading orchestras including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

The RCM's Senior Executive Team

Hamish Tait

Director and Chief Executive Officer

AMusA, BA(Creative), Grad Dip Mus, MMus, MBA (USQ)

Hamish holds Masters degrees in both Music and Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland. He has studied piano with Wendy Lorenz and Roy Howat. In 1997 Hamish was awarded a Regional Arts Development Fund allowing him to study piano and accompaniment in London with the renowned pianist/accompanist Nina Walker, herself a pupil of Claudio Arrau and Alfred Cortot.

In 2003 he was appointed as the Director of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga and has held the positions of President, Vice-President and Executive Secretary of the ANSWRC and has served over nine years on the ANSWRC Committee. In 2011 Hamish was the Vice-Chair of the 10th Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference (APPC) and is currently a NSW State Representative on the APPC National Committee.

Hamish appears regularly as a piano soloist, duo pianist, accompanist and chamber musician. He has performed extensively across Australia and internationally including tours of the USA and the UK. As a teacher Hamish works with Diploma and Tertiary students at the RCM and is sought after as an adjudicator. Hamish performs regularly with violinist Lauren Davis and with Anthony Bozicevic as the Riverina Piano Duo.

Dr harold gretton

Associate director

BA(Mus) (ANU), PhD (ANU)

Dr Gretton began playing guitar at the age of 7. He first studied at the ANU in Canberra before completing a course specialising in guitar duo performance in Strasbourg (France).
He has won numerous international competitions, both as a soloist and in various chamber music combinations. He has been invited to perform concerts all over Europe, as well as in the USA, Mexico, Vietnam, and all over Australia. He has performed with orchestras in Australia and Europe, and gave the world première of Westlake's concerto Shadow Dances under the composer's baton.
He has recorded three CDs, a solo album, an album of Austraian guitar quartets with Guitar Trek, and a mixed album of guitar duos, funded by a successful crowd-funding campaign.
A dedicated pedagogue, Harold has given masterclasses in numerous guitar festivals, lectured at Universities and has participated on numerous juries in international competitions. He has held teaching positions in Stuttgart, Baden-Baden, Lichtenau (Germany) and Saint-Louis (France).

Harold joined the RCM's Guitar Department in 2018 and was appointed as Associate Director of the RCM in 2021.

Venita Riordan

Deputy Director - Finance and Administration

Venita has an extensive background having worked in both the private and government sectors. She has been with the RCM since 2012 and has transformed the RCM's administrative operations.

With professional accounting and administrative experience in manufacturing,  public service and as a TAFE teacher, Venita has a strong understanding of the RCM's complex operations.

With two children heavily involved in music over many years, Venita also brings a passion for music education and performance.

Piano Department

Head of PIANO Department

Joanne Burrows - Piano

AMusA (AMEB), ATCL, LTCL, BA, DipTeach (UQ), Cert IV Assessment & Training, M.Ed (CQU)

Joanne started learning piano at the age of 14, becoming serious about it at age 17. She studied a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theatre at Queensland University Major studies including piano and composition and secondary studies in voice, recorder and later flute. Joanne completed a Diploma of Education in 1982 and spent several years teaching classroom music in Queensland and NSW. Joanne came to Wagga Wagga in 1986 where she taught at the Riverina Conservatorium (1986-1991) and started the HSC music program at Trinity Senior High School, (now Kildare College). Over this time she completed an AmusA in Piano, an ATCL and LTCL in piano pedagogy through Trinity College and was very involved with HSC Music including marking HSC papers, setting trial HSC papers and accompaniment work.

In 1999 Joanne returned to teach at the Riverina Conservatorium becoming Head of Keyboard and Music Theory & Aural in 2004. Joanne was part of the committee for the 10th Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference held in Wagga Wagga. In 2011, Wirripang Music published a number of piano and music craft books for beginning and intermediate level students. Joanne has also performed in various RCM Concerts in solo, ensemble and accompanist roles.

Joanne was appointed Chair of the RCM Curriculum committee in 2010. This group of professional musicians and teachers have drafted stage one of the RCM curriculum which has been most effective in ensuring quality music education.

Joanne continues to have piano music and teaching resources published by Wirripang, provide piano pedagogy workshops for music teachers, and perform when time permits. Joanne loves to teach, and offers a range of piano and music craft programs from beginner to advanced, over a wide range of styles, - classical, popular, jazz, improvisation and composition.

Hamish Tait -  Piano

AMusA, BA(Creative), GradDipMus, MMus, MBA (USQ)

Hamish holds Masters degrees in both Music and Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland. He has studied piano with Wendy Lorenz and Roy Howat. In 1997 Hamish was awarded a Regional Arts Development Fund allowing him to study piano and accompaniment in London with the renowned pianist/accompanist Nina Walker, herself a pupil of Claudio Arrau and Alfred Cortot.

In 2003 he was appointed as the Director of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga and has held the positions of President, Vice-President and Executive Secretary of the ANSWRC and has served over nine years on the ANSWRC Committee. In 2011 Hamish was the Vice-Chair of the 10th Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference (APPC) and is currently a NSW State Representative on the APPC National Committee.

Hamish appears regularly as a piano soloist, duo pianist, accompanist and chamber musician. He has performed extensively across Australia and internationally including tours of the USA and the UK. As a teacher Hamish works with Diploma and Tertiary students at the RCM and is sought after as an adjudicator. Hamish performs regularly with violinist Lauren Davis and with Anthony Bozicevic as the Riverina Piano Duo.

Rowena Grosfeld - Piano

B.A.(Lib.Sc.), DipMusicTeaching (USQ)

Rowena is a graduate of the University of Southern Queensland having completed a Diploma in Music Teaching. Music has always been part of her life and she has been involved in singing and music from an early age. For the past seventeen years, Rowena has been teaching piano in Sydney both privately and at the local school. During this time she was involved in playing for Church services, co-ordinating and rehearsing students for school musical occasions, accompanying students for individual exams and accompanying small instrumental groups.

Rowena loves to encourage each student to achieve well in their studies. She enjoys seeing the pleasure that this brings to themselves and others, as well as the positive impact on other aspects of their life. Rowena is looking forward to teaching at the Riverina Conservatorium, and thinks that Wagga Wagga is fortunate to have such high quality and diverse musical opportunities so easily accessible to the community.

Carmel Ryan - Piano/Keyboard, Accompanist

AMusA (AMEB), AssDipMus (QUT), 

Carmel is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with over 30 years teaching experience. She commenced teaching at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in 1991 and after a two year absence and a road trip around Australia, Carmel returned to the Riverina Conservatorium in 2012.

Carmel maintains a large studio at the RCM and includes teaching at Kildare Catholic College, Wagga Wagga Public School and Lutheran Primary School. Carmel enjoys teaching students of all ages and encourages the newly introduced RCM curriculum for all students. She is also able to prepare students for external exams if requested.

As well as teaching, Carmel delights in accompanying instrumental students for varying performances including Student recitals, Eisteddfodau, External examinations and HSC. Carmel is the accompanist for the RCM affiliated ensemble, the Cantilena Singers and has been repetiteur for choral and school musical performances.

Carmel also appears occasionally as associate artist with colleagues in the RCM concert series and most recently enjoyed the experience of performing with the RCO, and first time ever playing the harpsichord!

KATHERINE CHOI - PIANO

BMus (Music Ed), MEd (Sydney)

Katherine has completed her Bachelor of Music (Music Education) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2010. She is also a qualified Special Education teacher who works as a secondary teacher with the Department of Education and communities as she has also completed her Master of Education (Special and Inclusive Education) at the University of Sydney.

During her studies at the Conservatorium, she had studied piano under Lyall Duke had previously studied piano with Stephanie McCallum. Katherine has had many years of experiences teaching piano as she had been teaching since 2007. As a music teacher, she has prepared students for their exams (such as AMEB and Trinity exams) and had also prepared HSC students for the performance and written exams. She had also previously run her own piano studio and worked as a piano teacher in Sydney before moving to Wagga.

Also Katherine also specialises in voice as she had studied voice under Dallas Watts in Sydney, and was a member of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Chamber Choir. She has also participated in performances, studio recitals and had also been in ABC live recordings in performances with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Chamber Choir. Katherine is a passionate teacher, who is able to teach all types of learners.

stephanie johnston - PIANO

Bmus, DipMus (CQUniversity)

Stephanie is a pianist and singer who feels privileged to 'share the joy of music' as she teaches students of all ages and helps them develop in their own musical journey. She firmly believes in the benefits and rewards of music education and is delighted to be a part of facilitating music learning opportunities at the RCM. Stephanie is pleased to work in such a vibrant, collaborative musical environment. She aims to support her students in making the most of the quality music education they can receive.

Stephanie has been learning and performing music since early childhood. With a value of giving back to the community, she has spent much of the last two decades preparing solo and collaborative performances for a wide variety of audiences and events. Recent piano performances include works of Albeniz, Bartok, Beethoven, Greig and Haydn. As a member of the RCM Piano Department, Stephanie teaches both at the RCM and in local schools. She makes it her priority to meet students where they are at and work with them towards realising their goals.

fiona tait - piano

Born and raised in Leeton, New South Wales, Australia, Fiona began piano studies at the age of four, with her mother, a professional piano teacher. Further studies with Fiona Stevens were followed by studies with Anne Stevens in Orange where she achieved distinctions for her high level examinations through the AMEB. Fiona achieved scholarships and awards to study music whilst finishing her schooling at Kinross Wolaroi in Orange, NSW. After finishing school, Fiona’s life took a slightly different direction resulting in studies in health and midwifery. Her return to music in earnest began whilst living in Berlin Germany where she returned to piano as both a teacher and accompanist.

Upon returning to Australia, Fiona commenced her Bachelor of Music through the Riverina Conservatorium of Music and Central Queensland University, studying piano with pianists Hamish Tait and Joanne Burrows.  

Passionate about music education, Fiona joined the piano faculty of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in 2020 where she now works as a teacher and performer while continuing her studies in music. 

KATE HODgson - piano

Kate grew up in Canberra, starting piano lessons when around eight years old. Apart from three years in Canada, where she continued lessons through the Royal Conservatory of Music, Kate completed all grades of practical and theory through the Australian Guild of Music, finishing with an Associate Diploma in 2018.

Kate ceased lessons for three years as she moved to Wagga Wagga from Canberra to study a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, which she graduated from in 2022. Kate is currently a student of Hamish Tait at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music where she hopes to complete a Diploma of Music through CQUniversity in 2023. Kate is eager to continue developing her musical skills and share her music with others.

megan roberts- piano

Megan began piano and violin lessons at age 4, learning with teachers in her local community. A few years later, Megan also started Ballet and classical singing lessons. Her love and passion for music brought her to study at the Riverina Conservatorium under Joanne Burrows (piano), Tamaris Pfeiffer (violin), Jacqueline Smith (violin) and later, Larissa Burak (voice). 

During her years of violin studies, Megan was involved in multiple orchestral projects including the NSW Regional Youth Orchestra and the Riverina Youth Orchestra. Megan also played with the Wollongong Bluescope Orchestra, touring Greece with them in 2019.

Megan went on to complete her piano Certificate of Performance (AMEB) with high distinction, and her growing passion for the piano led her to pursue studies with CQU, through which she is currently studying her Bachelor of Music in piano performance based in Wagga Wagga.

Megan is very passionate about teaching. She has taught piano and ballet students as young as 4 years old, and thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to work with young children. Megan strongly believes that music is a life-long journey and is enthusiastic about equipping her students to embark on their own musical odysseys, ready to share the joy of the music with the world.

Joshua prenzler - piano

BMus (Performance), BSc (Physics)

Joshua and the piano have a long history together. He began piano lessons at five years old, and studied piano and music theory at the Riverina Conservatorium under Joanne Burrows and Hamish Tait all the way through school. In 2014 he began study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He returned to Wagga Wagga in 2019, and in 2020 graduated with distinction from a Bachelor of Music (Performance) through CQUniversity. He is also a piano tuner for the Riverina region and an experienced performer, having performed both solo, as an accompanist, and with small and large ensembles across a range of genres, from classical to musical theatre.

Joshua has been teaching piano since 2019, through the Riverina Conservatorium of Music as well as at the Murray Conservatorium, Albury. He has helped students prepare for student recitals and both AMEB and HSC exams. Joshua believes in equipping students to enjoy a lifetime of making music by helping them unravel the many intricacies and challenges of piano playing step by step.

Lydia buckley - piano

Lydia was born and raised in Wagga Wagga and started learning piano when she was 9 years old, having continued her piano studies to achieve AMEB eighth grade in piano. Lydia moved to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in 2022 from private piano teaching for the past 4 years where she developed a passion for introducing others to the art of piano playing. Lydia has taught children as young as six to develop both their skills in playing and cultivating their love of music, as well as having worked with retirees who are taking their first steps into the playing of music after a lifetime of appreciation.
Lydia strongly believes in a student centered approach and aims to work collaboratively with students, focusing on both cultivating their love and appreciation of music whilst ensuring fundamental techniques are learned and maintained to allow for a steady progression towards their goals. Lydia is currently working towards attaining AMEB Associate in Music (AMusA).

String Department

HEAD OF strings & guitar

Jacqueline Smith - Violin/viola

B.Mus, ARSM,

A graduate of the University of Melbourne, Jacqueline is a violinist/violist with over 20 years’ teaching and performance experience. Her degree focused on the performance, research and publication of Early Music styles and she particularly enjoys music from these times. She also likes playing very modern music, especially when the composer is present to direct and guide performance. Jacqueline has often been found playing for Musical Theatre and enjoys playing Chamber Music whenever the opportunity arises.

Jacqueline was Strings Coordinator at Brindabella Christian College from 2006 - 2017, and while there was responsible for creating, teaching and directing a program of compulsory classes, individual lessons, group lessons and several ensembles.  Her teaching approach is a blend of traditional western methods, Kodaly musicianship, Colourstrings, and elements of the Suzuki Method. She regularly attends professional development sessions and teacher training workshops to stay abreast of current thinking and pedagogies.

Jacqueline is currently based in Wagga Wagga NSW, having joined the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in 2019 and where she is now Head of Strings & Guitar.

Lauren Davis - Violin

BMusic (Oberlin), MMus (LSU), PhD (ANU),

Lauren Davis received her Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin College Conservatory, her Master of Music from Louisiana State University, and her PhD in Violin Pedagogy from The Australian National University. She has played with numerous orchestras in the United States including the Canton Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Louisiana Sinfonietta, Acadiana Symphony, and the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra.

She is currently the leader of the Riverina Chamber Orchestra and a member of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, she has played in a number of ensembles including the Riverina Trio, the Valcour String Quartet, the Aurora Trio and the Brioso String Quartet. She has been teaching violin for a number of years both privately and at such institutions as Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Music for Everyone, Orana School, and at the Australian University in their Pre-Tertiary and Colourstrings programs. Lauren currently teaches at the Riverina Conservatorium in Wagga Wagga, Australia. 

rhiannon xeros - Violin

BMusic (Sydney)

Rhiannon Xeros is a former student of Tamaris Pfeiffer and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music (2003 – 2013), receiving many major scholarships including the Dr Ray King scholarship.  Pursuing tertiary education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2014, she studied violin under leading Australian teachers Alice Waten and Goetz Richter. During this time Rhiannon performed regularly as part of the Sydney Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and was a section leader for the Sydney Conservatorium Historical Performance Ensemble under Neal Peres da Costa and guest conductor Paul Dyer. Rhiannon has performed in concert with Australian songwriter Megan Washington, the Riverina Chamber Orchestra and in the Sounds of Summer concert series in 2016 and 2017. Upon completing her Bachelor of Music in 2016, Rhiannon pursued her interest in violin pedagogy and joined the Riverina Conservatorium of Music staff in 2017.

pEARL bOWEN- VIOLIN

Pearl Bowen is a former student of Elizabeth Walsh, Tamaris Pfeiffer and Rhiannon Xeros and learnt at Riverina Conservatorium of Music (RCM) from 2016 - 2021. During her studies at the RCM she successfully completed a Certificate of Performance on the Violin in 2018.

Pearl has a passion for music and teaching and has been a part of many ensembles, performing at weddings and private functions as well as performing with the Riverina Youth Orchestra. Her teaching is structured around the Western European Pedagogical approach and utilises much of the AMEB exam curriculum.

Pearl rejoined the RCM in 2023 as a teacher and has successfully presented students for AMEB exams with Honours results. She currently directs and conducts a Primary School String Ensemble as well as co-presenting a classroom program as an introduction to stringed instruments, focusing on violin, viola and cello. Pearl is currently completing a Bachelor of Music through the University of Central Queensland and is working towards completing her A.Mus.A.

LEAH HECTOR - VIOLIN

Leah Hector is a former student of Tamaris Pfeiffer and Rhiannon Xeros and learnt at Riverina Conservatorium of Music (RCM) from 2009. During her studies at the RCM, she successfully has successfully completed her AMEB syllabus exams, as well as theory. Additionally, Leah completed a Diploma of Music through the RCM’s partnership with the Central Queensland University in 2020.

Leah has a passion for music and teaching and has been a part of many ensembles both at the RCM and elsewhere. She has attended Regional Youth Orchestra camps, as well as multiple Playerlink camps in partnership with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Her teaching is structured around the Western European Pedagogical approach and utilises much of the AMEB exam curriculum.

Leah joined the RCM in 2023 as a teacher and has successfully presented students for AMEB exams as well as internal assessments. Leah is currently co presenting a classroom program as an introduction to stringed instruments, focusing on violin, viola and cello. Additionally, Leah is in her final year of a Bachelor of Education K-12, with a major in Modern History. She is currently working towards her Certificate of Performance under the tutelage of Jacqueline Smith.

Maggie-Rose Dunlop - VIOLIN

Maggie-Rose has grown up surrounded by a passion for music, influenced by generations of musicians in her family. Having learned from her mother since the age of two, Maggie-Rose has almost 17 years of violin education, perfecting technique, learning exciting repertoire, exploring her musicality, performing, and finding her love more and more for the violin. Maggie-Rose studied Music 2 for the HSC in 2022, and received a Band 6 for her violin performances. Maggie-Rose began teaching the violin in 2022, when she started teaching children as young as 4, focussing on solidifying the basics, reading music, and correcting technique, but most importantly, making learning enjoyable. Maggie-Rose is working towards completing her LMusA in 2025.

Andrew callaghan - CELLO

Andrew grew up in Queensland where he began the cello, first with Audrey Harris and then Gary Williams. On finishing high school, he moved to Canberra to study with Nelson Cooke at the Canberra School of Music. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music, Andrew moved to Wagga to teach at the Riverina Conservatorium, as well as Mt Erin High School and the Murray Conservatorium in Albury. During this time he was a member of the Riverina Trio and did numerous solo recitals in around Wagga. He also did a number of live broadcasts for the ABC and was secretary of the Riverina Summer School for Strings.

in 1994, Andrew moved to Melbourne where he taught cello at a number of schools, including Woodleigh School, Carey Grammar and The Peninsula School. He continued his performing activities as a member of The Melbourne City Opera Orchestra, The Frankston Symphony and others. During this time, Andrew also completed his Master's degree and later Grad. Dip. Ed. He then moved to Deniliquin, where he was for a number years, Music Director of South West Music.

in 2007, looking for new challenges, Andrew swapped the cello studio for the classroom. Over the next seven years, he taught secondary school music at a number of regional high schools in South West Victoria.

In 2013, the opportunity to return to cello teaching presented itself at the Orange Regional Conservatorium and the Macquarie Conservatorium. Over the next eight years his students won numerous scholarships and a number obtained high distinctions in AMEB exams up to and including certificate exams. He was also an active performer in the community.

Then in 2023, after almost 30 years, he returned to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.

Guitar Department

Dr harold gretton - Classical Guitar 

BA(Mus) (ANU), PhD (ANU)

Harold Gretton began playing guitar at the age of 7. He first studied at the ANU in Canberra before completing a course specialising in guitar duo performance in Strasbourg (France).

He has won numerous international competitions, both as a soloist and in various chamber music combinations. He has been invited to perform concerts all over Europe, as well as in the USA, Mexico, Vietnam, and all over Australia. He has performed with orchestras in Australia and Europe, and gave the world première of Westlake's concerto Shadow Dances under the composer's baton.

He has recorded three CDs, a solo album, an album of Austraian guitar quartets with Guitar Trek, and a mixed album of guitar duos, funded by a successful crowd-funding campaign.

A dedicated pedagogue, Harold has given masterclasses in numerous guitar festivals, lectured at Universities and has participated on numerous juries in international competitions. He has held teaching positions in Stuttgart, Baden-Baden, Lichtenau (Germany) and Saint-Louis (France).

Harold joined the RCM's Guitar Department in 2018

reg dury - Classical & contempory Guitar 

Reg Dury plays both classical and contemporary guitar as well as bass, mandolin, tenor banjo and drums. Reg studied at the Conservatorium of Music, in Jambes, Belgium. He taught at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music from 2004 till 2015 and has returned in 2023 to share his passion for music once again.

Reg has performed solo at the Sydney opera House, toured with well-known bands and is a busy session musician. Reg also plays at the Civic Theatre on regular occasions, including in recent years: conducting the orchestra for Oliver, playing guitar in Mamma Mia and Strictly Ballroom. He is currently a member of the Tin Shed Rattlers, The Black Shillings and plays with the Baker Boys session band.

Reg also writes music, some of his work having received over 3 million downloads and winning the Underearthed competition in 2006.

Reg enjoys teaching and seeing his students growing as musicians, passing grades and performing in public. His favourite pastime aside from playing music and reading books is playing more music.

DAVID WILSON - CONTEMPORARY Guitar

David has been playing guitar in many original and cover bands for 30 years as well as being a session musician mostly for the last 20.

David is also a producer working with many original bands over the last 20 years many of which have had charting songs with radio and TV play.

David has studied many styles under musicians such as Steve Housden (Little River Band/John Farnham), Paul Rettke (Jazz) and also studied Orchestral Theory with Joe Paperone at the Eastern Hill Conservatorium in Melbourne.

David joined the RCM's Guitar Department in 2018.

Jessica parker - Classical Guitar

Jessica began studying guitar at the age of seven through the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.

She has been a part of the Guitarist's Breakfast ensemble and is currently enjoying playing with the Guitarist’s Feast ensemble both groups have performed in locations around Wagga Wagga. Jessica enjoyed the opportunity to perform at the Wagga Civic Theatre as a soloist with the Riverina Youth Orchestra.

From a young age Jessica has had a great passion for music. She likes a wide variety of guitar styles but has a particular fondness for the Romantic era. One of her interests is studying Musicology.

Jessica is currently studying a Bachelor of Music through CQUniversity under the tutelage of Dr Harold Gretton, which she is working towards graduating in 2024. Jessica is looking forward to further improving her performing and guitar skills and expanding her musical knowledge, she hopes to bring enjoyment to others through teaching.

brianna seary - bass Guitar

Brianna began studying contemporary guitar at the age of 12 through the Riverina Conservatorium of Music and from the age of 15 began learning Bass.

Brianna is currently a member of the Simmons Street Big Band, CQUniversity band ‘Duck Duck Duck Goose’ playing bass, and has been involved in performances with Guitarist’s Feast and the RCM’s Riverina Youth Orchestra. In the past Brianna has played in the RCM Rock Band playing guitar.

She enjoys composing original pieces and arranging for solo bass and guitar. Brianna is a previous winner of the Silver Scholarship in the Guitar category and has won Composition awards both within and outside of the RCM.

Brianna is currently studying a Bachelor of Music through CQUniversity under the tutelage of Dr Harold Gretton, which she is working towards graduating in 2024. She hopes to continue to develop her bass and guitar performance and composition skills. Brianna looks forward to sharing her knowledge and love for music with other aspiring musicians.

Elizabeth (Liz) Lieschke – Ukulele Ensemble

Liz has been playing and teaching the ukulele for 14 years.
A classroom music teacher at a local primary school, Liz had been looking for a small stringed instrument suitable for use with her students. Something easy to store, sturdy and affordable.
Attending a Mike Jackson performance at the Wagga Wagga City Library, where he played a myriad of folk instruments, Liz was convinced she had found her ‘new instrument’ when Mike started playing his ukulele. She soon purchased her own and has been ‘learning’ about this wonderful instrument and playing it ever since. Liz connected with Wagga’s S.T.R.U.M (Super
Talented Riverina Ukulele Musicians) in 2013.
Liz joined the teaching team at Riverina Conservatorium in late 2017. She became the second director of the newly formed Ukulele Ensemble. In addition to facilitating the RCM’s Ukulele Ensemble and beginner’s groups as needed, Liz continues to teach classroom music – including Orff based percussion, recorders as well as the ukuleles.
When asked to describe her favourite instrument... ukulele - ‘easy to learn, lifetime to master’.

Woodwind, Brass AND DRUMS/PERCUSSION Department

HEAD OF WOODWIND & BRASS

Tamara Spencer - BRASS

B.Mus (Syd), MTeach (USYD)

Tamara began playing trumpet at age 10, after previously learning piano and guitar. Growing up in a small regional community meant limited opportunities to play and learn from other musicians, but in 2002 she became a student at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, and was the recipient of the Brass Scholarship for the next several years. In 2007 Tamara completed her Bachelor of Music Studies at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, and then went on to study education, graduating with a Masters of Teaching in 2009.

After a brief stint of classroom teaching, living and travelling overseas and starting a family, Tamara found herself back at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in 2016 teaching Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn and Euphonium. Since returning to teaching Tamara has developed her passion for working with ensembles, conducting multiple school bands around Wagga. In 2017 she started the RCM’s Junior Brass Ensemble, and in 2018 founded Lady Plays the Brass, the region’s only all-female brass ensemble. 

Fran GRIFFIN - FLUTE, RECORDER, clarinet and bassoon

M.Sc. (Hons), B.Sc. (Hons), D.S.C.M (Merit), A.Mus.A

Fran Griffin began life as a flute player, studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Australia, with renowned teachers Margaret Crawford and Michael Scott. Although composing since the age of seven, she put aside composition in favour of an interest in early music performance practice, studying baroque flute and recorder with Howard Oberg.

After a number of years working as a freelance musician, she returned to study, completing M.Sc. (Hons) in mathematics at Macquarie University, Sydney in 1999. Here she remained on staff until 2012, when she left Sydney to live in country NSW. Here she has renewed her previous life as a musician, teaching flute, clarinet and bassoon and performing once again with early music ensemble Nouvelles Réflexions and flute quartet Eclectix.

Fran has renewed here interest in composition, finding a need to produce many arrangements and original works for students and for community concert bands and choir. Her more serious compositions include arrangements and new works for flute quartet, flute duo, and other chamber combinations with flute, bassoon duo, clarinet ensemble, string trio, symphonic winds, and choral works.

She has received several awards for composition, and her works have been published in Portugal, Italy, Belgium, USA and Australia.

BRAAM DE VILLIERS - SAXOPHONE AND CLARINET

National Diploma Music (Tshwane University of Technology) BMus (University of Pretoria) MMus Performing Art (University of Pretoria) MMus Performance Teaching (University of Melbourne), Graduate Diploma in Education (La Trobe University) LTCL Music Performance and Teaching (Trinity College of Music)

Braam’s professional career as a musician spans more than a decade and he has worked extensively in music education and performance in both South Africa and Australia. During the past few years, he has accumulated extensive accolades in tertiary training in music and education. In 2016, he was honoured with the Initial Teacher Education Prize at La Trobe University and he graduated with honors in his music studies in South Africa and Australia.

Braam established his musical foundations on the recorder at an early age, but was captivated by the sound of the saxophone and other woodwinds by high school and pursued the study of these instruments with vigour since he was 14. Braam’s performance and teaching style is influenced by his woodwind teachers which included Anna-Maria and Len Muller, Brian Smith, Kevin Davidson and Denise van Dyk in South Africa and Barry Cockcroft, Ian Godfrey and Remco Keijzer in Australia. Since 2005, Braam has collaborated with several musicians in jazz ensembles, woodwind quintets, big bands, cover bands, orchestras and concert bands. Notably, Braam has participated in the Yamaha Wind Orchestra in 2019 as a performer and conductor.

Band direction is a great passion for Braam and in recent years he has been involved in directing and conducting community and school ensembles. His method is grounded on the Ed Lisk techniques for wind ensemble. In 2018 and 2019 Braam directed the Mount Beauty Secondary School Intermediate Band to win their category in the Albury-Wodonga Eisteddfod. He has also directed the Mount Beauty Stage Band and helped this group to perform at community events and the Gather Music Festival in early 2020.     

As a music pedagogue, Braam draws from his broad and extensive experience of different musical genres and ensembles to deliver highly engaging, diverse and rewarding lessons. He believes that children and adults can achieve their fullest potential by engaging in music activities in ensembles. Braam aims to develop a passion for music for all his students and adjusts according to student ability and interest. 

Cindy bowen - flute

Cindy brings a youthful heart filled with excitement to the team at RCM.

Her experience in music dates back to nearly 50 years, where she began piano lessons and then after a decade , picked up the flute and fell in love.

Upon leaving school, Cindy joined the Royal Australian Navy Band and gained a wealth of knowledge and performance experience during her time there. Once becoming a mum, she settled into private lessons teaching students in the Riverina.

Since joining the RCM in 2021, Cindy's natural gift for teaching and commitment to learn in a fun and enjoyable environment has seen her students shine.

Peter Lothian - BRASS

AssDipJazzStudies (Sydney), BA (Arts Management), GradDipProjManagement (UTS), MProjManagement (UTS)

Peter Lothian has an extensive music performance background forged from private classical trombone tuition, casual employment with professional orchestras and a graduate of the Jazz program from the NSW State Conservatorium of Music. 

His brass tutors include George Powers (USA, West Australian Symphony Orchestra), Michel Becquet (France, International soloist), Keith Stirling (Brass calisthenics, Improvisation), Ron Prussing (Sydney Symphony Orchestra), James Morrison (Improvisation) and Phil Wilson (USA, Improvisation).

Interspersed throughout a well-travelled, stylistic, kaleidoscopic maze are performances, brass section arrangements and recordings for legendary and independent Australian contemporary acts such as Dr Kong and the Stem Cells, On The Stoop, Christa Hughes, Reg Livermore, Jak Housden, Richard Clapton, Ray Brown and the Vegas Payback, John Farnham, Ross Hannaford, Gangajang, The Jive Bombers, The Models and Vanetta Fields, along with playing in professional theatre seasons, television orchestras and backing international acts.

Performing six nights a week for twelve months in one of Africa’s first five-star multi-racial nightclubs during the Apartheid era launched his interest in music from other cultures - in particular Brazil, Cuba, Africa, Jamaica and the Caribbean – and over the years has been a member of notable Sydney Latin groups Espirito, Batuka, Cumana and Son Veneno.

With an interest in cultural management and marketing, Peter also holds degrees in Arts Management and Project Management, leading to roles throughout commercial business and prominent cultural organisations such as ArtsNSW, The Australian Institute of Music, Sydney Youth Orchestra Association, Billy Hyde Music, Music NSW, Regional Arts NSW, Sydney Improvised Music Association, Seymour Theatre Centre, GFL Fine Art, Ministry for Culture and the Arts (WA) and Allans Music.

Peter has gained impressive feedback and references for trumpet, trombone and lower brass tuition throughout primary and secondary school music programs.  At tertiary level, he was employed as trombone teacher at the Australian Institute of Music (Sydney), directed contemporary music ensembles, and also lectured in marketing and management subjects for the undergraduate Arts and Entertainment Management Degree.

A strong supporter of music performance and education, he enjoys balancing traditional music learning with the development of creativity and improvisation, has an interest in new music across all genres, and regularly pursues his own development in music practice, performance and education. 

emilie wendt - FRENCH HORN

MEd

Emilie completed her Master of Music at the Sibelius Academy, Finland. She has a wealth of orchestral playing experience and has played with orchestras in Finland, Germany and Sweden. On top of her French Horn studies, Emilie also completed a course in instrumental pedagogy which focused on the most current and effective teaching techniques for instrumental teachers. Emilie also spent time teaching French Horn in one of Finland’s elite music schools. Emilie also holds a Diploma in Education from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Melbourne. Among her international experience, Emilie has played with orchestras around Melbourne and Geelong. Emilie is currently studying a Masters of Teaching in Primary Education to broaden her understanding of education across all fields.

bonnie allan - clarinet & SAXOPHONE

BMus(Hons), LMusA, PGDipEd

Bonnie grew up on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and studied at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music under Floyd Williams. After graduating Bonnie accepted a position teaching Instrumental Music with Education Queensland (EQ). Bonnie has more than 20 years teaching experience with EQ most recently as a Primary School PE Teacher. Bonnie has been an Army Reservist playing with the Band of the First Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery in Brisbane. In 2017 Bonnie was selected to represent the Australian Army Band in Switzerland and relocated to Wagga Wagga in 2023 for a wonderful opportunity to play music every day in the Army Band at Kapooka. Bonnie is very enthusiastic and experienced educator and really enjoys teaching individuals aswell as the dynamics of small group tuition.

ivan simac - trombone

Ivan, a contemporary jazz trombonist from Adelaide, is currently working in the Kapooka Army Band. His journey into the world of music began with a notable milestone in 2018 when he earned a coveted spot in James Morrison’s esteemed 'Generation in Jazz' Division 3 Superband ensemble in Mount Gambier. Fueled by his passion, Ivan pursued formal education, embarking on a Bachelor of Jazz Performance - Trombone at the prestigious Elder Conservatorium of Adelaide under the tutelage of acclaimed trombonist and lecturer, Alex Taylor.

In a harmonious blend of dedication and duty, Ivan enlisted as a reservist musician in the Australian Army in November 2020, serving with distinction in the 10th/27th Battalion Band. His commitment to both his musical craft and military service led him to transition to full-time employment with the Australian Army Band Kapooka, a decision that temporarily paused his academic pursuits. Undeterred, Ivan has continued his educational journey, presently nearing the culmination of his Bachelor of Music degree through Central Queensland University, under the mentorship of esteemed trombonist and educator Jeremy Borthwick.

Ivan’s musical palette is as diverse as it is rich, with experiences spanning a myriad of genres including Traditional Jazz, Bebop, Fusion, Funk, Big Band (Trad to contemporary), Afro-beat, Latin, Concert Bands, Wind Ensembles, and Brass Quintets. Beyond the stage, Ivan has lent his talents to contemporary wedding ensembles, rock bands, pit orchestras, and solo busking endeavors.

A tireless practitioner, Ivan dedicates 4-6 hours daily to his craft, nurturing aspirations of one day gracing international stages as a touring soloist. His dedication extends beyond personal practice, as he has shared his expertise with aspiring musicians across Adelaide, serving as an instrumental instructor and ensemble coach in five private schools from 2021 to 2023. Ivan specialises in nurturing improvisational skills, composition techniques, and harmonic understanding among brass instrumentalists, guiding his students through a comprehensive curriculum encompassing embouchure fundamentals, scales, arpeggios, aural training, theory, and an expansive repertoire that bridges classical and jazz traditions.

kimberley Scriven - recorder/ music craft

BMus (hons) (Syd)

Kimberley began her musical education as a student of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, winning many scholarships including the Major Woodwind Scholarship and the prestigious Dr Ray King Scholarship. She went on to teach at the Riverina Conservatorium and engage with the Wagga Wagga community through music and radio presenting. As a result of her community involvement, Kimberley was presented with the Young Citizen of the Year Award for Wagga Wagga in 2010 and was nominated for an Order of Australia Medal.

Kimberley Scriven completed her Music Performance degree at Sydney Conservatorium of Music with First Class Honours in 2017. During her studies at Sydney Conservatorium, Kimberley achieved first place in the renowned Historically Informed Performance Concerto Competition and consequently performed as a soloist, accompanied by the Sydney Conservatorium Early Music Ensemble and Camerata Academica of the Antipodes Ensemble.

Kimberley studied under Hans Dieter Michatz and Megan Lang at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She also performed in masterclasses and received lessons from world leading recorder soloists including Walter Van Hauwe (Royal College of London), Maria Martinez Ayerza (Royal College London/Conservatorium Van Amsterdam), Andreas Bohlen (Kunstuniversität Graz, Austria), Maurice Steger (Switzerland), and Horacio Franco (National Conservatory, Mexico).

Kimberley enjoys every opportunity to share her music with audiences using her unique style and flair. Her performances are founded in historical research and are given a theatrical twist as she aims to display the melodramatic style and rustic folk influences inherent in Baroque music.  

Kimberley also has a passion for Music Theory/Music Craft and is enthused by combining knowledge and fun to build each student’s ability. The foundation of Kimberley’s teaching practice is her emphasis on using creativity to make difficult musical concepts and processes simple and enjoyable.

WAYNE PIGRAM - DRUM & PERCUSSION

Wayne has been playing drums since he was in his late teens and brings a vast wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to the RCM Team. Whilst living in Sydney, Wayne was an early member of the signed band Ha Ha Humans. He was also a member of Signal Room, recording two CDs produced by Aria Award winning producer Tim Whitton (Powderfinger) touring Los Angeles and New York. Wayne participated in the development and performance of ‘David Bowie – Life on Mars’ and toured nationally with The Rocky Horror Show starring Reg Livermore, Cabaret with Gina Riley, Tommy and Bad Boy Johnny and The Profits of Doom. Wayne toured China, Vietnam, Thailand and Hong Kong with Kix Entertainment performing corporate music stageshows for Fosters, Heineken, Kodak and Coca Cola. Wayne was a member of the Company B Belvoir Street Theatre production of The Threepenny Opera working alongside Bob Bertles (master saxophonist), the show toured Columbia as part of the Bogata International Theatre Festival. He worked with Kris Abrahams (The Necks) recording a soundtrack to Farscape (US/Aust telemovies and TV series).

Wayne also recorded an original CD with Edot with Wagga Wagga musician Klauss Bussman. Wayne performs locally as part of Ifinc, producing live performance-art pieces including Big River, The Bull and The Bridge.

Wayne is a professional actor with over 50 theatre credits working with The Sydney Theatre Company, Playbox Theatre, Nimrod, Bevoir Street and The State Theatre South Australia. Wayne has worked extensively in Australian Television appearing in Water Rats, Fire, All Saints, A Country Practice, Home and Away, Underbelly, Stingers and has appeared in movies filmed in the UK, Malaysia, Hawaii including Heatstroke, Return to Blue Lagoon, Farewell to the King, The First Kangaroo, Mission Impossible and American productions including Farscape, The Lost World and Lost.

WAYNE PIGRAM - DRUM & PERCUSSION

Wayne has been playing drums since he was in his late teens and brings a vast wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience to the RCM Team.

 Whilst living in Sydney Wayne was an early member of the signed band Ha Ha Humans. He was also a member of Signal Room, recording two CDs produced by Aria Award winning producer Tim Whitton (Powderfinger) touring Los Angeles and New York. Wayne participated in the development and performance of ‘David Bowie – Life on Mars’ and toured nationally with The Rocky Horror Show starring Reg Livermore, Cabaret with Gina Riley, Tommy and Bad Boy Johnny and The Profits of Doom. Wayne toured China, Vietnam, Thailand and Hong Kong with Kix Entertainment performing corporate music stageshows for Fosters, Heineken, Kodak and Coca Cola. Wayne was a member of the Company B Belvoir Street Theatre production of The Threepenny Opera working alongside Bob Bertles (master saxophonist), the show toured Columbia as part of the Bogata International Theatre Festival. He worked with Kris Abrahams (The Necks) recording a soundtrack to Farscape (US/Aust telemovies and TV series).

Wayne also recorded an original CD with Edot alongside fellow RCM tutor Klauss Bussman and plays locally in Wagga with Klaus as part of The KB3. Wayne performs locally as part of Ifinc, producing live performance-art pieces including Big River, The Bull and The Bridge.

Wayne is a professional actor with over 50 theatre credits working with The Sydney Theatre Company, Playbox Theatre, Nimrod, Bevoir Street and The State Theatre South Australia. Wayne has worked extensively in Australian Television appearing in Water Rats, Fire, All Saints, A Country Practice, Home and Away, Underbelly, Stingers and has appeared in movies filmed in the UK, Malaysia, Hawaii including Heatstroke, Return to Blue Lagoon, Farewell to the King, The First Kangaroo, Mission Impossible and American productions including Farscape, The Lost World and Lost.

Vocal Department

Larissa burak - vocal teacher/choir director

M.Mus (Kiev, Ukraine) MEd (Sydney)

Larissa joins the RCM as a qualified concert performer, soloist soprano, music lecturer and choir conductor. Larissa's area of expertise is singing (classical, music theatre, contemporary) and bandura (Ukrainian harp). She also teaches piano for beginners, music theory, harmony and solfeggio.

Larissa has a Masters Degree in Music  (1992 Kiev Conservatorium,  Ukraine) as well as a Masters Degree in Teaching (2004, Sydney University, Australia).

Larissa studied voice at the Kiev Conservatorium where her teacher was renowned professor Serhiy Bashtan. In 1993 Larissa was awarded “national laureate in performing arts” of Ukraine and soon became one of the nation’s leading performers with international concert performances in France, Germany, Latvia and Estonia. 

Since moving to Australia, Larissa has made recordings with SBS and the ABC (Radio and Television) and has appeared at the Sydney Opera House, Multicultural Festivals, Musica Viva, Cafe Carnivale and Australia Day Concerts. Soprano for the Sydney Philharmonia Choir and invited soloist with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in the "Noel!Noel!" concert series as well as the Woodford Folk Festival.

Larissa joins us from teaching voice and musicianship at the Australian Institute of Music, Sydney.

KATHERINE CHOI - vocal teacher/choir director

BMus (Music Ed), MEd (Sydney)

Katherine has completed her Bachelor of Music (Music Education) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2010. She is also a qualified Special Education teacher who works as a secondary teacher with the Department of Education and communities as she has also completed her Master of Education (Special and Inclusive Education) at the University of Sydney.

During her studies at the Conservatorium, she had studied piano under Lyall Duke had previously studied piano with Stephanie McCallum. Katherine has had many years of experiences teaching piano as she had been teaching since 2007. As a music teacher, she has prepared students for their exams (such as AMEB and Trinity exams) and had also prepared HSC students for the performance and written exams. She had also previously run her own piano studio and worked as a piano teacher in Sydney before moving to Wagga.

Also Katherine also specialises in voice as she had studied voice under Dallas Watts in Sydney, and was a member of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Chamber Choir. She has also participated in performances, studio recitals and had also been in ABC live recordings in performances with the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Chamber Choir.

Katherine is a passionate teacher, who is able to teach all types of learners

stephanie johnston - vocal teacher

Bmus, DipMus (CQUniversity)

Stephanie is a singer and pianist who feels privileged to 'share the joy of music' as she teaches students of all ages and helps them develop in their own musical journeys. She firmly believes in the benefits and rewards of music education and is delighted to be a part of facilitating music learning opportunities at the RCM. Stephanie is pleased to work in such a vibrant, collaborative musical environment. She aims to support her students in making the most of the quality music education they can receive.

Stephanie has been learning and performing music since early childhood. With a value of giving back to the community, she has spent much of the last two decades preparing solo and choral performances for a wide variety of audiences and events. Her singing background includes solo recitals, events singing, children’s choirs, Gospel choir, a Capella chamber or jazz groups, various classical choirs and touring youth choirs who have performed nationally and internationally. Recent performance projects include musical theatre productions such as Phantom of the Opera and Evita and larger-scale choral projects such as Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Faure’s Requiem. Areas of particular interest for Stephanie are Early/Baroque music and Sacred music. As a member of the RCM Vocal Department, Stephanie teaches classical and contemporary voice and does choral direction.

PETER CASEY - VOCAL TEACHER

Dip. Mus (Jazz Studies), B.Ed, UC.

Peter studied Jazz at the Canberra School of Music, majoring in Voice, and holds a Bachelor of Education from Canberra University.

Peter has worked as a performer, writer and accompanist in cabaret and musical theatre for over thirty years. He appeared with dozens of singers at the Queanbeyan School of Arts Café and Tilbury Hotel, Sydney, and has worked as a pit musician and Musical Director for The Really Useful Group, Sydney Theatre Company, David Atkins, The Gordon Frost Organisation , Harry M. Miller, and The Ensemble Theatre.

Peter won the Sydney Cabaret Convention with his first one-man show, Closes On Saturday Night, and has since co-written and performed three more solo shows – Alone, Renaissance Bloke, and I Am Sick to Death of Hearing About the Weimar Republic.

Peter’s composer/lyricist credits include Angry Penguins (Olympics Arts Festival), The Windows Project (Australian Theatre for Young People), Too Hot to Handle (Jigsaw Theatre Co), Tiger Look at This, The Canberra Cantata (Canberra International Music Festival), The Devil Builds a Chapel (New Opera Ventures Australia), and The Lizard of Oz (Crow Crow Productions).

Peter’s other activities have included improvising entire musicals for ACT Impro, and contributing piano and songs to ABC-TV’s Play School.

judy FERGUSON - murrumbidgee magic choir director

Judy Ferguson is the musical director of Murrumbidgee Magic Chorus. Her unstinting effort and enthusiasm keeps the chorus working hard while having a worthwhile educational experience and a lot of fun besides.

Judy has been a member of Murrumbidgee Magic since 1995, serving as Assistant Director until 2017 when she became Director,

She has been involved with music in the schools for many years, directing the Wagga Wagga Combined Primary Schools Senior Choir for many years as well as co-directing the Riverina Central Choir.

Judy is also the director of  Wagga City Rugby Male Choir,  a group of 80 members who sing a repertoire from traditional male voiced music to contempory