Staff Profiles

Director: Rebecca Ryan BA (Communication)

Rebecca is passionate about her local community and has demonstrated this through a 15-year plus involvement in community cultural development.

Rebecca completed a Bachelor Arts Communication at Charles Sturt University Bathurst and came to Gunnedah in 1998 as a journalist working for the award-winning Namoi Valley Independent. After five years Rebecca moved into Public Relations working for leading agency Sefton & Associates in its Gunnedah and Tamworth office. During this time Rebecca worked for national clients including Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia, Telstra and Westpac. The campaign she delivered for Plant Health Australia was awarded a Golden Target Public Relations Institute Award.

Rebecca’s passion has always been community arts and she was a key volunteer member of the Two Rivers Arts Council in Gunnedah during the late 1990s and early 2000s producing and directing community theatre and working on Gunnedah’s annual Two Rivers Arts Festival. She is currently Vice-President of Arts North West (the regional arts board). In 2009 Rebecca was the coordinator of the Two Rivers Arts Council's Circus Programs and first became involved in the Conservatorium as a committee member.

Rebecca commenced work with the Gunnedah Conservatorium in January 2010 following the organisation's acceptance into the NSW Department of Education's Regional Conservatorium Grant Program. Rebecca oversaw the Conservatorium's successful application for triennial funding and has steered the organisation through a period of huge growth with the organisation's level of activity more than doubling though increased individual tuitiona as well as school and community programs and an annual concert series.

While not a musician Rebecca has a love of music which was fostered through her experiences at primary and high school. She shares that love and passion at the Conservatorium daily.

Renata Davidson - Administration and Finance Officer

Renata has been a member of the Gunnedah Conservatorium team since 2018. She is the Administration and Finance Officer and is responsible for administrative support for both teachers and students. Renata enjoys being able to experience the growth of students as she hears their musical development from the office. She also takes joy in helping to coordinate and prepare for Conservatorium events and attending concerts from visiting artists and student showcases.

Renata has many years of experience in managing a family business as well as a vet clinic and holds a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Renata is a passionate and involved community member and has previously held many voluntary positions for various community organisations. As a horse enthusiast, Renata is often found judging or helping run horse competitions around the district. Currently, Renata is a director on the board of the NSW Polo Association, secretary for the Gunnedah Polo Club, and on the organising committee for ISHE (Inter Schools Horse Extravaganza) in Tamworth.

TUTORS

Gunnedah Conservatorium employs qualified tutors who strive to provide their students with the best experience when learning an instrument.

Tutors undertake regular professional development in their field of interest and other music developments.

Our tutors are:

Joel Pickett - Contemporary guitar (electric and acoustic) and bass guitar

Joel joined the Conservatorium in 2008 and teaches a range of contemporary guitar styles including rock, pop, alternative, indie and country. Joel provides individual tuition for all skill levels from beginner to advanced and has significant experience working with music technology and software. He is particularly interested in notation software (including Guitar Pro, MuseScore and Sibelius), transcription and looping devices. He uses these tools to enhance the learning of students through practice and to aid student performance and improvisation.   

 Joel is passionate about music education in schools and has taught guitar in one-on-one and group ensembles settings at local Gunnedah schools for several years. These ensembles start from Year 3 and students have the opportunity to perform at extra-curricular occasions including eisteddfods, performance showcases and end-of-year functions.  

 Joel enjoys teaching at the Conservatorium because he believes it is a central hub for students and teachers to learn and collaborate in a positive learning environment. He also enjoys developing a rapport with his students and tailoring lessons to suit each individual and their goals. He is passionate about seeing his students become confident and making music on their own.   

James Brown B. Mus. M.M.T.A. J.P.

Jamie has been teaching at the Gunnedah Conservatorium for 10 years and teaches vocals and piano.  He enjoys choral work and conducts the Conservatorium's adult choir, The Blenders, and leads the Singalongs Choir. He has conducted the combined school choir for Schools on Stage as well as the combined public schools' choir for Education Week.  

Jamie studied classical singing and piano at the University of New England and The New England Conservatorium, studying under Professor Roger Woodward and Mrs Peta Blyth O.A.M (ex-Australian Opera). He has also performed as a soloist with Opera North West and the Armidale Choral Society.  

Jamie has a wide knowledge of vocal repertoire and is also involved with school-based choir programs. Jamie finds his inspiration from seeing other performances and enjoys seeing how students and teachers can collaborate.  

He enjoys working at the Conservatorium as he loves what the Conservatorium and its staff have to offer students and enjoys getting to know his students. Jamie tailors his lessons for each individual student, and believes that if a student can find a piece of music that they love they are more likely to practice and enjoy their musical studies.

Sandra Clark, AMusA Piano

Sandra has significant experience working with choirs. She has worked with many school choirs in and around Tamworth preparing them for Eisteddfods, speech nights, school celebrations. Sandra also worked with the combined churches choir in Tamworth mostly writing choral arrangements.  Sandra has a love of musical theatre and has been the Musical Director for a number of productions including, 'Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie' for Anne Beekes children's theatre company in Tamworth and 'A Christmas Carol' for St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Tamworth.

In school situations, Sandra has taught recorder, guitar and percussion in groups as well as focussing on choral work.

Sandra has been conducting individual lessons since 1992. She teaches a variety of styles from classical to contemporary and believes strongly in developing a personal learning plan for each pupil. For those who wish to, Sandra is able to focus on and prepare them for AMEB exams.

Teaching areas for Sandra include: Piano, classical guitar, vocal, Class-based curriculum programs and school choir and instrument ensembles.

Marg Amos  

Marg has been teaching for 44 years across many schools in Gunnedah beginning her piano teaching when she was at university. She has taught High School Music, K-2 Brass and Primary School music, she is also the convener of the Music Section of the Gunnedah Eisteddfod, and has given hundreds of Gunnedah Students their first taste of performance. Currently she leads the Conservatorium's Singalongs choir with Mr. Jamie Brown on Wednesdays.

She finds her creative inspiration learning from other teachers and students and her favorite composer is Chopin because it is exciting, challenging and vibrant. Marg enjoys teaching music as she loves to see the joy it brings to others. 

Meg Clowes - Early Childhood Music

Dominic Goodwin-Hauck – Guitar and Ukulele

Dominic joined the Gunnedah Conservatorium team in 2022, where he instructs classical, acoustic, and electric guitar, as well as ukulele, at beginner to intermediate levels. With eight years of guitar experience, Dominic has been a dedicated student of the conservatorium, benefiting from mentorship under Joel Pickett.

Currently in his second year of a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Music at the University of New England (UNE), Dominic is rapidly expanding his teaching practice. He provides individual lessons and assists with the guitar ensemble at Gunnedah Public School.

A passionate advocate for music education, Dominic values its role in enriching all cultures, particularly within his own Indigenous Australian heritage. He actively participates in community events, volunteering his musical talents for nursing homes and GoCo. Dominic also enjoys performing in musical productions, having appeared in “Covid, We’re Over It” and most recently, “Sweeney Todd” with the Tamworth Musical Society.

Iris Cornwell - Violin 

Iris has been playing the violin for over 12 years and has been a student at the Tamworth Con for 10 years. Since completing all of her AMEB grades she has begun working toward her AMUS for 2022.

Iris has gained ensemble experience from her 6 years as a part of the Tamworth Regional Youth Orchestra of which she is currently concert master, also through her participation in Arts Unit camp and touring orchestras, amongst other projects. 

Brooke Feher - Flute and Beginner Reed

After completing her undergraduate studies at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Brooke studied with some of Europe’s best flute teachers at the 8th Course for Young Flutists in Italy, the International Flute Seminar in Belgium, and the International Flute Summer School in Scotland.

Brooke has a passion for instrumental music and ensemble playing. She has previously performed with Melbourne Youth Wind Symphony, Knox Wind Symphony, Casey Philharmonic Orchestra and the Victorian Flute Ensemble. Brooke also enjoys conducting, and has conducted school concert bands and flute ensembles, and was the first student to conduct their own school band at the Melbourne Schools Bands Festival in 2011.

Brooke holds a Master of Music in Performance Teaching from the University of Melbourne and is currently completing a Master of Teaching. Brooke spent six years teaching privately and in schools across Melbourne, before relocating to Gunnedah in 2021.

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