I have enjoyed a varied and lively career teaching the ‘cello (and a small amount of double bass) privately and in many different school settings over the past 30 years. I studied the ‘cello at the Victorian College of the Arts completing a BA in music and then played professionally around Melbourne for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, State Orchestra of Victoria, for film and TV and in the pit orchestras for various musicals.
In 1990 I moved to the UK to further my ‘cello studies taking lessons with Alexander Baillie and Christopher Bunting. This then led on to a full time lower strings teaching position for the Buckinghamshire Music Service in the UK which I held until Dec 1998 when I returned to Australia. Since then I have enjoyed teaching in a variety of private, catholic and government schools around Melbourne.
Due to my extensive teaching experience in two countries I am familiar with preparing students for VCE, AMEB, Trinity and ABRSM and have entered many students for all four examination systems. Almost all of my pupils gain a B or higher and many achieve A’s and A+’s. In 1998 one of my students won the Marguerite Swan Memorial Prize for achieving the highest result for her Grade 7 ABRSM ‘cello examination in the UK that year. More recently another student was awarded an A+ for her VCE Music Performance exam after just 5 years on the instrument and a few others have gained music scholarships to private schools. At the other end of the scale I have taught a number of funded special needs children both privately and in compulsory string programs and have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of giving them the best possible instrumental music experience.
Not currently taking students (June 2022)