Heila Snyman                                 

Heila Snyman was born in east London, South Africa in 1944. She graduated with a B. Mus. (Bachelor of Music) degree and a Diploma in Church Music from the University of Pretoria in 1965. In the same year, she accepted a position with the national Council for Social Research, doing research for the publication of the South African Music Encyclopedia until 1968. During this time she received the Performer’s Licentiate (Piano) of the University of South Africa, and held a position as church organist for four years.

From 1971 she commenced teaching from her home, preparing students for piano and theory exams, until her family immigrated to Australia early in 1982. In Orange, where the family first settled, she taught for a year at Kinross Wolaroi School as a teacher of Piano and Theory. After moving to Scone in September 1983, she resumed teaching privately from her home, and received the AMusA (Associate diploma in Music, Australia) in1987. She has been on the staff of the Upper Hunter Conservatorium since its inception in 1997, teaching Piano, Organ and Theory of Music. In addition, she is organist at the Uniting Church in Scone shere she has given several piano and organ recitals in conjunction with other artists between 1985 and 1992.

She is married with two sons and a daughter.