STRINGS TEACHERS

Katrina grew up in the Hunter Valley, studying violin and piano with the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music (UHCM), before moving to Newcastle to complete her Bachelor of Music (Hons) on Violin, graduating in 2012.

Katrina has been teaching with the UHCM since 2011, and regularly performs with the UHCM Orchestra, Orchestra Nova, and as part of a quartet at weddings and functions around the Hunter Valley.

As a Music educator Susan has spent 25 years in the secondary school systems of both private and public schools, starting at Kambala Church of England Girls’ School where she was chiefly responsible for the integration of a primary school strings program, and ending in Blayney High School and Scone High School where she was responsible for a range of lessons from Year 7 to Year 12, including the preparation of Year 12 students for HSC in Music. She has five years’ experience as an HSC Music Marker for Music 1 exams. During the early stages of this school teaching career Susan took a sabbatical by spending some time in the Orange Regional Conservatorium as cello tutor, musicianship tutor and orchestral tutor. She returned to her career in school music programs after this.

 Coming to Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music gives Susan the opportunity to help this organisation grow by delivering string programs and looking after beginner musicians on a number of instruments that have been part of her professional development over the years, particularly servicing schools that are a little more remote.

 Susan’s enjoyment of music has primarily been as a cellist in small ensembles and orchestra, with the occasional solo performance of classical, romantic and 20th century repertoire and new works. The small ensembles have mostly performed at weddings, funerals and creative arts opening events. During the last year Susan has been in Upper Hunter Conservatorium’s orchestra for their regular term concerts.

 Susan is looking forward to expanding the experiences of local children in their music studies and encouraging them to realise the fulfillment that playing an instrument can achieve.

A graduate of the University of Queensland and the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, Jennifer Kershaw has taught violin, viola, piano and music theory for over 30 years.

She taught in private studios and at schools in Brisbane, Hobart and Launceston before moving to Deniliquin in South West NSW to take up a position as Music Director of South West Music Inc., a community music program serving a wide geographical area. For the past 21 years,

Jennifer has resided in Muswellbrook, teaching violin, viola, piano and theory with the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music and developing the Upper Hunter Conservatorium Orchestra and String ensembles.

Jennifer’s great musical love is orchestral music – playing, conducting and developing student ensembles. In 2018, Jennifer joined the Christ Church Camerata in Newcastle as a violinist. When she isn’t making music, Jennifer enjoys a round of golf, gardening, walking the dog or reading a good book!

Tamara started violin and piano with her grandmother Jean Jacobs when she was 4 years old, before attending the Sydney Conservatorium Junior School at 10 years of age. Studying there with Faina Krel, then Chris Kimber and Charmian Gadd. Tamara attended the Sydney Conservatorium High School and University. In 1992 Tamara continued studying in Glasgow Scotland with Roger Raphael and Warren Jacobs.

Tamara has worked in various schools in Sydney, Central Coast and Maitland areas, tutoring violin, piano, chamber music and conducted orchestras and ensembles. In 2011 Tamara was violin and piano tutor and string orchestra conductor at the Central Coast Conservatorium for 4 years before moving to Maitland. Tamara works as a freelance violinist. She has toured with the Elvis band and Beatles band. Played with ensembles for TV and performed with many orchestras in Sydney. Performed with ensembles like Concertante, MCO orchestra in Sydney, Camerata in Newcastle.

Tamaras passion is playing chamber music. Piano Trios, Quartets and Quintets.

Gillian Miles is an experienced piano and Cello teacher who has been teaching in the Upper Hunter region for about 30 years.

As a teacher Gillian has worked with a large number of students, sharing her passion and enjoyment of music. During this time her students have received excellent results, with several receiving the AMusA diploma from the AMEB.

Since 2000 Gillian has been the main driving force behind the annual Upper Hunter Shire and Kia Ora Youth Music Camp; a camp designed for all students within the Upper Hunter Shire to have access to and learn to appreciate music and the performing arts, and to give promising students opportunities beyond the Shire borders.

Gillian's qualifications include 8th Grade AMEB Piano, 7th Grade AMEB Musicianship, Suzuki Certificate IV and she has an accreditation in Early Childhood Music. Gillian enjoys playing Cello in the UHCM Orchestra, as part of the Rouchel Brook Quartet and other Chamber music combinations.