Staff

Staff
Bertie McMahon

Music Therapy: Guitar, Drums, Ukulele, Keyboard, Piano, Saxophone, Violin & Double Bass

Bertie McMahon is a well-travelled music therapist, currently dividing his time between his new role as resident music therapist at Hume Conservatorium, with music therapist duties at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music, as well as his private practice in the Southern Highlands. Bertie brings a wealth of experience to his music therapy practice, having had many and varied roles working in music, education, and disability support. With extensive experience as a performer and composer in all kinds of musical genres, Bertie has also been a music teacher, childhood music educator, community artist, special education teacher and adult disability support program worker. A multiinstrumentalist, Bertie plays guitar, double bass, piano, saxophone, percussion and most things with strings! He also has a few tech skills to help with with recording and music production. 

Having witnessed the way music-making can bring people ‘out of themselves’, can motivate and empower and connect, Bertie saw music therapy as a great way to use his musical skills to be of service to the community. Music therapists aim to develop an individual’s capacity to express themselves and connect, and to use music in their everyday life to support their health and wellbeing. Music therapy can help people to reach their best potential, to enhance communication, emotional regulation, cognitive capacity, sensorimotor skills, creative expression & social engagement.


Bertie has worked with a whole range of client populations: those identifying as autistic, neurodivergent, developmentally delayed; adolescents and adults with
trauma and mental health issues; with aged-care residents and those with dementia; with brain injury rehabilitation. Bertie’s music therapy sessions will see clients making music in whatever way suits their needs and interests – playing drums, singing, learning ukulele, keyboard, guitar, writing songs, composing game themes, dancing, storytelling, making music videos and much more. He is passionate about using creative play and improvisation in developing musical skills and expression

12/01/2024

Staff
Liam King

Drumkit & Guitar

Liam is a multi-instrumentalist who can play various instruments including Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, and Vocals. He has lots of performance experience playing at Goulburn based festivals such as the Steampunk festival and Vibes Fest, as well as festivals outside of Goulburn such as Festival 15 in Canberra. He is currently the drummer and backing vocalist of the Goulburn based band, Loose Surface, who play regularly at Goulburn, Canberra, and Sydney venues. Liam is currently completing his Bachelor of Music degree through the UNE program run with the Hume Conservatorium, on Guitar. He specialises in teaching the Blues, Pop, Rock and Metal genres on both drums and Guitar.

What genres do you teach?

Pop, Blues, Rock, Metal

What is it that you love about making music?

Teaching music is awesome as not only do I get to help students discover new things, I also end up discovering new things about music as I teach.

Please share a particular career highlight and why it's special to you

A particular career highlight I have is seeing a student of mine having a really tough time with a certain drum part in Back in Black, but we’d go over it every week and eventually they got it, the relief and the pride in the achievement that could be seen was immensely satisfying.

What is one piece of music you'd recommend people listen to?

Autumn by Caligula’s Horse

09/01/2024

Staff
Ingrid Neubrandt

Piano

I started learning piano when I was nine. My father bought me my piano which I still have today. I enjoyed learning pieces even though I struggled. Eventually I finished all the grades and completed a certificate. A teacher I had a teacher in Sydney who suggested to me that I could start teaching comfortably at home while I had a young family. So I did with her guidance. I also have an applied Science degree and counselling qualifications through Lifeline in which I participated as a volunteer for quite some time before I moved to Goulburn.

To further the knowledge I have for teaching piano and theory I have gained lots of experience through actually just teaching. I have participated in Piano Teacher seminars that were held in Sydney Conservatorium over many years. When I joined the Music Teacher’s Association of NSW, I became an Accredited Piano Teacher due to my experience and studies and many students with top results in their examinations with the AMEB.

Since I moved to Goulburn quite some years ago I found a teacher, Paul Paviour (the first director of the Conservatorium) who has since become my mentor and friend. With his support I have kept in touch with performances and concerts for both myself and my students. I have also worked as an accompanist for a choir or two. These days I also help in a local church and play the organ for their Sunday masses and occasional other events. I also teach students of most ages to learn to read music and play the piano. They are taught about theory to give depth to their learning. I expect to keep teaching piano while there are students interested in learning this wonderfully versatile instrument.

What genres do you teach

Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Pop, Jazz. Mostly what is wanted or needed.

What do you love about teaching?

I like to pass on the knowledge I have and I enjoy seeing a student enjoy their own piano playing achievements.

Please share a particular career highlight and why it is special to you

Having worked for over thirty years in teaching piano I have had many highlights. I feel I keep in touch with students’ learning by doing performances myself. The learning process I do for the performances stays fresh in my mind when I am teaching a student and the process that they go through for exams or performances. I like to think I am a guide for my students rather than anything else. Students who ask questions make me think is a wonderful way of finding out what the student wants to know. A good example of a great moment for me is a student who recently has been taught by me from the start to grade eight recently went to a workshop and was asked to play a complex piece by memory when he was totally unprepared to do so and surprised himself by playing the piece successfully. I am happy to say this student will now be moving on to more music and further interests. I feel very honoured that I have played a role in this student’s life of music.

What is one piece of music you'd recommend people listen to?

Music you love. Learn to listen to all types of music. All music is music, some music is just better written better than other music. (A quote from a special piano teacher I know).

09/01/2024

Staff
Ambria White

Beginner Saxophone, Live production and Tech

Ambria is an engaged and skilled young lady who started at Hume Conservatorium as a volunteer where she also became Hume Con student captain in 2020. She then became part of the team and worked her way up to being there as the head of tech. In 2022, she started taking the role of teaching saxophone for beginners. Ambria graduated school in 2021 and completed a cert III in VET Entertainment. Ambria gained multiple experiences through school and various work environments for the past five years in the AV side of things. Bringing forth a focused and motivated attitude, throughout the years she has done a variety of jobs such as recording studio mixing and editing, stage management, operation of lighting and audio, maintenance of equipment, etc. Ambria has also been involved in many currucular activities at the Con. This includes playing in the concert band, our sax quartet called ‘Done and Dusted,’ running tech/studio technology workshops, being involved with other workshops, theatre productions in collaboration with locals Rocky Hill Musical Theatre Co and the Lieder Theatre, as well as performing at markets and concerts in support of the Con. 

Ambria encourages everyone to join the Con family and be involved as much as they can, whether it be as a student, parent or teacher, everyone is welcome and it is a great community.  

What genres do you teach?

All rounder, but mainly pop and jazz. 

What is it you love about teaching music?

One of the things I love about teaching is seeing the progress of my students and seeing them smile and enjoy the lessons

Please share a career highlight and why it is special to you

I haven’t been teaching that long but just seeing my students coming in ready to learn and always having fun is special to me, just seeing how quickly the progress is made in a short amunt of time always impresses me because I thin’ “I did that. I helped them come all this way.”

What is one piece of music that you recommend people listen to?

No songs in particular but I recommend people should be open to listen to anything and give all genres a chance, if you haven’t listened to Jazz then you should listen to some Jazz, if you haven’t listened to Rock you should listen to some Rock.

09/01/2024

Staff
Geoff Bell

Geoff Bell - Drum Kit

Students over 14

Geoff has played drums with artists as diverse as ARIA winner James Blundell, country recording artists The Sunny Cowgirls and Paul Costa, blues artists Kate Meehan and PJ O’Brien as well as ARIA-nominated singer/songwriter Paul Greene and Phil Manning. More recently he has been playing with Goulburn Bands Ooh La La, The Black Sheep Blues and Canberra-based Funk/Blues/Soul outfit The Bad Habits. Geoff teaches beginners to intermediate level with a focus on rudimental technique and development, theory and time-keeping along with different styles/genres. 

What genre do you teach?

All styles/genres- practical and theory

What is it that you love about teaching music?

Seeing the joy that my students get from learning new things and progressing on the instrument. I love sharing what I know and I particularly love seeing student come in knowing nothing their progress and the joy they get from it. 

What is a particular career highlight and why is it special to you?

Every gig is important and it’s rare that I don’t have fun. I just love playing drums and more importantly, learning new things and improving. 

What's one piece of music that you'd recommend people listen to?

I recommend that people listen to as much music as possible. Don’t limit yourself to any one style or genre. 

09/01/2024

Staff
Claire Hogan-Gibbons

Cello, Piano

I have played the cello for over 45 years, enjoying being part of community orchestras. I look forward to playing in string ensembles with the Hume Con. I have taught cello at a music school and am pleased to be able to take up a teaching position at the Hume Con. I have taught piano since I was 15 in schools and private practice. I have also provided piano accompaniment extensively for exams and auditions.

I recently moved from the city to the country and am enjoying all that the regional area has to offer.

What genres do you teach?

It’s mainly classically oriented

What is it that you love about teaching music?

I get a buzz out of teaching people to sight read

Please share a particular career highlight and why it's special to you

A career highlight was playing in the Kuringai Philharmonic Community Orchestra in Sydney.

What is a piece of music you recommend people listen to?

I’d recommend listening to the Elgar Cello Concerto.

30/06/2023

Staff
Louise Wurth

Guitar, Keyboard, Piano, Contemporary Voice

Louise is an enthusiastic music teacher of piano, guitar and voice. After completing a Bachelor of Music (Contemporary) she travelled to the UK to teach, write and play music before returning home to teach in the Highlands, Sydney and now at the Hume Conservatorium. She has over a decade of teaching experience and encourages her students to harness their own joy of learning an instrument.

What genres do you teach?

Classical, jazz, contemporary

What is it that you love about teaching music?

Sharing the joy of music, encouraging confidence in students, seeing a student believe in their own ability and talent

Please share a particular career highlight and why it 's special to you?

Moving to the UK to record music and perform in the British folk scene. Always a dream of mine and it came true!

What's one piece of musi that you'd recommend people listen to?

Over There, It’s Raining by Nhils Frahm – contemporary classical piece

30/06/2023

Staff
Wendy Champion

Wendy Champion- Woodwind, Beginner Piano and Trumpet

Wendy Champion has a BMUS (hons 1) in classical flute performance. She studied with Dr Danielle Eden, Lamorna Nightingale and Leonie Khoury. Wendy has played with the Sydney Youth Orchestra and Penrith Symphony and has taught woodwind and later brass and piano in a number of towns in the New England region over 15 years. In 2020, her long-term saxophone student at Warialda High School received 98% for HSC music and was nominated to play solo in ‘Encore’ in the Sydney Opera House. The same year, her long-term Inverell flute student received 95% for HSC music and prior to the COVID situation, she led state music camp ensembles for two years running. This term Wendy is teaching piano students at the lovely Gunning public school and has started teaching locally at the Conservatorium. It has been wonderful to see more of her family since returning to Goulburn and to join students in their musical journeys. She commenced her own flute lessons in year 10 high school, so it’s wonderful to meet students who can start much earlier!

What genres do you teach?

Classical

What is it that you love about teaching music?

Anyone who wants to learn is a treat to teach

Please share a particular career highlight and why it's special to you

I’ve got a couple of “life-time” friends I keep in touch with met through music

What's one piece of music that you'd recommend people listen to?

Verklarte Nacht arranged for string orchestra or if this is too much Dvorak Cello concerto in B minor 2nd movement or Saint Saens Violin Concerto

30/06/2023

Staff
Emma Knott

Emma Knott - Woodwind

Emma Knott completed degrees in flute performance from the Queensland Conservatorium and the University of Wollongong, studying with renowned teachers, Margaret Crawford and Geoffrey Collins. She then travelled overseas to study with the legendary flautists, William Bennett and James Galway. Upon returning to Australia, Emma joined the staff at the University of Wollongong and formed the University of Wollongong Flute Ensemble, later to become the award-winning Stables Ensemble. 

Emma subsequently lectured at the Sydney Conservatorium for ten years, where she collaborated in the development of a beginner tutor book with Margaret Crawford and Mark Walton.  A former conductor of the Sydney Youth Orchestra and an AMEB examiner for more that 25 years, Emma has also held office for the Flute Society of NSW and the Australian Flute Society. 

Emma is an accomplished performer, with multiple albums featuring Australian flute music to her credit, which have been played extensively on the classical network. She is also a member of the innovative Eclectix Flute Quartet. A dedicated and inspiring teacher of many decades’ experience, Emma continues her extended tenure at her alma mater, Frensham, having also taught at Kinross Wolaroi and numerous Sydney Schools. She was Schools Programs Manager and flute teacher at Mitchell Conservatorium from 2019 until earlier in 2023 and has now been appointed to the staff of Hume Conservatorium. 

What do you teach at the Con?

I am a flute specialist, but also teach beginner woodwind… and toots & doods

What genres do you like to teach?

Classical

What is it that you love about teaching music?

Watching the joy and progress of a developing student

Please share particular career highlight and why it's special to you

Too many to mention but being invited to perform at the 2023 Australian Flute Convention with my colleagues in the Eclectix Flute Quartet

What's one piece of music you'd recommend people listen to?

Abbey Road by The Beatles

Enrol for lessons with Emma
08/05/2023

Staff  ·  Uncategorised
Leann Betts

Leann Betts - Guitar

Leann is a passionate skilled acoustic guitarist and has been learning and playing guitar for many years, is experienced in many techniques including improvising and finger-picking styles and also plays bass guitar, Leann loves the challenges in learning new skills the guitar brings, is always working on furthering her techniques, and has knowledge and experience in genres including Blues, Country, Jazz and Classical. Enjoying a long association over the years with the Hume Conservatorium, she is a regular performer in the Hume Conservatorium Bluegrass Band and is also the Bass Guitarist for the Hume Conservatorium Concert Band. Leann is involved in performing at the Goulburn Club including the Blues Festival, and also enjoys performing at different community festivals and fundraisers that are held each year.

Leann is a very dedicated guitar tutor and works on personal lesson plans to cater to each students abilities, is encouraging and wants the best for all her students with providing a positive, fun, happy learning experience so everyone can achieve in their own music journey.

What do you teach at the Con?

Contemporary guitar

What genres do you teach?

Beginner, Blues, Country, Pop

What is it that you love about teaching music?

The interaction with students in helping them develop new guitar skills and seeing them developing their confidence and being able to use these skills to discover their own music style. 

Please share a particular career highlight and why it's special to you

Being given the chance to become a guitar tutor and achieving this goal. Seeing the end result with the achievements and progress my students have made is very special & rewarding. 

11/08/2022

Page 2 of 3