Page 3 – Hume Conservatorium of Music Ltd.

George Brenan

George Brenan CEO

George Brenan is a leader with 20 years experience as an executive and ‘for purpose’ board member, having spent most of his career improving processes, sustainability and resilience in organisations large and small. He moved to Goulburn in 2021 from Yass Valley and joined the Board of Hume Conservatorium in March 2022. He has been the chief executive of the Conservatorium since September 2022, and hopes to help the Con reach it’s full potential over coming years. A musician since childhood he has a particular interest in vocal, early music and 20^th century choral music. He is also a pianist and renaissance winds player.

Giselle Newbury

Giselle Newbury She/Her
Outreach and Communication Manager

Giselle grew up surrounded by folk music and festivals building a love of storytelling and a passion for music. Giselle has worked in the community cultural development sector for 15 years. She has worked creating and implementing cultural events, community programs as well as website development and communications. Giselle has implemented programs at Hume Conservatorium including Deadly Music and the Hume Songwriting Camp. Giselle is a keen Festival supporter and attends festivals all over Australia as both a volunteer and employee. Giselle enjoys working with young people and finding opportunities and grants to develop projects and programs that help develop voice, confidence and ability for young musicians in the region. She studied poetry and art at the University of Wollongong and continues to have a passion for words and song lyrics.
Giselle is a vocal supporter of the LGBTQI+ Community and an advocate for people living with disabilities. On the weekend you will find Giselle camping at a music festival or at home listening to Taylor Swift with her cats.

What brought you to Hume Conservatorium

I started at the Conservatorium in February of 2022 after 10+ years with Southern Tablelands Arts to help develop community relations and programs. I am passionate about young people and finding opportunities for them to develop skills and create safe spaces and programs for them.

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

During my time at Southern Tablelands Arts i was instrumental in receiving funding for several major project including Paint the Town in 2022, the Great Southern Line Anzac project, and the formation of Maisie’s Choir in Yass.

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

Jasper Shields

Drum Kit

Jasper Shields has been playing drums for 14 years and has been a member of the Hume Conservatorium community since moving to the area in 2013.

A two time scholarship holder and 2020 Student Captain, Jasper completed his AMEB Grade 8 in Drums with one of the highest scores in the Con’s history and went on to obtain a Diploma in Musical Performance.

Jasper plays a variety of styles and genres both live with musicians and bands locally and across NSW and ACT and in the studio as a session musician.

What do you teach at the Con?

I teach drums from complete beginner to diploma level.

What genres do you teach?

I specialise in Rock, Punk, Contemporary Pop, Metal, Jazz and Blues.

What is it that you love about teaching music?

Watching and helping people enjoy the process of improving and gaining confidence in their musical skills.

Career Highlights

Michael Jackson’s drummer reposted my Instagram story once, that was pretty awesome.

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

19 April Wilbur Whitta Album Launch

Wildfire Album Launch Concert

Wilbur is an award-winning Gadigal (Sydney) based pianist and composer who makes contemporary jazz and improvised music.
Originally from Canberra, Wilbur has performed extensively around Australia, the UK, Europe and Japan. He has appeared as a member of legendary Australian jazz outfit “Ten Part Invention”, and has performed alongside artists of international acclaim such as Kit Downes and Will Vinson. He currently leads his own band “Wildfire”, who have recorded their debut album for ABC Jazz – to be released on the label soon.
Wilbur was selected as a finalist in the 2021 National Jazz Awards, and in 2019 (while living in London) won the UK-based Dankworth Jazz Composition Award. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic Wilbur had earned a name for himself as an in-demand pianist in London, where he received the UK’s Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa, and was selected as a semi-finalist in the Riga Jazz Stage jazz piano competition in Latvia.

WHERE: Hume Conservatorium
Paul Paviour Recital hall
WHEN: Friday 19 April at 6pm
Cost:
Adult $40
Concession $35
Under 18: Free

More About Wilbur Whitta

Wilbur’s musical influences span from contemporary pianists Craig Taborn, Aaron Parks, and Kit Downes through to classical composers Sofia Gubaidulina, Bela Bartok and Olivier Messiaen. These inspirations converge to form Wilbur’s distinctive compositional voice.
He has been presented with numerous honours and awards, including the prestigious Australia Council for the Arts Career Development Award, the Tait Memorial Trust Award, the BBM Youth Support Award for Music and the Anthony and Sharon Lee Foundation Jazz Scholarship.
Wilbur completed a Masters degree at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied on scholarship for two years. He graduated with distinction and was awarded the Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music (DipRAM), a prize given for outstanding performance in a postgraduate level final recital. He undertook principle study in jazz performance, and secondary study in classical composition. He is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he received the Conservatorium’s inaugural Jazz Scholarship, and completed his undergraduate degree with First Class Honours.

“He is prodigiously talented … I believe he will go on to become an important voice in the genre, both through his piano playing and through his compositions” – Kit Downes

“Wilbur Whitta is an exceptionally talented young pianist/composer who I expect will make a substantial contribution to Australian music in the years to come” – Mike Nock

April Holiday Programs

Autumn Holiday Programs 15 - 24 April 2024

Workshops at Hume Con During the April Holidays.
The Holiday Programs for 12-24-year-olds are funded by the Office of Regional Youth Holiday Break Program all students 12-24 will also receive a free ticket to See Jurassic Park at GPAC with the Southern Tablelands Arts Film Group. There is currently no funding for Holiday programs for Under 12’s. These programs have been subsidised by Hume Conservatorium for families with children under 12.

SQUAWKESTRA!

16-17 April 10am – 3pm SQUAWKESTRA! at Hume Con. Perfect for Beginners and intermediate students the SQUAWKESTRA! is an opportunity to try an instrument. including strings, brass and woodwind. If you already play we would love you to come along! 12-24 year olds

SING LIKE TAYLOR SWIFT!

18 April 10am – 12pm SING LIKE Taylor Swift! Calling all Swifties, some and learn to sing in the style of Taylor Swift with Lou Wurth. Learn some great tips and tricks to enhance your voice! 12-24 year olds

SING LIKE ZACH BRYAN

18 April 12.30pm – 2.30pm SING LIKE Zac Bryan! Join Lou Wurth and learn awesome tips and techniques to use your own voice to sing in a country genre.

STUDIO SKILLS

23 April 10am STUDIO SKILLS with John Burgess. Perfect for youth bands and singer songwriters. Spend a day learning how to use the Hume Con Recording Studio. This program will offer a Hume Con Certificate of Competency for young people and regional bands. This will open the door to getting started recording your original songs. 12-24 year olds

PLAY LIKE JIMI HENDRIX!

24 April 10am – 12pm PLAY LIKE Jimi Hendrix! Perfect for Beginners this two-hour workshop will teach you the basics of playing guitar like Jimi Hendrix.

24 April 12.30pm – 2.30pm PLAY LIKE Jimi Hendrix! Perfect for intermediate and Advanced players. Learn advance guitar techniques to play in the style of Jimi Hendricks!

JURASSIC PARK

21 April 4pm JURASSIC PARK at GPAC – All participants in the 12-24 year old workshops recieve a free ticket to Jurassic Park in partnership with Southern Tablelands Arts and the Office of Regional Youth Holiday Break Program.

Deadly Music at Hume Con

Exploring Culture and Music 2024

A group of aboriginal young people, some of whom had never played music before, joined Hume Conservatorium, grow the Music and Dizzy Doolan (cairns) at The Con for a week of songwriting and recording. Eight Aboriginal youths, aged 12 to 16, split into two groups and wrote and recorded two original songs. These will be produced and possibly released on music channels. The week-long workshop was part of Grow the Music, a program aimed at Aboriginal youth aged 12 to eighteen.

The youths were mentored by Grow the Music founder and director, Liz Rutten and First Nations Hip Hop artist, singer and actor, Dizzy Doolan. The initiative was aimed at opening doors to those who hadn’t previously experienced the facility. The workshop was funded by the Office of Regional Youth Holiday Break Program.

“We are wrapt with its success,” Ms Newbury said. “To have two original pieces of music produced in a week by young people, most of whom had never picked up an instrument before, is phenomenal. These kids are going home successful.”

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Deadly Music was funded by the Office of Regional Youth Holiday Break Program

Jennifer Jones

Classroom Specialist and Voice

Jennifer Jones, music specialist and choral conductor, holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice from the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, and a Graduate Diploma in Primary Music from the University of Technology, Sydney. Jennifer has been working in the field of music for over thirty years. She started working as a music specialist prior to working in America (where she was trained in the methodology of Kodaly), and continued in this field on her return to Australia. She has lived and worked in Melbourne, Perth, Karratha, Sydney and India where she worked as Principal of Paramjyoti School AP. Jennifer is the Musical Director of the Southern Highlands Children’s Choir.

What do you teach at the Con?

I am employed as an Education Specialist which sees me develop and implement in-school and early childhood music programs.

What genres do you teach?

Everything from classical to contemporary.

What is it that you love about teaching music?

I love teaching music because music matters! Evidence is strong and consistent that in addition to the intrinsic value of learning about music, exposure to quality music education provides students with a range of developmental benefits, including positive social, cultural, emotional and educational outcomes.

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

It has always been important to me that music education is available and achievable for ALL students. One highlight of my career was seeing a child who struggled in the classroom come to the front of the stage during a performance and confidently perform to a very large audience. The joy on the child’s face was priceless.

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

No specific recommendation except to be open to a wide variety of music.

Mikki Dunne

What do you teach at the Con?

I teach piano/keyboard

What genres do you teach?

I teach blues, rock, pop

What is it that you love about teaching?

I love sharing my passion for music, giving others confidence, learning new styles and creating a friendly environment for them to learn and grow.

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

A career highlight for me was playing on a blues cruise on the Sydney Harbour. It was a really enjoyable gig because the audience was there for the music making it that much more special.

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

One of my favourite artists is Elton John. I have seen him live and a great one from him is “Your Song.” Many of his pieces are always a good listen.

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

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.