Deb Batley

Flute, Piano, Musicianship

Bachelor of Arts (Music)

Master of Education, University of New South Wales

Associate Diploma in Music (AMusA)

Debra is the current Chair of the NSW Chapter of the Australian Society of Music Education and has been a committee member since 2012. Since 2015, Debra has written educational resources for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and consulted on their education programs. She is in demand as a professional learning presenter and has presented at National Conferences for Orff Schulwerk, ASME and the Australian Literacy Educators Association. In 2017, Debra presented at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s inaugural teach meet. Debra is an experienced teacher of HSC music and she has marked the practical components of all courses. Since 2022, Debra has been employed as a casual academic by the Sydney University at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, providing lectures to fourth-year Music Education and Master of Teaching students.

Debra is a passionate educational researcher. In 2017, in conjunction with Carinya Christian School and under the mentorship of Dr Anita Collins, she was successful in securing a competitively funded grant enabling her to lead a School-Based Research Project exploring how direct instrumental music instruction could help students with learning difficulties associated with reading. The strong results of this study have been reported as widely as the Sydney Morning Herald and led to speaking invitations from as far afield as Helsinki. Debra’s writings on education have been published in Loudmouth, the Music Trust Ezine, and the Australian Association of Educational Research’s Journal. 

Debra has a Master of Education completing the course with Academic Excellence and inclusion on the Dean’s List. She is also a PhD candidate at UNSW, researching the relationship between music education and educational equity.  

Debra has taught piano and clarinet since 1990. She has experience with beginners through to students completing the highest grades. She has a particular interest in French Piano Music. She has a long-term interest in musical theatre and has acted as musical director for over 10 musicals for school and community productions.

Kym Beare

Guitar, Drums

Bachelor of Arts (Contemporary Music)

Diploma in Education

Kym studied at the Southern Cross University, completing a Bachelor of Contemporary Music (composition major) and a Graduate Diploma of Education. 

He worked as a classroom music teacher and faculty coordinator in secondary education for many years. 

Kym has composed or produced music for Aleyce Simmonds, Adam Eckersley, Brooke McClymont, Loren Ryan, and Steve Charles. He has also toured as a guitarist for acts such as The McClymonts, Adam Eckersley Band, and Victoria Avenue.

You can see him playing around town with his bands, “Power of 2”, “Splashpool”, and the weekly Musos Jam.

Emily Bishop

Cello, Violin, Poco a Poco Strings

Emily previously studied cello at the Tamworth Conservatorium before undertaking a Bachelor of Music at the Sydney Conservatorium. Emily is particularly interested in early childhood development and is keen to establish cello programs with young students in primary schools throughout Tamworth.

Noelene Bosworth

Director/CEO

Brass, Woodwinds, Regional Youth Orchestra

Bachelor of Creative Arts

Diploma in Education

Diploma of Business Administration

Noelene has been teaching brass at the TRCM since 1995. Over those years at the TRCM, Noelene has held the positions of Head of Brass and Woodwind, Coordinator of Teaching and Learning and Program Manager. Noelene commenced her role as Director of TRCM at the beginning of 2016. Before working at the TRCM, Noelene was a member of the Australian Army Band Sydney and worked as a brass teacher in Grafton, Toowoomba and Sydney, as well as having been a member of staff at the University of New England, Armidale, teaching brass. Noelene has travelled throughout the state to tutor for the Department of Education Regional Instrumental Camps and internationally as a tutor for Department of Education Combined Band tours.

Tammy Clark

Vocal

Tammy has grown up on the stage. She started dance lessons at age 5 and singing lessons at age 8. After leaving school, Tammy studied and then worked as a nurse. Music and musical theatre remained her passion, so in 2014, when she was offered an opportunity to teach vocal and musical theatre at Gunnedah Conservatorium, she quickly seized the opportunity and started sharing her experience with others.

Her vocal training includes AMEB exams to grade 7 and completion of the teacher AMEB training in the musical theatre syllabus. Tammy has gained most of her knowledge through performance opportunities both rurally and on the coast of NSW. She has worked with both groups and vocal soloists. In 2018, Tammy played the lead role of Velma Kelly in the Gunnedah Conservatorium’s sell-out production of Chicago. In 2019, she joined the Tamworth Musical Society, playing Babette in Beauty and the Beast and also performing in the cast of Boy from Attunga.

Tammy has been a vocal and musical theatre teacher at Gunnedah Conservatorium since 2014. Even after moving to Tamworth in 2017, her dedication to her students led her to travel to Gunnedah for three years to continue their tuition. At the end of 2019, Tammy made the difficult decision to say goodbye to her Gunnedah students and move her studio to Tamworth.

Tammy teaches individual and group vocal lessons. Lessons involve working with each student as an individual and using their interests as a foundation to commence their musical journey. She exposes students to a variety of music genres, including art songs, pop, jazz, country, folk, and musical theatre. Students are encouraged to perform and offered the opportunity to complete AMEB exams. Tammy believes each voice is an instrument, and with guidance and support, students can learn to use their vocal gifts to their fullest potential.

Tammy has recently completed a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary).

Diane Cork

Musicianship, Music Craft

Bachelor of Arts/Diploma in Education, University of Sydney

Diploma in International Education, Monash University

Certificate in Gifted & Talented, University of NSW

Diane, a now-retired secondary music teacher with 40 years of experience, has extensive experience preparing students for AMEB exams, both in instrumental and theoretical studies, with excellent results. Diane has extensive experience with choral, instrumental and musical theatre performance groups. At various times, Di has been a member of groups such as the Tamworth Clarinet Choir, Regional Youth Orchestra, and Salon Orchestra. Her involvement in Arts activities has also included the TRCM Board, Arts Council, Musica Viva and ABC Concerts Committees. Currently, she specialises in teaching Theory, Musicianship and Music Craft through all levels to music students at the Conservatorium.

Iris Cornwell

Violin tutor

Violin Performance, AMEB

Iris has been playing the violin for over 12 years and has been a student at the Tamworth Con for 10 years.

Since completing all of her AMEB grades, she has begun working toward her AMUS.

Iris has gained ensemble experience from her 6 years as a member of the Tamworth Regional Youth Orchestra, of which she is currently concertmaster, and also through her participation in Arts Unit camp and touring orchestras, among other projects. 

James Craswell

Guitar

Bachelor of Music, University of New England

A former student of TRCM, James Craswell is one of the region’s most prolific and in-demand guitarists and vocalists. He has performed on stages big and small with a wide variety of acts, including Jimmy Craz Band, The O Trio, SumAssault, Merchants of Venice and the UNE Jazz Band. 

He started teaching guitar in his late teens while studying music at UNE and prides himself on versatility. He teaches a wide range of styles of music across a wide age range.

Brett Dallas

Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele

Golden Guitar winner, 2018 (Producer of ‘Lighthouse’ - Ashleigh Dallas)

Brett has been a professional musician for over 35 years, sharing his craft as a guitar teacher at the Tamworth Regional Conservatorium of Music since 2005. With a world of music industry knowledge, musicianship skills and a strong understanding of the importance of music theory, Brett encourages all of his students and enjoys watching them grow as musicians. As a professional session musician, Brett has played on countless albums, offering his creativity and letting his guitar do the talking, making him an extremely popular guitar player in Australia. Brett has also produced and engineered several albums, and one of his proudest productions and full-time commitments is his daughter’s (Ashleigh Dallas), producing her albums and playing full-time in her band and creative leader as Musical Director. Along with the fundamentals and essential techniques, Brett teaches the necessary skills and attributes to play and succeed in today’s music business.

Natallia Dunn

Piano, Accompanist

Bachelor in Teaching Music and Singing, Minsk State Pedagogical University, Belarus

Diploma of Teaching of Musical School and Concertmaster, Mogilev Musical College, Belarus

Natallia was born in Belarus and started her musical history at the music school in the City of Bobruisk in Belarus at the age of seven.

After learning piano at the music school, Natallia continued her studies at the Musical College in the City of Mogilev for four years and at the State Pedagogical University in the City of Minsk in Belarus for five years. She went on to be a teacher and accompanist.

Natallia has 30 years of experience teaching the piano and accompanying various musical instruments and 15 years of experience coordinating the Piano Department in Bobruisk at the Children’s Musical School.

Since Natallia arrived in Australia ten years ago, she has had her own private piano teaching practice and experience teaching at the Australian Academy of Music in Brendale, Queensland.

Natallia is an enthusiastic, creative piano teacher who loves working with children and adults. She is infinitely in love with her profession.

Brooke Gillett

Early Childhood Music

Diploma in Children’s Services

Brookie Gillett is passionate about Early Childhood Music education. She has worked with young children and families since 2001 and understands the profound positive effects that musical opportunities have on all areas of a child’s development and growth. She holds a Diploma in Children’s Services and is currently studying for a Bachelor of Music part-time. Brookie studied AMEB Pianoforte and Classical Voice and also enjoys playing the ukulele. She is a member of the Victorian Orff Schulwerk Association and is keenly interested in pursuing further qualifications in her Orff Levels and Kodaly Method. Brookie has been involved in local musical theatre for many years, with two of her favourite roles being Glinda the Good Witch of the North in Wicked and Eponine in Les Miserables. She has toured interstate in a folk duo as a singer-songwriter, performing for many years at the incomparable Woodford Folk Festival. She has three beautiful children who are all showing early signs of being musical geniuses!

Colin Gutteridge

Woodwinds, Schools Program

Colin teaches clarinet and saxophone and works in our school’s programs. He was a member of the Royal Australian Navy Band, where he was trained in many different styles of music, including Classical, Concert Band, Swing, Dixieland Jazz, etc. Colin has worked in the Music Industry and Music Shops for 39 years. He taught privately for 36 years and performed musical instrument repairs.

Annette Hamilton

Piano, Junior Children’s Choir

Bachelor of Arts (Music) - University of Sydney

Diploma of Education - Sydney Teachers College 

A.S.C.M. Pianoforte (NSW State Conservatorium of Music)

Annette completed her secondary schooling at the Conservatorium High School, where she attained the Associate of the State Conservatorium of Music in piano and level 5 in violoncello. She then completed a Bachelor of Arts (Music and History) at Sydney University and a Diploma of Education at Sydney Teachers College. Annette has taught music in several public high schools around NSW and has been selected to accompany the Combined Choirs at several Opera House Choral Concerts. Since 1998, she has taught at Calrossy Anglican School, where she has taught for ten years as Head of Music. As a high school music teacher, Annette has directed several choirs, orchestras, musical theatre performances and eisteddfod performances. She is delighted to use her diverse experiences in piano performance to guide current students of Tamworth Regional Conservatorium of Music.

Ian Hocquard

Brass, Piano, Djembe, School Programs, Conservatorium Concert Band

Diploma of Music

Bachelor of Arts (Music)

Diploma in Education

Ian brings several years of teaching experience to the Conservatorium, including group music classes, individual tuition at the HSC level, and conducting primary school concert bands. He began learning piano at 8 and the French Horn at 12. After graduating from Newcastle University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Music (French Horn major) and in 2002 with a Diploma of Education (Primary), he worked as a primary classroom teacher and music specialist in various schools around NSW.

Ian currently teaches curriculum-based school programs and brass, piano, and djembe programs in several schools and other educational facilities in the Tamworth region and conducts the Conservatorium Concert Band. He has performed in several operatic and musical productions in Newcastle, Singleton, and Tamworth and is a current member of the Australian Army Band Newcastle.

Jacquie Langston

Woodwinds, Ukulele, Musicianship, Music Craft

Bachelor of Music Studies (Performance), University of Sydney

Jacqueline Langston has long been associated with the Tamworth Regional Conservatorium of Music. She began her musical education here before moving to Sydney for her tertiary studies. At the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, she completed her Bachelor of Music Degree, majoring in performance on the flute under the instruction of James Kortum, Margaret Crawford, and Mark Walton.

At the TRCM and in their school programs, Jacquie has taught Flute, Musicianship, Clarinet, Recorder, Early Childhood Music, Oboe, Bassoon, Ukulele, Percussion and Beginner Piano. Jacquie has also been a Conductor of the Tamworth Regional Youth Orchestra, TRCM Flute Ensemble, TRCM Concert Band and a Musical Director for Tamworth Musical Society, performing in over 20 musicals. Jacquie loves to see students of all ages and from all across the state have access to musical education, and in addition to Tamworth, she has travelled to towns around the region to teach students from Gunnedah, Quirindi, Nundle and Woolomin.

Jarron McGrane

Jarron began learning music early, studying piano, violin, viola, double bass, tuba and drums. Jarron has been a member of the Regional Youth Orchestra, RYO NSW, Tamworth RSL Brass Band and Gunnedah Shire Band, which perform at state and national competitions. Jarron was selected over 9 consecutive years to be a member of the State Wind Band, performing in the Opera House on either tuba or percussion each year. Jarron has also been selected as a member of the West of Divide Wind Band, touring Hawaii and Europe.

Samara Power

Ensembles Coordinator

Strings, Ensembles

Associate Diploma in Music (AMusA)

Samara began learning the violin at six and was awarded her AMusA in 2010 while a student at the Tamworth Conservatorium. She was a member of the Tamworth Regional Youth Orchestra for many years and now considers it a great privilege to conduct the same ensemble. As a teacher, her passions include sharing the love of music and developing transferrable skills to help students make music with friends.

Todd Power

Program Manager

Piano, Accompanist

Bachelor of Music (Performance & Creative Production), University of Newcastle (2010)

Master of Design Science (Audio and Acoustics), University of Sydney (2012)

Todd has a long-standing connection with the Tamworth Regional Conservatorium of Music, which began when he started piano lessons with Janette Woodbridge at age five. After completing his Music and Audio Engineering degrees, Todd returned to Tamworth in 2013 and began teaching.

He has been involved in various stage productions with the Tamworth Musical Society, performing in shows like Chicago, Wicked, Mary Poppins, and Annie. Todd has also been the Musical Director for several productions, including Rock of Ages (2017), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (2019), Rent (2023), and Shrek (2023). In 2022, he played the role of Anthony Hope in TMS’ production of Sweeney Todd.

In 2023, Todd was the Musical Director of CAPERS, a performing arts extravaganza featuring more than 2000 Public School students from across the New England and North West regions.

From 2015 to 2019, he served as the accompanist for the Tamworth Choral Society.

Since 2016, Todd has been a Convenor of Music for the City of Tamworth Eisteddfod Society.

He is currently studying for a Master of Secondary Teaching (Music) at the University of New England.

Katie Ringland

Vocal

Jane Stewart

Piano

A.Mus.A Piano

A.Mus.A Pipe Organ

L.Mus.A Pipe Organ

LTCL Pipe Organ

Bachelor of Arts, Sydney University

Masters in Music, Piano Performance, London University (Goldsmiths College)

Honorary Carillonist, Sydney University

Jane Stewart was lucky enough to start music lessons at age three. She was reading and writing music before she could read and write words, and she has been passionate about playing, performing, and composing since then.

Jane completed her A.Mus.A in piano while still at school, following up with an A.Mus.A in Organ (with Distinction) while studying with Peter Kneeshaw at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.

While she originally moved to London to study acting at Rose Bruford College, Jane completed a Master in Music at London University (Goldsmiths College).

On her return to Australia, Jane continued performing as a pianist, accompanist and recital organist, working as Director of Music and Conductor at churches around Sydney.

In 2015, Jane commenced studying the carillon and is now one of the Honorary Carillonists at Sydney University.

Jane and her family moved to the Tamworth region at the end of 2022, and she is extremely excited to find herself in such a musical part of the world.

Jane’s joy is connecting with each student and helping them discover their innate musicality and love of music.

Nathan Tainsh

Piano

Nathan joined the staff at the Tamworth Conservatorium in 2023 after being a student here for several years, studying piano with Todd Power.

Nathan is currently studying for a Bachelor of Music at the University of New England.