Teaching Staff

Pauline started learning trumpet in primary school. After high school she studied conducting and learned multiple instruments, and she still performs in community bands. Pauline’s love of music is seen in her students, some who have become professional performers and teachers. She looks forward to teaching new generations of musicians!

Mitch specialises in teaching percussion and bass guitar, and plays a small variety of other instruments, including guitar, keyboards, mandolin and ukulele. He graduated from JMC Academy in 2022 with a Bachelor of Music, specialising in songwriting. He also writes and records his own songs under the artist name ‘michacha’.

Lillian is currently studying at Macquarie University and is a member of numerous bands in the Hills District.

Lindsay has been playing saxophone for the past 10 years, along with various other wind and brass instruments. She has been a part of concert bands, stage band, orchestra, and the NSWPS Millennium Marching Band. Her passion for music evolved from other TSA tutors who taught and encouraged her up to her HSC performance.

Jack is a passionate trumpet player who specialises in teaching brass and bass guitar. He has been playing the trumpet in school and community bands since 2010, and has completed at the national and state levels. Jack enjoys guiding his students on the journey to excellence, and having some fun along they way.

Tim studied saxophone at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and currently teaches a wide variety of instruments, specialising in woodwind. He spends his time outside of teaching playing with community orchestras and jazz bands around Sydney, and enjoys learning and performing on new instruments.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Music from Macquarie University in 2015, Ramon is one of Sydney’s preeminent guitarists, performing with several bands around the country and overseas.

Ryoko learned the piano and flute in Japan and played in various bands and ensembles before coming to Australia. Now she enjoys playing the flute and piccolo in a local community band and an orchestra. She is happy to teach young musicians and hopes the seeds of music that she plants in them will grow into a whole-life enjoyment.

Matthew studied clarinet at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and graduated in 2015. He enjoys musical education as well as regular performances with various orchestras around Sydney.

Mari studied clarinet performance, music education and conducting in Finland and the Netherlands before landing in Sydney in 2015. Mari is always excited to learn new instruments and currently plays euphonium, French horn and trombone in community orchestras around Sydney.

Steven studied Oboe at the University of Newcastle – B.Mus (Hons) DipEd. He has performed with numerous orchestras and enjoys working with regional and rural music and ensemble programs. He has worked for TSA for the past 20 years, and is father to two of his own budding musicians.

Arts graduate of the University of Western Sydney, Dan also studied film and composition at the Australian Film Television Radio School. Teaching and composing for over 20 years, his other skills include animation colourist and video store clerk. In the future, Dan hopes to be among the first humans to colonize Mars.

Jess initially learned flute and alto saxophone as part of a school band program and studied music at the University of Newcastle. She strives to instill a love of music with a sound knowledge of the basics and an emphasis on fun!

Rowen is passionate about music education. He studied at the Conservatorium in Newcastle, and currently directs concert, jazz and brass bands across the Central Coast and Sydney. Rowen regularly conducts and adjudicates in state and national competitions and enjoys performing as a member of Central Coast Brass.

Tom is a percussionist and music teacher who is currently studying his Bachelor of Music at UNSW. He has played countless musicals with various Sydney societies, toured internationally with the NSWPS Millennium Marching Band, and is also currently a member of The Butchers jazz trio and 343 Brass Band who both play a range of Sydney venues.

Joshua has been a passionate musical educator in numerous schools since graduating from the Sydney Conservatorium in 2015. Beyond teaching, conducting, composing and playing with community bands, he also founded and directs The FilmHarmonia Orchestra, who play concerts celebrating and promoting the artistic integrity of the world’s great film music.

Wayne has been teaching professionally for 15 years and currently teaches at 9 schools in NSW. Wayne teaches and performs on 13 instruments and tours with his band Bonnie Kay and the Bonafides – one of the leading blues/jazz/roots bands in the country.

Having graduated with honours from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Alex has pursued a career in composition and is currently scoring for film and television. Formally trained as a jazz drummer Alex worked for many years as a session musician and has toured both nationally and internationally. When he’s not teaching or composing he’s writing and performing with local bands.

Paul enjoys playing trombone (in a local Big Band) and tuba (in a local Concert Band), as well as playing guitar when busking with his daughter. He is currently teaching brass instruments at a range of schools in the Hills District, and particularly enjoys seeing the youngest musicians grow to love music.

Daryl is an enthusiastic and energetic band director and tutor who has been running band programs with TSA for nearly 10 years. Daryl currently teaches at eight primary schools. Daryl and his son Nic are members of the Café Latte Orchestra that perform in regional centres throughout NSW.

Karen found her love of music in high school where she had the opportunity to play multiple instruments. She completed a Bachelor of Music at the University of Newcastle. Karen always enjoys passing on her knowledge and seeing her students succeed.