Queensland

Teaching context: Shane currently works as the Assistant Principal Curriculum at St Peter Claver College. He teaches Senior General Music and has taught in secondary and P to 12 contexts during my career. Having previously been a DRPC for both Music and Music Extension, Shane works with the QCAA as a Lead Confirmer and Chief Marker for Music.

Music Education Interests: Shane is passionate about the difference music education can make in the holistic education of all primary and secondary students and passionate advocate for the need for all students to study music as part of their Prep to Year 12 education.

Fun Fact: Shane regularly works as a professional Musical Director when not in the classroom and conducts the Toowoomba Choral Society’s TCS Choir.

Teaching Context: Malcolm is currently the Head of Faculty, The Arts, at Cannon Hill Anglican College. He is also a member of ISME History Standing Committee.

Music Education Interests: Malcolm’s music education interests and research areas include classroom music pedagogy, and the history of music education including Australian and instrumental music.

Fun Fact: I enjoy cooking and walking.

Teaching Context: Janette is currently Head of Music at St Hilda’s School on the Gold Coast where she teaches students from Years 5 to 12. Her co-curricular ensembles include the Senior Choir and Rhythm and Blues Band.

Music Education Interests: Janette is a keen choral enthusiast as well as musically directing nearly 30 School Musicals over her career and has always been actively involved in the processes of the QCAA (and its previous incarnations) through being Panel Chair, new syllabus committees and now, endorsement, confirmation and EA marking.

Fun Fact: Janette was inspired to become a music teacher as early as primary school where her music teacher at Indooroopilly State School was an inspiration. I was in awe of her and spent every lunchtime in the music room mucking around on the xylophones and loved singing in the choir, playing fife and also the bass drum! In Year 7, she performed in the role of “Dave” (!) on the Brisbane City Hall stage in a musical production of Henry Lawson’s “The Loaded Dog”. This combined with learning piano, singing and ballet and presenting impromptu performances of music theatre songs on the front verandah at home for the unsuspecting passing pedestrian traffic set her on track to be involved in music very early in the piece.

Teaching Context: Belinda is a music teacher at St Joseph’s Nudgee College. She enjoys teaching in the middle phase of education (Years 5 – 8 Music). She also tutors in Arts Education and Pre-Service Teacher Education at the University of Sunshine Coast.

Music Education Interests: Belinda has an interest in instrumental immersion and using technology to support learning in the music classroom.

Fun Fact: Outside of the classroom Belinda enjoys umpiring netball and swimming.

Teaching Contexts: Sam Smith is the Director of Performing Arts at St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Brisbane. Before this, he was the Head of Performing Arts at Livingstone Christian College on the Gold Coast. At Nudgee, Sam leads the Performing Arts program and also finds time to jam with his students in classroom music.

Music Education Interests: When he is not conducting College ensembles, Sam is all about bridging the gap between music and technology in the classroom. He has a passion for single-gender music education, especially when it comes to boys and their musical journey.

Teaching Context: Simon is currently a Lecturer in Music Education (classroom and instrumental) at Griffith University in the School of Education and Professional Studies and Pre-Tertiary Jazz Studies Coordinator, Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

Music Education Interests: Simon’s research interests are in Australian Jazz, Jazz Diaspora Studies, Jazz Pedagogy, Music Education, Instrumental Music, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Initial Teacher Education in Music

Fun Fact: Jazz boosts your creativity and productivity at work, relieves stress, and increases your immunity.

Teaching Context: Wendy is currently the Head of Faculty – Arts at The Lakes College, where she teaches secondary Music.

Music Education Interests: Wendy’s music education interests include secondary music education and the QCAA senior Arts syllabi.

Teaching Context: Candace works as a Lecturer within the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University.

Music Education Interest: Candace is a Yugambeh Indigenous elder, musician and music educator, passionately devoted to the power of song as a vehicle for transmitting Indigenous knowledges and living culture.