The Committees and Advisory Councils provide expert guidance and support, informing decision-making and strengthening community engagement.

Investment Committee

Chair Michael Clegg

A CFA Charterholder with over 21 years’ experience in investment markets, Michael advises high-net-worth families and not-for-profits at Evans and Partners, bringing deep financial expertise to the Sydney Eisteddfod Investment Committee.

Max Holzner

An experienced Chair and strategic leader across the not-for-profit and cultural sectors, Max brings deep expertise in governance, arts education, and digital innovation. 

Francyne Mu

Francyne brings over 25 years of global investment experience alongside a strong personal commitment to supporting emerging talent in music, dance, and theatre. 

Matthew Tribe

Matthew is a Chartered Accountant and experienced CFO, offering specialist knowledge in finance and governance for high-growth companies and arts organisations alike. 

Secretary Rozena Ghany Finance Manager

Development Committee

The Development Committee is responsible for overseeing and implementing strategic initiatives to ensure long-term viability and growth through effective philanthropic strategies, robust operational policies, and fostering stronger engagement across Sydney Eisteddfod’s diverse range of events.
 

Read the Sydney Eisteddfod Development Committee Charter

Chair Prof Peter Tregear OAM

An academic, conductor, and music commentator, Peter is a Fellow of the Melbourne Conservatorium and a leading voice in music scholarship and performance. 

Piroozi Desai-Keane OAM , JP

With over 40 years of service to Sydney Eisteddfod, including 15 years as Chief Executive Officer, Piroozi is a respected arts leader and educator with a lifelong commitment to cultural exchange and performance development. 

Sonia de Freitas

An experienced producer and arts educator, Sonia has held senior roles at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Musica Viva, and Ensemble Offspring, and is committed to advancing creativity, inclusion, and access in music education. 

Lily Huang

Lily is a seasoned executive and board director with a strong background in international finance, corporate governance, and cross-cultural engagement. 

Stuart Langeveldt

A former Chief Experience Officer and award-winning strategist, Stuart offers Sydney Eisteddfod a wealth of expertise in marketing, brand, and customer experience leadership. 

Lisa Pavane

Former Principal Artist with The Australian Ballet and past Director of The Australian Ballet School, Lisa contributes exceptional leadership in dance education and performance. 

Secretariat David Paterson
Director of Artistic Planning

David Paterson is an award-winning composer, pianist, educator, and academic with a wealth of professional experience and industry insight. 

Max Holzner Board Chair, ex-officio

Heather Campbell General Manager, ex-officio

Audit & Risk Committee

Chair Matthew Tribe

Matthew is a Chartered Accountant and experienced CFO, offering specialist knowledge in finance and governance for high-growth companies and arts organisations alike. 

Dawn Keeffe

A senior governance professional and Company Secretary, Dawn brings extensive regulatory and board advisory experience, with a deep commitment to the not-for-profit and arts sectors. 

Darrell Wood

A Chartered Accountant with over 30 years’ international experience, Darrell brings strategic insight and strong financial oversight to his governance roles, alongside a lifelong commitment to music education and the performing arts.

Advisory Councils

The Advisory Councils provide expert insights and recommendations to enhance the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of events within their respective categories, in alignment with the Sydney Eisteddfod Constitution.

Read the Sydney Eisteddfod Advisory Councils Terms of Reference

Marcus Bortolotti

A distinguished music educator and performer, Marcus leads music programmes across multiple campuses at Reddam House and brings extensive experience as a conductor, adjudicator and vocal specialist. 

Dr Luke Gilmour

An educational leader and accomplished musician, Luke has held senior music roles in prominent schools and contributes actively to national conversations on co-curricular and arts education. 

James Brice OAM

A widely respected music educator, conductor, and adjudicator, James leads award-winning ensembles and serves as Chair of the NSW Band Association Music Advisory Board. 

Bronwyn Cleworth

A passionate choral director and music educator, Bronwyn teaches at SCEGGS Darlinghurst and conducts with the Sydney Children’s Choir, championing original music theatre and collaboration. 

Dr Francis Greep

Head of Opera Australia’s Young Artist Program, Francis is a leading vocal coach and music director with extensive experience nurturing emerging talent nationally and internationally. 

Prof Timothy Kantor

An internationally recognised violinist and chamber musician, Timothy is Senior Lecturer in Violin at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and a dedicated mentor to young artists. 

Grace Kim

A concert pianist, educator, and advocate for inclusive music experiences, Grace is the founder of Sensory Concerts® and a researcher and academic at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. 

Jo Karney

Jo Karney is a passionate educator, adjudicator and communications specialist whose distinguished career in speech and drama has shaped the confidence and voices of countless students over more than 30 years.

Sharolyn Kimmorley AM

One of Australia’s most respected vocal coaches and accompanists, Sharolyn has held senior roles at Opera Australia and currently serves as Artistic Manager of the Melba Opera Trust. 

Tony Lee

An internationally acclaimed pianist and educator, Tony is Artistic Advisor for the Rising Stars Program at the Sydney Conservatorium and a passionate advocate for music education. 

Dr Simon Lobelson

A celebrated operatic baritone and researcher, Simon is a lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium and a leading voice in contemporary vocal performance and pedagogy. 

Stuart Maunder AM

A veteran opera and musical theatre director, Stuart is Artistic Director of Victorian Opera and has led major companies in Australia and New Zealand.

Lisa Pavane

Former Principal Artist and Director of The Australian Ballet School, Lisa continues to shape elite dance education through her national and international contributions. 

Tahlia Petrosian

Violist and creative producer, Tahlia is a member of the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig and founder of KLASSIK underground, reimagining classical music for new audiences. 

Dale Pope

Founder of REDed, Dale is a leader in dance education with 25 years’ experience delivering curriculum-aligned programs and training teachers for school-based dance delivery.

Prof Goetz Richter AM

Associate Professor at the Sydney Conservatorium, Goetz is a renowned violinist and educator with a distinguished career as performer, conductor and orchestral leader. 

David Saffir

David Saffir is a respected string educator, ensemble director and performer whose leadership at Barker College and longstanding professional career have made a significant impact on music education and orchestral performance in Australia.

Sarah Jane Starr 

A NIDA-trained actor and long-time educator, Sarah Jane brings her expertise across stage, screen, and drama education to inspire and mentor young performers. 

Christian Tàtchev

Director of Queensland Ballet Academy, Christian is an accomplished former Principal Dancer and internationally recognised educator and adjudicator in ballet training.

Prof Peter Tregear OAM

An academic, conductor, and music commentator, Peter is a Fellow of the Melbourne Conservatorium and a leading voice in music scholarship and performance. 

Catherine Walmsley

An award-winning conductor and brass educator, Catherine leads instrumental music at Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College and has directed major student tours and productions across Australia and overseas. 

Olivia Weeks

Editor of Dance Australia and a lifelong advocate for the performing arts, Olivia has worked across arts marketing, education, and publishing to amplify the voices of Australia’s dance community. 

Board

Learn about our important board structure, the members and our policies and strategies

Committees and Advisory Councils

Our committees and advisories are important to our operations. Learn about their charter and structures

Executive Team

Learn about the staff that help make Sydney Eisteddfod a reality
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Chair Michael Clegg

Michael has more than 21 years’ experience in investment markets, spanning advisory and investment research roles.

For the last 14 years, Michael has been an Investment Adviser at Evans and Partners where he manages the investment affairs of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families, individuals and not-for-profit organisations.

His day-to-day focus on thoroughly understanding his client’s circumstances, objectives and risk appetite – and managing their investment affairs accordingly – mean that Michael is well placed to bring highly relevant skills and experience to the Sydney Eisteddfod Investment Committee.

He has a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Sydney and is a CFA Charterholder. Michael lives in Sydney with his wife Tory and their three children Hamish, Jack and Eloise.

Max Holzner

Max Holzner is an experienced not-for-profit Chair and company director with a background in strategic leadership, cultural governance, and digital innovation. He currently serves as Chair of Sydney Eisteddfod, the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW, and the Western Sydney Philharmonic (WestPhil), and is Co-Founder and CEO of Gradus Software – an education technology company supported by NSW Treasury that delivers curriculum-aligned digital learning tools for music education across Australia.

A member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Max has led major governance and structural reforms across multiple national and state-based organisations. His leadership has helped modernise board structures, embed best-practice governance, and strengthen financial sustainability through renewed philanthropic and government partnerships.

An alumnus of the University of Cambridge and the Australian National University, Max was a recipient of the Cambridge Australia Trust Orde Poynton Scholarship. Although having a background in business, he was formally trained as a violinist and has collaborated with many of Australia’s leading performers and orchestras, performing with chamber ensembles and at major festivals across Australia and the UK. He was assistant to the late Christopher Hogwood at the Academy of Ancient Music, contributing to major critical scholarly editions for Bärenreiter, including Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

In 2022, Max founded WestPhil under the patronage of Kim Williams AM. As Chair, he has led the organisation’s strategic vision to establish a world-class orchestral training pathway in Western Sydney. Since its launch, WestPhil has supported hundreds of young musicians through intensive programs, professional mentorship, and performances alongside leading Australian artists. The organisation is widely recognised for both its artistic excellence and its commitment to regional equity in the arts.

Max’s leadership at Sydney Eisteddfod reflects his deep belief in the transformative power of the performing arts and his commitment to ensuring that all young Australians have access to opportunity, inspiration, and excellence.

Francyne Mu

Francyne Mu brings over 25 years of global experience in equities and investment management to the board, with a career that has spanned London, New York, Asia, and Australia. Her professional expertise extends across a range of industries, including Financial Services, Technology, and Consumer sectors. She has held senior roles at leading institutions such as Citigroup, Pictet Asset Management, and most recently, served as Portfolio Manager of Global Equities at Franklin Templeton, a US-based asset manager with more than US$1.5 trillion under management.

Beyond her distinguished finance career, Francyne is a passionate advocate for the performing arts, particularly in music, dance, and theatre. She is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of artistic talent. She is a strong supporter of programs that provide young and emerging artists with meaningful opportunities to perform, develop their craft, while gaining exposure and confidence.

As a board member, Francyne brings not only strategic insight and governance experience, but also a deep appreciation for the role the arts play in shaping vibrant, inclusive communities. A graduate of The University of Melbourne with a BA/BCom (Hons), she is also a CFA Charter holder.

Matthew Tribe

Matthew is a finance leader, having spent the last 15 years as a consulting CFO leading the finance function for VC-funded tech and growth companies across a range of industries in New York and Sydney. Matthew has a deep understanding of business operations, structures, and reporting gained from more than 15 years in public accounting, both as a Chartered Accountant in Australia and a CPA in the United States. Contributing to the arts has always been a key interest, having acted as the Treasurer for Waverley Woollahra Art School as well as Access Theater in New York and now Sydney Eisteddfod.

Prof Peter Tregear OAM

Peter Tregear OAM is an adjunct Professor of the University of Adelaide and a Principal Fellow of the Melbourne Conservatorium. He undertook doctoral studies in music at The University of Cambridge and subsequently was a Fellow and Lecturer in Music. He has worked extensively across Australia and Europe as a conductor and singer in opera as well as in choral and concert music. Peter also writes regularly on music and arts-related topics for The Conversation, Limelight, and Australian Book Review. 

Piroozi Desai OAM, JP, BA (Hons) 

Piroozi Desai OAM is an experienced arts administrator with a distinguished career in cultural programming and arts education. Born in Karachi, Pakistan to Zoroastrian parents, she was educated at Cathedral High School in Lahore and went on to study French, German and philosophy at The Punjab University. She later undertook further studies through the University of Cambridge. 

From 1976 to 1981, she was Program Director at the Goethe-Institut in Lahore, Pakistan (German Cultural Centre), where she coordinated national tours for visiting German artists and facilitated international cultural exchange. 

Since migrating to Australia in 1981, Piroozi has played a significant role in the Australian arts landscape. She joined Sydney Eisteddfod that same year and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2007, a role she held until her retirement in December 2021. Over four decades with the organisation, including 15 years as CEO, she was instrumental in expanding its reach and fostering opportunities for young performers. 

In addition to her leadership at Sydney Eisteddfod, Piroozi has served as a Board Member of River City Voices and is currently Artistic Advisor to The Arts Unit at Sydney Catholic Schools, supporting performance programmes and curriculum enrichment across the Catholic school system. 

An Australian citizen since 1984, she is also a Justice of the Peace and remains active in the arts as a long-standing volunteer with Opera Australia’s Opera on the Harbour (since 2016) and the Bondi Festival. 

Sonia de Freitas 

Sonia de Freitas feels energised when collaborating with colleagues on innovative projects that make a positive impact on stages and in communities. She is passionate about the intersection of creativity, inclusion, education and music. Her professional journey includes roles as the Head of Education & Communities at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Producer for Musica Viva, General Manager of Ensemble Offspring and Chair of the Eastside Radio Board. Sonia earned her Bachelor of Music from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She was granted a scholarship to pursue studies in music at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. Most recently, she completed her Master of Education (Learning & Leadership) from UTS. Sonia’s interests include writing, decoding creative practice and has had the opportunity to present “Building Pathways in Music Education: The Role of Music Organisations in Nurturing Excellence and Access” at the 36th ISME World Conference in Helsinki (2024).

Lily Huang

Lily Huang is an accomplished executive and board director with over 15 years of leadership experience across international trade, commercial and investment banking, and corporate governance. She has held senior roles at National Australia Bank as Director of Migrant Banking, and at Citibank Australia as Vice President, and currently serves as Executive Managing Partner of Raffles Focus Fund and Non-Executive Director at EZZ Life Science Holdings (ASX: EZZ).

Lily also serves as Vice President of the Australian Soong Ching Ling Foundation Charity, where she supports initiatives that promote youth development and cross-cultural engagement.

Fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghainese, Lily brings to Sydney Eisteddfod a deep commitment to cultural diplomacy, inclusive growth, and community impact. Her experience in stakeholder engagement and strategic partnership development reflects her enduring dedication to fostering artistic excellence and sustainable governance.

Stuart Langeveldt

Stuart Langeveldt is an internationally awarded senior brand, marketing and communications expert, with more than three decades experience leading marketing and customer experience teams.  With a distinguished career spanning customer experience design, research and insights, marketing communications, and digital transformation, Stuart has consistently delivered impactful results for some of Australia’s leading brands.

Stuart’s expertise extends across the full spectrum of the financial services sector – including retail banking, insurance, wealth management and funds management. Most recently, he served as Chief Experience Officer at Qantas Super for eight years, where he spearheaded transformative initiatives that elevated both customer satisfaction and business performance.  His collaborative approach and ability to inspire high-performing teams have earned him a reputation as a successful business leader.

A passionate advocate for the performing arts, Stuart’s formative years in South Africa were profoundly shaped by his participation in Eisteddfod festivals. He attributes his confidence and lifelong love for the arts to these early experiences, which fostered both his creative spirit and competitive drive. Reflecting on his journey, Stuart shares, “It feels fitting and like coming full circle to now be able to give back and contribute to the growth and renewal of Sydney Eisteddfod at this important time.”

Stuart is a graduate of the Johannesburg School of the Performing Arts majoring in Speech & Drama and holds a Master of Business (Marketing) degree from UTS.  As part of a recent career pivot and commitment to personal growth, he is currently pursuing a Master of Counselling degree with the goal of helping make a difference in the lives of others.

Lisa Pavane

Born in Newcastle, NSW, Lisa Pavane began her dance journey in 1978 as a student at The Australian Ballet School, training under the School’s founding Director, Dame Margaret Scott AC DBE. She was part of the inaugural tour of The Dancers’ Company (now The Australian Ballet’s National Tour) in 1980 and joined The Australian Ballet in 1981. Rising swiftly through the ranks, Lisa was promoted to Soloist in 1983 and Principal Artist in 1986.

In 1994, Lisa joined English National Ballet as a Senior Principal Ballerina and performed extensively as an international guest artist with leading companies including Boston Ballet, the Kirov Ballet, Munich Staatsoper, and Birmingham Royal Ballet. She retired from the stage in 1999.

Lisa returned to The Australian Ballet School in 2007 as a faculty member. In 2008, she became the first graduate of the School’s Vocational Graduate Certificate in Elite Ballet Instruction. She went on to hold several key leadership positions, becoming Head of Student Training in 2012, the same year she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship and completed a Graduate Certificate in Professional Education and Training from Deakin University.

In 2015, Lisa was appointed Director of The Australian Ballet School, a role she held with distinction for nearly a decade until stepping down in June 2024.

Since then, Lisa has remained active in the dance community. She has worked with Queensland Ballet as Guest Ballet Mistress, returned to the stage in the role of Lady Capulet in Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet, and contributed as a teacher and adjudicator for the Royal Academy of Dance, Brisbane Performing Arts Challenge, and various masterclasses, intensives, and scholarship programs across Queensland and NSW.

Lisa continues to be involved on the international stage as a Committee Member of the International Alliance of Professional Dance Schools and through her work with Canada’s National Ballet School’s Assemblée Internationale program.

David Paterson

David Paterson is an award-winning composer, pianist, educator, and academic whose multifaceted career underpins his role as Director of Artistic Planning at Sydney Eisteddfod. David brings a wealth of professional experience and industry insight to one of Australia’s leading arts organisations. 

 As an AMC represented composer, he has been commissioned and performed by many major organisations including the Australian String Quartet, Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, and ABC Classic, earning critical acclaim for the formidable technique and expressive depth displayed in his works. As a performer, he has appeared as soloist and chamber musician at festivals across Australia, UK, and the EU, whilst his work as an educator includes engagement with schools in all sectors, universities, and national programs. 

 Currently enrolled as a PhD candidate, David’s research focuses on the intersection of narrative and musical form. His academic contributions include conference papers presented at the University of Cambridge and national forums on music education and compositional practice. 

 David’s extensive professional network and broad artistic expertise serve as key assets to Sydney Eisteddfod. He leads the organisation’s artistic planning, ensuring that its events remain artistically robust, educationally meaningful, and connected to the evolving landscape of the performing arts in Australia. 

Company Secretary Dawn Logan Keeffe

Dawn Logan Keeffe is a senior Board advisor and governance professional, who has a passion for supporting for purpose organisations, particularly those within the Arts.  Having previously worked as Group Company Secretary for a global listed multinational information and data company, she made the decision to move into the not-for-profit sector and is the Deputy Company Secretary and General Counsel for the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, managing a diverse range of stakeholders including large corporate, government/public sector and vulnerable consumers.  Dawn was also instrumental in the formation of the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort, holding the inaugural Company Secretarial role and establishing key governance and policy frameworks for the government enacted scheme.  She is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Dawn has been involved in Eisteddfods around the world and is an advocate for performing arts development at grass roots level. 

Darrell Wood

Darrell is a commercially astute and experienced Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of expertise spanning corporate services, portfolio and program governance, transformation, analytics, and assurance. His global career has included leadership roles across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, providing him with broad cross-sector experience in industries such as FMCG, manufacturing, financial services, not-for-profit, education, pharmaceuticals, government, outsourcing, and consulting.

Darrell is known for his strategic insight, disciplined financial oversight, and commitment to strong governance. He brings a global perspective, a collaborative approach, and deep understanding of organisational dynamics to board and advisory roles.

In parallel with his professional career, Darrell is a passionate advocate for the arts. A qualified violin teacher and accomplished performer, he has over two decades of experience in solo, orchestral, and chamber music, performing in leading venues across the UK and Europe. Now based in Australia, he continues to perform and actively supports initiatives that improve access to music education across New South Wales and nationally.

Darrell is committed to supporting organisations that deliver lasting impact and community value, combining his financial and governance expertise with a deep personal commitment to education and the arts.

Marcus Bortolotti

Marcus Bortolotti is Head of Music Performance at Reddam House Australia, overseeing the music programs across Reddam House Sydney and the newly established Reddam House North Shore. In this role, he leads a team of over 70 music educators, coordinating more than 1,200 weekly instrumental lessons, a diverse ensemble program, and an extensive calendar of performances and productions for students from Kindergarten to Year 12. 
Marcus has a particular interest in the healthy development of young voices and the performance skills of school-aged musicians. He is regularly engaged as an adjudicator, examiner, and clinician, and his students have gone on to professional careers in opera, musical theatre, and the broader performing arts. 
A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney, Marcus is a skilled singer and conductor. He has performed regularly with Opera Australia since 2007, as well as with leading ensembles including The Song Company, Cantillation, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney Youth Orchestras and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He also holds a Juris Doctor from Sydney Law School (University of Sydney) and is admitted as a lawyer in New South Wales.  

Dr Luke Gilmour 

Dr Luke Gilmour is an accomplished educational leader and musician, currently serving as Deputy Head, Co-Curricular at SHORE in Sydney. With a career spanning over two decades, initially with the Royal Australian Navy Band, he was previously Director of Music at Cranbrook School and Director of Bands at Newington College. Luke holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, a Global MBA from Macquarie University, a Masters in Educational Leadership from UNSW and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. A passionate advocate for student engagement through music, Luke is also active in the broader educational community, serving on advisory boards and guest conducting. 

James Brice OAM 

With 34 years extensive professional teaching, conducting, performing, examining, strategic and personnel management, together with Regional, State and National adjudicating experience, James has is currently employed at the Knox Grammar School as the Head of Performing Arts, leading a team of 45 dynamic and highly experienced Australian educators and tutors, involving over 600 boys, across 73 rehearsals per week, for which he has established since his appointment in 2007. 

After his successful performance career as the Principal Euphonium/ Trombone and Tubist with the R.A.A.F. Air Command Band – Sydney (1996-2007), James was appointed Musical and Artistic Director of the Castle Hill RSL North West Wind Ensemble and Youth Wind Orchestra, in 2005. Since this time, James has led these bands, together with his Knox Grammar School Bands & Orchestras to multi-award-winning State, National and International success, inclusive of seven separate international performance tours to the USA (twice), Eastern Europe, China, New Zealand, Spain & Portugal and most recently to Croatia, Slovenia and Italy in December 2023. 

 James has performed, conducted and produced many recordings of note, inclusive of his solo CD, ‘Symphonic Variants for Euphonium’, recitals for 2MBS FM, together with two professional international CD releases ‘Wild Nights’ and ‘No Strings Attached!’ with the North West Wind Ensemble, generously assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts. Further to this, James has successfully attained synchronisation/distribution rights for the release of many large-scale recording projects featuring the Knox Grammar School Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Castle Hill RSL Youth Wind Orchestra and North West Wind Ensemble throughout 2008-2025. 

James is currently the Chair of the NSW Band Association of NSW Music Advisory Board, having been a member of this team since 2007, with responsibilities in selecting State & National Syllabus selections for bands and soloists. He has written pedagogical feature articles on Adjudication, Recruitment and Retention, Australian Repertoire, and in 2022, James initiated ‘Australian Sounds’ – A Spotlight on Australian Composers, presenting a live and digital concert showcasing nine Australian Works for Wind Orchestra, inclusive of three World Premiere performances. 

In 2023, the theme of ‘Australian Sounds’ moved to a Showcase of Australian Publishers, focusing attention on the music graded 0.5 to level 3 repertoire, the largest portfolio of music composed for young and developing ensembles. 

James was also appointed Musical Director of the NSW State Youth Concert Band in 2012 and has been a seasonal guest conductor with the Monash University Wind Symphony throughout 2012-2017. James is also a Brass Examiner for the Australian Music Examinations Board – AMEB NSW, joining the team in 2017. 

In 2020, James was proudly awarded ‘Life Membership’ of the Band Association of NSW for his distinguished service, professional and voluntary commitment to the NSW Band movement over many years. 

Finally, on the 26th January 2022, James was exceptionally grateful and immensely humbled to have been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to Music Education and Performance, an honour for which he is tremendously proud to have received. 

Bronwyn Cleworth 

Bronwyn is the Choral Education Director with the Sydney Children’s Choir and a conductor of the Training Choirs. She has presented workshops for Music in Me 2024, the NSW Orff Schulwerk Association and the Gondwana World Choral Festival in 2019.  

She teaches Primary Music at SCEGGS Darlinghurst with expertise in both Kodaly and Orff methodologies.  

As a longstanding member of the Sydney Chamber Choir, Bronwyn has performed in Sydney and Regional NSW, Melbourne and Adelaide as well as touring to Taiwan and Hong Kong. With the Sydney Chamber Choir, Bronwyn performed the finest choral music, including the championing of new Australian works. 

Collaboration is also a feature of her work at SCEGGS. Artists as diverse as Indigenous singer, dancer, composer and didgeridoo player Matthew Doyle, composers Paul Jarman and Alice Chance, and choreographer Kate Agnew have been engaged in the writing, composing, choreographing and overall development of original music theatre works for young people. 

Dr Francis Greep 

Francis Greep is Head of the Young Artists Program at Opera Australia, where he leads the company’s revitalised artist development program. A renowned vocal coach, recitalist, and music director, he has held key positions with West Australian Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and The Song Company. Internationally respected for his expertise in vocal preparation across classical styles, he brings deep knowledge of vocal technique, languages, repertoire, and performance psychology. Francis holds postgraduate degrees in collaborative piano and opera from the University of Cincinnati and a PhD from the University of Melbourne, where his research explores the vocal coach’s role in nurturing emerging singers. 

Prof Timothy Kantor 

Violinist Timothy Kantor enjoys performing around the globe at some of the world’s greatest concert halls and chamber music series. As a member of the Afiara Quartet in Toronto, Mr. Kantor has performed hundreds of concerts and helped to develop several innovative projects. One of the quartet’s projects, Spin Cycle with DJ Skratch Bastid, culminated with a Juno Award-nominated album and a solo performance with the Toronto Symphony. Mr. Kantor has performed chamber works with many of today’s leading musicians, including Joshua Bell, Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, Atar Arad, Mark Steinberg, the Dover Quartet, and the Pacifica Quartet. Mr. Kantor has been featured as an artist on American Public Media’s “Performance Today” and CBC Radio. 

A dedicated teacher and coach, Mr. Kantor was recently appointed Senior Lecturer of Violin at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Previously Mr. Kantor served as Associate Professor of Violin at the University of Arizona and was a founding professor of the Programa Gabriel del Orbe in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). 

Grace Kim  

Winston Churchill Fellow Grace Kim enjoys a multifaceted career as concert pianist, creative director, educator, and researcher. 

As a concerto soloist, Grace has performed with symphony orchestras of Australasia, Belgium, Russia, and Ukraine in some of the most prestigious venues. She has won numerous international and national prizes. 

Returning after living and working in the Netherlands for eight years, Grace is now based Sydney, where she is in demand as a performer, teacher, adjudicator, and mentor. 

Grace is an advocate for quality music education. She founded Sensory Concerts® to provide quality concerts for the neurodivergent community and families. Her recent research is published in The Arts in Psychotherapy journal. 

In addition to her private teaching and performing, Grace enjoys her multidisciplinary roles at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music; as an academic, and piano teacher in the Rising Stars Program fostering young talents. Grace is currently undertaking PhD research at The University of Sydney, where she is also a tutor for Psychology of Music, and lectures Psychology of Instruction and Learning. Grace has recently been appointed Postgraduate Fellow at the Conservatorium. 

Jo Karney 

With a career spanning over three decades in speech and drama education, Jo Karney has taught at Reddam House since its foundation in 2001. There, she conceived and developed Australia’s first compulsory, curriculum-based Public Speaking programme for Middle School students – an innovative initiative that remains central to the school’s educational philosophy. Prior to joining Reddam House, Jo ran a successful drama studio, Centrestage, for seven years, nurturing performance skills in students of all ages. A long-time supporter of the Sydney Eisteddfod, she has been entering students in the competition since 1987 and has adjudicated across various sections, including Speech and Drama and Public Speaking. She has also adjudicated for the Northern Beaches Eisteddfod and the Department of Education. Jo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cape Town and has completed the Final Examination in Speech Training. In addition to her work in schools, she works with people of all ages on interview preparation—helping candidates gain scholarships, secure places in university courses, and confidently pursue employment opportunities. Jo has also led communication workshops for schools and organisations, including We Are All Sydney, a professional development program designed to support community leaders and strengthen local networks across the city. She is passionate about empowering individuals to express themselves with clarity, confidence, and purpose. 

Sharolyn Kimmorley AM  

After studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sharolyn Kimmorley joined the Music Staff of The Australian Opera and has assisted in the preparation of a vast range of works with many distinguished singers and conductors. In 1985 she became Principal Répétiteur for The Australian Opera and in 1987 was appointed Head of Music Staff. From 1994 to 1999 she was the company’s Artistic Administrator, following which she was Opera Australia’s Director of Music Administration until June 2003. Sharolyn Kimmorley is regarded as one of Australia’s finest vocal coaches and accompanists. She has recorded for ABC Classics, taken part in chamber music concerts and accompanied some of the world’s most distinguished recitalists. In January 2009 Sharolyn became a member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her work as an accompanist and the nurturing and mentoring of emerging artists. Sharolyn is currently Artistic Manager and Artist Advisor to Melba Opera Trust and is a board member of Victorian Opera. 

Tony Lee 

Sydney born pianist and educator Tony Lee, has gained a reputation as one of Australia’s finest young pianists, who seeks to transmit the essence of music and his understanding of it, through his performances and teaching. Tony was an artist in residence at the Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth in Belgium and worked closely with the renowned Portuguese Swiss pianist, Maria-João Pires between 2014-2019.   

In 2023, served on the Piano Faculty at the Zhejiang Normal University and Emporia State University Undergraduate Joint Program. Since relocating to Sydney in late 2024, Tony holds the position of Artistic Advisor for the Rising Stars Program at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The University of Sydney. Tony also serves on the Advisory Council for the Music Teachers Association NSW, supporting the Association with his vision for the future of music education.  

Tony has performed across the Asia Pacific, Europe, the USA and has appeared as soloist with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Lanzhou Symphony Orchestra, Chengdu Philharmonic Orchestra, Guangxi Symphony Orchestra, Samara Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.   

Recent performance highlights include recitals at the Beijing Concert Hall, Shanghai Symphony Concert Hall, Canberra International Music Festival, Goethe Institute for the Friends of the Sydney International Piano Competition, Arts Bundanoon as well as appearances as soloist in the Yellow River Piano Concerto with the Queensland Symphony and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras, performing at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Town Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Adelaide Town Hall and the Llewellyn Hall of the Australian National University in Canberra.   

Dr Simon Lobelson 

Born in Sydney of Egyptian parents and brought up in Brussels, Dr. Simon Lobelson has enjoyed a distinguished career that has spanned 4 continents and 95 operatic roles from the baroque to the newly composed, high respect as a pedagogue and superlative press reviews, and has established himself as one of the most versatile baritones of his generation. Since graduating with first-class honours from Sydney University and the Royal College of Music with distinction, Simon has worked extensively as a soloist in Australia, the Middle East, Asia, the UK and Europe, with companies such as The Royal Opera House Covent Garden, English National Opera, Garsington Opera, Opera Australia, Opera Queensland, Pinchgut Opera, Sydney Chamber Opera, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Australian Haydn Ensemble, English Chamber Orchestra, Israel Camerata, ASKO-Schönberg Ensemble and the Lucerne Festival, under such conductors as Pierre Boulez, Simon Halsey, Charles Dutoit, Paul McCreesh, Reinbert De Leeuw and Richard Bonynge, and recorded for Chandos, Toccata and ABC Classics. Later this year he will record Mussorgsky’s Songs and Dances of Death, Wolfgang Rihm’s Vermischter Traum and George Crumb’s Songs, Drones and Refrains of Death for commercial CD release. Roles have included Amfortas, Escamillo, Rigoletto, Alberich, Nick Shadow, Marcello, Ford, Germont, Figaro, Michele and Don Alfonso. A champion of contemporary music, and creator of copious world premiere operatic roles, his performances in Metamorphosis for Opera Australia attracted outstanding press reviews and a Helpmann Award nomination.  

  

His research specialises in contemporary opera and its associated vocalism, and he was invited to present his research at the 10th International Congress of Vocal Teachers in Vienna, as well as for the Musicological Society of Australia. Simon is also a full-time lecturer in voice and opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, adjudicator for the 2024 and 2025 Australian Singing Competition and the Australian Concerto and Vocal Competition, has given numerous masterclasses in both Australia and China and is fluent in almost four European languages. He conducted the world premiere of The Lullaby in 2024 and conducts Orphée aux enfers this year for Con Opera at NIDA. As an educator he is known and respected for his erudite, urbane, wholistic, direct, decisive and critically constructive teaching style. 

Stuart Maunder AM 

Stuart Maunder has been directing musical theatre and opera in Australia for over 40 years.  

Raised on a wheat, sheep and cattle property near Boggabri, and educated at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School in Tamworth, Stuart joined The Australian Opera as Stage Manager in 1978, becoming a Resident Director in 1981.  

In 1992 he joined the Royal Opera House (UK) as a Staff Director while continuing to direct in Australia, UK, France and the USA. 

In 1999 he was appointed Artistic Administrator of Opera Australia, becoming Executive Producer in 2004. His Opera Australia productions included The Tales of Hoffmann, Manon, Gypsy Princess, Don Pasquale, A Little Night Music, Iolanthe, Romeo and Juliette, Lindy and My Fair Lady.  

From 2014 to 2018 Stuart Maunder was General Director of New Zealand Opera where he directed Candide, Tosca and The Mikado. 

In 2018, Stuart joined State Opera South Australia as Artistic Director, directing Carmen in the Square, Cunning Little Vixen, The Mikado, Carousel, Bohème on the Beach, Turn of the Screw, Macbeth and Voss. 

A specialist in the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, Stuart has directed ten of the G&S operas in Australia, United Kingdom and USA.  His OA productions of Trial by Jury, Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore have been televised nationally on ABC TV. In 2021 Stuart directed The Gondoliers for Scottish Opera and D’Oyly Carte Opera, subsequently broadcast on BBC TV. In May 2023 he helmed Australia’s first ever G&S Festival for State Opera South Australia. 

In October 2023, Stuart became Artistic Director of Victorian Opera. His past productions for VOinclude La Rondine, English Eccentrics, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music and The Cunning Little Vixen. His VO production of Sweeney Todd has been seen in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The production will travel to Dubai in February 2025. 

In 2012, Stuart was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) “for service to the performing arts, particularly with Opera Australia, as an artistic director, and as a mentor to emerging artists.”  

Tahlia Petrosian 

Violist Tahlia Petrosian enjoys a multi-faceted career as a soloist, chamber musician, director of KLASSIK underground, creative producer and member of the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig. One of the foremost innovators who is transforming classical music in the 21st century, Tahlia is much sought after as a consultant and creative producer for leading orchestras, arts organisations and artists for new concert formats and special projects in Europe, the US and Australia. 

As a soloist and chamber musician, Tahlia has performed in Wigmore Hall, the Sydney Opera House, the Semperoper Dresden, the Berliner Philharmonie, the Gewandhaus Leipzig, at Tanglewood Music Center, and directly on 5th Avenue in New York. Her chamber music partners have included Leif Ove Andsnes, Joshua Bell, Gautier Capuçon, Leonidas Kavakos and Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider.  

Having studied with Tabea Zimmermann and Wilfried Strehle in Berlin, Tahlia’s individual playing style has been has recognised with awards from the Australia Council, the Australian Music Foundation in London, the Paul Hindemith Gesellschaft in Berlin, the DAAD and the Dame Joan Sutherland Fund in New York. She has been a member of the Gewandhaus Orchestra since 2012 and also performs with the Australian World Orchestra. Tahlia has taught at the Guildhall School in London and at the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne. 

In 2016, Tahlia created KLASSIK underground, working with artists including Joshua Bell, Gautier Capuçon, Alan Gilbert, Leonidas Kavakos, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Andris Nelsons, Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Jörg Widmann to present classical music in an innovative format. In addition to these after shows with world-class soloists, KLASSIK underground presents original and modern shows where classical music interacts with other art forms including dance, street art, video installation and theatre.  

In 2019, Tahlia took on the role of Creative Producer at leading music agency HarrisonParrott in London, where she developed special projects for institutions including Tate Modern and the BBC, and was the producer for the highly successful “50 Years in a Day” concerts at Southbank Centre for the 50th anniversary of HarrisonParrott. Tahlia also directed the national music programs of the Norwegian arts organisation, “Talent Norge”, in 2019.  

Tahlia has been a guest speaker at the Karajan Conference Salzburg, the ARTS+ Conference Frankfurt, the Avant Première Music + Media Market Vienna and the national Deutscher Orchestertag in Berlin. At the 2022 Edinburgh International Culture Summit at the Scottish Parliament, Tahlia presented on “Culture and Education” together with Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education at the OECD. 

Dale Pope 

As the Founder and Head of REDed (Raw Energy Dance Education), Dale has dedicated 25 years to sharing her wealth of educational dance knowledge within primary and secondary school settings nationwide. 

During this time, Dale has designed and developed a broad range of curriculum-compliant dance programs, extracurricular syllabus-based programs, online teacher resources and supported building thriving dance communities within the school environment.  

Alongside creating exceptionally strong and relevant dance content for schools, Dale has also developed a comprehensive dance instructor training program that supports the professional development of dance teachers transitioning from studio environments into the educational setting to deliver dance, equipping them with a significantly expanded skill set. 

Dale has performed, choreographed and taught all over the globe with her work being seen on the international stage through the Australian Girls Choir International Tours, Australian School of Performing Arts, Bindi Irwin Kid Fitness Show and engagements with Serena Williams and Pharell Wiliams, as well as choreography for television and media. Her work has also reached international waters with her full length contemporary show, Twice Upon A Time, produced by Grayboy Entertainment for P&O Cruises. Dale has taught workshops internationally for Royal Academy of Dance and has been on the Sydney Dance Company Open Class teaching faculty since 2002. 

Prof Goetz Richter AM 

Goetz is currently Associate Professor at the University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music where he co-ordinates performance studies for violinists. Previous positions include a fifteen-year tenure as Associate Concertmaster with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (1987-2002) and early career positions as Associate Principal Violin II with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1986-87) and Concertmaster of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra (1985-1986). 

As a violinist Richter has appeared as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. He has given concerto performances with Australian Orchestras and has been a leader and guest leader of a number of Australian Orchestras. Chamber music collaborations include performances with Herrmann Baumann, Gerard Fauth, Bernhard Greenhouse and others. With pianist Jeanell Carrigan he has a long-standing duo partnership that has included recital performances throughout Australia and in Europe, appearance for Musica Viva and broadcasts for the ABC. As an orchestral musician, principal and leader Richter has worked with eminent conductors including Leonard Bernstein, Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, Neeme Jaervi, Yuri Temirkanov, Edo de Waart, David Zinman, Mariss Jansons, Vladimir Ashkenazy and many others. 

David Saffir 

David Saffir was appointed Director of Strings at Barker College in 2000, following ten years in the same position at Newington College. He works with students throughout the school as an instrumental teacher and ensemble director. He leads a vibrant team of thirteen string teachers. Consequently, string playing throughout the school has developed strongly, with over two hundred students playing in its many string orchestras. David’s ensembles have toured successfully internationally and interstate, and have won numerous events at the Sydney Eisteddfod. There is also a thriving chamber music program.  

David continues to perform professionally as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader. For many years he was concertmaster of the Balmain Sinfonia and then from 2005 – 2015 he was Concertmaster of the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Concertmaster Emeritus until 2019.  He has also conducted both of those orchestras, as well as Wollongong’s Steel City Strings, and is demand as an orchestral tutor and clinician. 

Sarah Jane Starr  

A classically trained ballet dancer in a former life, Sarah Jane (SJ) Starr is a graduate of NIDA (2013) and a passionate, versatile performer working across theatre, screen, and education. 

She currently teaches Acting and Speech & Drama at Wenona School as a Speech & Drama Peripatetic delivering the Trinity College London syllabus and nurturing young performers with energy and insight. In addition to her work at Wenona, SJ has been a long-standing tutor with the NIDA Open Program for over 13 years, sharing her deep industry knowledge with aspiring performers of all ages. 

SJ maintains a vibrant career as a professional actor. 

Her theatre credits span across some of Australia’s most respected independent stages, including; Old Fitz, Kings Cross Theatre (KXT), Sport For Jove, CDP Productions as well as touring the country with the World Premier of John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers Live and performing in Tokyo, Japan with the Rinkogun Theatre Co. 

On screen, SJ has appeared in numerous film and TV productions. Her voiceover work adds yet another dimension to her creative portfolio in a wide range of national campaigns for brands including MG, Domain, Gaviscon, Hitachi, and Cetaphil.  

SJ continues to bring intelligence, curiosity, and creative discipline to every role she takes on. A multi-talented performer, she also plays the viola and remains committed to fostering excellence in both performance and education. 

Christian Tàtchev 

Christian Tàtchev, Director of Queensland Ballet Academy, the official training organisation of Queensland Ballet. 

Christian began his professional career at 16, while receiving his training at the National School of Choreography in Sofia. An award-winning performance at the Anastas Petrov ballet competition propelled him to the rank of Principal Artist by age 21. 

He launched his career with the National Opera and Ballet Sofia, and subsequently toured extensively, undertaking various international engagements as a Principal Artist and Repetiteur. In 2008, he relocated to Australia to join the Queensland Ballet Company as a Principal Dancer. His repertoire includes leading roles across all major classical ballets, as well as numerous works by celebrated choreographers of modern times. 

In 2011, Christian retired from the stage, transitioning into the role of Queensland Ballet’s Ballet Master, where he nurtured a passion for teaching that had grown alongside his performance career. Following studies in dance teaching and business management, and a global study tour awarded by the Ian Potter Foundation, he was appointed Director of Training in 2013. In this pivotal role, he was instrumental in developing Queensland Ballet’s new training programs and the establishment of a new professional ballet Academy. 

Today, Christian continues to perform with Queensland Ballet as a Character Artist. His extensive expertise also makes him highly sought after as a national and international teacher and adjudicator. 

Catherine Walmsley  

After learning piano from age seven, Catherine Walmsley was taught to play brass by her father, Peter Walmsley OAM. She completed her Bachelor of Music majoring in Trumpet Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium with Daniel Mendelow and was awarded a Big Brother Scholarship to study with James Watson, Professor of Trumpet at the Royal College of Music in London. Catherine is a Fellow of the Trinity College of Music London. She has performed with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Catherine is Leader of Instrumental Music at Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College. Under her direction, the Wind Ensemble has won the Sydney Eisteddfod, Diamond and Gold Awards at the Yamaha Festival, and the State Band Championships on eight occasions. Ms Walmsley also conducts the school’s Symphony Orchestra, Concert Bands, and Stage Bands. She has taken students to California and Japan for music tours. Last year 75 students performed in Paris, London, Liverpool, and Dublin on the most recent Music Tour. Catherine has been the Musical Director of productions at St Leo’s College and most recently Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College Productions of Mulan Jr, Matilda Jr, Frozen Jr., Wicked and the Sound of Music. She has directed and arranged the music for 3 Musical Theatre Showcases at Monte, most recently “Monte’s Movie Musical”. She also directs the Music Theatre Club weekly. Catherine also teaches in her private studio and has been an AMEB examiner for over 25 years. Catherine was recognised by the AMEB with a Certificate of Distinction for the top 5 Brass examination result in NSW in 2024. 

Olivia Weeks 

Olivia Weeks is a communications and marketing professional with a lifelong connection to the arts, but particularly dance. Born in Newcastle, NSW, Olivia’s early passions for performance saw her take to the stage in both dance and speech & drama sections of the Sydney Eisteddfod, having grown up training under some of the region’s most respected teachers. These formative experiences would prove to be the foundation for a career spent championing creative expression and nurturing opportunities for young artists. 

For more than a decade, Olivia has worked across the arts and education sectors in roles spanning marketing, communications, event management, and arts administration. She has held positions with the Royal Academy of Dance and Sydney Eisteddfod and remains actively involved in dance education through her work with studios in both metropolitan and regional New South Wales. She has travelled internationally to accompany students and report on leading global dance competitions. 

Olivia is currently the Editor of Dance Australia, where she continues to amplify the voices of Australia’s dance community and share the stories of emerging and established artists.  

Sydney Eisteddfod Home

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which our work and events take place. We celebrate and applaud the long, rich history of storytelling in song, dance, and voice. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We contribute to this continuity – developing and sharing our combined cultural journey through our activities on these lands where sovereignty was never ceded.