Amanda brings great depth of experience in music and musical conducting to WCSM. Currently a teacher and dean at a local high school, she has taught and also directed choirs and musical productions at several other area schools. Amanda was Musical Director of the Waikato Schools Symphonic Band for a decade, and is a performer herself, singing, and playing Flute in bands and orchestras.

Andrew was resident conductor of the Waikato Symphony Orchestra (1979–85) and founded the Opus Orchestra (Opus Chamber Ensemble) in 1991. He is a Life Member of both organisations. As Musical Director of Opera Waikato he conducted Jeannie Deans and Mozart’s The Magic Flute. As Director of Music for Vision College, Andrew wrote all the papers for a BMus degree, audited by Otago University, approved and accredited by the NZQA.

He is currently a council member of The Institute of Registered Music Teachers NZ, and a board member of The New Zealand Music Examinations Board. He has a very long association with both Trinity College London and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Andrew is frequently invited to adjudicate for musical events. He has a MMus (Composition) and an MA (Music) from The University of Waikato. Composing is becoming more important, the challenge is to have something to say.

Ann has worked in WCSM administration since 2013.

Originally from the USA, Ann’s background is in market research and marketing. She worked in both areas in the USA, UK and New Zealand for companies including Procter & Gamble, Grand Metropolitan, Digipol and Versus Research. Ann emigrated to New Zealand in 1995. She belongs to several choirs and plays the piano poorly, but with feeling.

Ann holds a B.A. in Psychology from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati.

Recently arrived from Northern Ireland, Ann Speed was employed for 27 years as an Upper Strings Tutor by the Music Service of the Southern Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland. This role also included assistant conductor of the South Ulster Youth Orchestra and more recently musical director of the South Ulster String Orchestra. Alongside her teaching career, Ann remained an active performer in semi-professional orchestras and ensembles throughout Ireland.

Bella has been a Violin student at WCSM for a number of years. She is currently Concert Master of our Sinfonia Orchestra and has been First Violin for the Waikato Youth Orchestra for three years. She is currently studying towards a Bachelor’s degree in Business at the University of Waikato.

A highly-accomplished Violinist with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra, Brinstan is the most recent addition to our Violin tutor team. He has been teaching Violin for over six years, and has particular experience in preparing students for music examinations.

Caleb has been studying Guitar for ten years and is currently completing a music degree at Vision College. He is proficient in fingerstyle guitar, including both percussive and tapping methodology, and has played in a variety of bands and ensembles.

Following her completion of a degree in Music with Honours, Catrin achieved a postgraduate diploma in Performance Flute. She has taught Flute in Hamilton-area primary and intermediate schools for a number of years, and participated in Starjam in 2019.

Craig began his musical study at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. During the next seventeen years he played with some of Australia’s major orchestras including the State Orchestra of Victoria, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Australian Philharmonic, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. His further studies included lessons with members of the BBC Symphony, Budapest Symphony and Oslo Philharmonic Orchestras. Craig is currently in his final year of a Doctor of Musical Arts at Waikato University.

Craig has had a varied career not only in orchestras but several professional wind bands, including the Royal New Zealand Navy Band, and many chamber ensembles in Australia, Malaysia and Israel, where he taught at the Edward Said National Conservatorium of Music in Jerusalem. On his return to New Zealand, Craig has been a member of Opus Orchestra and Bach Musica New Zealand, he is co-founder of Eklekktika Chamber Ensemble, Vent Wind Quintet and the Whēkau Trio and has been a soloist with several local orchestras.

Danny has extensive experience as a Brass, Wind, and Bass Guitar player and teacher, a band leader, and a Ukulele player/teacher. He first played with the Waikato Symphony Orchestra in 1968, after a time playing in the 3rd Battalion, Auckland Regimental (Territorial Army) band as 1st Trumpet and currently plays trombone with the Hamilton Big Band. He has been an in-school music teacher and served as guest player and mentor with the United Youth Orchestra. Danny established the current Ukulele program at WCSM and incorporated Ukulele into the Concert Band.

Euan Safey has studied clarinet at WCSM and played in the sinfonia since 2014 and is currently understudying the Sinfonia conductor role. He has established himself in the Waikato music community, playing the piano/keyboard, clarinet and oboe in Waikato based orchestras such as Opus Orchestra, Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra, Youth Orchestra Waikato and the University of Waikato Orchestra, and teaching private piano lessons. Euan is studying towards a Bachelor of Music Majoring in Performance Piano at Waikato University under Katherine Austin, and has been workshopping his conducting skills with Rupert D’cruze and Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra for the past 3 years.

Ian has played both plectrum and classical guitar for many years. He completed Trinity College Grade 8 with Distinction and holds a Trinity Level 4 Diploma in Music Performance. Ian has given solo recitals on the classical guitar, played in many rock bands, and has tutored Guitar privately for a number of years.

Jake has been a drummer for 8 years. His ‘Albert St’ band was formed four years ago. The band reached regional finals in the Smokefree Rockquest in both 2018 and 2019, and were regional winners in 2020, enabling them to perform in the National final. He often helps out at events such as Bandslam.

Jasmine has joined the WCSM tutor/assistant team after studying violin at the school for several years, and participating in our informal concerts and other out-of-house performances. Jasmine also completed Girl Guiding and worked as a Salvation Army volunteer, but always pursued her love of music by playing violin, bassoon and piano.

Jean has taught Violin both privately and in schools for over 30 years. She is involved with tutoring the students in the WCSM String Orchestra, and plays with the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra.

Joseph is currently studying towards a degree in Music at the University of Waikato. An experienced youth leader, he has several years’ experience teaching and leading music in a number of different environments. Joseph plays and can teach keyboard, bass and acoustic guitar, and has a particular interest in music theory.

Joyce has taught Electronic Keyboard and piano in Hamilton, both privately and in group format, for a number of years. She is experienced in the music syllabus of Trinity College of Music, London, and has a highly successful record of preparing keyboard and piano students for the College’s examinations. 

Many of her students have achieved quite high exam results. Joyce encourages her students to have a strong work ethic, which will serve them well in all walks of life.

Kartika joined WCSM following a number of years of teaching and performance in Indonesia. She spent three years with the Surabaya Symphony Orchestra and currently plays Violin with the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra. Kartika taught in a number of music schools in Indonesia, and she is currently working towards a Commercial Music degree at Wintec’s School of Media Arts.

Natalie is a multi-talented 16-year-old. She plays the Violin, Recorder and various Percussion instruments, and has performed several times with the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra. Natalie began work for WCSM as an assistant in our Music Makers Programme and has progressed to mentoring other students in the Orchestra, as well as tutoring Recorder.

Nita achieved both DipABRSM Teaching and Performance in Piano. She holds a BA in Music and is a KinderMusik Educator. She is a certified piano teacher of YAMAHA Music School. Nita has international experience in teaching music. Her experience includes being a Little Mozart piano group teacher, and she has been involved in a Mainly Music group in Hamilton.

In addition to having been a Classical Guitar tutor and team leader at WCSM for several years, Shirley also has a background in administration and customer service with both government and academic institutions. Her work with Riding for the Disabled included marketing and volunteer vetting/organisation.

Teno has been studying Guitar since the age of seven, and is currently working towards the Grade 6 Trinity College Classical Guitar performance exam. She has won a number of awards at area performing arts competitions, and regularly performs as a part of Guitar and Recorder duos.

The Dux of her high school this year, Torres was also a school ambassador and served on the Student Council as music co-ordinator. She plays violin, flute, saxophone and clarinet, and has worked with young children as a church group volunteer.

A former composition student at the University of Waikato, he’s passionate about woodwind instruments of all shapes, sizes, and styles. He served as Section Leader with the Waikato Youth Symphonic Band for a number of years, as well as performing with the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra and various local theatre productions. His current overcommitments include a barbershop quartet, the Hamilton Big Band, and the Hamilton City Pops Orchestra. Outside of music, he is a former chef, current coder, and chronic photographer of his two pet cockatiels.

Yoo Jung (YJ) started learning the cello when she was seven and has gone onto compete in various competitions in her native Korea with some success.

In New Zealand she has studied music at Auckland University and is now studying at the University of Waikato.

She has 12 years experience at teaching students privately and in group classes including putting students through graded exams.

Yoo Jung performs with the Waikato’s professional Opus Orchestra.