Alex has been playing music for 12+ years. He’s an accomplished Brass and Drumkit player. Alex is a member of both the Hamilton City Brass Band and Hamilton Auxiliary Brass Band, and has played with the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra. In his spare time, Alex enjoys art and cars, as well as working with mobility assistance dogs.

A recipient of Berkley Middle School’s Special Music Award for two years running, Alya has diverse musical aptitude, and plays Descant and Treble Recorders, Percussion, Violin, Guitar, Flute and Saxophone. She has begun to learn to teach music, and is on track to fulfil her dream of being a professional musician.

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.

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.

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.

Damon has a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Performing Arts from Wintec. He has taught in the Ministry of Education’s after-hours itinerant music program for several years. Damon’s particular interest is in the technical aspects of modern music, and he interned as a sound technician for the Meteor Theatre.

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.

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.

A jazz fan, Jeff has taught music privately, and specializes in Clarinet and Saxophone. He has held the positions of first Tenor Sax as well as first Clarinet with the Hamilton Boys’ High School Jazz Band, Waikato Secondary Schools’ Big Band and orchestra respectively. Jeff also has a special interest in music production.

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.

Recently returned from overseas, Laura has a degree in early childhood education and has worked for several years as an ECE teacher. She excelled in music in high school, plays guitar, and has a particular interest in singing.

Marjorie has experience in music education, administration, performance, and music study. She trained as a secondary school music teacher, has taught privately as well as in primary and secondary schools, Universities, several community schools, and in private music institutes, and has a PhD in Musicology training.

Matt has played for Youth Orchestra Waikato, the Waikato Schools’ Symphonic Band and Hamilton Boys’ High School Jazz Band. He is proficient in Recorder, Clarinet and both Tenor and Alto Sax, and has played with the Civic Choir and Cantando. Matt is also a singer, having been a member of the Tron Songsters since 2017.

Phoebe has played the piano since she was 7 years old, later adding Guitar to her musical abilities. She has worked as a volunteer with young children at her church, and has taken advantage of school-based opportunities to pursue public speaking, journalism and sports. Her efficiency and attention to detail make her a welcome addition to the WCSM Administration team.

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.

Te Rina returns to WCSM after a period of overseas travel and work. She has taught violin for over 15 years, and particularly enjoys working with the youngest beginners. Besides teaching (and playing) music, Te Rina has pursued graphic design, and has worked freelance in this field. She is currently studying to become a primary school teacher.

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.

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.