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Simon Kenway is an established and highly respected orchestral and operatic conductor and vocal coach.

He has held posts as Principal Chorus Master of Opera Australia, Musical Director for Opera in the Vineyards, Opera by George and Opera Under The Stars in Broome, and Artistic Director of Pacific Opera. Simon is currently Conductor, Chief Vocal Coach and Musical Director of the Sydney Conservatorium’s Opera School and new undergraduate music theatre course.

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David Silva has a distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer.
He was a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchester from 2018 to 2020 and has since appeared
with ensembles including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia Orchestra, Queensland
Symphony Orchestra, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, Staatskapelle
Dresden, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and Musikkollegium Winterthur. David earned his undergraduate degree at the Lisbon Superior School of Music, and went on to Koninklijk
Conservatorium Brussel and the Haute École de Musique de Genève, where he earned Master’s degrees in Music and Musical Interpretation.

David has enjoyed a diverse performing career as an orchestral and choral conductor, a chamber musician, a vocal and instrumental accompanist, and soloist. He taught music at Sydney University and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music prior to accepting a position at The University of Wollongong in 1982 from which he retired in 2012 as Associate Professor. He formerly taught piano at Wollongong Conservatorium, as well as conducting the BHP (now Bluescope) Youth Orchestra. David has performed with some of Australia’s leading artists over many years, and has broadcast and recorded chamber music for the ABC. He remains active as teacher, accompanist and ensemble player, and continues to mentor young students, a number of whom have gone on to achieve professional careers in Australia and overseas.

Ishbel has taught Speech & Drama in schools and her private studio for many years. Her students have successfully completed all grades up to and including Teachers Diploma. She has extensive experience as an adjudicator across NSW and is an examiner for the IMEB.

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Janet has sung in choirs and opera choruses both in Australia and in Europe. Her career as teacher of French and German has led to numerous overseas opportunities, and while living in other countries, she has sung in a variety of choirs. She thinks that singing in a choir is the best way to make friends, learn a new language and become familiar with a culture. It also teaches vocal and concentration skills, as well as, most importantly, engenders a love of music. Janet currently conducts the Dutch Australian Choir and sings in the Illawarra Choral Society.

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Details soon

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