Murray Jackson
Band Director
Murray Jackson commenced in his role as Clovelly’s Band Director in 2014. He was previously the band conductor at Randwick Public School, and also heads the band programs at Rose Bay Secondary College and Tempe Public School.
Murray is a saxophonist who has a Graduate Diploma in Jazz Performance from ANU. He also studied composition and arranging at the NSW Conservatorium of Music. He is a regular performer with many of Australia’s best jazz performers at venues throughout NSW.
Murray has had a keen interest in band education for the past decade and continues to seek opportunities to broaden his experience and knowledge in this fascinating area.
Andy Bickers
Tutor – Saxophone
Qualifications: Diploma in Jazz studies
After completing his Diploma in Jazz studies at the Wellington Conservatory in New Zealand in 1990, Andy moved to Australia and took a job as the saxophone player on the iconic Fairstar sailing out of Sydney. After two years playing seven nights a week and sailing the Pacific islands, Sydney proved too much of a temptation and he settled here in 1994.
For the last 28 years, Andy has enjoyed his playing career, particularly with figures in the rock world. Amongst many names, my personal highlights have included recording and touring with Midnight Oil, silverchair, Don Henley, Birds of Tokyo, Powderfinger, The Eagles, Diesel, Hoodoo Gurus, Richard Clapton, Ian Moss, Boy and Bear, You am I, Jimmy Barnes, The Presets, and Pete Murray. For the last 18 years, he’s been the touring saxophone soloist for Australian rock band Cold Chisel.
As a tutor, he’s held a position at St. Ignatius Riverview from 1996- 2000 until the touring work became a priority and returned to it in 2010 when he started at St. George Christian, a position he still holds as well a tutoring position at Inaburra School.
He loves teaching and is an enthusiastic, dedicated and reliable tutor. He’s also experienced in taking students through all AMEB levels and through to the HSC examination.
Cameron Barnett
Tutor – Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute
Qualifications: Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Cameron Barnett is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music who has worked extensively as a woodwind tutor, conductor and performer for over 15 years. Cameron tutors and conducts at Sydney Secondary College where he was also the music program administrator for many years.
Cameron previously managed operations for the Northern Beaches Orchestra, where he was also Principal Clarinet for over five years, performing with many of Australia’s biggest classical, jazz and pop performers. Cameron has played clarinet, saxophone and flute with many of Sydney’s musical theatre societies, and regularly performs in many bands and orchestras.
He has had many students complete AMEB exams, successfully audition for The Arts Unit and music scholarships, and gain entry into tertiary music institutions such as the Sydney Conservatorium.
Charles Casson
Tutor – Brass
Qualifications: Bachelor of Music Performance (Jazz Trumpet)
Charles Casson is a Sydney Trumpeter performing freelance across many ensembles in Jazz, Classical, Wind Band, Rock and Improvised/Experimental music. Charles first began playing the Trumpet at age 7, beginning on the classical repertoire before studying Jazz and pursuing his studies into a BMus majoring in Jazz Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Charles has worked with some of Australia’s finest musicians in a diverse range of musical settings, and has performed in some of Australia’s top musical venues and festivals. Charles currently teaches at a number of Primary and High schools throughout the Eastern Suburbs, Inner City and Inner West, along with a busy private studio. He also conducts Jazz based ensembles for a number of local schools.
Cindy Sims
Tutor – French Horn
Bachelor of Music Performance with Honours at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music
CINDY SIMS was born in Chinchilla, Qld, and began her musical education on piano at the age of 10 and trumpet at the age of 11. She moved onto French Horn at the age of 15 before completing her Bachelor of Music Performance with Honours at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 2001.During her time in Brisbane, Cindy was Principal Horn of the Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra & played as a member of the Australian Youth Orchestra. She completed her apprenticeship with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in 2000, and then joined the Royal Australian Navy Band from 2003-2008 playing French Horn in Australia and Internationally. Since leaving the Navy, Cindy has been working as a freelance French Horn player and teacher in Sydney. Cindy plays with Mosman Symphony Orchestra, Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra, the NSW Doctors Orchestra, and performs in shows including The Phantom of the Opera.
Cindy teaches Horn, Trumpet, Baritone and Trombone at Clovelly Public School and a number of other schools in the Eastern suburbs along with a thriving private studio.
Danny Carmichael
Tutor – Brass
Danny has been a brass tutor for 20 years, teaching at all levels from beginners to HSC and also at a tertiary level. He has an AmusA diploma in both trumpet and trombone and is currently completing a masters of music at Sydney Uni. He believes in teaching through instilling passion and enthusiasm for music.
Holly Conner
Tutor – Drums & Percussion
Bachelor of Music Performance (Honours), Jazz Drum Kit – Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Holly Conner is a versatile Sydney drummer and percussionist, performing in bands, and as a freelance artist in the electronic music, pop and indie-rock, experimental and jazz music scenes.Coming from a diverse musical background, she first studied rock drumming and classical percussion, before completing a BA in Jazz Drum kit from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has also completed summer courses at the School of Improvised Music Brooklyn, and two Australian Art Orchestra Creative Music Intensives.
As a freelance drummer, Holly has toured nationally and internationally with artists such as Holly Throsby, Microfiche, Lupa J, Marcus Whale and Human Noise. Festival appearances include performances at VIVID Sydney, Sydney Festival, Liveworks, Underbelly Arts, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Aberdeen International Youth Festival, Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival and Manly Jazz Festival.
She has also played at venues such as N1Reaktorhallen in Stockholm, Km28 in Berlin, The Sydney Opera House Forecourt, MONA in Tasmania, and The Art Gallery of NSW. Her drumming is featured on several indie film and television soundtracks including the BBC/HBO TV series Top of The Lake: China Girl and the award-winning surf film Beyond the Noise.
In 2019 Holly was a finalist for the Jaan Rutherford Memorial Award, recognising excellence in Australian female jazz instrumentalists.Holly has been teaching private students in the inner west since 2009. She was previously the Resident Percussion Tutor and Percussion Ensemble Director at James Ruse Agricultural High school (2016-2018). For part of 2018, Holly filled in as Resident Percussion Tutor; plus Senior and Junior Percussion Ensemble Director for Fort St High School. The Fort St. Senior Percussion Ensemble was awarded a highly commended for their performance at the annual Sydney Eisteddfod during this time.Holly currently teaches students at Clovelly Public, and in the inner west.
Owen Torr
Tutor – Clarinet
OWEN TORR has been teaching clarinet for over thirty years, starting as a school student he tutored in the band program. He later took up the harp and is a regular performer with The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. He studied at the Sydney Conservatorium and later at the Salzedo Harp School in the USA, with Alice Chalifoux, Principal Harpist of The Cleveland Orchestra.
He has played guest principal harpist with the Singapore, Tasmanian, Melbourne, and West Australian Symphony orchestras, and made guest appearances with The Australian Chamber Orchestra. Owen has played with international musicians such as Ashkenazy, Yo Yo Ma, Dutoit, Kiri Te Kanawa, and Simmone Young. He has also played on numerous film scores including “Happy Feet” and “Australia”.
Pierre Scala
Tutor – Trumpet
Pierre began playing the trumpet by joining his school band under the direction of Cliff Goodchild, the tuba player of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the time. He has not put the instrument down since, going on to attain both a Bachelor Of Music Education degree and an Associate Diploma in Jazz Studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Pierre has extensive experience as a Band Director and Trumpet Tutor having taught in a number of schools for many years. He has also professionally performed in a wide variety of musical settings including Jazz ensembles, Musicals, Brass Bands, Salsa Bands and Solo Trumpet/Organ performances. Pierre has a passionate commitment towards assisting students to strive for excellence through the implementation of effective learning strategies and values.
Visnja Kosanovic
Tutor – Flute
VISNJA KOSANOVIC received her Bachelor and Master degrees in flute performance at the Academy of Art in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Playing as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician – both flute and piccolo – she performed extensively in the Serbian National Opera and Ballet, M Ex Media, Ambiental Orchestra and New Art Forum chamber ensemble. Visnja also made many recordings for Serbian Radio and Television and has performed in master classes throughout Europe.
In 1999 Visnja moved to the USA and actively performed in the Washington area with groups such as the National Gallery Orchestra, Washington Bach Consort, Southwest Chamber Players and Levine Woodwind Quintet. At the same time, she was teaching at Levine School of Music and International School of Music.
Since moving to Sydney Visnja has joined RHH Symphony Orchestra and continues her work as a freelance musician and flute teacher. Recently she was acknowledged as teacher of the year 2013 at Ebenezer Mission Music School in Burwood for the excellent results that her students achieved.
Vladimir (Vlad) Cvetkovic
Tutor – Flute/Piccolo
B.Mus. University of Belgrade (1993)Grad. Dip. In Music (Performance) Sydney Conservatorium of Music (1997)
I have 27 years teaching experience of primary, secondary and tertiary students overseas and in Australia. Currently, I teach flute at Sydney Grammar School, Caringbah High School, Clovelly P.S., Summer Hill P. S. and Balgowlah Heights P. S. I have also taught flute at Newington College, Sydney Girls High School and Sydney Boys High School before I went overseas in 2004 to take a full time position at “Vojislav Vuckovic” High Music School in Belgrade (Serbia) as a teacher of flute, chamber music and orchestral excerpts for one year. Upon my return in 2005. I rejoined Sydney Grammar School where I’ve been teaching since 1998.
Currently, I’m in charge of two flute ensembles- Sydney Grammar School and Caringbah High School who regularly perform and have won prizes at Sydney Eisteddfod Competitions. I have been continuously preparing students for AMEB Examinations in the past 19 years. For the last few years, I have been tutoring regularly group of flute and woodwind students from Moriah College, Caringbah High School, Balgowlah Heights Public School and Middle Harbour Public School at their band camps and workshops.
As a professional musician, I have performed with Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Serbian Radio and TV Orchestra, National Opera and Ballet Orchestra in Belgrade as well as Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia Choir and Orchestra and Sydney Concert Orchestra.As a student, I have been awarded with The City of Belgrade Award in 1987 for outstanding performing results. Moreover, I have won numerous 1st prizes in National and State Competitions in former Yugoslavia and have performed as a soloist in Bulgaria, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark.