At SVAC we are proud to have a highly qualified professional teaching staff. All of our instructors are professional working musicians and performers with vast teaching experience.

Our staff at SVAC show a high level of professionalism, expertise, approachability and friendliness with all students. With our teachers the joy of teaching, enthusiasm and positivity towards students, from beginners to professionals is apparent!

Margi Coen, Vocal Instructor & Director Sydney Vocal Arts Centre
Margi Coen received a Bachelor of Music (vocal performance) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, graduating in 1993. During her degree she toured South – East Asia as a soloist with the Conservatorium Chorale and was twice a soloist with the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra.

Margi is an experienced recitalist and concert performer – she has recorded two solo recitals for ABC – Classic FM and three for 2MBS – FM and has performed in oratorio for the Sydney University Graduate Choir, the Waverley Philharmonic and the Sutherland Choral Society.

Margi has been the recipient of numerous prizes in the McDonald’s Performing Arts Challenge, including first place on two occasions in the French Art Song section.

Margi has sung in recital all over Australia and in Prague at the church of the Stonewall Concert Series. Margi has sung operatic roles for Pacific Opera, the Newcastle Conservatorium (guest artist) and for the State Opera of the Slovak Republic, in 1998. Margi has sung on numerous ocassion as a chorister with Opera Australia and in 2000 was a member of the group Voice Works.

Margi is currently the director of the Sydney Vocal Arts Centre in Manly, where she teaches numerous group classes and private students in styles ranging from opera through to jazz, music theatre and contemporary rock.

Margi is one quarter of the popular vocal quartet the Voicesquad. The group has performed at Sydney’s Angel Place Recital Hall, The Basement, Opera in the Highlands (for Opera Australia) and regularly perform at corporate and private functions around the country. Top

Verity Snook, Vocal Instructor
Verity Snook is rapidly making a name for herself as one of Sydney’s finest soprano voices. Her pure, warm and surprisingly powerful sound has earned her regular opera, concert and oratorio appearances. Equally at home on the concert platform or opera stage, Verity made her debut with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915.

Verity holds a B. Mus (Performance) from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and a B. Teach from the University of Sydney. Top

Katie Gerber, Vocal Instructor and Choral Director
Katie completed her Undergraduate Studies at Indiana University in 2000, majoring in Voice and Music Education. Following this, Katie has free-lanced as a Choral Director and Singing Teacher at several colleges in Sydney. In 2002, Katie directed the Stella Maris Touring Choir, on tour in Europe, where the choir received the Performer’s Award at the International Music and Youth Festival in Vienna, Austria.

In addition to her teaching, Katie enjoys a professional career in classical singing, frequenting Oratorio performances with the Manly-Warringah Choir. Katie sang the role of “Antonia” in the Tales of Hoffmann with the Sydney University Madrigal Society in 2003, and the role of “Sandman” in Hansel and Gretel, with Pacific Opera Company, in 2004. At the Vocal Arts Centre, Katie currently directs the Company of Singers, and the Manly Children’s Choir, and she enjoys a sizeable studio of private singing students of all ages. Top

Nadia Fried, Piano/ Keyboard Instructor
Nadia Fried completed a Bachelor of Music, Honours degree at Queensland University, where she was also a recipient of the Margaret Nickson Prize for vocal accompaniment.

Since graduating in 1993, Nadia has performed at festivals, worked as a resident pianist in five star hotels, and as a piano tutor in private schools and music studios. She has accompanied professional opera singers, music theatre productions, jazz singers and cabaret artists.

More recently, as a member of ‘The Libertango Trio’, Nadia has recorded live at The Basement and been selected for Musica Viva’s CountryWide touring program.

In 2003, Nadia completed training in the Feldenkrais Method. She is currently completing a Master of Teaching degree at Sydney University. Top

Nick Rose, Guitar Instruction
Nick Rose has been involved in the music scene for the last 20 years. He started playing piano at the age of four and guitar at the age of ten.

Nick has completed an Advanced Diploma in Sound Engineering for which he received a High Distinction He began to do professional gigs as a guitarist at the age of fourteen and has done hundreds of gigs at restaurants, clubs, parties and weddings as a jazz/contemporary guitarist. Nick has completed an Advanced Diploma in Sound Engineering for which he received a High Distinction.

Since beginning to teach eleven years ago, Nick’s passion for music has increased as he has seen others interest in learning and love for music grow. Top

Gemma Tamock, Drama and Movement Instructor
Gemma is a NIDA directing graduate and has directed King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Marriage of Figaro, The Pirates of Penzance and A Dinner Engagement and her own works, Rio Rhythms, Anansi’s Web, A Magic Tale and Medicine.

Gemma has directed for the Sydney Opera House’s Babies Proms and the Studio, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, A Midsummer Opera and was Production Judge for the Sydney Rock Eisteddfod. She has taught for NIDA’s Open Program and McDonald College for the Performing Arts. Top