Teachers

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
Peter Godbolt, Saxophone and Clarinet Instruction
Gemma Tamock, Drama and Movement Instructor
Catherine Robinson, Vocal Instructor
Sarah Hylton, Flute and Keyboard Instructor
Melanie Pells, Vocal Instructor
Tony Padina, Guitar Instructor
Kate Rose, Piano Instructor
Jeff Stanley, Guitar Instructor

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

Peter Godbolt

Saxophone and Clarinet Instruction

Peter Godbolt is a Saxophonist, Clarinettist, Composer, and Music Workshop Leader, although not necessarily in that order. After studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, Peter led outreach programmes for many internationally renowned ensembles such as the London Philharmonia, as well as continuing to perform at the highest level. Moving to Australia in 2003, Peter now works for the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, teaching Improvisation and Group Composition, as well as tutoring private pupils at the Vocal Arts Centre.  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

Catherine Robinson

Vocal Instructor

Catherine received a Bachelor of Music from the Conservatorium of Music, Sydney in 2002, specialising in music education and classical voice. She has worked as a vocal performer of classical, jazz and pop/ rock music at events and concerts around Sydney with highlights including Faure’s Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Australia Day celebrations at Darling Harbour. She has worked as a classroom music teacher and ensemble leader at schools including Kincoppal Rose Bay, School of the Sacred Heart and Fort Street High School.

In 2005 Catherine completed postgraduate studies in audio production and sound aesthetics at University of Technology, Sydney. Catherine has worked professionally with a number of artists (composers, performers and producers) as composer/ arranger, producer and multi instrumental (voice, guitar, keyboard, violin & glockenspiel) session performer for works ranging from for interviews, advertising jingles, radio and live performance across a range of genres.

2008 saw Catherine composing & performing for the theatrical productions of "Airsick" (Brave New Theatre Company) and Brand Spanking New – Festival of New Australian Works (New Theatre, Newtown). She is currently season composer for Brand Spanking New 2009.

She fronts Sydney rock band Tether and is currently working on completing their first album. Playing regularly at music festivals and well known venues across Sydney, Tether have had national airplay on VideoHits, numerous radio interviews (including co-hosting the Departure Lounge on 2ser) and are releasing their debut album.  Top

Sarah Hylton

Flute and Keyboard Instructor

Sarah Hylton studied the flute at the University of Leicester, U.K. and went on to study the CTABRSM (Certificate of Teaching Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) specialising in the piano.

In the UK Sarah played in a well-established folk group to perform for official celebrations, private bookings and local barn dances. In Bahrain, Sarah also performed in a folk group and performed in local venues. Sarah currently performs the flute and tin whistle in a band that plays Indian-based music and has recorded two CDs.

Sarah loves to help others find the pleasure in playing music and has developed her skills of being a teacher since the age of sixteen when she began teaching the piano. Sarah has taught the flute and piano in the UK, China, Japan, Bahrain and Australia. Sarah is also a registered music therapist and currently works in private practice working with children with special needs.  Top

Melanie Pells

Vocal Instructor

Melanie Pells is a professional vocalist with over 20 years experience working in pubs, clubs, corporate events, functions, schools, churches and music festivals. She has performed and recorded both as an original solo artist and as a jazz and contemporary singer fronting many different bands.

Melanie draws on a wide range of vocal techniques learnt from her time spent with teachers such as Janice Light as well as Joy Yates and Dave MaCrae from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She specialises in contemporary styles such as Jazz, Pop, Rock, Latin and Soul music. She has also studied Creative Arts at Macquarie University (BA).

Melanie worked for many years as a tutor and conductor for the Australia Girls Choir and has been teaching privately at primary and high schools for over 10 years.  Top

Tony Padina

Guitar Instructor

Tony Padina has been teaching guitar for many years, commencing when he was eighteen at Robertson’s Music in Gordon. He also taught for 4 years at Turramurra Music Centre and has continued to specialize in classical, blues, folk and contemporary finger styles , and in more recent years, jazz.

Tony has had a vast amount of live performance experience for restaurants and function centres. His original music has been used in short films and as a teacher he has is most interested in developing students musical voice on the instrument, as well as composition skills, and a solid understanding of theory involving a wide range of music genres.  Top

Kate Rose

Piano Instructor

Kate Rose completed a Bachelor of music at the University of New England where she majored in performance. After graduating in 1993, she performed in several bands and conducted private piano studios at SCECGS Redlands and the Learning Lounge.

In 2002, Kate completed a Diploma of Education. Since then she has been involved with the teaching of some dynamic music programs at St. Aloysius' College and Shore Boys School. Kate is currently teaching at Covenant Christian School and she enjoys teaching piano to a variety of ages at the Sydney Vocal Arts Centre.  Top

Jeff Stanley

Guitar Instructor

Jeff is an American singer songwriter living in Sydney, Australia. As a teenager, Jeff incorporated such styles as African pop, rock, jazz, blues, funk, ska, and reggae into his music. This diversity soon landed him several first place awards in Songwriters Showcases.

He is well known in the American music community and has participated in a wide range of events, including playing for Courteney Cox and David Arquette’s wedding, auditioning for Limp Bizkit and making it to the finals (out of 4,000 guitarists) for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Since moving to Australia in 2003, Jeff has shared the same stages with Ernest Ranglin, The Wailers, Jeff Lang, Sara Blaskow, and The Devoted Few. As the electric guitarist in the Renny Field Band, he has made a name for himself by playing the guitar behind his head or with his teeth!

Along with performing up to seven nights a week, Jeff does a great deal of songwriting for international films and videos. He has written and recorded the soundtrack for a New York film based on the tragedy at the World Trade Center. He has produced music for a multitude of videos and documentaries whose clients have included the United Nations in East Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Red Cross out of Alaska. He also composes and records for television shows and commercials out of Los Angeles. Jeff’s ability to adapt to any style of music has made him highly employable as a session musician and, as a result, his name appears on countless albums and projects around the world.

In 2009 he will promote his recent release, "32,000 Chances," which has been receiving radio play and is a great representation of his talented songwriting.  Top