Music Teacher Biographies

Itinerant Music Teachers Biographies

• Brass

  Douglas Cross - MMus (Trombone)
  Douglas graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Victoria University, Wellington and continued his studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, obtaining a Master of Music qualification in 2000.

  As Section Principal Trombone of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, he enjoys a busy performance schedule and is constantly honing his technical skills as a player which helps with passing on these correct techniques to students.

  Douglas’ commitment to teaching trombone is something on which he prides himself, and enjoys tutoring at all levels. In addition to teaching at Kings College, he has taught at the University of Auckland as an Artist Teacher since 2008.

  Harmen Vanhoorne - BMus (Hons), MMus (Cornet/Trumpet/Euphonium/Tuba)
  Harmen Vanhoorne is an international cornet soloist from Belgium. He has been performing as a soloist all over the world, including the United Kingdom, the USA, China, Russia, Canada, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most of the European Union countries. He is known in the music world as an innovator of his instrument, the cornet, commissioning various international composers regularly, trying to expand the repertoire of the cornet. In this context, Harmen is one of the very few official Endorsers for the world-renowned brand Besson, being actively involved in the actual development of the modern cornet. Harmen is also an artist for the record labels Naxos and Toccata Classics, as a result of his numerous successful solo albums.

  He first gained notoriety in 2007 when he joined the Royal Wind Band of the Belgian Guides as a cornet Soloist. Since then, his list of achievements includes awards in major solo competitions as well as soloist prizes in contests all around the world. In 2011 Harmen was granted the title of International Soloist of the Year after winning both the famous British Open Solo Competition (UK) and the Ern Keller Memorial Trophy (AUS). Harmen studied at the renowned Lemmensinstituut in Leuven (B) where he concluded his studies with the highest distinction for his postgraduate Master.

• Classical and Contemporary Guitar

  Cass Mitchell - BMus (Bass Guitar)
  Cass has a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Jazz, from the University of Auckland. She is a regular performer in the Auckland music scene, playing in many original bands, and as a session musician. She has completed several international tours with the group ‘Tiny Ruins’ which she is a member of.

  Cass has over 8 years of experience teaching bass guitar and ensemble playing to a wide range of students. She likes to craft her lessons according to each individual, what music they like and what they are working towards. During lessons, she covers technique, scales, rhythm and theory, along with songs and musicianship.

  Joel Vinsen - BMus, DipMusPerf (Contemporary Guitar)
  Joel holds a Bmus (jazz guitar) from the NZSM, and a Diploma of Contemporary Music Performance (MAINZ). He has been teaching in schools since 2008 and privately since 2002, tutoring students of all ages and ability levels. Joel is a passionate teacher with an interest in all genres of music and aims to guide students in developing their own unique musicianship, through a technical, theoretical and intuitive understanding of the guitar and music itself.

  Joel also maintains a busy schedule as a musician. He was an artist in residence at the Toji Cultural Centre in South Korea (2014), bandleader aboard the Celebrity Reflection cruise ship (2015), and has performed in India, Sri Lanka, Australia and Samoa. He is in high demand as a jazz and session musician and plays in a variety of original projects. He is also a regular performer of improvised and avant-garde music.

  John Wakelin - MMus (Classical Guitar), GradDipTchg (Secondary)
  John was the first guitarist to complete a Master of Music degree with first-class honours in guitar performance at the University of Auckland. During this time he was awarded the Auckland University's Reardon Postgraduate/Honours Scholarship and won an award for his composition 'Dreamscape' for solo guitar at the annual School of Music Composition Prize Concert (also winning the best performer award for the same event), and won first prize in the senior category of the Classical Guitar Society of Auckland's annual guitar competition.

  John returned to the University of Auckland in 2012 to complete a Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) in music education under Dr. Trevor Thwaites, and received the highest mark that year for his research paper entitled ‘Musical Literacy Amongst Guitar Students’. The research paper discusses the problems encountered as a result of students using guitar tablature (TAB), and
  possible educational techniques to consider when introducing the student to traditional music notation.

  John has made numerous performances around Auckland and appeared as a guest soloist with the Auckland Youth Orchestra's 2001 performance of Vivaldi's Lute Concerto in D major at the Viaduct Harbour. His composition for the guitar orchestra 'Rush Hour' was performed at the New Zealand International Guitar Festival in 2005, where it was recorded for Concert FM.

  John has been a professional guitar teacher since 2001 and has taught at several Auckland secondary schools whilst maintaining a busy studio of private students.

• Classical Piano

  Lisa Chou (Piano)
  Born in Taiwan, Lisa immigrated with her family to Auckland in 1995. Under the guidance of Associate Professor Rae de Lisle, Lisa completed a Masters in Performance with First Class Honours at the University of Auckland. Previous notable teachers also include Qu Yong, Carol Bognuda and Ashley Brown.

  Lisa received numerous prizes and scholarships as a solo pianist, cellist and chamber musician, notably the Kerikeri International Piano Competition and NZCT Chamber Music Contest National Finals as a cellist in the winning piano quartet.

  Lisa pursued further studies in Vienna in 2009, where she lived, studied and worked as a performing musician for over six years. During this time, she had the privilege of learning privately from the acclaimed pianist and scholar Paul Badura Skoda.

  It was also during her time in Vienna that Lisa developed a special interest in Lieder. As an Art -Song collaborative pianist, she was awarded the Tsuzuki Stiftung Scholarship and was also invited to ‘The Schubert Lieder Project’ 2014 in Oxford.

  Upon returning to New Zealand, Lisa became immersed as an educator and is regularly invited as an adjudicator for piano and instrumental competitions around the country. Lisa teaches at her own private studio in Greenlane and also teaches piano and cello at King’s School and King’s College.

  Lisa engages passionately as a chamber musician and is a member of the collective Ensemble East; with the objective of benefiting the communities in which they live in through active music-making.

  Kim Naden - ARCM (Hons), LRAM, AIRMT (Piano)
  After being awarded a scholarship at eighteen, Kim Naden left New Zealand to study at the Royal College of Music in London, majoring in performance and piano accompaniment. After four years of study and a successful career performing throughout England and teaching in London, he became a repetiteur for the Royal Ballet School and worked with many Artists and Teachers from the Royal Ballet Company.

  Since his return home to Auckland, Kim has set up a large private teaching practice and is on the itinerant teaching staff at King’s College. He is in demand both as an accompanist and adjudicator in all the NZ Performing Arts Festivals and has lectured for the Institute of Registered Music Teachers (IRMT) as well as tutored in their Teaching Workshops.

• Jazz Piano

  Ben Fernandez - MMus, BSc, DCS, PGDMM (Jazz Piano)

  Ben Fernandez is a classically trained jazz pianist, composer and arranger. He has a Masters Degree in Music majoring in Jazz performance from the University of Auckland. His research for the Masters program was based on the use of elements of Indian Classical Music in jazz improvisation. He also has degrees in Physics, Computer Science and Business Management. Ben gave up a successful career in Foreign Exchange, Travel Management and Advertising to make music a full-time career choice.

  Ben has performed at shows and events in over 25 countries including Dubai, Australia, UK, USA, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, France, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bahrain. Some of the shows he has performed at locally and internationally include the Cannes Film Festival in France, the Publishers Ball in Hong Kong, New Years Celebrations at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, party for President Bill Clinton in Mumbai, Microsoft Conference-Sri Lanka, Afro- Asian Games Closing Ceremony in Hyderabad, post-match party for the All Blacks in  Auckland, World Masters Games Auckland, Rugby World Cup post-match celebrations at the Skycity Grand and many more. Ben and his band have performed at many jazz and music festivals in Australasia. He is the pianist on call for events, functions and ceremonies hosted by the Governor General of New Zealand.

  Ben also composes music for advertising jingles, film soundtracks, corporate films, TV shows, and A/Vs. He has played in many musicals and theatre productions. A jingle he produced for Star Movies won Gold at the Pro-Max A/V Awards in Singapore. He has co-written a book called Songs of Life with Pauline Grogan. This was adapted for theatre and has been performed at venues in Auckland. Ben has just finished composing music for a new rock musical that will be staged early next year. Ben was one of the creatives selected for the Ockham Collective 2023. He is also a producer and mentor for the ‘Asians in Music’ programme that Creative New Zealand has supported.

  Ben is also an educator and teaches music at Pinehurst School, Rangitoto College, Rosmini College and also at his studio in Chatswood, Auckland. He conducts regular workshops on improvisation in New Zealand and overseas.

  (visit www.facebook.com/benfernandezmusic, www.benfernandez.com,
  www.youtube.com/benfernandezmusic for further details about Ben and his music).

• Organ

  Nicholas Forbes - BMus (Hons), DipTchg (Secondary)
  Nicholas is the Organ teacher and also the resident organist at King's College, where he plays for the regular chapel services.

  Nicholas also works as an organist, conductor and music teacher throughout Auckland. He began organ lessons as a chorister at Christchurch Cathedral, before continuing as the organ scholar at Christ’s College and sub-organist at Christchurch Cathedral. He studied performance organ and historic keyboard at the University of Auckland under John Wells and James Tibbles, as well as conducting with Dr Karen Grylls.

  A former first-prize winner of the NZ Organ Association's Performance Award, Nicholas has appeared as an organ soloist with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra and the Auckland Youth Orchestra. He has given solo recitals at the Auckland Town Hall and the Holy Trinity Cathedral and has participated in masterclasses with Colin Walsh and Dame Gillian Weir. 

  He is the Director of Music at St Matthew-in-the-City.  He conducts the Harbour Voices Choir and GALS, Auckland's Rainbow Choir. Nicholas is a member of the Auckland Town Hall Organ Trust and is an associate conductor and singer with Voices NZ, New Zealand's national chamber choir. A qualified secondary teacher, he has also taught at Rangitoto College and lectured in music at the University of Auckland. 

  Nicholas has developed an engaging approach to his teaching and enjoys working with students of a wide range of ages and abilities; helping to develop their love of music through a tailor-made programme that builds their confidence as performers and young adults. 

• Percussion and Drum Kit

  Miguel Fuentes (Drum Kit)
  Miguel was born in New York and grew up in Puerto Rico. From an early age, he knew music would be his life’s passion and he began learning drums. His diverse musical education and upbringing have resulted in him mastering all forms of Latin percussion, Drum kit and orchestral timpani.

  Miguel Fuentes has studied Afro-Caribbean music with Professor Jose Ramirez, Orlando Puntilla Rios, and Daniel Ponce and timpani with Fred D Hinger of Yale University and the Manhattan School of Music. He has performed and toured with countless groups including Isaac Hayes, Grover Washington, George Benson, Peter Allen, Daniel Ponce, Orlando Puntilla Rios, David Lipman, Patti La Belle, and Puerto Rico Symphony.

  Miguel has a wealth of knowledge and has taught university and college courses in drumming, timpani and percussion. He is currently a full-time KANTUTA member and is also a Music Educator within Auckland schools teaching percussion and drumming.

• Speech & Drama and Communication

  Jacqué Mandeno - BA Hons, PG Dip International Communication, LTCL (Teaching), Registered Educator of EPC NZ
  Jacqué gained her first formal qualification with a Trinity College diploma when she was in Year 13, and she understands first-hand the effort and worth of gaining this qualification early.  She went on to major in English and History and gained her teaching licentiate in the 1990s.  After graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma in International Communication in the early 2000s, she gained invaluable experience lecturing in applied communication at Unitec.

  Jacqué has been teaching Speech and Drama and Communication to all age groups, from 5 to adult, for 29 years, and has been teaching at King’s College for 12 of those years.  In addition, she runs a performance studio in Torbay and has guided numerous students at both King’s and on the North Shore through their grade exams and diplomas. Jacqué has also acted in and directed community theatre shows on the North Shore since 2000. 

  She is always delighted to see how confidence grows when students are given the opportunity to perform and excel.  It is a joy to see that every person benefits from the life skills imparted, whether it is through Speech and Drama, or Communication studies.

• Strings

  Lisa Chou (Cello)
  
  Born in Taiwan, Lisa immigrated with her family to Auckland in 1995. Under the guidance of Associate Professor Rae de Lisle, Lisa completed a Masters in Performance with First Class Honours at the University of Auckland. Previous notable teachers also include Qu Yong, Carol Bognuda and Ashley Brown.

  Lisa received numerous prizes and scholarships as a solo pianist, cellist and chamber musician, notably the Kerikeri International Piano Competition and NZCT Chamber Music Contest National Finals as a cellist in the winning piano quartet.

  Lisa pursued further studies in Vienna in 2009, where she lived, studied and worked as a performing musician for over six years. During this time, she had the privilege of learning privately from the acclaimed pianist and scholar Paul Badura Skoda.

  It was also during her time in Vienna that Lisa developed a special interest in Lieder. As an Art -Song collaborative pianist, she was awarded the Tsuzuki Stiftung Scholarship and was also invited to ‘The Schubert Lieder Project’ 2014 in Oxford.

  Alexander Pilchen (Violin/Viola)
  
  Alexander was born in Ukraine. He has been teaching since 2014, as a private teacher and at various music schools. 

  He graduated from the Moscow P. I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 2012 and went on to study at the Music Conservatory at UiT Tromsø (Norway), from which he then graduated with a Master of Music in violin. From 2014 to 2016 he studied at HFM Trossingen (Germany) in the class of Professor Anton Steck, where he received a Master of Music (Concertmaster of Baroque Orchestra). 

  In 2015, he co-founded the Werther Quartett, a string quartet that plays music on historical instruments from late Baroque to Romanticism. With this quartet, Alexander won the 2nd prize at the international competition Gebrüder-Graun-Preis (Bad-Liebenwerda, Germany) in 2016, and in 2017 the 1st prize at the international Iris Marquardt competition (Trossingen, Germany).

  Alexander has performed with many orchestras including regular performances with the Moscow Ensemble "Academy of Ancient Music" under the direction of Russian violinist Tatyana Grindenko. He has played in various European baroque orchestras, such as "Bern Consort" (Switzerland), "Das Neue Orchester" (Köln, Germany), "Sinfonia Concertata" and "Bremen Baroque" (Germany).  He has given masterclasses in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and at the LNMA named after M. Lysenko, Ukraine. He is currently a violinist in the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. 

  He is an active composer and received a Master of Composition with Professors Markus Hechtle and Wolfgang Rihm at HFM Karlsruhe (Germany) in 2022.

• Voice

  Steven Rapana - BMus (Voice)

  A New Zealander of Maori and Samoan extraction, Steven is best known for his arrangements and compositions of Pacific choral music. He studied at the University of Auckland earning a Bachelor of Music, in vocal performance and choral studies. Steven has been a member of the New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir, the New Zealand Youth Choir, and a member of Voices New Zealand Sixteen; a semiprofessional 16-voice vocal ensemble comprising some of the best choral practitioners in the country, directed by Dr Karen Grylls.

  Based in Auckland, he currently works as a singing teacher, choral director, language coach (phonology and languages for singers), a professional singer, arranger, and composer in and around New Zealand.

  Rachel Alexander Sutherland - MMus (Hons), GradDipTchg (Secondary), BA
  
  Rachel studied at the University of Auckland and holds a Master of Music in Classical Performance Voice. She is a member of the Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir, having sung with them since 2010. Rachel has also sung with the New Zealand Youth Choir and the New Zealand Opera Chorus and served as the Assistant Director and Principal Vocal Consultant of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir from 2011 to 2021. 

  As well as performing regularly, both as a soloist and in choirs around Auckland and New Zealand, Rachel has almost 20 years of experience as a voice specialist, choral director and curriculum teacher. Rachel has directed both intermediate and secondary school-age choirs to gold award-winning level at both the NZCF Big Sing and Kids Sing Festivals.

  She is deeply passionate about choral music, education and fostering a lifelong love of singing. Rachel is committed to creating collaborative, welcoming and inclusive spaces for all singers, to help them develop confidence and skills through demystifying technique, language and repertoire. She crafts dynamic and energetic learning and performance experiences while ensuring that her practice is culturally responsive.

   

• Woodwind

  Christine Mori - DSCM (Flute)
  Christine was born in Christchurch NZ. She has a DSCM from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has completed two years in the Australian Broadcasting National Training Orchestra. In Sydney, Christine worked as a freelance musician, mostly with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra.

  Christine taught at the Canberra School of Music for a year, until offered a similar position at the Sydney Conservatorium where she taught for four years. She also taught privately and in Sydney schools.

  Christine returned to New Zealand as the Principal Flute with the Auckland Philharmonia, a position she held for 20 years. As a member of the Auckland Wind Quintet, she toured New Zealand and tutored and mentored young students. Christine has taught at the Auckland School of Education and currently teaches in four Auckland schools, as well as having a private practice. Christine is a member of the Bach Music Orchestra.

  Sam Brough (Bassoon)
  Sam has been the Principal Contrabassoonist of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra since September 2022. After Bachelors and Masters studies at the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester UK), Sam joined the Swedish chamber orchestra Dalasinfoniettan where he was the principal bassoon from 2018 to 2021.

  Sam has taught bassoon at Leeds Junior Conservatoire, coached university students at the New Zealand School of Music and played an active role in numerous orchestral education projects. In 2021 he was a panellist and coach for Swedish youth instrumental competition Musika Akustika and has led new music workshops with Britten Sinfonia for young composers and performers.

  Sam has been a guest player with major orchestras throughout the UK and Scandinavia and has completed trials with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (Principal No.2), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (Principal) and Royal Northern Sinfonia (2nd bassoon) as well as regularly performing with Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and recently the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

  Highlights of Sam’s training at the Royal Northern College of Music and Hochschule für Musik, Mannheim (Germany) include joining the Mahler Chamber Orchestra Academy on a two-week tour of Germany; performing with Britten Pears Orchestra under Marin Alsop as principal bassoon for concerts of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at the Festival Hall London; and performing on the Faroe Islands with Faroese rock metal band, Týr.

  Competition success includes the Royal Overseas League - wind section finalist in 2017 and winning the RNCM concerto competition in 2014. Also a seasoned recording artist, Sam features on numerous records with Chandos, Naxos and Deutsche Gramaphon - performing the Villa Lobos Concerto Grosso as bassoon soloist and Mozart’s piano concertos with Manchester Camerata and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet amongst others.

  Gemma Pilchen (Oboe)
  Gemma has a Master of Music in Oboe Performance from the Trossingen University of Music, Germany, where she studied with Nicholas Daniel OBE. Gemma has over 10 years of teaching experience and is passionate about working with students to achieve high levels of excellence.

  Gemma performs regularly with orchestras and performs with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra as a freelance oboist. 

  Asher Truppman Lattie -  BMus (Hons) (Clarinet and Saxophone)
  Asher completed a BMus(Hons) in Jazz Performance at the University of Auckland in 2013 and has taught in Auckland schools ever since. His approach is to provide students with the tools necessary to develop technique in a structured way while simultaneously cultivating their own musical interests and curiosity, and for this to be the element that drives their musical development and discipline of practice.

  Asher frequently performs in different bands including Twistin’ the Swing (a gypsy jazz quartet), TheSaxobros (a saxophone band playing popular NZ hits) and Big Ticket (an 8-piece dance band playing arrangements of modern tunes), and has years of large ensemble experience playing with Queen City Big Band.