Graham began his career as an orchestral trombonist, became a singer specialising in opera and music theatre, then consolidated with a move into conducting and artistic direction prior to commencing research in the field of community music activity.
He holds a Diploma of Operatic Art and Music Theatre, a Master of Performance in Conducting, and a PhD, all from the University of Sydney.
From 2001 to 2012 Graham was Director of the Orange Regional Conservatorium, and from 2007 to 2011 he was engaged in the design and delivery of the Associate Degree in Music Education at Charles Sturt University, at which he held appointments as Adjunct Lecturer and Subject Coordinator.
Graham regularly presents at Music Education and Arts Health conferences, and has carried out fieldwork in Australia, North America and Bolivia. Graham has worked as trombonist and singer with the Australian Opera, vocal soloist with the Symphony Orchestras of Sydney, Tasmania, West Australia and Auckland, and extensively as a choral, orchestral and music theatre conductor.
Appointed in 2014 as Executive Director/CEO of Mitchell Conservatorium, Graham’s education activity includes vocal, brass and conducting coaching, and the delivery of professional learning courses in curriculum delivery and ensemble direction. From 2003 until 2016 Graham was involved in the executive committee of the Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums, peak body for eighteen non-metropolitan music education organisations unique to NSW. As a performer, his current focus is on the creation and presentation of new Australian music.
Conductor, trumpet player, cellist and educator Paul Smith has worked with some of the leading ensembles and companies, ranging from new music ensemble Aårk to Opera Australia. He has conducted numerous Australian and world premieres including works by Grisey, Bresnick, George Benjamin John Peterson.
A student of Australian conductor, composer and violinist Wilfred Lehman, Paul holds a Masters degree from the Sydney Conservatorium where his teachers included Matts Nilson Henryk Pisarek, Myer Fredman and John Hopkins. Internationally Paul studied under the renowned conducting teachers Jorma Panula and Gustav Meier, participated in masterclasses with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, and performed with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine.
His musical life began with the euphonium in his high school band at age 11 and soon switched to trumpet. This led to many years exploring the diversity of trumpet repertoire from chamber ensemble, through big bands to pit and symphony orchestra repertoire, an exploration that ultimately led to him studying with the New Zealand cornet virtuoso Ken Smith. Paul has played in many brass and concert bands including a period as solo horn with Willoughby Brass from 1996-2001.
After a number of years working with orchestras Paul adopted the recommendation of many of his orchestral colleagues to take up a string instrument in order to better refine his understanding of the orchestra, and to ensure a sound pedagogical foundation for young students. Early studies in string technique with the virtuosic Lehmann laid a solid conceptual foundation which Paul has since furthered through practical study of the cello with Georg Mertens. Paul continues to heed the advice of Leonard Rose for cellists to learn from their violinist colleagues, recently attending seminars and masterclasses with leaders in the world of string pedagogy and performance such as Goetz Richter, Caron Chan and Andrew Haveron.
In demand as an educator Paul has worked with Sydney and Western Sydney Youth Orchestras, and as artistic director of Macquarie University Symphony Orchestra. He was instrumental in the establishment of the successful youth program at Holroyd brass where he was musical director from 1993-1995. His ongoing engagement with community music includes conducting numerous orchestras, bands and choirs from Hobart to Berlin.
David holds degrees from both Australia and the United States of America, where he served as assistant conductor of several of the many varsity choirs.
He studied voice at Penn State under Richard Kennedy and also undertook units in vocal pedagogy and French and German diction.
David specialises in both classical and music theatre genres and is an accomplished pianist.
David's students comprise all ages and levels of experience, and recent students have been accepted into vocal performance degrees at the University of Newcastle and the Australian Institute of Music.
Campbell first began playing brass instruments at school, and went on to study French Horn at Sydney Conservatorium. After three years playing with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra he furthered his studies in Germany, at the end of which he went on to become Solo Horn in several leading European orchestras. Returning to Australia he played 1st Horn with the Australian Opera Orchestra, and taught French Horn at Sydney Conservatorium.
He has tutored at both National Music Camp and at Pan Pacific International Music Camp. Until recently he taught Brass at Orange Regional Conservatorium. Past students occupy positions in orchestras and teaching institutions in Australia and Europe.
Brendon McLeod (DipMus, BLibStud, BA(Hons)) is a brass teacher at the Mitchell Conservatorium, he has studied jazz trombone at the Generations in Jazz Academy in Mount Gambier, briefly studied jazz trombone at the Sydney Conservatorium and has completed a Masters of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
