Violin, Viola
Sydney-born Nicole Hammill studied in the US for eleven years, achieving a Doctor of Musical Arts from Louisiana State University. She subsequently lectured at two American universities and returned to Australia to lecture at James Cook University. She taught at the Queensland Conservatorium and has also taught at Queensland University of Technology and University of Southern Queensland. She has been an active soloist and chamber musician and has performed with Queensland Symphony Orchestra since 1999, acting as Principal First Violin for five years. An AMEB examiner and frequent adjudicator, in 2007, she completed a Graduate Diploma of Counselling, leading to an interest in personality theory and its application to music teaching.
Peter joined Mitchell Conservatorium, Lithgow as a violin teacher in 2008.
He started playing violin at age 6 and began his early violin studies at Lismore, Bangalow and Byron Bay convents. Peter later studied with W. J. Gallaher, Gallaher School of Music and with Georgina McLean, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He played in the Sydney-based National Youth Orchestra in the late 60s, Ars Nova Orchestra in the 80s and since 1999 with Lithgow Community Orchestra. Peter played violin and double bass with Shiloh a folk gospel trio and violin with the Bunyip Boys Bush Band. He was a string tutor at Cooerwull Public School in the 70s and 80s, and again since 2008.
His love for a wide range of musical styles is evident when he performs with his wife Gaye in a violin & double bass/guitar vocal duo. Peter combines aspects of the Suzuki method with the AMEB syllabus in teaching violin.
