AGQTP logo ASME logo

2008 National Awards
for Excellence in
School Music Education

2008 Awards

Special Commendation, School Leader Award

Ms Regina Byrne
Principal
Mt St Joseph Girls' College, Altona, VIC

Ms Regina Byrne has been the Principal at Mount St Joseph Girls' College, a Catholic secondary college in the west of Melbourne, for the past 6 years. Due to her leadership, and the staff of Mt St Josephs, the school has grown to 950 students. Regina has transformed the learning environment for the students with three major building projects and six refurbishments of older facilities. The school is renowned for its state of the art technology and innovative approach to the delivery of curriculum.

Regina's teaching background is in Music. She has continued to teach in the classroom, developed the Instrumental Program, initiated and developed school bands and she continues to play at all major school assemblies and performances when required.

It is obvious to all of our community that Regina has lead from the front in relation to the development of the music department in both curriculum and the physical environment. The current Music teachers look to her for guidance and support, and she still helps prepare the student musicians for major school functions. The students are proud of their 'rockstar' Principal and hold her in high regard.

School Leader Award

Mr Matthew Hughes
Principal
John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School, Mirrabooka, WA

Matthew Hughes has been Principal of John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School for the last 12 years. Within the school community it is generally acknowledged that Matthew's clear and wide-ranging vision for the direction of the school is responsible for JSR's extraordinary rate of growth and strong educational reputation.

Matthew Hughes has played a significant role in establishing Music as a valued, high profile, rewarding activity at JSRACS. Through gaining generous funding for hire instruments and vigorous promotion of the music program there are approximately 450 students learning an instrument, playing in bands and singing in choirs. A recent major achievement is the Year 5 Band Program which gives each student a new instrument and a weekly group instrumental lesson. This is timetabled and free. Next year a similar strings program will operate for all Year 2 students.

Matthew has enriched the teaching program and raised the status of Music in the school by his personal demonstrated commitment to the work of the department. He is present at every concert, has recently joined the Secondary Choir and even commenced clarinet lessons.

Special Commendation, Teacher Award

Ms Jacquelyn Conn
Statewide Braille Music Consultant and Music Teacher
Geebung Special School, Geebung, QLD

Jacqui Conn has specialised in teaching music to students with disabilities for more than thirty years. She works in some of the most challenging special schools which cater for students, aged three to eighteen who require significant adjustments to access a music program.

She has been instrumental in adapting music activities to ensure that for children with severe intellectual and multiple impairments music is an exciting and successful part of their lives. Jacqui develops new understandings in students and extends their school curriculum offerings considerably. Her pedagogical approach has influenced many other teachers and therapists as well as strongly impacting curriculum and policy makers in the schools and state authorities.

Jacqui has been a trail blazer in music education making this available to all students regardless of their abilities. There is no doubt that Jacqui's influence in music education, especially in the special education arena has been significant.

Teacher Award

Mrs Leonie Cecich
Music Teacher
East Victoria Park Education Support Centre, East Victoria Park, WA

East Victoria Park Education Support Centre caters for approximately 20 students with intellectual disabilities in the Canning District of Perth, and staff are specifically trained to support these students.

Leonie brings a wonderful, infectious enthusiasm to all her music classes in the school. Students and staff look forward to her music sessions which are always filled with fun, new learning and skill development. Wonderful, creative and innovative resources are used to promote and maintain interest and enjoyment and Leonie ensures that she accommodates different learning styles such as visual, aural and kinaesthetic modalities across the student group. A structured program is presented to students each week during which musical skills and concepts are taught with appropriate adjustments to meet the developmental level and needs of the students.

She has a wide variety of approaches to teaching new content and students are actively engaged throughout the entire session. Consideration is given to the cultural backgrounds of the students, in particular African drumming and Aboriginal rhythm sticks. Leonie works in conjunction with therapists and teachers to produce songs that are educational and motivating.

Teacher Award

Mr Ashley George
Music Specialist
Tara Anglican School for Girls, North Parramatta, NSW

Ashley George plans and implements exciting and innovative music education programs across K - 10. He takes small groups of students for instrumental tutoring and runs a podcasting club for the girls during their lunch break.

He conducts a number of choirs across the Junior and Senior Schools. The choirs are open to all students and have become incredibly popular amongst the girls. In the four months he has been conducting the Senior School Choir he has increased its membership from thirty to ninety girls. He also conducts a small selective choir called "Tara Singers" who perform difficult pieces to an extremely high standard.

Ashley is the Musical Director of our biennial school musicals which are stunning performances. Ashley's innovative and creative approach to music education has had an incredibly positive impact on student learning in music. The students are highly motivated and inspired to continue their music education as they mirror the enthusiasm for and enjoyment of music that Ashley displays.

Teacher Award

Ms Elizabeth Harlock-Lea
Head of Music - Deputy Principal
Fremont Elizabeth City High School, Elizabeth, SA

Elizabeth Harlock-Lea has been the Head of Music for the Special Interest Music Centre at Fremont Elizabeth City High School since its establishment in 1978. During this time she has established the music centre, providing quality music education for students who experience severe socio-economic disadvantage.

To enhance music in the primary schools surrounding the high school, Liz established, hosts and manages the Adelaide North Primary Music Hub, which provides instrumental, theory and ensemble tuition for approximately 150 students from 23 primary schools in the area. Past students from the both music programs have gone on to become music teachers, professional musicians and successful members of society in a wide variety of fields.

Her commitment, dedication and passion to ensure that students from disadvantaged homes develop confidence and achievement of personal excellence in music has been tireless and outstanding.

Teacher Award

Miss Janette Kelly
Director of Music
St Hilda's School, Southport, QLD

St Hilda's School at Southport on Queensland's Gold Coast is an Anglican school for girls from Pre-Prep to Year 12 with 1150 students from diverse backgrounds. Janette has revitalized school music with programs that offer a wide variety of musical experience to all students.

The sequential and developmental curriculum has been refined, with innovative information technology programs and instrumental tuition for all. Students also have options for extension programs at Year 7. Activities continue to grow and a collegial approach has included many for collaboration with other school departments.

Janette's professionalism, great enthusiasm and passion for music, accompanied by commitment and a can-do attitude have ensured all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential

Teacher Award

Ms Janice Leahy
Arts Coordinator
Para Hills High School, Para Hills West, SA

Janice Leahy has developed an outstanding contemporary Music program, which is accessible to all students who attend Para Hills High School. Students progress through the Year 8-12 program, achieving at very high standards in Year 12.

Janice inspires confidence in students and delivers a challenging and rigorous program. She updates her skills and knowledge continuously. Her teaching incorporates the full range of emerging technologies and reflects trends in industry and tertiary education. Janice's program makes explicit links for students to a wide range of post school pathways. She uses a network of industry and tertiary contacts to ensure this relevance is maintained.

Janice also ensures that music students contribute significantly to a range of community organisations and primary schools. Janice's vision, forward planning and practical management skills ensure that the Music program at Para Hills High School is constantly evolving, is well resourced and is well connected to other Arts programs and the community.

Teacher Award

Mrs Jennifer Meachem
Director of Music
Camberwell Girls Grammar School, Canterbury, VIC

Jennifer Meachem is an outstanding and talented Music educator. She runs a large department which includes classroom teaching and a broad instrumental and a choral program that extends across the school. Jennifer's Year 7- 10 classroom music program is taken by all students and she teaches VCE performance as well. The classroom program includes introduction of wind, brass, strings and percussion instruments to all year 7 students as a means of encouraging them to further their music education.

Jennifer is very committed to the technology program within the school and the Music Department is using various software packages which enable students to compose and arrange music. This technology has been integrated into the curriculum from Years 7-12 and, although challenging, is hugely enjoyed by the students, especially those who do not play instruments as they achieve wonderful results and are extremely proud of their own compositions.

Teacher Award

Mrs Mary Needham
Music Teacher - Coordinator
Elwood College, Elwood, VIC

Mary is a driving force in reigniting interest of many students pursuing studies in the various instruments on offer. Mary facilitates and creates a supportive environment for students to experience success and an opportunity to reach their full potential. Through the medium of music she uses innovative teaching practices, including the use of technology. Mary is inclusive of all students and their abilities and implements music programs designed to develop musicianship through performance and composition.

Mary involves herself in the school's transition program of local primary schools, and encourages students to perform and discuss their music experience at secondary school. She promotes the music program every opportunity and is always working to improve the facilities and designing curriculum. She designs curriculum that caters for diverse students abilities in the classroom which enables students to experience success and achieve their full potential.

Teacher Award

Mrs Jenny Robinson
Head Teacher Music
Randwick Girls' High School, Randwick, NSW

Jenny Robinson is the Head Teacher of Music and Visual Arts at Randwick Girls' High School. As a Music educator for over 23 years, she has consistently inspired and encouraged students with her passion and enthusiasm. Jenny has taught in a variety of schools in NSW, in city and country settings and she has a keen interest in developing musicians in ensembles and within the classroom.

Jenny has developed major initiatives in the Music faculty resulting in a full evaluation, revision and implementation of a new Music program and has specialised in building instrumental programs in which students have been extended and have enjoyed the experience of music making. Jenny has created links with Randwick Girls' primary partner schools through her initiation of a program to develop shared Primary and High school band workshops to address the challenge of the transition from Primary to High school.

She has also instigated major initiatives, creating links with local community groups, institutions and businesses and worked tirelessly, in cooperation with staff and parents, to raise the profile and quality of music in her schools and into the community. She is an encouraging and supportive member of staff and with her natural humour and energy, she engages students at all levels, helping them to achieve their personal and academic best.

Teacher Award

Ms Carolyn (Caz) Soeters
Outreach Singing Program Coordinator, ESL and LA Teacher
Jervis Bay Primary School, Jervis Bay Village, ACT

Jervis Bay Primary is located within the HMAS CRESWELL Navy base, within Booderee National Park at Jervis Bay. Students come from a range of backgrounds, but most are from the Wreck Bay Indigenous community and the Navy community. There are many students with special needs, ranging from autism, through behavioural needs, and students dealing with grief due to the loss of close family members.

Caz started her teaching career as a general classroom teacher with no musical background and with great nervousness about engaging in music. Through involvement in the ANU's Music Education Program she overcame her fears, developed her musical instincts and skills and honed them across an entire primary school in the ACT which previously had no music. She is now applying the particular social philosophy of the Music Education Program at Jervis Bay School for the betterment of the entire community, including its large indigenous population.

She is training and supporting both teachers in her school and community members in applying the approach. She not only believes in the musical rights of all but is actively engaged in proving that belief on a daily basis.

Teacher Award

Mrs Julie-Ann Watson
Music Specialist
Nakara Primary School, Nakara, Darwin, NT
NT Music School, Nightcliff, Darwin, NT

Julie-Ann's innovative and inclusive classroom music program at Nakara has produced outstanding results in a relatively short time. She quickly engaged the students and staff, raising the profile of music education at the school, and elevated the status of the whole school in the Darwin community.

Parents have sought admission to the school on the strength of the music program and its beneficial impact on the culture of learning at the school. One effect of this is seen this year in the largest ever cohort of instrumental music students at the middle/high school traditionally attended by ex-Nakara students.

At the start of 2008 Julie-Ann was transferred to the Northern Territory Music School, where she is applying her Nakara classroom teaching experience in an in-servicing and mentoring program for teachers in a number of schools.