2011 Awards
Special Commendation, Teacher Award
Ms Ann Phelan
Music Teacher
Bellingen High School/Bellingen Primary School, Bellingen, NSW
Ann Phelan is based at Bellingen High School, on the NSW Mid-north coast. In addition to providing extensive music education for students at the high school and at Bellingen Primary School, Ann has been instrumental in the formation of the Bellingen Youth Orchestra which caters for approximately fifty young people from both public and private schools in the local region. Ann organises voluntary tutors to assist student learning in the orchestra and has developed a strong culture of mentoring of younger musicians by older musicians in all orchestral activities. Ann nurtures students in the Bellingen Primary School music program, and provides a large range of ensemble experiences for both primary and high school students. Ann adapts the repertoire of the ensembles as needed according to the level of the students involved at the time, ensuring that students are challenged to increase their knowledge and skill levels.
Ann works collaboratively with community groups in Bellingen, and, in partnership with students and parents, is working towards the construction of a performance venue in Bellingen. In addition, Ann provides free musicianship classes to interested students after school, and assists in the regional 5-day Camp Creative event held each January at Bellingen High School.
Under Ann’s direction, the music program has grown significantly with the positive effects of music on the whole school, in both the high school and the primary school, being readily observable and significant.