Tahlia MerlinoJunior Drama, Scripts and Scenes
Genevieve MorrisPilates
Jess RigbySelf Devised
Tiana-JaeMusical Theatre Dance & Vocal
James Pierre-ReadDigital Music Composition/ Recording/Music Theory Arranging, Music Ense
Victoria FrankelDrawing/Sculpture,Graphic Design,Digital/Physical Body of Work
Anton KochDigital Music Composition/Recording/Music Theory and Arranging
Zachary Aleksander Screen Acting and Auditioning, Improvisation and Comedy
Kirsten Allison Solo/Duo Vocal Skills and Performance, Song Writing Performance Project
Jake Fryer-Hornsby Senior Drama Company
Paul Brown Guitar Ensemble
Paula Baxter Solo/Duo Vocal Skills and Performance, Song Writing Performance Project, M
Lana BorisovaJazz
Lisa Gardner Vocal, Music
Victor RoundsAuditioned/Advanced Music Ensemble AMPA
Cassidy NancarrowCommercial Contemporary
Talia FowlerContemporary Ballet
Melissa AyersDance
Daniel Fischer Body of Work
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Tahlia MerlinoJunior Drama, Scripts and Scenes
Tahlia is a Sydney based actor, director, educator and theatre maker. A NIDA trained actor herself (Diploma Of Stage and Screen Performance 2018) and graduate of 16th Street Actors Studio (Full Time Program 2020), she now works as an educator across multiple companies. These currently including ATYP, NIDA, McDonald College and The Australian Performing Arts Grammar School; where she is currently directing their junior company’s performance of ‘The Chapel, The Fire and The Dead Cat’ to be staged later this year. Stage credits as a performer include New Theatre’s ‘The Park’ (2022), Factory Space Theatre Companies ‘A Peculiar River’ (2019) and The House That Dan Built’s Carriageworks and Bondi Festival seasons of ‘Tender Young Creatures’ (2017/18). Tahlia also trained as part of The House That Dan Built’s performance ensemble and was part of the company’s ‘Whispers and Roars’ festival late last year; where she showcased a scene from a play she is currently writing. Tahlia’s credits as an assistant director include ATYP’s production of ’Shack’ which was performed within the Rebel Theatre last year and KXT’s productions of ‘The Hero Leaves One Tooth’ and ‘Cherry Smoke’ which were both staged earlier this year. -
Genevieve MorrisPilates
Evie is a contemporary dancer and choreographer with a wealth of experience on stage and screen. Her freelance performance work includes ongoing contracts with Opera Australia, music videos with notable Australian artists, and film work as a choreographer and director. Notable creative credits include Aida, Attila, Turandot, Opera for the People, DUTI Dance Company, Schools Spectacular Choreographer, SONY Photography, Canon Photography, Lisa Mitchell, Emma Louise, One Playground, and Cheeki Waterbottles. In 2022, Evie created her first full-length work, PARTITA, for the inaugural DUTI Performance Company residency, and continues her pursuit of seeking out and creating opportunities for the Sydney dance industry. As a teacher-artist, Evie’s work also focuses on education, utilising her Bachelor of Dance, certification in Pilates instruction and Masters in Arts Education degree to work in Higher Education and with emerging dance artists on their contemporary dance training. Evie teaches at many post-secondary institutions across Sydney, working with pre-professional dancers on honing their contemporary technique and artistry. Contemporary classes with Evie focus on form and flow, with a strong connection between biomechanics for efficient movement and improved structures to support artistic explorations and identity. -
Jess RigbySelf Devised
Jess has completed her Bachelor of Dance with AMPA, where she choreographed a 15 minute contemporary piece, and Diploma in Elite Performance with Dargie Entertainment, training in all styles of dance. Jess has performed with DUTI’s season 1 of The Performance Company under the direction of Evie Morris, partaking in the work ‘Partita’. She has performed with AMPA Alumni in the recent AusDance NSW event, ‘Till Dusk’. Jess has choreographed and continues to create works for the Australian Physie and Dance Association, as well as being a team and creative leader for the junior and senior syllabus’s, guiding new choreographers through the creative process. She has been selected numerous times to perform on the training video in which members learn the syllabus from. Jess not only choreographs for APDA but competes as well, nationally placing every year. Jess has performed with various entertainment groups over the years performing for promotional gigs, corporate events and shows, and currently is a trainer at KX Pilates as well as a dance teacher. -
Tiana-JaeMusical Theatre Dance & Vocal
Tiana Jae is an actor and creative who works across stage, screen and commercial platforms. Notebale performing roles while she studied at Brent Street and WAAPA include Donna (Mamma Mia), Lisa (Wonderful World of Dissocia), Sarah Brown (Guys & Dolls) and Judy (A Chorus Line). She also worked as the Assistant Director and Dance Captain for the productions of A Chorus Line (2020) and Cry Baby (2019). While studying Tiana and a fellow colleague created and co-hosted a popular performing arts podcast ‘Company’, a podcast interviewing artists to talk about their personal, professional and spiritual journeys within the Australian performing arts industry. Since finishing her Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) at WAAPA in 2020, Tiana has worked as Director on John and Jen the Musical for Fringe World festival (2021), Assistant Director and Movement Coach for The Beep Test Musical in Adelaide Fringe Festival (2023) and is currently a member of The Wiggles talent team for touring live performances. She also works as a full time Pilates instructor for Fluidform studios across Eastern Sydney, and part time work for the Nine Network in North Sydney. Tiana has a strong education background having completed two years of her Secondary Education degree, and has taught dance and acting across a multitude of schools and institutions across the country. -
James Pierre-ReadDigital Music Composition/ Recording/Music Theory Arranging, Music Ense
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Victoria FrankelDrawing/Sculpture,Graphic Design,Digital/Physical Body of Work
Victoria completed a Bachelor of Art Education (1st Class Honours) at the College of Fine Arts, UNSW and is part-way through completing a Grad Dip in Education Studies (Gifted & Talented). She has been teaching secondary Visual Arts since 2005 in various schools across Sydney. Whilst specialising in Photography and Digital Media, Victoria’s love of the arts extends across all mediums of drawing, painting, and sculpture. She loves guiding students through their own creative development and gets much fulfilment in watching them flourish in their artistic journeys. When she’s not teaching, Victoria also runs her own Virtual Assistant business, Victoria Eve. & Co. -
Anton KochDigital Music Composition/Recording/Music Theory and Arranging
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Zachary Aleksander Screen Acting and Auditioning, Improvisation and Comedy
Zach is a theatremaker and multi-instrumentalist on Gadigal land. Since graduating university (Bachelor of Music/Australian Institute of Music), where his performance as The Baker in ‘Into The Woods’ (dir. Tyran Parke) was lauded by the legendary Philip Quast, he has toured and worked locally in a range of capacities; as an actor-musician, his favourite roles include Feste in Alex Robson’s ‘Twelfth Night, or What You Will’ (WorldPride), Carpenter in three seasons of Kate Gaul’s ‘HMS Pinafore’ (Hayes Theatre, NSW Tour, Sydney Festival), Mr. Rat in ‘The Wind in the Willows’ (Australian Shakespeare Company), Thomas in ‘Venus in Fur’ (Sean Landis & 107 Projects), Jasper in ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ and Charley in ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ (Little Triangle); in these and other roles, he has acted whilst playing cello, guitar, ukulele, accordion and piano. In his transition to directing and educating, Zach has music directed WorldPride’s ‘Twelfth Night, or What You Will’ and The Lieder Theatre’s ‘The Mighty Playwrights Gala 2021’, written and directed ‘Clowns, Flics et Sorcières’ and ‘The Backstage Club’ (AMPA), and stage managed ‘Isn’t It Queer?’ (Little Triangle). He is currently assistant directing a three-city tour of Iolanthe (GSOS Regional Tour) and music directing ‘The Government Inspector’ (Fingerless Theatre). Zach also daylights as an acting and music theatre lecturer, having facilitated tertiary (AMPA/ASCA) and secondary syllabuses (APGS, St Catherine’s), as well as classes for boutique arts educators (Brightsparks, Stepaside, ADVC). -
Kirsten Allison Solo/Duo Vocal Skills and Performance, Song Writing Performance Project
I have been teaching singing privately for more than 20 years. Over this time period, I have tutored students of all ages and backgrounds with varying levels of experience, from beginners to professional performers. During the course of this work, I have taught many boys and girls of school age and have experience in teaching practice methods, setting goals and communicating with parents. Depending on my students' individual needs and goals, lessons may include: ● HSC preparation ● Singing technique for vocal health, pitching, options for tone production, navigating break areas consistently and improvement of flexibility and range, ● Performance techniques - including performing a song, microphone technique, choosing a set list, working with a band, banter between songs ● Music theory Including key transposition, timing and rhythm and chart writing for a band ● Improvisation and song interpretation ● Harmonising and reading choral parts -
Jake Fryer-Hornsby Senior Drama Company
Jake is an actor, singer, educator, and theatre-maker originally from Noongar Country, regional Western Australia. Jake graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts as part of the Acting class of 2017. Since then Jake has gone on to work on and around stages all over Australia and the US. Jake has worked with companies such as Bell Shakespeare, The Australian Shakespeare Company, Black Swan State Theatre Company, as well as a number of independent companies. Jake was the recipient of the 2017 Channel Nine award for Best Actor (Male), for his portrayal of Mike in the 2017 WASA film, Halim. -
Paul Brown Guitar Ensemble
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Paula Baxter Solo/Duo Vocal Skills and Performance, Song Writing Performance Project, M
Paula Baxter London born multi-faceted vocalist, songwriter and AAMA Award (The African Australian Music Awards) winner Paula Baxter (aka Miss P) started her musical journey at a young age. Artists like Nina Simone, Chaka Khan, Eva Cassidy, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston fuelled Paula's passion for music leading her to study a Bachelor of Music and pursue a career as a vocalist. After graduating Paula went on to perform with various original and cover bands before getting snatched up by Norman Cook's (Fat Boy Slim) to sing backup vocals for one of his projects ‘The Alfabet Tree’. After several years of playing the UK circuit the band released their debut album and embarked on a European tour. After mild success Paula left the band to concentrate on her own career which lend to a relocation to Sydney. Once fully immersed in the Sydney music scene it didn’t take long before Paula was a vocalist in demand, called upon to lend her vocals to artists such as Christine Anu, Richard Clapton, ‘1927’, James Morrison, Mark Williams (Dragon) Paul Mac and Jessica Mauboy. Paula was also called upon as backing vocalist to international touring artists; Tony Hadley (Spandou Ballet) Belinda Carlisle (The Go Go’s) Josh Groban (US), Ben Portsmouth (Taking care of Elvis UK) and Michael Franti (Spearhead USA) One of the most exciting musical moments for Paula was sharing a stage with the great Smokey Robinson during a short promotional tour in 2012. Paula remarked on ‘how amazing it was to see one of the all time musical greats mesmerise the audience with his magical voice, a moment I will never forget’. Paula’s television credits include: 100 judge on Channel 7's All Together Now, Love Child, The Voice, The Today Show, Sunrise, Good News Week, Spiks & Spacks, Rove Live and Mornings with Kerrie Anne. Paula’s original music is a blend of soul infused reggae, funk, disco, house and pop which she delivers with a unique vocal style that is sultry, soulful, powerful and distinctive. Paula’s debut EP ‘Experience’ co -written with Paul Searles (Skunk Hour) was released in 2010 to rave reviews. Paula's album "Ama' is due for release early 2019. Paula is also an experienced vocal teacher with over 5 years experience and a passion for working with and developing young voices. But it doesn't stop there, outside of her original projects, Paula can be found entertaining the troops at various corporate events with her cover funk band 'Miss P's Soul Kitchen'. With so many great credits to her name it 's no wonder Australia has adopted Paula Baxter as one of their most exciting and captivating artists to watch out for. -
Lana BorisovaJazz
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Lisa Gardner Vocal, Music
Lisa Gardner is a music educator, contemporary vocalist and singing teacher. Currently as Head of Performing Arts at APGS Lisa teaches academic music years 7-12, and also coordinates the Performing Arts Program with music, dance and drama performance classes and Showcases, working with specialist professional performers and tutors within the industry. Trained at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Lisa,s performance background is in repertoire from musical theatre, popular styles and jazz. She has sung in major venues throughout Australia and Asia with leading cabaret acts and many bands, and has performed live on several national television shows. Lisa has a strong interest in research on music education and vocal pedagogy, and has presented papers in this area at National and International Conferences. Vocally, she has trained with leading international teachers Jeanette LoVetri and Jo Estill – both from USA. Lisa has taught at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, The Wesley Institute for Ministry and the Arts, The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre and several Sydney Secondary Schools. As well, Lisa currently examines for Rockschool International. Lisa particularly enjoys working with children and teenagers, and finds their enthusiasm and passion for performing inspiring. -
Victor RoundsAuditioned/Advanced Music Ensemble AMPA
Victor is one of Australia’s most sought after musicians. He has appeared on albums for some of the music industry’s most legendary artists including Tommy Emmanuel, James Morrison, Jenny Morris, Renee Geyer, Marcia Hines, Andrew Fariss (INXS), Margaret Urlich, Mark Williams, Gina Jefferies plus many more. Accredited on over a hundred and fifty albums to date as well as numerous tours nationally and worldwide with the biggest names in the Australian and International Music Industry. Support tours have included Tears for Fears, Prince and Paul McCartney. On the Bass (M.D.) for David Garibaldi and Larry Braggs (Tower of Power). Elvin Bishop (Paul Butterfield Blues Band), Glen Frey (The Eagles), Brian Ferry, Martha Davis (The Motels), Tina Arena, The Monkees and UK artists Lulu, Leo Sayer, Rick Astley and a stint with Boy George as M.D. Stage Productions include: • Rent • Oh What A Night • The Revolution Will Not Be Televised • The Blues Brothers (Russell Crowe, Simon Westaway, George Washing Machine, • Fame/Asia • ‘Thriller Live’ 2014/2015 London West End Productions. Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia. • ‘My Leonard Cohen’ 2017-2019 UK and Australia (Sydney Opera House seasons, Adelaide Fringe festivals). -
Cassidy NancarrowCommercial Contemporary
Cassidy Nancarrow started training in all styles of dance at a young age and has continued on to graduate from Village Nation Fulltime course in 2021. Since then, she has danced professionally for artists such as Samantha Jade, Courtney Act and many corporate events including travelling to Singapore. Cassidy has been a successful teacher since the age of 16, regularly working and guest choreographing for studios all throughout NSW in all styles. She has also recently been an assistant choreographer to Briden Starr for various dance performances, one of which, Christmas with Delta 2022. -
Talia FowlerContemporary Ballet
Talia’s career has spanned across a wide variety of dance genres and media platforms. She is a classical ballerina having worked for companies - The Queensland Ballet, Ballet BC (Quebec), Madboots Dance (NY), Gregory/Dawson Project (San Francisco), Leigh Warren Dancers (Adelaide), Alonzo King LINES Ballet (San Francisco). Performing both classical & contemporary works, her career taken her to Europe, Asia, Canada and the USA. In 2009 she was the winner of Season 2 ‘So You Think You Can Dance’. She starred in ‘Fame the Musical’s national tour as Iris Kelly. Throughout the commercial industry she has worked for the likes of Tabitha & Napoleon, Sonya Tayeh, ARIA’s, AACTA’s, X Factor, Australia’s Got Talent, & various music artists. Currently, she freelances as a soloist and pas de deux artist with performances across the international corporate scene. Talia recently performed on the runway for international fashion label BALMAIN. Her work for Sony Music can be seen in choreography, movement direction and video editing for Timomatic & Pusha T music video ‘Delilah’, and Talia can be seen in lead acting roles for Timomatic ‘Parachute’, The Veronicas ‘You Ruin Me’, and Van-ahn Nguyen’s Album ‘Peaceful Piano Essentials’. Talia landed the cover of Dance Australia, advertising campaign and face of Bloch ‘Heritage’ pointe shoe & guest performances for the Australian Dance Awards, So You Think You Can Dance US, & the World Dance Congress. In her training she achieved her A.R.A.D Solo Seal and was a part of The Genée International Ballet Competition (now The Fonteyn) and The Prix de Lausanne. Talia is a now certified coach for Vaganova method training with the Australia Conservatoire of Ballet, and runs an interstate ‘Elite Artist’ Classical Ballet Program. She is a private technique coach and has taught nationwide workshops & masterclasses for the past 6 years. She has also adjudicated solo scholarships, competitions and dance festivals across the country. As guest speaker for organisations ‘Beautiful Mind’s’ and ‘The Halogen Foundation’, Talia has enjoyed becoming a mentor to the new generation. -
Melissa AyersDance
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Daniel Fischer Body of Work