Strings Tutors

Suzanne Borrett - Head of Program
Studied at the Conservatorium in Sydney with Richard Goldner, Harry Curby and Carl Pini. Suzanne was a member of Elizabeth Trust Orchestra and worked with Sydney Symphony Orchestra before moving to London in 1975.
In London she played with the major orchestras including the Philharmonia and Royal Philharmonic as well as chamber, opera and ballet orchestras. She also taught for many years for Inner London Education Authority. Suzanne returned to Australia in February in 1994 with her husband Christopher Bearman. Suzanne is now Head of Strings at the Central Coast Conservatorium. She performs regularly in chamber music concerts.

Christopher Bearman, Director, A.G.S.M.
Graduated from the Guildhall School of Music in UK in 1974, where he studied with Eli Goren. Became a well-established violinist and teacher in London, playing with some of Britain’s leading orchestras including the BBC Symphony and English Sinfonia. Prior to moving to Australia in February 1994, he was also chief tutor for the Rehearsal Orchestra, a national orchestral training scheme, and conductor of the South London chamber Orchestra (Surrey Sinfonietta).

Julie Blakemore - B.A. Hons. (Sydney University) Has played and taught for 24 years in Australia, England and the USA. Currently teaches at Sydney Grammar, Ravenswood and the Central Coast. Studied with Phyllis MacDonald in Australia and Steven Staryk in the USA.

Sylvia Colegrove - B.A. Studied at Sydney Conservatorium, Sydney University and New England University. Taught violin and ensembles at MLC (Burwood), then privately until joining the CCCMC at its inception. Professional experience in opera and musicals, orchestral (including concertmaster) and solo playing, also chamber music and chamber music tutoring.

Eva Weiermann - Member of Australian Teachers’ Association. Studied at Vienna Conservatorium, Sydney Conservatorium with Eva Kelly and Geza Bachman. From 1992-95 attended Violin Teaching Seminars and Workshops a Sydney Conservatorium with Janet Davies and Alice Waten, Orchestral Workshops with Dr Szilvay and AMEB Seminars for Strings at Newington College. Has played in the Gosford City Orchestra and the Central Coast Conservatorium Orchestra. In 1988 joined the teaching staff at the Central Coast Conservatorium, after a successful teaching career in Sydney. Has been successfully preparing students for past 5 years to perform annually at the Primary Strings Festival at the Sydney Opera House.

Olena Zaporozhets - Graduated in Orchestra Performance, Chamber Music and Solo performance at the National Academy of Music in Kyiv (Kiev) Ukrane in 1999.
She also is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts – Melbourne in Master of Music Performance. Olena was a member of the Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra and currently has a distinguished performing and teaching career in both NSW and Australia. Recently a participant in The International Masterclasses at the Scuola di Perfezionamento Musicale di Portogruaro (Venezia), Italy.

Amanda Elkington - Diploma of Music, Newcastle Conservatorium, 1996, played in numerous orchestras on the Central Coast and in Newcastle, taught in various schools in Sydney and the Central Coast, and has 10 years teaching experience. Currently teaches at Central Coast Grammar School & String Coordinator of Strings for Gorokan Outreach Program, and Strings Ensemble teaching at Central Coast Conservatorium, Gosford. Amanda studied with Noelene Cantle, Elizabeth Hollowell and Janette Davies.

Karina Moss-Hollands - completed her Bachelor of Music in Violin at the Sydney Conservatorium in 1991, Karina received the Musica Viva award for Chamber Music. She then completed her Master of Music Education in Violin Performance and Pedagogy in 1993. She has played in the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra and Sydney Spring Festival Orchestra. Since moving to the Central Coast in 1994, she has led the Central Coast Symphony Orchestra, developed the Concertante Ensemble from a trio to the Chamber Orchestra it is today. In 1999, she studed in Vienna with Zalcher Bron at the Vienna Masterclasses. She has been teaching students and conducting various Conservatorium ensembles and orchestras.

Alexandra Harris -began her musical training at the age of ten under the tuition of Michael Stocks and the St Cecilia School of Music in Launceston, Tasmania.  In 2000, she moved to Sydney to commence studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, majoring in performance.  During this time, Alexandra studied under Professor Chris Kimber and became a member of the Sydney Conservatorium Symphony, Opera and Choir Orchestras as well as performing with Judy Baily’s Jazz Orchestra.  She was also involved in various chamber music groups tutored by Gerard Willems and members of Sydney’s Macquarie trio performing at St Andrew’s Cathedral and became a member of the Irish band ‘Sult’ performing regularly at the Mercantile Hotel in Sydney’s Rocks area.
In 2003, I began tutoring violin at the Caringbah and Miranda High Schools in Sydney as well as Stanmore, Balmain, Mowbray and St George primary schools.  As part of this work, her students had the opportunity to perform at the Sydney Opera House Festival for string players from Sydney’s public schools.  Alexandra returned to Tasmania in 2004 as Strings co-ordinator at St Patrick’s College Launceston involving teaching over forty private students and conducting four orchestras.
Since returning to Sydney, Alexandra has performed with various artists including England’s stage production of War of the Worlds touring to Brisbane and Melbourne

Paula Scott - studied at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide, gaining Associate Level in both cello and piano. She joined the Instrumental Music Service of the South Australian Department of Education in 1974, initially specialising in cello studies to university entrance level. Paula was active as a professional orchestral cellist and piano accompanist. As her brief within the Instrumental Music Service expanded, she undertook studies in early childhood string programs, gaining Advanced Teacher Accreditation in Suzuki Talent Education, and later, became the first instrumental music teacher in South Australia to gain the Department of Education's Advanced Skills Accreditation. She has taught to A.M.E.B. Associate Level in Special Interest Music Centres and directed many string programs, including several successful programs in socially disadvantaged areas. Her students now perform in major orchestras, both in Australia and Europe.

Matthew Aubrey - cellist, graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2007, with First Class Honours in Bachelor of Music. He holds posts as cello teacher at the Central Coast Conservatorium, Newcastle Grammar Schools and works as a private tutor. In 2007 he was a member of the Australian International Summer Orchestral Institute in Tasmania. He also works as a session recording musican in Sydney, and has recorded as soloist and orchestral member for radio and television.

Patricia McMeekin - studied cello at the Sydney Conservatorium with John Painter, and at the Adelaide Conservatorium with James Whitehead. She then spent 7 years as co-principal ‘cello with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and ‘cellist with the Brisbane String Quartet. In 1982 she returned to Sydney, where she played with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet orchestra. Patricia subsequently spent 15 years in England, playing in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras and performing as a freelance player with numerous regional orchestras including the English National Ballet and the Sinfonia of London. As a teacher Patricia headed the String Department at  Bryanston School in Dorset until returning to Australia in 1998. She continues to teach at Sydney Grammar School,  Blue Mountains Grammar and the Australian Institute of Music, and playing in the Omni String quartet, Concertante Ensemble and regular session work. Patricia is exploring a passion for Baroque music, studying and performing the music of this period on original instruments.
She is currently the resident cellist for the Sydneian Choir Bach Cantata project.