Vocal
Samantha Bartholomeusz | Head of Voice
Samantha is a passionate and experienced voice teacher with a strong academic and practical background. She holds a Bachelor of Science, Licentiate in Music (Voice), and Graduate Diploma in Music Studies (Vocal Pedagogy). Dedicated to continuous learning, she regularly engages in professional development in early childhood music, young voices, vocal technique, aging voices, and choral training. She also adjudicates at Eisteddfods, providing valuable feedback to aspiring singers.
Samantha teaches students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, from beginners to those pursuing tertiary studies. Her teaching spans across all genres, with a particular focus on musical theatre and classical, and she prepares students for AMEB exams, HSC performances, Eisteddfods, auditions for Gondwana and tertiary institutions, and more. As a performer, she enjoys singing in various styles, with a special love for jazz.
In lessons, Samantha creates a welcoming and supportive space where students can develop their own natural, free voice. She uses visual, aural, and kinaesthetic techniques to suit individual learning styles, helping students gain confidence, self-expression, and a deep connection to music. She also runs group classes for young and older singers and directs various choirs, fostering a strong sense of community.
Beyond teaching, Samantha is deeply committed to nurturing a love of music in every student. Whether someone is singing for fun or pursuing a professional career, her goal is to inspire confidence and joy in every voice she teaches, helping each student discover their unique sound and a lifelong love of singing.
William Moxey | Voice
William Moxey has appeared as a baritone soloist with many choirs and orchestras, including the Queensland Conservatorium Singers, Queensland University Musical Society, Sydney Philharmonia, Sydney University Musical Society, Macquarie University Singers, Sydney University Graduates Choir, Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of the Song Company for six years, nationally and internationally. As a member of the quartet ‘Vocalise’, he gave concerts for and was recorded by the ABC. For seventeen years he was conductor of Willoughby Symphony Choir and presently directs the Allegri Singers, Orange Regional Conservatorium Chamber Choir in addition to his singing studio.
Gabriel Rae| Voice
Gabriel is an experienced Voice teacher of almost 20 years, having previously taught at Mitchell Conservatorium, Bathurst from 2003, and then maintained a small private studio in Queensland and Canberra, before returning to Orange. She encourages all styles from classical, Musical Theatre and jazz, and advocates performing as fundamental to music studies.
Gabriel is a graduate of the University of Wollongong, and also undertook post-grad studies at the Sydney Conservatorium in both Performance and Musicology. She still enjoys performing, with a keen personal interest in Baroque and 20th art music. She has also been MD for the Cantar Community Choir since 2014. Plus she has two teenage children who keep her pretty busy too!
Amelia Nell | Contemporary Voice
Amelia Nell is a contemporary singing teacher who specialises in teaching styles including rock, pop, jazz, rhythm and blues, contemporary musical theatre and more. She is a singer/songwriter/ pianist in her own right and many of her students are professional working singers, performing on a regular basis through her assistance in voice training, artist development and performance coaching.
Amelia also has a keen interest in contemporary a cappella choral directing, writing and arranging and is the director of the award-winning Vocalocity Vocal Ensemble. She is committed to ongoing professional development in multiple areas concerning music education, voice science and vocal pedagogy and regularly attends industry accredited workshops and conferences.
Singing lessons and vocal ensembles with Amelia are all about learning exciting ways to strengthen and express your singing voice in an engaging and supportive atmosphere. She fosters the individuality of each singer, strives to instil a sense of confidence and wellbeing and encourages them to express themselves through creativity. It is her hope that you leave her studio with a smile on your face, saying “that was FUN!”.
Phil Rees OAM | Choral Conductor
When Philip Rees was eight, two events impacted his life: his first piano and brass lesson and his parents being given a complete recorded performance of Messiah. Since then he can’t recall a time of not wanting to be a musician. Philip has spent his entire working life involved in music education and performance. As the musical director of the Central Coast Philharmonia, he conducted many major works of the choral tradition, as well as a number of Australian premiere performances of works by Christopher Tin, (Calling All Dawns) Karl Jenkins, (Joy to the World) John Rutter (Feel the Spirit) and Alexander Lestrange (Zimbe and Ahoy). He was the chorus master for Central Coast Opera productions of Magic Flute (2016), Carmen (2017) and La Bohème (2018).
Since moving to the Central west in 2019, Philip teaches brass and piano at the Orange Regional Conservatorium, is the conductor of the City of Orange Brass Band, and participates in a variety of school music programs. In 2010 he was awarded an OAM for services to music.