OUR STAFF

ELYSE DALABAKIS

Programme Supervisor

Violist Elyse Dalabakis is a multi-faceted performer, scholar, arts administrator, ad music educator. She has performed across the US, parts of Europe and New Zealand in recent years.

As Programme Supervisor, Elyse Dalabakis brings arts administration experience from involvement in both New Zealand and US music and music education programmes.

CAITLIN MORRIS

Cello Tutor

Caitlin started learning the cello at the age of fifteen and completed her BMus degree studying with Rolf Gjelsten, cellist in the New Zealand String Quartet, at the New Zealand School of Music. While at university Caitlin received scholarships and awards such as the Victoria University excellence scholarship, the Roy Jack prize for merit in string playing, the Body/ Harris prize for best performance of a New Zealand work and recently the MFA Fine Arts scholarship.
Caitlin has been involved in film score recordings for local Wellington composers on acoustic, electric cello and guitar and has also performed the Vivaldi double concerto with her past teacher Lissa Cowie with the Marlborough Civic Orchestra and the Nelson Symphony Orchestra.

DYLAN HOLMES

Clarinet & Saxophone Tutor

Dylan is currently studying jazz and classical performance at the New Zealand School of Music in Saxophone. He has been involved in national wind bands, jazz bands, and youth orchestras. 

He has just finished his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Psychology from the University of Otago and has come to Wellington to pursue music for the foreseeable future. 

HANNAH NEMAN

Drums & Music Basics Tutor
Orchestra Conductor

Hannah Neman is passionate about sharing music with young musicians and enjoys regularly performing educational concerts and workshops which inspire and educate NZ students.

Miss Neman is the Music to Schools Coordinator for Orchestra Wellington, a programme geared towards sharing music with schools around the Greater Wellington Region. She also conducts the Arohanui Strings - Sistema Hutt Valley in Taita. Miss Neman has been fortunate to be able to give back to NZ music education through her work with Orchestra Wellington, Strike Percussion, and Arohanui Strings; as well as her own percussion and rhythm workshops for programmes-alike.

JILLENE EVERETT

Flute & Recorder Tutor

Jillene has taught Ministry of Education flute classes for several years. She enjoys passing on her love of music to the children.

Jillene works at St Andrews on the Terrace and lives in Whitby. She plays in the Hutt Valley Orchestra.

JAKE CHURCH

Guitar Tutor

Jake Church is a Wellington-based guitarist who specialises in contemporary/avant-guard music and is looking to expand the repertoire and conventions for the guitar. He completed a Master of Musical Arts research degree at the New Zealand School of Music—Te Koki, Victoria University of Wellington under the primary supervision of Dr Jane Curry. 

As a soloist and founding member of Duo Kita, Jake has toured New Zealand and gained numerous performance accolades. His keen interest in composition and collaborative practices has allowed him to work with some of New Zealand’s leading young composers. 

CHRIS EVEREST

Guitar Tutor

Primarily self-taught, Chris spent his high school years playing electric guitar in rock bands with a keen interest in guitarists such as Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and John Petrucci.

In 2014 he began studies at NZSM in composition and jazz guitar, giving him a firm understanding of harmony and improvisation. However, during his 2nd year of study Chris was introduced to the classical guitar which has now become his primary focus, and studies under the tutelage of Jane Curry.

LIAM FUREY

Keyboard Tutor

Liam Furey was first taught piano at the age of nine, discovering classical music at the age of eleven. It was from that point Liam knew he wanted to be a classical pianist and composer. Liam is a third-year student at NZSM in Wellington, doing a double major in Classical Piano and Composition. Liam has been very proactive in the Wellington region, doing music for nine theatre productions, being a frequent prize-winner at the IRMT Piano Competitions. Liam received the LTCL and LMusNZ Piano diplomas in 2017, and a two-time finalist in the NZSM’s Body/Harris Prize for “Best Performance of a New Zealand Work”. Liam has also had considerable success as a composer, winning the Senior Composition Prize for Chamber Music NZ’s 2016 Secondary School Contest, and winning NZSM’s Matthew Marshall Award 2019 for “Composition for ensemble with guitar in a prominent role” and third in 2019’s Lilburn Composition Competition. After his studies, Liam hopes to work full-time as a freelance classical pianist and composer.

SAMUEL BERKAHN

Keyboard Tutor

Samuel is currently studying for his Bachelor of Music degree (Majoring in Performance Cello) at The New Zealand School of Music under Inbal Megiddo. In 2018, he was awarded the Bal-na-Shee Cello award and the Therle Drake (Undergraduate) scholarship. 

Being a son of Jonathan Berkahn, music was an integral part of his childhood, and as such, plays not only cello but also piano, organ, double bass and recorder. To top it all off, he is an accomplished composer, having had his music premiered by the Wellington Youth Sinfonietta twice.

WILL ALLARDICE

Ukulele Tutor

Will Allardice started playing guitar at school, learning classical and pop tunes and after university, completed Trinity classical grades and began teaching Saturday morning classes.

He has now taught guitar, electric bass, ukulele, and mandolin at schools and privately in the Wellington region for over 25 years. His interest in music/guitar ranges from early classical to the present day so Will has an extensive collection of teaching material and expertise.

KARLA NORTON

Violin Tutor

Karla Norton is a freelance professional violinist playing accross New Zealand and teaching in Wellington and Blenheim. Karla has recently returned to New Zealand from London where she has been performing with orchestras including Southbank Sinfonia, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, BBC Concert Orchestra and the Aurora Orchestra under conductors including Sir Antonio Pappano, Vladimir Ashkenazy, John Wilson and James Judd. Karla has played in orchestras and chamber groups, and given recitals in many Countries across the world including the UK, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Hong Kong, Canada as well as her native New Zealand where she plays regularly with Orchestra Welington, the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Festival Opera and the Hawkes Bay Orchestra.

SYAHIDA AHMAD

Violin & Orchestra Tutor

Syahida’s from Malaysia and has been living here in Wellington since 2015. Before she pursue her dreams to study overseas, she managed to finish her diploma and degree studies in music for 6 years at ASWARA, Malaysia. Currently she’s doing her second  degree at Victoria University in Bachelor Of Music majoring in Performance.

She started as a  part time Violin teacher when she was 19 years old and has played with small orchestra for  a few reality TV shows and as a freelancer for wedding gigs.