Our Team

Artistic Staff

Lyn Williams OAM
Artistic Director
CLICK HERE to learn more

 

 

Mark O’Leary Principal Guest Director, Gondwana Voices
Mark O'Leary (M.Mus, B.Mus.Ed & Churchill Fellow) is the founder and Director of the Young Voices of Melbourne. With Young Voices Mark has produced six CD recordings, toured seven states and territories of Australia and made four international tours to Europe, South Africa and North America. Young Voices recently performed in the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and in Festival Melbourne 2006 as part of the games celebrations. Mark is also Principal Guest Conductor of Gondwana Voices having worked regularly with Gondwana since its first season in 1997 and conducting on all three of the choir’s CDs. Mark is the publisher of the Young Voices of Melbourne Choral Series and his arrangements are performed all around the world. He presents many workshops each year on choral music education throughout Australia and is guest conductor at many festivals. Mark has special interests in Kodaly teaching techniques, the development of excellence in music education and children's choirs, and Australian choral music.

 

Paul Holley Principal Guest Director Gondwana Chorale

Paul Holley is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music where he studied conducting with Dr John Nickson. He has had extensive experience directing school, church and community choirs. Paul is the Musical Director of the Birralee Blokes, a choir for young men whose voices are changing or have recently changed, who in 2006 were awarded the Choir of the Year title in the ABC Classic FM Choir of the Year competition. Within the Brisbane Birralee Voices organization he also conducts Resonance - a choir for university aged students. He is presently Director of Choral Music at Brisbane Girls Grammar School and conducts Choral Connection. Paul is dedicated to excellence in choral education and regularly features as guest conductor/clinician at regional festivals, conferences and music competitions. He serves on the committee of the Australian National Choral Association Queensland branch.

 

Karen Grylls ONZM, Guest Conductor Gondwana Chorale International Guest Conductor Karen Grylls ONZM, Associate-Professor in Conducting and Head of Choral Studies at the University of Auckland assumed the position of Musical Director of TOWER NZ Youth Choir in 1989 and founded TOWER Voices NZ in March 1998. In addition to being the current Musical Director of both of these national choirs Karen also conducts the Chamber Choir at the University of Auckland and is much in demand throughout the world as a choral clinician.

 

Julie Christiansen OAM, Guest Conductor Gondwana Singers

Julie Christiansen is the founder and Artistic Director of Voices of Birralee, one of Australia’s largest and highly respected non-profit youth choral organisations. She is well known for her compelling work with young voices and is committed to strengthening the skills, knowledge and practise of singing throughout Australian metropolitan and regional areas. She is a popular guest clinician regarding vocal /choral techniques and literature for youth choirs and is regularly invited to adjudicate, present and conduct at music events, choral festivals and educational workshops. Julie a member of IFCM and is secretary of the ANCA Qld State Committee.

 

Claire Preston Guest Conductor Gondwana singers
Claire Preston is an educator, accompanist and conductor, currently a Lecturer in Music at the Victorian College of the Arts. Specializing in developing young singers, she has been assistant conductor with the Toronto Children's Chorus and the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus. Claire has performed throughout Australia and North America, appearing at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis and recording the world premiere of Harry Somers' children's opera A Mid-winter Night's Dream for CBC Records.

           

Allison Harrigan Guest Conductor Junior Gondwana

Allison holds a Masters degree in Choral Conducting and Aural Training from the University of Queensland. She has lectured in both of these subjects at various Melbourne universities for the past seven years.  Allison has also conducted many quality tertiary, school and community choirs. Allison is in demand as a guest conductor for choirs and lecturer at choral conferences.  She has enjoyed roles as Head of Junior Music at Scotch College and Caulfield Grammar School.  She now prefers to focus on her special interest in vocal technique for young voices and Australian choral music and is the Choral Education Director of the Sydney Children’s Choir.

 

Harley Mead Guest Conductor Junior Gondwana

Harley is a Brisbane-based educator, composer and conductor.  He works with music makers of all ages and backgrounds. Conducting both instrumental and choral ensembles has seen him work throughout Australia and overseas.  He has worked with chamber groups to large-scale events with over 500 performers.  His advocacy for new Australian compositions has also resulted in several world premiere performances. Harley works as a clinician for arts organisation including KMEIA, ORFF, Dalcroze, Suzuki enrichment and several universities.  He loves the spirit of choral music and the unique quality singing has in bringing communities together.

Board of Directors

 

Jennifer Alexander, Chairman
Lyn Williams OAM, Artistic Director
Nicholas Bailey
Claire Duffy
David Longmuir
Nicholas James

 

 

Management Team

Lyn Williams OAM, Artistic Director
Email: lyn@gondwanavoices.com.au
Tel: 02 9251 4226

Alexandra Cameron, General Manager
Email: alexandra@gondwanavoices.com.au

Tel: 02 9251 4226 (extension 3)

 

Rachel Whealy, Gondwana National Program Manager
Email: rachel@gondwanavoices.com.au
Tel: 02 9251 4226 (extension 2)

 

John Nolan, Artistic Administrator
Email: john@gondwanavoices.com.au
Tel: 02 9251 4226 (extension 4)

 

Clare Ainsworth, Philanthropy Manager
Email: clare@gondwanavoices.com.au
Tel: 02 9251 4226 (extension 5)

 

Erica Wilmott, Indigenous Children’s Choir Coordinator

Email: gicc@gondwanavoices.com.au

Tel: 02 9251 4226

 

Christine Mackay, Finance Manager

Email: finance@gondwanavoices.com.au

Tel: 02 9251 4226 (extension 5)

NB: Wednesday’s only

 

Cassandra Bayley, Accounts Administrator
Email: cassandra@gondwanavoices.com.au
Tel: 02 9251 4226 (extension 1)
NB Mondays only