Artistic Staff

Conductors

Peter Moore OAM
Musical Director

Peter Moore graduated from Trinity College, London, with teaching and performing diplomas in bassoon and piano. After completing his studies, he freelanced with British orchestras, broadcast regularly on BBC radio with the Scottish Virtuosi Chamber Ensemble and toured extensively in Europe, the USA and Asia as a professional musician. For nine years, Peter was co-principal bassoon with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and performed in major festivals throughout the world. During this time, he worked extensively as a conductor with British youth orchestras. In 1983 he won an Arts Council Award to further his career.

In April 1985, Peter came to Western Australia. He has played with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and has been a lecturer in bassoon at the WA Conservatorium of Music. He is currently a senior lecturer at the School of Music at the University of Western Australia.

Peter is also principal bassoon with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and is regularly invited to perform with all Australia’s major orchestras. Peter has a strong interest in Baroque bassoon, and has appeared in a number of concerts featuring the instrument.

Peter has been involved with the Association since 1986 and has been its Musical Director since mid-1988. He has conducted orchestras at all levels in the Association, including the very successful Babies Proms. Peter was awarded an OAM in January 2000 for his services to youth music in Australia and as a conductor, bassoonist and music educator.

Bruce Herriman

Bruce is the Deputy Principal of the School of Instrumental Music with the WA Department of Education and Training, and is responsible for the staffing and administration of the state-wide instrumental music programme in WA Government Schools. In addition, Bruce conducts the Churchlands Senior High School Senior Orchestra and the Perth Modern Senior High School Wind Orchestra.

Bruce graduated from the WA College of Advanced Education in 1981 with a Bachelor of Education degree and began teaching at Perth Modern School in 1982. From 1983 to 1993 he was in charge of music at Hollywood Senior High School.

As Associate Director of the former WA Youth Concert Band, Bruce has toured Japan and Korea and performed in all states of Australia. He has directed the Australian Youth Wind Orchestra and National Childrens' Wind Orchestra. In 1998 he conducted the Australian Youth Wind Orchestra on a tour of Scandinavia. Bruce also regularly conducts the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and the City of Fremantle Symphony Orchestra. He is currently National President of the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors' Association Inc.

Paul De Cinque

Paul graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2003 with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree in Trumpet Performance and in 2006 with a Bachelor of Music Education.

Paul was the recipient of the Sir Charles Court Conducting Internship with WA Youth Music in 2004 and has since worked with the Philharmonic Orchestra and the WA Youth Symphonic Band in several seasons. He has conducted several community groups in Perth, including Midland Brick Brass and Claremont Concert Band, both of whom he led to State A-Grade Championships.

Paul is currently an employee of the School of Instrumental Music with the WA Department of Education and Training where he works as a brass teacher and ensemble director at John Curtin College of the Arts, Mount Lawley Senior High School and Churchlands Senior High School.

David Elton

David Elton is Principal Trumpet of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. Before his move to WASO in 2005, David held the Principal Trumpet position with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for four years. He has recently performed as guest principal trumpet with the Queensland Orchestra and the Singapore Symphony.

David has been sought after as a soloist and recitalist. Performances include Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s 2004 Masters Series and the world premiere of James Ledger’s Trumpet Concerto in 2007 with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

David holds a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium and a Master of Music from Northwestern University (USA). He was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and shared first prize in the International Trumpet Guild’s Student Solo Competition held in Kentucky USA.

David is currently teaching at the University of Western Australia and the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where he also conducts the Brass Ensemble. He has also held teaching positions at the Queensland Conservatorium and Adelaide University. He was recently awarded the Australia Council Conducting Fellowship for 2007/08 with the West Australian Youth Orchestra and will conduct the West Australian Youth Symphonic Band.

In January 2008 David was the trumpet tutor at National Music Camp in Canberra, and he will be Music Director of AYO's Young Symphonists - Wind Brass & Percussion program in 2009.

Jan Holdsworth

Jan began her initial studies on flute with Annette Daniels, and has been fortunate to have also had lessons with Paul Curtis, Brian Warren, Wendy Clarke, and Owen and Neil Fisenden. She holds a Teaching Diploma from Nedlands Teachers College, a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Churchlands Teachers College, as well as a Bachelor of Music (Performance) degree from the WA Conservatorium of Music.

Whilst at the WA Conservatorium o Music, she has taken part in lessons and masterclasses with James Galway, Peter Lukas Graf, Peter Lloyd and Margaret Crawford. She has represented WA in the National Flute Competition as a soloist and as a conductor with the WA Youth Music Flute Choir.

As an educator, Jan has taught at Penrhos College, St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls, Perth Modern Senior High School and Churchlands Senior High School.  She currently taches and works extensively with students at the University of WA and Sacred Heart College.

She has been examiner for the AMEB since 1992, and examines all woodwind levels in city and country venues.

Jan is currently performing with Australia's only professional flute ensemble, the Fisenden Flute Ensemble on bass, contra-bass, alto and C flutes, and continues her research into new works for small and large flute ensembles at all levels.

Grace Ah-Quee

After initial training in the ABC Training Orchestra, Grace Ah-Quee began her career in Sydney as a freelance orchestral violinist. She spent some exciting years in the pit playing for the Australian Ballet and Opera, including working with Dame Joan Sutherland and two of the three great tenors, as well as for shows such as Les Misérables. She was fortunate to be part of Baz Luhrmann's production of La Bohème, her favourite opera.

During this time, the in-between hours were spent in the backing orchestra for The Midday Show, recording jingles and film soundtracks as well as backing artists such as Sammy Davis Junior, Peter Allen and Oliva Newton-John. Touring with Pavarotti was a highlight, topped only by performing for Dame Joan Sutherland's final curtain in Les Huguenots.

Grace acquired a taste for the tropical life and the viola when on a quartet residency on Dunk Island and has since worked on the islands of New Caledonia and Mauritius. Now in Perth, Grace enjoys performing chamber music, teaching and passing on her experience to the Collegium players.  She is also currently plaing viola for the inspirational Kaleidoscope Quartet, with whom she tours schools with a music and poetry show.

Jeanette Teh

Jeanette first started music at the age of 4 on piano and subsequently the violin at age 9. She first joined WA Youth Music in 1991 where she was a member of the Sinfonietta. Since then she has been involved in programs such as the WA Academy of Performing Arts Exhibitions Programme and the Australian Youth Orchestra's National Music Camp. Throughout high school Jeanette was the recipient of bursaries to aid her musical education. She has also spent periods of time in Edmonton, Canada, studying with the renowned violinist James Keene.

Jeanette attended the University of Western Australia and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education. During this time, she has also gained accreditation in Orff, Kodaly and Suzuki methodologies.

She is currently a full-time Music Specialist at St Stephen's School. Jeanette is presently studying for her Masters in Music Education through the University of Queensland. She enjoys being a freelance violinist, accompanist and performing in musicals.

At the beginning of 2008 Jeanette joined WA Youth Music once again as conductor of the Sinfonietta string orchestra.

Tutors

Tutors are predominantly drawn from the ranks of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, the University of Western Australia School of Music, and the Classical Music Department of the WA Academy of Performing Arts.