Newhaven College has a proud musical tradition and offers comprehensive music education from Prep to Year 12.
Our Prep to Year 4 Music Curriculum develops students’ ability to create, present, and respond to music through vocal and ensemble work with a range of instruments. The Junior School String program gives all Year 3 and Year 4 students the opportunity to experience weekly violin and cello tuition with instruments provided by the College.
Year 5-6 students learn an instrument of their choice in a small group setting, on instruments provided by the College. Classes in Year 7 provide all students with opportunities to express themselves through various instruments, including keyboards, guitar, percussion, and voice. They utilize music technology to realize their musical ideas. In Year 8, Music is an elective as part of our Community Projects with a focus on sharing musical performances within our local community. Our Creating and Performing Music elective in Years 9-10 extends students’ understanding and abilities. From Year 10 students can choose to complete VCE Music Performance or Cert III in Music Industry. These subjects can also be completed across Years 11-12.
Newhaven College offers an extensive co-curricular MusicPlus Performance Program that gives students the opportunity to participate in enjoyable, motivating musical experiences as part of a choir, band or ensemble. All students are invited to participate and there are no associated fees.
In addition to the curriculum, Newhaven College offers an extensive program of individual or shared instrumental music lessons conducted by the College's professional music tutors. Tuition is available in strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, drum kit, piano, guitar, electric bass and voice. Our program details and costs are listed in the form below.
Rob Turton has 30 years’ experience in music education and performance alongside an honour’s degree in music education from the University of Melbourne.
His training in the Suzuki approach and experience teaching and assessing VCE and VET Music enable Rob to effectively teach guitar students from three years old to the highest level. His students have ranked amongst the top of the state in VCE Music and many more have explored a range of satisfying professional and amateur musical experiences and careers.
Rob holds an AMusA in classical piano, studied with vocal coaches and local jazz legends and has performed from Hamer Hall to Festival Hall in bands, choirs, orchestras and more. His diverse background allows him to effectively coach students in song writing, improvisation, theory and high-level guitar and electric bass performance skills in any genre.
Rob’s priority is helping each student discover their unique expression of music while developing confidence, ease, excellence and enjoyment each step of the way.
Rebecca teaches violin, viola, cello and double bass and also teaches string orchestras and ensembles. She returned to Australia after 3+ years as Strings Programme Lead for King Solomon Academy in inner-city London. Whilst in the UK, she also enjoyed other teaching opportunities including tutoring for the Royal Academy of Music's Junior Academy.
Rebecca studied at The University of Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts, as well as at Penn State University, USA, and holds a BMusPerf, as well as a PPC. She also studied the Suzuki violin teaching method with Alan Tooke, Suzuki Australia.
Rebecca has performed with numerous orchestras including London Mozart Players, Kammerphilharmonie Koln and Orchestre Symphonique du Festi'Val d'Arly. Prior to moving abroad, Rebecca taught strings for several years at Caulfield Grammar School and won a casual position as a musician with Orchestra Victoria.
Sam is an instrumental and classroom music teacher with over thirty years of experience as a performer, musician, composer and teacher with a B.A. Music (VCA/Melb Uni.) and Dip. Ed. Master of Teaching. (Uni of Melbourne.)
She has worked and performed with many world class musicians including John Williams, Paco Pena, Tommy Emanuel, teachers including Jochen Schubert and David Starobin (NYU) and composers. Sam’s qualifications and experience provide students with an excellent foundation in music, from beginners to advanced in both classical and contemporary guitar styles.
Sam works progressively with students at their level, supporting them so that they may meet their goals and potential as musicians. Lessons focus on a positive and goal-oriented experience using a blend of methodologies and pedagogy.
Past students have successfully completed all Levels of exams including Secondary and Tertiary qualifications with many obtaining VCE Top Class selection and honors. Many have gone on to become professional musicians.
Raised in South Gippsland and residing in Bass Coast, Elly Poletti is an award winning singer songwriter with a passion for performing. Described as having a soul drenched voice, Elly performs regularly in shows in Melbourne as well as interstate and has supported such artists as The Black Sorrows, Clare Bowditch, Kate Ceberano, Diddiri, Steph Strings, Jack Jones and Lachie Doley. Elly has also worked with such artists as The Melbourne Indie Voices, Kutcha Edwards and Daniel Young from ‘Muph and the Plutonics’ which demonstrates the versatility of Elly’s voice.
Aside from her passion for performing, Elly has also completed a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance and a Masters of Teaching in Primary and Secondary Teaching. She has a passion for exposing youth to music, running a successful music camp in South Gippsland called ‘Camp Bravo’, a 3-day workshop styled event for students from grades 4-12. She was awarded Music Teacher of the year through Education HQ in 2020 as a result of raising money to run the camp and providing opportunities for young students to develop a passion for music.
Nathalie has been playing the flute since age 7 and started learning via Suzuki Method. As a student, she performed regularly as a soloist as well as in groups and ensembles.
At age 17 Nathalie won the Under 18 Division of the Leslie Barklamb Flute Scholarship from the Victorian Flute Guild. As a soloist, she was offered a place in Top Cats (now Top Acts) for high achieving music students in VCE and performed at Iwaki Auditorium. She studied for her Bachelor of Music with Honours from the University of Melbourne, under Alan Hardy.
Nathalie played in venues such as Hamer Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre and the Sydney Opera House as an orchestral player, teacher and soloist. Nathalie has travelled to the USA, Europe and Japan to study with renowned teachers such as Susan Milan and Toshio Takahashi. She has her Intermediate Suzuki Accreditation and has been teaching since 1997.
Since completing her piano studies at Melbourne University and Moscow Conservatory, Pamela has worked for many years as repetiteur and coach with companies including Opera Australia, BK Opera, GBD Productions, Gertrude Opera and Cordelia’s Potted Operas; in addition to fulfilling numerous performance and production commitments as a freelance accompanist and musical director.
Recent engagements include L’Elisir d’Amore; Rigoletto; La Voix Humaine; The Magic Flute; La Traviata; Madame Butterfly; Werther; Cenerentola; The Barber of Seville; Don Giovanni; Le Nozze di Figaro; Cosi fan Tutte and Carmen; as well as numerous art song and instrumental recitals and a highly successful concert tour of China with the Melbourne Bach Choir and soloists.
Current engagements include Don Pasquale with GBD Productions, Marriage of Figaro with Opera Australia, and a series of performances of crossover vocal repertoire for Midsumma and other festivals.
Jono Wright is a Melbourne based musician who developed a love for music at an early age. Fortunate to have gone to a performing arts focused school he then sought further training by studying music performance at Monash University. He is now involved heavily in the music industry through playing and teaching.
Jono has played and toured with artists such as Isaiah Firebrace (x Factor winner, Eurovision), Bella Paige (The Voice runner up) and AYDAN and he is keen to pass on a musical ambition to his students.
His aim is to encourage his students to be the best they can be in all areas of life and to demonstrate how music can be a key component in that.
Kerryn is a voice teacher and performer with an extensive range of professional experience. Holding a Bachelor of Music Performance in Classical Voice from the Victorian College of the Arts (Uni. Melb), Kerryn teaches all aspects of vocal performance and musicianship, and works to nurture the passions and uniqueness of each student. Specialising in vocal technique and versatility from a thorough understanding of vocal mechanics and anatomy, Kerryn helps students understand the various functions of their voice to enable both healthy and effective singing in many styles.
Along with preparing students for AMEB exams Kerryn has taken many students through their VCE Music and VET Music exams in voice with great success, with numerous students going on to study music at a tertiary level and moving into professional careers. The main goals of learning to sing better however are improving self confidence, presentation skills, community connecting and of course gaining a wonderful skill in musical expression through the skilled use of the voice, no matter what the end goal is.
As a professional performer Kerryn has appeared in numerous professional musicals and operas including touring both nationally and internationally. Kerryn has performed cabaret, jazz and swing, musical theatre and opera at numerous concerts, recitals and corporate events.
Kerryn is passionate about her involvement with community theatre, being involved as a director, performer, producer, and vocal director. Locally Kerryn has played roles in Mamma Mia, Les Miserables, Pippin, and Jesus Christ Superstar for WTG and Mary in Mary Poppins for LLT. She has also directed Annie for LLT and Legally Blonde for WTG.
Kerryn Lockhart will be directing the Senior Vocal Ensemble for 2022. Kerryn directed the Girls Vocal Group at Newhaven College from 2014 to 2018, conducting the group for numerous performances within the school, the wider community and local singing competitions. Her vision for 2022 is to create fun and polished singing ensemble covering a range of musical style. All singers from year 9 - 12 are welcome, a commitment to attendance weekly rehearsals on a Monday from 3.30pm - 4.50pm, Music Camp and performances is expected.
Throughout both Primary School and Secondary College Daniel trained in Piano, Percussion and Guitar (both classical and contemporary). Daniel began guitar lessons at the age of 6 years, giving light to the embers that would flare into a love and passion that has burnt consistently his entire life. Daniel has studied under some of Australia’s best guitarist and tutors such as Aria winner Matt Walker and Irene Grigoryan (mother of Slava and Leonard Grigoryan). Daniel performed professionally from the age of 12 years - initially as a member of a classical guitar ensemble and later in his teens in numerous outfits from pub cover bands to acoustic duets and more recently as a solo signer song writer.
Daniel believes the ability to understand and play music is the greatest gift one could ever receive and for this reason he has tutored students in playing the guitar and understanding music his entire adult life.
In February 2023, Daniel has joined Newhaven College’s music department and looks forward to inspiring and nurturing the inner musician in all students.
After completing VCE music and a Certificate III in Music performance Mark's love for drumming has turned into a love for teaching. Mark has 10 years of experience teaching in various schools in the Latrobe Valley and one-on-one lessons teaching from home.
His style of playing ranges from alternative rock to Jazz and Funk.
Mark is very passionate about teaching students to gain confidence in their playing ability and being able to express themselves through drumming. Mark has recently moved to Bass Coast and is very keen and excited to use his ability at Newhaven college.
Carmel is a highly regarded professional musician who has had a lifelong association with the Gippsland area. She has taught piano at many schools in Melbourne and Gippsland, as well as running her own private music teaching studio in Leongatha. She is experienced in teaching all ages (from three years old), and all levels and styles, up to VCE and AMEB diploma exams.
Many of Carmel’s students have pursued careers in the performing arts both in Australia and overseas, in areas such as performing, composing, teaching, accompanying, adjudicating and music theatre. Her students have won numerous scholarships and awards in various competitions and eisteddfods, including the Australian National Piano Award and the Melbourne International Piano and Strings Festival.
Carmel has had an extensive career as a performer (soloist and accompanist), and musical director. She was named Musician of the Year in 1994 by the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria, and was honored to be named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International in 2015, in recognition of her involvement with many musical groups, presenting numerous fund-raising concerts, and fostering musical talent in the Gippsland area. She has enjoyed working as an accompanist with many local groups such as Bass Coast Chorale, WTG, Leongatha Lyric Theatre, FAMDA, Warragul Theatre Company, and The Bloke’s Chorus.
Since 2018 Carmel has held the position of Head of Keyboard at Kilvington Grammar School, in Ormond. As part of her role, she taught piano and theory to students from ELC to Year 12, accompanied the Kilvington choirs, VCE soloists, AMEB exam students and all concert and soiree performers. She also led a team of amazing piano teachers, collaborated with a large music team, and has been a valued staff member.
Carmel recently joined the Newhaven College community. She is looking forward to inspiring her students to discover, enjoy, create and excel in their piano studies, as well as working as a team member in the fantastic Music Department.
The College regularly hosts performance events for students including the biennial Junior School Production, the annual College Musical Theatre Production, Spring Concert, Bands Night, Cert III Music Industry nights and evening solo soirées that showcase excellence, provide students with vital performance experience and give family and friends the opportunity to see their children perform. Students also perform at local community events, assemblies, lunchtime concerts, information evenings, open days, and presentation evenings.
The Newhaven College Annual Bands Night are held a few times a year at the Westernport Hotel, San Remo. All are welcome for a fun night of live music.
The event features over a dozen bands from our Year 8 to 12 classroom, elective, SM and VCE / VCE VET contemporary music programs. You don’t have to have children on stage to enjoy the great atmosphere and exceptional music of this highlight social event.
We thank The Westernport Hotel for offering the venue.
Upcoming events are advertised through our newsletter, Social Media and on this website.
Inter school opportunities are offered through the SEISA Music Festival, where Middle and Senior students showcase musical excellence and prepare performances alongside students and teachers from a range of schools.
Students in the College ensembles and Junior School String Program have the opportunity to participate in the annual Music Camp where their musical and collaborative skills are challenged. Guest specialists join the dedicated music staff to coax the very best from our ensembles.
Students receiving individual music lessons are encouraged to undertake an Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) exam each year. Students studying with a Suzuki teacher gain recognition of progress and feedback through Suzuki graduation levels. These certifications provide motivation, feedback and excellent preparation towards University auditions or music industry careers.
Our Middle and Senior musicians provide support and encouragement to the younger members of the music team. Every year, two Music Captains are selected as part of the Year 12 College Cabinet, alongside two Middle School Music Captains (Year 8).
Friends of Performing Arts (FoPA) was established in 2021, in time for the opening of the College's Performing Arts Centre. Its primary purpose is to assist with the activities of the Music and Drama departments, by promoting and supporting the Performing Arts.
