About Us

GENEVIEVE PITTORINO

Voice | Piano

Genevieve is the Principal of Soundworks Music Studio. She was the recipient of a scholarship at Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music & it was there she completed a Bachelor of Music Performance with Honours. 

It was during this time her vocal pedagogy and contemporary vocal technique developed. She then further specialised, and continues to specialise, in ESTILL International Voice Training. Genevieve has performed and taught extensively in Melbourne, working in the tertiary, secondary & private school system.

BELINDA REID

Voice | Music Theatre | Piano | Acting

Belinda is a professional actor and musician, and specialises in teaching musical theatre and classical voice, audition and performance coaching and acting, as well as songwriting and beginner piano and clarinet. She studied acting at the University of Southern Queensland, and music (majoring in musical theatre performance) at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

Belinda has appeared in several professional musical theatre productions, most notably for The Production Company playing Josie Mann / Valerie Dee in their production of The Boy From Oz, as well as in TPC’s production of Brigadoon. Belinda has written, directed and performed independent cabaret in Australia and overseas, touring independent and festival seasons of her solo shows and also her comedy cabaret trio The Desperettes. 

Belinda is currently completing her Masters of Music at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, majoring in performance teaching. A passionate performer and teacher, Belinda believes in a threefold approach to music teaching, comprising a solid technical foundation, emotionally connected storytelling, and building self-belief and self-efficacy.

JULIUS MILLAR

Guitar | Drums

Julius is a Multi-Instrumentalist and Composer with an eclectic range of skills and interests in music, having performed and written music in many styles and contexts including bands and ensembles performing rock/contemporary/experimental music, experimental improvised music, creating soundtracks for film and theatre and writing orchestral/chamber music.

Julius has over 10 years experience teaching students of all ages and skill levels on various instruments, specialising in Guitar, Theory and Composition in all styles and also taking students for Bass Guitar, Drumkit and Contemporary Piano. His passion as a teacher is to expose students to a wide and eclectic range of music styles, ideas and techniques while tailoring each student’s program in response to their individual needs, taste and skill level, giving them all the necessary skills and knowledge to learn music and achieve their goals.

BENJAMIN SAMUEL

Voice | Music Theatre | Piano | Theory

Ben is an experienced vocalist, actor & musician. After completing undergraduate studies in Music (University of Canterbury) & Musical Theatre (National Academy of Dramatic Arts) in New Zealand, he relocated to Melbourne to pursue a career in performing arts & education. He has performed in several major musical productions across Australia & New Zealand including ‘Cats’, ‘Beauty & the Beast’, ‘Hair’, ‘The Color Purple’, ‘Curtains’, ‘Oklahoma’, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ and ‘Rent’. He also performed as a vocalist & dancer in many cabarets & major events including ASB Starry Nights, Coca Cola Christmas in the Park & Midsumma Festival. He currently delivers lectures & workshops at JMC Academy for the Bachelor of Contemporary Music & Master of Creative Industries courses.

Following completion of the Master of Music (Melbourne Conservatorium of Music) qualification, Ben continues to work in theatre as a Musical Director for various production companies across Melbourne, collaborating with creative teams to engage artists & create performance opportunities which promote diversity & equality in the arts – leveraging music to drive social change.

RACHEL TRAINOR

Drums | Guitar | Voice

Rachel is a New Zealand-born, Melbourne based professional drummer, performer and multi-instrumentalist. She holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours – First Class) from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand where she was tutored by ex-Mother Goose drummer Marcel Rodeka and bassist Rob Burns, whose credits include playing for the BBC and collaborations with well-known musicians such as Pete Townsend of The Who.

During her time at university, she was part of several professional bands and toured throughout New Zealand with both corporate and original acts, as well as gaining experience playing in pit bands for musicals such as ‘Buddy Holly’ and ‘Back To The 80s’.

She made the move to Melbourne in 2012 and since then has played at many iconic Melbourne venues including Dracula’s Cabaret Restaurant Melbourne, where she provided drums, vocals and guitar (among other instruments) for the show until its closure

Since then Rachel has toured interstate with cabaret shows ‘Anya Anastasia: Rogue Romantic’ and ‘Rebel’, a David Bowie inspired circus cabaret and continues to gig regularly around Melbourne as a session player and with her original psych-rock band Honeybone.

HAYDEN FRITZLAFF

Drums | Guitar | Music Production

Hayden is a drummer and guitarist from the nation’s capital. Having graduated from ANU in 2016, Hayden’s career has been wide and varied, seeing him perform everywhere from the smallest clubs to Australia’s biggest music festivals. His background includes stints with jazz ensembles, big bands, touring rock bands, experimental music groups, and orchestras. Hayden has more than seven years teaching experience with students of all ages and abilities. He works with students to achieve their musical goals and develop their skills in a range of genres including jazz, rock, pop, funk, R&B, Latin, and orchestral percussion.

CHRIS COMMERFORD

Guitar | Songwriting

Chris Commerford is a guitarist/ singer-songwriter from the Mornington Peninsula who harnesses a strong passion for Blues, Soul & Rnb and uses it as a foundation for his stylistic approach to playing the guitar and writing music. As a teacher he has spent the past 5 years teaching private and school-based lessons diving deep into how to plan a student’s music journey from the very beginning all the way to what lies beyond! Some of his major influences remain John Mayer, Marcus King, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Gary Clarke Jr. and whole heap more.

SAM LAWRENCE

Piano | Voice | Songwriting

Sam has had a life full of music, which has specifically included song-writing and performing in ensembles and solo, along with his constant study of piano and voice across cultures of music, undertaking tuition in Western Classical, Jazz, and Indian Classical. Sam Lawrence is also a current student of piano at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

Prior to enrolling at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Sam sought private tuition in jazz piano, taking lessons from some notable names in the national and international jazz piano field, including Barney McAll, and Steve Sedergreen.

Sam also travelled to India for three months where he undertook intensive study of Hindustani music, specifically in voice. While in India, Sam also taught himself the guitar and wrote several songs, which he recorded and performed when he returned to Melbourne.

Sam has written and performed his own music for many years and has had some success, including a nation wide tour supporting pop singer Kimbra, with whom he also sang a duet that was released on her debut album.

Sam has a combined interest in the continual study of music, while advancing his expertise as a performing musician, and not least facilitating budding musicians in their passion for the music that they love!

SEBASTIAN FARCHIONE

Saxophone | Flute

Sebastian studied jazz improvisation, Big Band music, and composition at The James Morrison Academy of Music in Mount Gambier, South Australia where he completed a Bachelor of Music and Honours. He was tutored by some

of the best jazz musicians both nationally and internationally. Whilst performance was a prominent area of study, Sebastian majored in composition and arranging where he learned to write for small ensembles, Big Bands, and for film.

Although Sebastian is primarily trained in jazz, he is also proficient in other genres such as Blues, Rock, Pop, Disco, and Classical. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, playing the clarinet and flute. Whether you are

looking for serious tutorship, musical theory foundation, or just want to play for leisure, Sebastian can cater for all needs

GIGI BACON

Voice | Piano | Opera

Gigi began her training in musical theatre, performing in the Adelaide Fringe Festival for kids entertainment. In recent years she has transitioned into the opera and classical world and is currently studying at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Gigi is very grateful to have the opportunity to teach music at Sound Works Music Studio and adores teaching young kids piano and singing.

DECLAN PEEL

Guitar | Drums

Declan is a teacher of Guitar and Bass, specialising in jazz & improvisation, rock, pop, and guitar technique. He has a decade of experience teaching students of all levels, beginner to advanced. He is actively involved in the live music scene and is currently studying a Bachelor of Music Performance at Melbourne Polytechnic.

Sasha Hennequin

Acting | Screentests

Sasha has been a performer since she was a child where she toured around Australia as the lead female vocalist in a corporate cabaret act with her family. Sasha briefly lived in the US where she gained work on TV and web commercials while training with working actors working in film, TV and Broadway. Since Sasha has returned to Australia, she has starred in several musicals throughout Melbourne including the Australasian Premiere of The Color Purple the Musical for StageArt where she played the role of Darlene. Sasha is listed on IMDB for having featured in short films that have been submitted for Village Cinemas Unscene Competition, Tropfest Film and 48Hr Film Festivals. On Australian TV screens Sasha has starred in several commercials for Coles, AFL AusKick and is currently seen on the 8th and final seasons of Wentworth as an inmate in the Protection Unit

Tayla Muir

VOICE | ACTING

Tayla is a Melbourne based performer who studied Musical Theatre at the Australian Institute of Music. Previously, Tayla completed a Diploma of Musical Theatre at Left Leg Studios in 2016. Most recently, she had the opportunity to originate the role of Stella Forts in the new Australian musical, Jack Frost. Her other performance credits include: Dream Team Member in DreamSong the Musical (Ebbflow theatre co.), Martha in Spring Awakening (Chapel off Chapel), featured vocalist in Home Grown: The Power of Us (Chapel off Chapel), as well as in Broadway Unplugged at the Royal Botanic Gardens (The Australian Shakespeare Company & BU). In 2018, she originated the role of Joan in a new Australian musical, Decoration Day (T2 theatre company). Tayla has also been featured in various other concerts including Matthew Lee Robinson’s New Voices ‘17 and SONDER: A charity concert (STC).

Reuben Morgan

Violin | Viola | Cello

Originally hailing from Ballarat, performing is in Reuben’s blood. Throughout his formative years he received training in Violin, Classical Ballet, Classical Singing & Conducting. His onstage credits include appearances in West Side Story, Cinderella, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Mary Poppins, Spamalot & Much Ado About Nothing. Reuben has also played in and conducted over 25 theatrical productions.

Now based in Melbourne, Reuben currently works as a Violin & Cello teacher in secondary schools and is also an avid Conductor & Cabaret performer. He is currently serving as Artistic Director & Principle Conductor of the BallaRat Pack Orchestra. In addition to playing violin & cello, Reuben also plays Piano, Viola, Clarinet & Guitar and is also a keen amateur orchestrator & arranger, skills which all came in handy when he wrote & staged his own musical in 2015.

Jayla McLennan

Piano

Jayla is a Melbourne based Musical Director and keys player. She works as a voice teacher at Stage School Australia and studied music performance at the Berklee College of Music in the USA. She has acted as Musical Director and Assistant Musical Director for shows such as Jack Frost the Musical (Australian Premiere), Gilligan’s Island the Musical (Australian Premiere), Forbidden Broadway, and many other shows around Melbourne.

Ashton Turner

Piano | Voice

Ashton Turner is a singer/pianist, composer, musical director and teacher from Melbourne. She completed her Bachelor of Music from Monash University with First Class Honours in 2020, specialising in Contemporary Voice, as well as a Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics & Theatre) in 2019. She has also completed the AMEB Certificate of Performance in Piano (2016) and the Estill Figure Proficiency examination (2018). Ashton has written and presented several original shows, including Therapy, which debuted successfully at Melbourne’s The Butterfly Club in 2019. Ashton released an EP of selected works from Therapy in 2020. Ashton is fascinated with the inner workings of the human voice, and loves sharing her passion for music with her students.

PRANAV ROY

Trumpet | Trombone | Theory

Pranav is a Brass Specialist with an in depth understanding of several styles and eras of music. He has almost a decade of experience working with classical orchestras, chamber groups, jazz ensembles and theatre pit orchestras as well as local pop artists, hip hop and EDM producers. He is currently studying a Bachelor of Music at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and has been teaching students of all ages and skill levels as well as conducting student ensembles for the past 5 years.

As a teacher, Pranav is driven to help his students foster a healthy relationship with music through exposure to various styles, managing performance pressure, setting and achieving long-term goals, and helping people access their own ‘voice’.

Levi William

Music Production

Levi’s creative practice has always been focused on creating and performing records. Studying at Box Hill Institute (B.A.M), QUT (MFA) and the VCA whist being a career record producer and performer Levi’s list of credits (major & Indy) both as writer and producer include the likes of SONY music, Mushroom music group & Ultra Recordings.

Levi brings seventeen years of studio experience to the Soundworks team. His experience spans multiple genre’s with a distinct focus on ‘ear worm’ melody and sound design. He utilizes bespokeproduction techniques and integration of traditional compositional practices to ensure his music products have high-impact and commands audience’s attention.

Thando

Zimbabwean born and Melbourne based singer-songwriter, Thando, has been gracing stages around Australia with her electric presence and powerhouse vocals. Heralded as a commanding performer, her ability to tell a story takes her audience on a journey of loving oneself and reflection.

The songstress grew up feasting on the musical offerings of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, QUEEN and TLC. Along the way, she found Jill Scott and crafted her genre bending sound with an electric live set. Thando’s 2018 breakthrough single ‘Numb’ has led to supports for Leon Bridges, Maxwell and Allen Stone, as well as collaborations with REMI and Sampa the Great.

The multi-dimensional performer is firmly established as Australia’s newest first lady of R&B.