About Us

BENJAMIN SAMUEL

Voice | Music Theatre | Piano | Theory

Ben is a musician, educator, and entrepreneur. He completed his undergraduate studies in New Zealand in Music Performance (B.A) & Music Theatre (BPA). After relocating to Australia, Ben completed a Master of Music (Performance & Pedagogy) qualification at the University of Melbourne. He has taught at various schools and creative arts programs across Australia and is the Creative Director of Soundworks Music Studios, which offers instrumental training as well as workshops, artist development programs, musical theatre productions and ensemble music programs to the community in Melbourne.

Ben’s musical theatre performance credits as a singer, actor and dancer include productions of Cats, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, Curtains, Carmen, The Color Purple, and Hair. Ben has also performed in various concerts, cabarets and showcases as a soloist. Apart from music theatre, Ben performs regularly with a Jazz trio and loves to sing Gospel, Soul & RnB music. He has also contributed to the development of new works by Australian playwrights and the co-creation of cabaret performances and showcases in Melbourne. In addition, he also is an experienced Musical Director, working with various theatre companies across Melbourne to take musical works from script to stage (Cry Baby, All Shook Up, Seussical, Altar Boys, Disenchanted). He’s particularly focused on projects which promote cultural diversity in theatre; a current project is the production of ‘In The Heights’, the musical which acted as a social experiment of conscious casting within the music theatre industry.  

He is also an examiner for the Australian Music Examinations Board. Ben is currently a lecturer at JMC, teaching within the Bachelor of Music & Master of Creative Industries programs. He also leads the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Acting) program.

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.

HAYDEN FRITZLAFF

Drums | Guitar | Music Production

Hayden is a drummer and guitarist from the nation’s capital. Having graduated from ANU in 2016, Hayden went on to study Sound Production at RMIT. His 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 eight 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.

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. She has performed in concerts across Australia and is also a talented Pianist. Gigi is a highly valued member of the teaching team at Soundworks Music Studio and adores teaching young kids piano and singing. She is passionate about helping young kids unlock their creativity and passion for music.

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).

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.

Wendy Chen

Piano (Classical & Contemporary)

Wendy Chen is a classical pianist. She has completed her Bachelor of Music Studies from Sydney Conservatorium of Music with renowned Dutch-Australian classical pianist Gerard Willems AM and Miss Lyall Duke in 2020. And She was the recipient of Clarence Addison Turrill Scholarship.

Wendy is active in chamber music. She is the guest collaborative pianist for Hainan Lanxin Philharmonic Choir. And she will make her debut in Melbourne Recital Centre this year with Australian premiere of Chinese Music for Saxophone and Piano.

Wendy is a member of HaiKou Music Exchange Association, devoted in promoting classical music in China. She was the organiser of 2019 Hainan International’s Piano Festival and 1st China National Piano Invitational Competition (Professional Categories) and academic translator of RCM Professor Alexandra Alexeev and Ian Jones by helping the delivery of masterclass and lecture in China.

Wendy is also enthusiastic in music education. She joined the Kodaly Seminar in Kodaly Institute of the Liszt Academy, Hungary. And currently she is doing her Master of Music (Performance Teaching) at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. 

Ryley Duncan

Piano | Composition (Jazz & Contemporary)

Ryley Duncan is an award-winning jazz pianist and a graduate of The Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music. Ryley has performed at countless venues around Melbourne, bringing the love of music and excitement with him on stage in every performance. He has shared the stage with some of Australia’s finest in jazz, such as Rob Burke, Craig Fermanis along with recording an album with the outstanding bassist; Linda Oh, and the New York based trumpeter and composer; Ralph Alessi. Ryley has also been taught by some of Australia’s most recognised jazz pianists in Barney McAll, Monique DiMattina and Steve Sedergreen.

In the summer of 2018, Ryley travelled to New York to attend the New York University Summer Jazz Workshop, where he gained an even deeper understanding from greats such as; Larry White, Buster Williams, Joe Lovano, and Chris Potter, and got taught by the inspiring Alan Broadbent. Since then, Ryley has found new love in traditional jazz, finding inspiration from the greats such as Bud Powell, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson, and most recently getting taught by the recipient of the 2019 American Pianists Award, Emmet Cohen. 

Ryley’s contemporary compositional approach is heavily inspired by composers such as Ambrose Akinmusire and Kenny Wheeler, utilising the knowledge passed through their music. Ryley received the Monash University Jazz Prize in 2020 for his composition; “A Dystopian Tale”, presented by Andrea Keller and Paul Williamson.

Henry Robinson

Guitar | Drums | Bass | Ukulele

Henry Robinson is a Brunswick based musician who has been performing and teaching for the past 10 years. With a strong passion for R&B, Blues and Rock Music, Henry incorporates an eclectic range of influences into his teaching style. 

Henry has been M.D, producer and guitarist for Melbourne vocalist Thando for over 5 years. Through this project, Henry has been able to take his guitar playing and songwriting on national tours as well as performances at major festivals like Bluesfest, WOMAdelaide and Party in the Paddock. 

Henry has also shared the stage with many Melbourne based artists, such as Maya Vice and Francoistunes to name a few.

Caitlin New

Caitlin is a Melbourne based Music Theatre performer. She graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2019 and previously studied at Showfit. In her time at WAPPA she choreographed their 3rd year production of Company and played iconic leading lady Charity in Sweet Charity as well as Justice Charlier in Rock of Ages, and Vanessa in Strictly Ballroom. In 2020 Caitlin made her professional debut in the 40th Anniversary Tour of Cats in South Korea as a Swing/Booth singer, and returned to the show in 2022 to tour Taiwan. Caitlin grew up dancing and has years of saxophone and piano training, fostering a love for a wide range of music. Caitlin is a passionate musician and teaches contemporary voice, musical theatre and Piano.

Rory Maher

Rory Maher’s relationship with music began from early childhood. His father Ken Maher, a successful Irish musician in Melbourne’s folk scene fostered a love and passion for singing and music within Rory. Both sides of the family were deeply involved with Melbourne’s music scene and Rory was inspired to follow suit.

Rory released his first single late 2020, with a launch at the Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. An EP is currently in development, a self-proclaimed “musing on post-lockdown mental health.” He is inspired stylistically by Joni Mitchell, James Blake, Bjork and Sufjan Stevens. You can find him gigging around Collingwood, Fitzroy and Brunswick.

During 2021, Rory was ready for a challenging new venture which took the form of performing as John Brooke in Theatrical’s performance of Little Women in November 2021. Rory has just finished playing the principal role of Lucas in his second show, Theatrical’s production of If/Then.

Described as a “charismatic” presence by reviewers, Rory looks forward to more theatre shows. As a vocal coach Rory builds on the anatomical foundations of singing by marrying them to the song’s lyricism and intention. Always teaching as a singer and a songwriter he helps his students connect to their performances, maintain their vocal health and expand on their vocal ability.