Podcasts about west australian academy

In this episode: Listen to a conversation between your host Vivienne Aerts and Australian LA-based Gabbi Coenen, a multi-instrumentalist multi-genre singer-songwriter, who also found her way into the film industry as a music supervisor. She explains the ins and outs of that side of the music business and how she manages what seems to be many careers at the same time. About Gabbi Coenen: Gabbi Coenen is an Australian vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. She is known for her “expansive and electrifying” songwriting and her versatile vocal abilities, which have seen her professional career span a range of genres, from modern jazz to indie pop, early to contemporary classical music, and nearly everything in between. Based in New York City since 2011 and Los Angeles since 2020, she has released four EPs and an album as RVBY MY DEAR. Her debut album Waiting (Villainy Records, 2019) was produced by Andrew Lappin and garnered high praise from indie tastemakers such as The Line of Best Fit and The Deli Magazine, as well as landing on Trip-Hop Nation's Best of 2019 list. The single “Try” was also a semi-finalist in the Unpublished category of the 2019 International Songwriting Competition. Her follow-up self-titled EP (Spirit House Records, 2022) was featured on Bandcamp's New & Notable and received airplay on Triple J's Home & Hosed. Gabbi is currently a soprano with the new music collective C3LA and the All Saints Beverly Hills Choir.When not writing, recording, or performing, Gabbi is a freelance music supervisor for independent films and also teaches private voice and piano lessons to students of all ages and skill levels. She is certified in Somatic Voicework Levels 1-3 and holds a BFA in Jazz Voice from The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music (Salutatorian) and a Bachelor of Music from the West Australian Academy of Performance Arts. Gabbi's music supervisor and consultant credits include The Otherkind (2023), Bonding (2023), and “Crone” from the feminist horror anthology film Give Me An A (2022). www.gabbicoenen.com Instagram / Facebook / Youtube About ViviTalks - Interviews with the Women Behind Typuhthâng. Introducing ViviTalks, a podcast hosted by Dutch New York-based musician Vivienne Aerts. Join us as we celebrate 100 talented female musicians from Vivienne's latest album "Typuhthâng," with a mission to empower female cacao farmers in the Virunga State Park of Congo and contribute to rainforest restoration. We delve into the musical journeys, creative processes, and unique perspectives of these talented women, seeking to bring greater balance to the music industry. It's a safe space for honest and authentic conversations with artists and trailblazers. Let's amplify the voices of remarkable women in music and stay tuned for inspiring stories and meaningful dialogues on ViviTalks. Stream the Album or Buy it on Bandcamp and get the chocolate! More about Vivienne here. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vivienne-aerts/message

Eddie Grey was born and raised in Sydney. An accomplished musician and talented performer, he graduated from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts and quickly garnered an impressive list of credits in productions of Spring Awakening (for the Sydney Theatre Company), and commercial productions of Legally Blonde, Wicked (as Boq) and The Book of Mormon.Whilst at WAAPA he started writing his own material. His first work was Frau Fangus' Revenge, a musical about a masochistic Weimar-era piano teacher who falls in love with her student and makes the student murder her husband. Y'know.  Standard musical comedy fodder!Following his successful forays on the Australian stage, he took the plunge and moved to New York, where he has performed in the National tour of The Book of Mormon - a show in which he also made his Broadway debut. Eddie recently completed a stint in the Broadway run of the musical Harmony, written by Barry Manilow. Both gigs came about under fascinating circumstances. It wasn't until the pandemic hit that Eddie really started writing again, completing a postgraduate course in screenwriting for television at UCLA. The first short film he wrote and produced, titled Weather or Not, was based on a story by David Sedaris that Eddie optioned from the author himself. It went on to a successful festival run and distribution and also paved the way for his second short, The Singing Telegram which had its LA premiere at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Currently, he has a television project under development with Aurora Pictures in Sydney and another with Kilo Pictures in London.STAGES caught up with Eddie on a recent visit to New York where we learned so much more about his talent to amuse, and craft engaging theatre and film.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Duncan Rock is a singer and a nutritionist who works with the likes of Vocal Health Education and The Voice Care Centre. He returns to the podcast to discuss the topic of understanding singing and fitness. KEY TAKEAWAYS People often think the benefits of exercise are just weight loss and gaining muscle, but the far more important benefits are around increasing the length and quality of your life.  Exercise also increases your cardiovascular, metabolic, muscular, neurological, digestive and mental health.  Being strong and having good cardiovascular health can be valuable on stage, especially if you're playing a demanding role. An example often given is the role of Don Giovanni in Mozart's Don Giovanni, which requires a fight in the very first scene.  For some people, exercise decreases the time it takes for their body tissues to recover from strenuous work. This is because when you exercise regularly, your blood flow, metabolic health and cellular healing tend to improve. The fitter you are, the more it benefits you. Performers should be mindful of the three pillars of fitness: strength, mobility and cardiovascular endurance. Duncan cautions singers against doing just one type of activity as they may experience hyper-adaptation to that activity over time. This will be to the detriment of your other capacities. Duncan believes that singing teachers often get it wrong when they warn students against lifting weights out of fear it will ruin their voice. He thinks singers need to be mindful of not developing muscular imbalances that could lead to excessive tension and high threshold strategies. These high threshold strategies refer to the unnecessary overworking of muscles, which can impact the vocal mechanism. BEST MOMENTS‘Exercise is one of the best things you can do to increase your length and quality of life' ‘It doesn't matter how good your technique is, if you're out of breath, you're not going to be able to do it'‘People who have high cardiovascular health, their vocal tissue recovers faster' ‘Address each part of the pillar as its own goal' ‘There is no relation to the visibility of someone's six-pack and its rigidity or flexibility'‘Don't do crunches, I don't think it's necessary' ‘Getting the right amount of nutrients from whole foods is infinitely more important than nutrient timing'  EPISODE RESOURCES Website: duncanrocknutrition.com  Social Media:  Instagram: @duncanrock_nutrition  Relevant Links & Mentions:  Singing Teachers Talk Podcast - Ep. 100 The Truth About Singing and Dairy with Nutritionist Duncan Rock  Sussex Back Pain Clinic: https://www.sussexbackpainclinic.co.uk/ Claudia Hodgson-Rodriguez: @claudia.theatrefit Exercises mentioned: Pallof Press; Woodchop; Kettlebell Halo; Deadlift; Romanian Deadlift; Bench Press; Push Ups; Pull Ups/Downs; Rows; Rucking  Mahant Amar Bharati Ji  Firas Zahabi Tristar Gym: https://tristargym.com/trainers/firas-zahabi/ Stephen King and The Voice Care Centre: https://voicecarecentre.co.uk/stephen-king/ ABOUT THE GUEST Duncan is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) and West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He has an active career as an operatic baritone performing roles at many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera, Glyndebourne, English National Opera, Teatro Real and the Boston Lyric Opera. As a baritone soloist, he has recorded and performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Duncan also works as a nutritionist and nutritional science writer. He holds a Masters of Science in Nutritional Science and an advanced diploma in nutrition and weight management. His speciality is combining his parallel fields of study and providing nutritional information for performing artists. He is cognisant, from an academic and personal standpoint, of the heavy demands of a busy performing and travel schedule. He has been using his knowledge of diet and nutrition to propel his own career and help other performers attain optimal vocal and physical health. Duncan is now part of the team at the Sussex Back Pain Clinic.MMus MMperf MSc MRSPH ABOUT THE PODCASTBAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events.Website: basttraining.comGet updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST TrainingLink to presenter's bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-biosThis show was brought to you by Progressive Media

This episode is very special! It marks 100 episodes of the BAST Singing Teachers Talk podcast! We just wanted to take a second to do a massive shout out to all of the incredible guests we've spoken to and also you, our amazing listeners! To thank you for joining us, we're running a special giveaway to win over a thousand pounds worth of educational videos, knowledge and singing teacher goodness! All you need to do to enter is take a screenshot of this episode of the podcast playing on your device, pop it on your story and tag @basttraining. That's it! You're entered! We'll be announcing winners over on Instagram and Facebook so give us a cheeky follow. Competition entry ends at midnight tonight so get screenshotting! On to the podcast and on this milestone episode we're joined by Duncan Rock, a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama who has an active career as an operatic Baritone performing roles at many of the world's leading opera houses. He is a nutritionist working with the likes of Vocal Health Education and The Voice Care Centre and is currently training to be a physiotherapist.    KEY TAKEAWAYS   Singers have a ritual of avoiding eating chocolate before singing because they think as it naturally contains caffeine, it will dry you out and constrict the muscles around your vocal cords. It's also an acid reflux trigger, creates more phlegm, and it coats the back of the throat giving you a flatter sounding voice. Duncan believes this is just a performative act people give as there is very little evidence that it will actually have any effect.  Liquids that are emulsive, whether dairy or not, can create the feeling of thickness and can feel like they leave a sticky residue in your throat. This goes away with time and you can even just wash it off with a glass of water.  Sugar has long term effects on our health that happens over time with large consumption. It will not have any short term effects on your voice. We do need to watch our sugar intake, but this is just a long term health risk rather than a vocal one.  In Duncan's opinion, trying to manage chronic inflammation and digestive health seems to have the best overall net result for any vocal health issues around mucus and reflux. Chronic inflammation is becoming more of an issue due to stress and the amount of processed food we eat.  It's a myth that Duncan has heard at every single level of his career in classical music that if you are fit and exercise then you can't sing opera. Pavarotti was an amazing singer despite his weight, not because of it.    BEST MOMENTS   ‘Dairy does not create mucus, this is a myth' ‘You're just as likely to experience the same thing with a soy based drink as with dairy' ‘These lists of best food for singers you find online are rarely based on anything substantial'   EPISODE RESOURCES  Guest Website: www.basttraining.com Social Media: duncanrocknutrition.com  Social Media:  Instagram: @duncanrock_nutrition  Relevant Links & Mentions:  Vocal Health Education: vocalhealtlh.co.uk Pubmed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ Singing Teachers Talk Podcast: Ep. 60 The Best Nutritional Do's and Don'ts for Singers with Stephanie Moore: https://linktr.ee/basttraining?utm_source   ABOUT THE GUEST    Duncan is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) and West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He has an active career as an operatic Baritone performing roles at many of the world's leading opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera, Glyndebourne, English National Opera, Teatro Real and the Boston Lyric Opera. As a baritone soloist, he has recorded and performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony orchestra. Concurrently with his performing career, Duncan works as a Nutritionist and Nutritional Science Writer. He holds a Masters of Science in Nutritional Science and an advanced diploma in nutrition and weight management. His speciality is combining his parallel fields of study and providing nutritional information for performing artists. He is cognisant, from both an academic and personal standpoint, of the heavy demands of a busy performing schedule that often includes the demands of rigorous travel. He has been using his knowledge of diet and nutrition to propel his own career as well as help other performers attain optimal vocal and physical health. MMus MMperf MSc MRSPH   ABOUT THE PODCAST   BAST Training is here to help singers gain the knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a great singing teacher. We can help you whether you are getting started or just have some knowledge gaps to fill through our courses and educational events. Website: basttraining.com Get updates to your inbox: Click here for updates from BAST Training Link to presenter's bios: basttraining.com/singing-teachers-talk-podcast-biosSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mandy Bishop is a graduate of the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Known and revered for her deft impersonation of Australia's first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard; Mandy is also an actor, comedian, musician and writer of considerable accomplishment. Commencing her career with the celebrated A cappella group Bite My Chilli, Mandy toured Australia performing concert and corporate entertainment, while also developing skills in producing and arts management. Her theatre credits are extensive and include a variety of of repertoire; The Pillowman, Boston Marriage, Fallen Angels, Vicious Streaks, Angry Penguins and Withering Heights. On television she has been seen in Heartbreak High, Blue Heelers, All Saints, Big Sky, My Place, Rake and Drop Dead Weird. Most recently she appeared in Anyone Can Whistle for Neglected Musicals. Mandy has collaborated with producer Michael Bourchier on two children's television series; The Upside Down Show, on which she played the role of Mrs. Foil in every episode, and Penelope K, by the Way, on which she played the title role. In 2011 Mandy co-wrote and created the four-part sitcom, At Home With Julia, in which she portrayed the sitting PM. She has acted in Sydney's legendary Wharf Revue since 2008, inhabiting a vast array of political and pop-culture characters. Each demonstrating a penetrating examination and superlative execution. Mandy joins the Wharf Revue team of Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phil Scott once again as Soft Tread Enterprises presents Looking for Albanese. This much anticipated event on our calendars commences its Sydney season at The Seymour Centre from November 12th and through December. “The world is grim - what better time to have a laugh?” Mandy examines the craft of humour, her artistic relationship with ‘Julia' and the joy of satire and revue in this sparkling episode of the STAGES podcast. The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Recipient of Best New Podcast at 2019 Australian Podcast Awards. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages). www.stagespodcast.com.au

Leith Taylor is an experienced theatre practitioner having worked across a range of fields as an actor, director, producer, writer and drama educator. As an actor Leith worked extensively over two decades in film, television and radio as well as appearing in more than sixty theatre productions nationally and internationally. In Perth she is well remembered for her numerous appearances in leading roles at the Playhouse and Hole in the Wall theatres. After being awarded a Fellowship, she transitioned to directing and founded her own company, Theatre West, with a focus on shows by or about women. She subsequently directed numerous productions, some under the banner of her own company but also in collaboration with or for other theatre companies including Black Swan, W.A. and Perth Theatre Companies, deckchair and Melbourne's HIT Productions. Some of her productions toured nationally or were part of Arts Festival programming and include Oleanna, One Small Step, Woman in Mind, Speaking in Tongues, The Season at Sarsaparilla, Sixteen Words for Water and Blood Moon. Leith has long been involved with professional drama training having lectured and directed at numerous performing arts institutions in Australia and overseas including the Drama Studio (U.S. and U.K.), LaSalle College of the Arts (Singapore) and a long association with the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Early training in journalism enhanced her work as a dramaturg and scriptwriter, while her psychology qualifications resulted in work as a drama therapist with groups and individuals in this specialist field. She was able to bring these different perspectives to her doctoral research which focused on the role of emotions in actor training programmes, signalling the necessity for significant procedural changes in drama schools and in the profession. Leith is a graduate of the University of Western Australia, California State University L.A., the Drama Studio London and WAAPA @ ECU where she completed her PhD. She has won several awards for acting and directing and been a member of numerous boards and consultative panels including the Australia Council for the Arts, Perth International Arts Festival, Healthway Foundation and the W.A. Department for Culture and the Arts. The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Recipient of Best New Podcast at 2019 Australian Podcast Awards. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages). www.stagespodcast.com.au

Tim Wright grew up in Albany, WA. He studied at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He is presently performing on Broadway in the revival production of Richard Greenberg's ‘Take Me Out'.Initial stage credits in Australia include I Own The racecourse (Bell), Lockie Leonard - Human Torpedo (Ensemble) and This is Our Youth (Echelon). Regular appearances at the Melbourne Theatre Company followed with Laughter on the 23rd Floor, The Glass Menagerie, Boy Gets Girl, Metamorphoses and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (also STC). TV credits include Stingers, Big Sky and The Secret Life of Us.Venturing abroad in 2009, he landed in New York and has since carved an impressive career with three Broadway credits and a host of U.S. television; Blue Bloods, New Amsterdam, Quantico, and the cult musical-theatre themed Smash- seasons 1 and 2.On the Broadway stage Tim has appeared in The Bridges of Madison County and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time; joining this show also for its US tour. Off-Broadway he worked with the Atlantic Theatre Company on 3 Kinds of Exile. Seasons of Sunset Boulevard and The Jungle at Regional theatres have also enjoyed Tim's talents.Tim is nearing the end of the run of Take Me Out - and also a stint in New York that has seen him realise great accomplishment - in conquering the Broadway stage. We applaud Tim for his tenacity in making a career in New York a reality and celebrate his impressive performance achievements as he prepares to return to Australia.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Whooshkaa, Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Recipient of Best New Podcast at 2019 Australian Podcast Awards. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Simon Phillips began his career in New Zealand before emigrating to Australia in 1984 to take up a position as lecturer and director at the West Australian Academy for Performing Arts. In 1987 he joined the Melbourne Theatre Company as Associate Director and in 1990 he was appointed Artistic Director of the State Theatre Company of South Australia. After freelancing nationally and internationally between 1994 and 1999, he returned to MTC as Artistic Director from 2000 to 2011, overseeing the design and construction of the company's new headquarters and the Southbank Theatre.His directing credits range from new works to contemporary and Shakespearean classics, to musicals, to opera. He has directed works by most of the great contemporary writers: Albee (A Delicate Balance), Beckett (Happy Days), Brecht (Arturo Ui), Churchill (Cloud Nine/Serious Money), Hare (The Blue Room), McDonagh (The Pillowman), Orton (What the Butler Saw/Entertaining Mr Sloane), Shepherd (Buried Child, A Lie of the Mind), and Stoppard (Arcadia, Rock'n'Roll).He has also directed the premieres of many new works by leading Australian writers, including David Williamson, Matt Cameron, Hannie Rayson, Stephen Sewell and Joanna Murray-Smith.Simon's musical credits in Australia include Love Never Dies, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (which has had numerous international seasons including The West End and Broadway), The Twenty-Fifth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Urinetown the Musical, Company, The Threepenny Opera, Cabaret, Muriel's Wedding - the musical, Ladies in Black, Dream Lover, An Officer and a Gentleman and High Society. In New Zealand he directed Oliver!, Chicago, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Pirates of Penzance.Among his many classical productions, The Tempest, Julius Caesar, A Comedy of Errors and The Importance of Being Earnest all toured nationally in Australia. Simon's opera credits include: La Bohème, Falstaff, L'Elisir d'Amore and Lulu for Opera Australia, The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni for Opera New Zealand and A Midsummer Night's Dream and Billy Budd for Hamburg State Opera.Simon is the recipient of many Australian Theatre awards and has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Melbourne. He recently directed As You Like It for the Melbourne Theatre Company and has now turned his focus to Sydney with an adaptation of North By Northwest, and a thrilling new production of The Phantom of the Opera for Opera Australia; they take to the stages of the Lyric Theatre and Sydney Harbour. He discusses these exciting theatrical ventures, as well as his illustrious career, in this compelling episode of STAGES.The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Whooshkaa, Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Recipient of Best New Podcast at 2019 Australian Podcast Awards. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au

Rodney Dobson was born in Wonthaggi, South Gippsland. His family moved to Perth when he was ten. Sport was his passion growing up but in his late teens he found accomplishment and applause in the experiences he was having with the performing arts. Today, he is preparing to commence rehearsals for Global Creatures production of Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge.Rodney is a graduate of the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts; arriving at the Academy in one of their first intakes of Musical theatre students. He has now enjoyed a continuity of career entering its 4th decade.Recently he delivered us a brilliant turn as Amos Hart in Chicago. His extensive list of credits include the new musicals; Dream Lover – The Bobby Darin Musical (Charlie) and Moonshadow (Mr Mathew). He has also been a member of the Original Australian Casts of Wicked (Dr Dillamond), The Full Monty (Dave), Rosie (George), Jolson, Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon, Aspects of Love, Return to the Forbidden Planet and Chess.Rodney's other theatre credits include the Julie Andrews-directed My Fair Lady, Singing in the Rain (Roscoe Dexter), Les Misérables 10th Anniversary tour (Factory Foreman / Coufeyrac) and 25th Anniversary tour (Bishop, Thenardier), Annie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Company (David), Sweeney Todd in both 2001 and 2006 for Opera Australia (Tobias), Buddy in 1994 and 2000 (The Big Bopper), Twelfth Night (Belvoir), South Pacific, Legally Blonde (Professor Callahan) and Miss Julie (STC).He is celebrated for his dependability in delivering 'the goods' on every show and for his congeniality and contribution as a company member.The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify and Whooshkaa. Also where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au

Ditch Davey is a charming bloke and a terrific actor. Following study at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts he cut his teeth on a series of commercial and series work with All Saints, Above The Law, Water Rats and the telemovie Do Or Die.It wasn’t long before her arrived permanently on our screens in the guise of Constable Evan Jones in the police drama, Blue Heelers. This stint garnered him the Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent.Davey went on to host Channel Seven’s Police Files - Unlocked before leaving to work on Sea Patrol. He played SAS officer Jim Roth on a semi-regular basis. He portrayed Romeo in the 2012 Australian Science-Fiction Film Crawlspace. He featured in the final season of Spartacus: War of the Damned.Film engagements have followed and a role as Dr Ian Bickman in the US produced series Black Box; a medical drama which screened on the ABC network. Davey starred alongside Terry Kinney and Vanessa Redgrave.Ditch Davey can presently be seen in Home & Away as Summer Bay’s new medic, Dr Christian Green.It had been a few years since I last caught up with Ditch. Nothing had changed. He possessed the same charming, funny and contagious spirit that has obviously propelled him into a triumphant career on screens and stage.The Stages podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where all good podcasts are found.

Aarne Neeme started his professional theatre career in 1962, as a dancer in a Christmas pantomime at Melbourne’s Tivoli Theatre.In an extensive career he has contributed as a director and a lecturer in both vocational and academic institutions, throughout Australia and in New Zealand and Singapore. Aarne has directed well over 300 productions covering the whole classical and contemporary repertoire; and specialising in new writing.He has been the Artistic Director of a number of organisations and has worked for most of the major theatre companies. Most notably, he has held the positions of Artistic Director of National Theatre Co. Perth, Hunter Valley Theatre Co., Hole in the Wall Theatre Co. and Head of the Theatre Department at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and Senior Fellow at the National University of Singapore.He has also worked in television, directing on drama series such as Blue Heelers, All Saints, MDA, Home and Away, Neighbours and Out of the Blue.He has been the recipient of various awards in Sydney, Perth, Newcastle and Canberra. Most impressively an Order of Australia (AM) for his work as a director and educator in theatre and television.Aarne is a charming gentleman, a man of the theatre and an consummate artist. What a privilege to hear his insights. Enjoy!The Stages podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where all good podcasts are found.

Peter Ross is the Manager of Entertainment Venues in the regional city of Tamworth. He acknowledges that “A strong arts scene is recognised as one of the elements that attracts and keeps people in regional centres”.He is responsible for programming and leading the city's live performance and conference venues - the Capitol Theatre Tamworth, Tamworth Town Hall and the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre. Ross has changed the direction of theatre in Tamworth and raised the bar on local theatre. Bringing outstanding artists and increasing audience numbers.In the home of Country Music he has also assumed the role of Executive Producer and Director of the Golden Guitar awards. And celebrated Community Theatre - an opportunity for community to express their artistic leanings and find a valuable social outlet.A self-confessed ‘jack of all trades’ his theatrical life leading to this position saw him navigate a variety of roles on and off the stage. Each has informed and given terrific insight to frame his work today.Growing up in Newcastle, he initially set forth studying visual arts. An opportunity presented itself for a Stage Manager at The Hunter Valley Theatre Company, which he took up with glee. This lead to onstage roles with the company and with the theatre in education group, Freewheels Theatre Company and the original production of Nick Enright’s Property of the Clan.Study at The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts followed, in the Musical Theatre course. Ross developed his performance skills while also writing a musical and finessing his directing ability.He then juggled a series of personas as performer, producer, director and resident director on a series of productions that included Jon English’s Buskers and Angels, Summer Rain at The Sydney Theatre Company, Mary Bryant at The Ensemble Theatre and Hugh Jackman’s Arena tour of The Boy From Oz.Ross was ‘on the ground’ and took Producing and Directing roles presenting Musicals with the Kookaburra Musical Theatre Company. It was an exciting venture that promised great theatre experiences but sadly did not survive its rocky beginning. He speaks candidly of that period.Managing theatre venues is an enormous task, especially in this time of Covid-19. The safety of audience, performers and staff is paramount in any attempt to get theatres going again. Peter Ross is determined to make those experiences a reality and describes the measures now in place at venues, while also reflecting on a vibrant life working in the theatre.The Stages podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Spotify, Whooshkaa and where all good podcasts are found.

Demelza Leonard of DL Social is a social media, pop culture and music expert.  Having been a rock journalist and training at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in journalism, Demelza has a significant pedigree when it comes to working with the media. When you understand the disciplines involved you have a significant advantage over others. One of the key messages that The Experts Podcast wants to reinforce is the way experts remain true to themselves and be as authentic as they can be. Don't try to be someone else, do what you love and enjoy and be consistent with your brand. This is something that you will hear right through the podcast and a message that we thoroughly endorse. In this podcast Demelza tells us about an interview she did with American rapper Ice Cube while he was touring in Australia. The ability to adapt, think fast on your feet and not giving up is a strong message for all experts to take on when looking to engage media. There is so much to take from the attitude and actions of Demelza in this interview that you can apply to your position in media. Music has an incredible appeal and ability to connect at the best of times but during a pandemic it's a place where you can go that has some relief and a sense of normalcy, even if it's just for a moment. It's quite exciting to hear Demelza comment on the changes, the shifts, and the adaptions that some of the biggest names in music have had to make during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dean Carey began his professional career in Melbourne, acting in a series of television and stage productions. However it is the pedagogy of Acting that has consumed Dean for over 35 years, teaching the craft and associated performance skills. He has enormous passion and respect for the process of the actor and has subsequently become a stand for powerful and meaningful performance, nurturing actors to fully explore, grow and be their best.Dean has taught in the United Staes, the United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Russia, Singapore and New Zealand. He is the author of the much acclaimed , The Acting Edge, The Actor’s Audition Manual and Masterclass.He has served appointments as Head of Acting at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts and at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, where he also taught on the staff for several years. Several generations of actors have benefitted from his guidance with Dean also completing teaching stints and/or direction at the Victorian College of the Arts, the Queensland University of Technology and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.In 1987 he created an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts, (Acting) becoming the Founding and Creative Director of the Actor’s Centre Australia. Yesterday, The Actor's Centre celebrated 33 years of operation! In this riveting chat we discuss the training of actors, Dean's penchant for science fiction stories and the birth and growth of ACA. Bravo Dean and Happy Birthday ACA!

Perth seems ‘a million miles away’ from New York City, but it frames the journey of Carmel Dean; a musical practitioner of intellectual and creative power. She has been applauded extensively in a variety of roles that include Composer, Musical Director, Arranger and Pianist.Early training in classical piano and study at The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, confirmed an ambition harboured by Carmel. She wanted to create, write and perform music, chiefly in the genre of musical theatre.In 2001 she was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study in the United States and subsequently graduated from NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program.A dynamic approach to her work and an easy charm saw her triumph in a succession of creative tasks; transcribing, teaching and accompaniment, building collaborative relationships and demonstrating solid instincts. These experiences soon lead to roles in Musical Direction.As Musical Director, she has guided the Broadway productions of If/Then, Hands on a Hardbody, American Idiot and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Off-Broadway credits include Everyday Rapture, Vanities and Elegies - A Song Cycle by William Finn.As Composer, Carmel’s first musical, Renascence, was produced Off-Broadway and was named Best New Musical at the 2018 Off-Broadway Alliance Awards. A song-cycle titled Well Behaved Women had its premiere performance in New York at Joe’s Pub in January, 2020.Carmel Dean is a remarkable musician and an inspiring woman. She is incredibly eloquent. We connected with Carmel remotely, to traverse her extraordinary career thus far, and obtain a fascinating insight into the construction of a Musical narrative.

Lisa McCune first performed on stage at the age of 15 playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. She is synonymous with the character of ‘Maggie Doyle’ in the popular television drama , Blue Heelers. The role rewarded her with a swag of awards, including four Gold Logies as the most popular personality on Australian TV.McCune is not an actor to be defined by one role however, and has continued to amass a vast repertoire of performances on television and in plays and musical theatre.She trained at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, demonstrating a resilience and ambition, as one of the youngest students to be accepted into the course.Her immense charm and engaging persona have made her the perfect casting in a succession of Rodgers and Hammerstein roles, where she has delighted audiences as Maria in The Sound of Music, Nellie Forebush in South Pacific and Anna Leonowens in The King and I. Her range is vast and she has given a terrific assortment of performances; Nunsense, Guys & Dolls, The Potato Factory, Sea Patrol, 33 Variations, Little Fish, Cabaret, Urinetown and How To Stay Married to list but a few.Adept at musical theatre, comedy and drama she is immediately likeable and accomplished in her navigation of character and story. Lisa was giving her ‘Gertrude’ in Hamlet with The Bell Shakespeare Company when the pandemic forced the closure of many theatres; effectively forcing the valuable work of the Arts sector to an abrupt stop.It was indeed a pleasure to converse with Lisa (from afar) and contemplate her career, craft and COVID-19.

Equipped with a soaring voice, matinee idol looks and bundles of charm; a career on the stage seems to have been destined for Alex Rathgeber.Growing up in rural Victoria, a series of roles in community theatre and school production lead him to study at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts and on to a succession of roles that have enthralled audiences. Deft character studies have engaged Rathgeber in productions of The Drowsy Chaperone, An Officer and a Gentleman, Fiddler on the Roof, The Rocky Horror Show and Next To Normal.His performance as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes earned him a Helpmann Award. He reflects on his journey thus far; the triumph and challenge including the unique task of working within The Tin Man for The Wizard of Oz. Along the way he has played Raoul in the 21st Anniversary cast of The Phantom of the Opera in The West End.Passionate, intelligent and insightful, he proved to be the perfect guest in this episode, reflecting on a young career that has achieved much that can never be taken for granted.

Carolyn Chard has an eclectic taste in music; she is moved equally by the heavy beat of dance music or the gentle and beautiful melodies that speak to the soul. However it is the power of the classics and great composers of Opera that propel her through her work day as the Executive Director of West Australian Opera.The company was formed in 1967 and works in close association with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. Ms Chard has steered the company for nearly two decades following various arts management positions around the country.Roles at Opera Australia, and Deckchair Theatre and Barking Gecko in WA, nurtured a great passion for the power of theatre. These positions followed her completion of the Arts Management degree at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts.Informing her decision to pursue Arts Management was her early producing forays in fashion and the rave scene. Working in the banking industry also provided terrific grounding; eclectic experiences indeed, that help to shape the practitioner and guide the artistic journey.Career paths are always fascinating and the rewards can be most satisfying. Ms Chard talks with great candour about her unique journey to arrive at the helm of WA’s triumphant Opera Company.Stages is available from iTunes, Spotify and Whooshkaa.

Taylah Hedlam is a storyteller. Taylah has recently graduated from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. With her experience performing in front of big crowds her fire has always been telling stories of various characters on stage. Away from performing characters, Taylah is also passionate about telling her own story and being a voice for young people and issues they face. She is also on a mission of raising awareness of taboo topics with Indigenous women. Taylah wants want to create a safe space for Indigenous women to be able to openly talk about sexual health including heavy topics such as miscarriage. The Shout Out Speakers’ Podcast celebrates the voices of all young people in Australia. Our simple aim is to inspire hope in anyone who listens to our unique stories about courage, resilience, creativity and more! Our agency is run through the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia, and you can book us for your next school assembly, conference or community event at www.yacwa.org.au/shoutout/. The stories in this podcast were written, prepared and recorded by young people in Perth, Western Australia, after two days’ of leadership and public speaking training in 2018. Podcast produced by Taku Mbudzi and Josh Martin in Melbourne and Percy Kalino in Perth. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shout-out-youth-speakers-australia/message

Isabella Stone is a contemporary dance performer, choreographer, and teacher. Isabella believes in the power of movement and performance to connect, communicate, transform and inspire people and communities through performance experiences.Based in Perth, Isabella is a graduate of the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (2009) and LINK Dance Company (2010). As a performer, Isabella has worked for Maxima Circus Catch!, Thomas ES Kelly Junjeiri Ballun – Gurul Gaureima, Paul Blackman and Christine Gouzelis (Jukstapoz) Fragile Matter, and many more. Isabella participated in extensive research residencies in Tasmania (T.R.I.P Tasdance), Finland (JoJo Dance Festival), Bilbao (ACTFestival) and Bundanon, as well as workshops nationally and internationally. Teaching has become an integral part of Isabella’s development as an artist, with a strong focus on working with youth. Isabella cherishes the role young people have played, in her ambition to remain curious and always learning while teaching. In 2019, Isabella became a member of Tasdance, performing in MONA FOMA and creating new solo work for Junction Arts Festival, and performed with Maxima Circus in the season Catch!Isabella is a very kind and hopeful person. She trusts that by the time she is 50, she will be at the peak of her creative and physical abilities. This was quite an eye-opener for me as I have never really thought about my life at that age. As a young dancer, it was a pleasure to interview her as it made me realise what keeps drawing me towards dance.

The working life of a dancer is relatively short. Not in all cases of course, but a day often arrives when a dancer can dance no more - so what are the options? How does one create new opportunities and future employment?Shane Colquhoun was a professional dancer for 12 years before detouring into Arts Management, studying at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. It was a change of course that has allowed him a unique opportunity to contribute to various artistic forms and ensure longevity of career.Shane completed his training at The Royal Ballet School in London, before taking contracts to dance with London Festival Ballet and work through Europe and Australia. An engagement as a Guest dancer with WA Ballet brought him back home and re-energised him with a thriving arts scene in the West.He has worked with a range of arts organisations, chiefly in WA. These include Deckchair Theatre, The West Australian Ballet and the Black Swan Theatre Company. He is a champion of young artists - always ready to encourage, support and advise.He serves on ample boards, giving back to a community that encouraged him. And assists in steering Arts organisations to make their mark in WA and abroad.His enthusiasm and passion are contagious. His vision and energy is impressive.I’m thrilled that STAGES had an opportunity to talk with a West Australian creative ... I welcome my old friend, Shane Colquhoun.

It was whilst enjoying a successful career in the U.S., navigating a series of guest roles in high-profile television shows like Homeland, Law & Order, Blue Bloods and The Newsroom, that Fiona Choi was offered a life-changing casting at home - that of Jenny Law, the passionate matriarch of the Law family in the SBS series, The Family Law. Equals part pathos and comedy, the character has become iconic and enabled Choi a unique position in the Australian television landscape; a middle-aged woman of Chinese heritage balancing the roles of Mother and Wife. It’s a universal narrative but the show is a first in its portrayal of the loving but dysfunctional Chinese-Australian family.As can be the want of show business, it seems to have taken a couple of decades for Choi to become ‘an overnight sensation’. She became hooked as a performer during her secondary education, going on to become an avid member of her University theatre organisation. As a graduate of the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, her early career began in the commercial musicals Rent and Mamma Mia.An impressive theatre resume added recent forays at the Melbourne Theatre Company in The Lady in the Van and the August production of Golden Shield.Her present focus is the construction of a one-woman show celebrating Hollywood’s first Chinese movie star and international style icon, Anna May Wong. The show, Dragon Lady, features Choi in an intimate performance that travels through Anna May’s past and tackles her demons with scandalous reminiscences and sparkling musical numbers. Dragon Lady provokes questions about the struggles of cultural identity and the heavy price of ambition.Dragon Lady will premiere at The Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June, confirming Choi as a talent of great versatility and power. What a treat it was to sit down with Fiona to discuss Dragon Lady, The Family Law, the visibility of our Asian storytellers and Motherhood.

Stella Donnelly is an Australian musician from Perth, Australia. Donnelly started off singing Green Day songs in her high school rock band. This eventually leads to her interest in jazz and contemporary as an adult studying at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. After two whirlwind years of international record deals, massive spots, and calling out bulls**t, Stella is preparing to release her debut album. Producer: Nicole De Palo and Bre Jones

I once heard Lisle Jones remark “I am married to the Theatre, but the Ballet is my mistress!” He is a man who relishes any discipline as long as it can produce a good story with clarity, passion and skill.An accomplished actor and director, he is from a school where you served an apprenticeship, learning how to craft your work on the job. By watching senior actors and devouring any experience that came your way.His was a time when an Australian actor would be obliged to travel to England to carve a career and further opportunities. After a time in London, in various roles, he was drawn back to Australia with a unique proposition – the opportunity to head an actor-training course in Western Australia. For 12 years Lisle Jones oversaw the Acting faculty at The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts and the training of countless successful graduates. His students included Marcus Graham, Frances O’Connor, William McInnes, Robert Taylor and Hugh Jackman.At age 88, he continues to teach acting … a craft in which, he says, “you can never stop learning” …… he is driven by his passion, an immense curiosity and a desire to make the actor the best they can be.Lisle has immense knowledge, an opinion on everything and many wonderful anecdotes. For those who know Lisle, you will find this conversation enlightening, great nostalgia and re-affirming – if you are about to meet the man – sit back and enjoy. You are in for a treat!

In 1983, something was happening in the Western states – the birth of a training course focused entirely on the Musical Theatre. There was no music theatre education in the country, and after starting the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Dr Geoff Gibbs made the creation of the course his next goal.For nearly 20 years, Denis Follington was on the staff of this much sought Musical Theatre BA at WAAPA. The course has graduated students including Meow Meow, Eddie Perfect, Lisa McCune, Dean Bryant, Lucy Durack, Rodney Dobson, Carmel Dean and Simon Gleeson. In 1997, he took the helm and steered the course for another 3 years as Head of the department.The course garnered a national reputation for producing graduates who were prepared, focused, knowledgable and dependable. WAAPA graduates walked into the country’s commercial musicals – and proved themselves adept at television and plays too. Impressed with the success of the course at WAAPA, he was lured by Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore to build a Music Theatre course of their own, attracting students from around the world.STAGES spoke to Denis about the essentials of such an education, the history of the course at WAAPA and his first cast recording of a Broadway show.