Private Music Tutors

BMA   

With a degree in commercial music production from the Waikato Institute of Technology, including Berkley College of Music training in notation, harmony and musical theory, Mr McCallum has worked in a variety of roles within the music industry, giving him a sound foundation for teaching. Over the past five years, Mr McCallum has built an esteemed reputation as a passionate guitar teacher and band mentor. 

His teaching emphasis is on contemporary rock and pop guitar styles with established guitar techniques. Jazz, folk, soul and funk guitar playing techniques are also a large part of his teaching skills. He sees the guitar as the ideal way to communicate, entertain, and express oneself. Mr McCallum is also recognised as a founding member of successful indie-rock band ‘Motocade’. Renowned within the New Zealand music scene, Motocade continues to enjoy international success from acclaimed album releases and shows. Mr McCallum brings an added dimension to his lessons with his experience as a live musician, recording artist and songwriter.

Mr Keith Milbank started playing professionally at age 18 on the Auckland covers circuit, then shortly after developed an interest in jazz harmony. He studied jazz guitar and piano at University of Auckland School of Music and has been teaching guitar extensively in recent years. Mr Milbank has a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Jazz) and a Diploma of Audio Engineering from SAE. He played guitar and keyboard for Auckland group “One Million Dollars”, recording and touring extensively through Australasia.

David Hodkinson is a professional electric bassist and holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the New Zealand School of Music.  He has been performing and recording for over 20 years on the instrument and offering specialist tutoring since 2007.  During this time David has been a member of NZ group ‘dDub’ playing major festivals from Whangarei to Queenstown, as well as modern jazz groups ‘The Alan Brown Quartet’, ‘Steve Sheriff 5tet’, and ‘Spiral Collective’.  As a freelance bassist David has worked with artists including James Morrison, Carl Doye, Annie Crummer, Whirimako Black, Sir John Rowles, Chris Powley, Lisa Crawley, Hayley Westenra, Ria Hall, Howie and Temuera Morrison and more.  

Alongside this David is the bassist for the National Youth Theatre, performing twice a year in the Aotea Centre with some of Auckland's finest pit musicians.

David currently teaches in 9 of the highest performing music departments across Auckland and has twice been a presenter for MENZA professional development days for music teachers.  Through attestation and appraisal David is on the top step of the scale in the state sector.

Callum Passells (BMus, University of Auckland) is an established multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator. Callum's wealth of performance experience has taken him to the UK, Europe and around Australasia with artists such as Aldous Harding and Hans Pucket. He has performed at Arts Festivals up and down the country, as well as WOMAD, Laneway and Splore with different groups. He also performs his own music regularly with various jazz ensembles, notably receiving a commission for new music to headline the Wellington Jazz Festival in 2021.

Callum has been teaching itinerant lessons for over a decade, with a focus on ear training, improvisation and developing genre and style. He loves teaching jazz and pop saxophone, but is comfortable in all genres and all levels. Callum has tutored students through ABRSM and Trinity grade exams, NCEA and Cambridge assessments, and has had a number of students successfully audition for various University jazz programmes.

BMUS, DipHe

Tom hails from Manchester in the United Kingdom. He studied Trombone at the Royal Marines School of Music and later served in the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines for 6 years before settling in New Zealand.

Upon reaching the shores of NZ, Tom took up the French Horn and gained his BMUS in Horn and Conducting from the University of Auckland. During this time Tom served 6 years in the Royal New Zealand Navy Band in the position of Solo Horn and Piano. 

In 2018, Tom turned his attention to teaching and freelancing. He has played with every Auckland based orchestra and many around NZ on both french horn and trombone. Since 2014 he has been Musical Director of the Manukau Concert Band, who won the New Zealand Concert Band Festival in both 2015 and 2016. Tom also orchestrates music for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, as well as SIX60.

An active musician and clinician in the music community, Elizabeth's background is diverse. 

She holds a MMus in Performance with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland. Her tertiary training includes Composition, Piano Accompaniment, and Chamber Music, Double Bass performance and the latest choral and orchestra conducting.  

She is the founder, musical and artistic director of Wairua Sinfonietta, an orchestra which consists of emerging and professional musicians locally and abroad, who together raise social awareness and funds for charitable organisations around the globe. 

Elizabeth is a NZSI-registered Suzuki Piano teacher, having trained in Matsumoto, Japan (the headquarters of Talent Education Research Institute).

Elizabeth holds a busy teaching studio, teaching both Conventional and Suzuki methods.  She is a collaborative pianist and music coach for instrumentalists and singers.

She has served as Deputy Music Director at the Auckland Choral. Currently hold a position as Deputy Music Director and conductor in Bach Musica and the Auckland Chinese Philharmonic Choir.  She has been working with various choirs and orchestra in NZ and abroad.

MMus, LMusA 

Anita completed her Bachelor of Music in Performance Flute at the University of Waikato. She then moved to Auckland to study for an Honours year in Musicology at Auckland University, where she gained a BMus (Hons) with First Class Honours. During this time Anita studied Flute with Catherine Bowie.  In 2003/04 she spent a year studying for her Masters degree in Performance Flute at Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK with Flute tutor Jon Cherry. 

Having returned to NZ, Anita maintains a private teaching studio as well as teaching at several high schools within the Auckland area.  Anita is a member of Opus Orchestra, performing regularly in the Waikato & Bay of Plenty areas. In addition she performs with the Manawa Wind Quintet and TwoFlutes Duo, as well as other freelance work in the Auckland area. 

Anita has been teaching Flute for over 15 years and is experienced with all levels from beginners through to advanced students.  She prepares students also for Trinity and ABRSM examinations.

Ming-Sui has both performed and taught the violin as well as viola, for more than 20 years, both in New Zealand and overseas. While studying her Masters of Music degree at Peabody Music Conservatory in the U.S.A., she also served as associate viola principal with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. During her study, she performed with the New York String Orchestra in Carnegie Hall, and won the orchestra assistantship to play in the Aspen Music Festival. She joined the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra in her hometown Taipei as a core member after graduation and also started teaching in several secondary and primary schools as an itinerant teacher. Her love for teaching grew through seeing how her students developed and progressed. She has helped and supported students to achieve high distinction in Royal School exams. Now she teaches at Saint Kentigern College, Baradene College of Sacred Heart, St. Peter’s College, and Howick School of Music, as well as teaching privately. 

Mr Albert Lee (Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance) has fast established himself as one of Auckland’s most in-demand private music teachers, excelling in his teaching of Jazz and Contemporary genres of music. 

As a teacher, Mr Lee is constantly upskilling himself in musical pedagogy and his students greatly reap the benefit of this. His lessons are focused on creating positive musical experiences for the student, backed by a solid foundation of music knowledge and teaching methods. This has resulted in the students enjoying the weekly lessons, as well as gaining relevant skills, confidence and passion. Every year since he began teaching, Mr Albert Lee’s students and bands have gone on to win major awards (Most Outstanding Musician, Best Instrumentalist, Most Outstanding Band) at highly regarded national level competitions such as the National Jazz Festival, and Smokefree Rockquest Tangata Beats, to name but a few.  

With his current weekly teaching roll of 100-110 students, as well as directing several jazz bands and ensembles at school level, Mr Albert Lee’s immense daily exposure to teaching greatly benefits the students from many angles. He is delighted to share his teaching knowledge with the students at Saint Kentigern College and ensure they excel in their music making under his tutelage.

BMus(Hons), ATCL

Mr Matthew Baker has a wide variety of teaching and performance experience, both in New Zealand and overseas.  Studying clarinet at the University of Auckland, Mr Baker has played both clarinet and saxophone in a wide range of styles and groups, including the National Youth Orchestra of New Zealand, Auckland Philharmonia, Auckland Chamber Orchestra and Bach Musica ,to name but a few.  While teaching clarinet and saxophone in the UK, Mr Baker was also a musician in the British Army with the Nottinghamshire Band of the Royal Engineers (V), playing and performing in both the UK and Europe.  Teaching for almost 15 years, Mr Baker has experience teaching all ages and abilities from beginners to diploma students, and enjoys seeing young people develop the practical and theory skills necessary to become competent young musicians.  

Diploma in Performance Trumpet, GradDip CPM

Mr Stephen Bemelman performed with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra from 1996 to 2009 as Associate Principal Trumpet and continues to perform with the APO on a contract basis. Currently teaching is his main focus and he does so with a wide range of students from young beginner to advanced adult and in every imaginable playing style.

Mr Bemelman’s trumpet playing started at high school in Christchurch. He then moved to Wellington to study performance trumpet at the Wellington Polytechnic Conservatorium of Music. Ever since, Mr Bemelman has had a wide variety of playing and teaching experience and continues to enjoy spreading the delight of playing brass instruments.

Dr. Lisa Chung (cello) holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in cello performance from the University of Auckland. In the past, she studied at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow for an intensive performance programme. Lisa won a number of competitions and scholarships in NZ and overseas including a full scholarship to study and perform at the prestigious Aspen Music festival in Colorado, U.S. Her students have been successful nationally and internationally; one of them was invited to compete at the Tchaikovsky International Competition for Young Musicians in 2017. Some have also participated in the Young Artist Summer Program at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and Summer Music Festival with Juilliard. Her students were recently accepted to Juilliard pre-college, New England Conservatory pre-college, and Colburn School.

Drum Set (Rock–Jazz) & Scottish Pipe Band Rudimental Drumming Advanced Certificate in Drumming, RSPBA

For the past twenty years Mr Rodgers has taught the beginner to advanced level drummers at Saint Kentigern College.  His teaching program prepares students for performance success in the schools Rock Bands, Concert and Stage Bands, Jazz Ensemble groups and House Music events.  Students who wish to undertake Trinity College examinations in drum set can do so twice yearly and are prepared for their examinations during lessons. 

Throughout his tenure at the college Mr Rodgers has prepared students for NCEA performance assessments, produced award winning jazz drummers, regional pipe band drumming champions and national Smokefree Rockquest winners.  His Saint Kentigern College students have been selected for both the National Youth Orchestra and National Youth Pipe Band.  One has performed on the world stage as a member of the six times world champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band (Canada) and another now holds the position of Sub-Principal Percussionist with the NZSO.   

Mr Rodgers was named in the 2015 Modern Drummer Magazine World Drum Teachers list 2015.  In 2017 he won an International on-line drumming competition hosted by world-renowned drummer Dom Famularo, and later that year performed live on stage with Sir Paul McCartney at Mt Smart Stadium.  He is a former national pipe band drumming champion and current RNZPBA examiner and adjudicator.  He plays drums regularly in stage show productions.

Douglas graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Victoria University, Wellington and continued his studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, obtaining a Master of Music qualification in 2000.

As Section Principal Trombone of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra he enjoys a busy performance schedule and is constantly honing his technical skills as a player which helps with passing on these correct techniques to students.

Douglas’ commitment to teaching trombone is something on which he prides himself, and enjoys tutoring at all levels. In addition to teaching at Saint Kentigern College he has taught at the University of Auckland as an Artist Teacher since 2008. 

ATCL, BMus(Hons), PostGradDip.

Violinist Ms Miranda Hutton is one of New Zealand's leading baroque music specialists. After spending 7 years working and studying in The Netherlands, Ms Hutton has returned to New Zealand and now divides her time between performing and teaching. Ms Hutton teaches baroque violin at the University of Auckland, leads the Auckland Choral Society's orchestra and is artistic co-director of NZ Barok, New Zealand's baroque orchestra. She also performs with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Pinchgut Opera in Sydney. Alongside her busy performing schedule, Ms Hutton finds time to pursue her other passion, teaching. Having completed early level Suzuki Teacher Training, she enjoys teaching a range of students from pre-schoolers to advanced pupils. She has coached many pupils through their Royal Schools examinations and appreciates the benefits of working towards a goal.

Ms Lea Anae is a passionate and experienced performer and vocal tutor. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Auckland Jazz programme majoring in vocal performance. She has a musical background of choral singing (classical/gospel), Jazz, RnB, Soul, Musical Theatre, Pop and Classical. All of which have honed her expertise in vocal technique and performance, giving her the skills to ground students at any level with proper singing technique. She has experience teaching as a vocal itinerant across multiple secondary schools in Auckland. 

Veronica is a well tenured viola/violin teacher with 25+ years of teaching and performance experience under her belt. She studied her Bachelor of Music at Chung-Ang University, Seoul on a full scholarship, and later graduated from the University of Auckland with a Postgraduate Diploma.

Veronica is currently teaching at various Auckland secondary schools, in addition to private lessons at her studio. She also directs multiple Auckland chamber groups participating in the NZCT.

Veronica prides herself on a holistic and connected approach to teaching. Her teaching style balances passion and enjoyment, alongside technical excellence and performative mastery. With this approach, her students have a track record of achieving high distinction in the ABRSM and Trinity grade exams; successful admissions into the Auckland University School of Music; and consistent winnings at local competitions such as North Shore Performing Arts, SAPACs, and the Asia Pacific Music Association competition.

Her students have also won several international competitions, including those held at Carnegie Hall (New York) and Europe.

South Korean-born, Juan Kim moved to NZ in 2005 and attended high school in Whangarei. Juan has played the Piano since the age of six and he completed his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Auckland under Natalia Ricci, Qu Yong and Stephen De Pledge.

Juan has been accompanist for Auckland Oratorio Choral, New Zealand Singing School and is currently an official accompanist of the University of Auckland, Auckland Choral and assistant director for Auckland Youth Choir.

He also takes part in various productions such as Opera Factory’s opera series and the Auckland University’s Opera scenes as a musical director or the vocal coach.

As well as Private Music Tutor of piano, Juan is also an official accompanist and ensemble coach at Saint Kentigern College and other private Auckland schools.

Akari is currently completing her Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance at the University of Auckland in Oboe Performance under Martin Lee. She has performed with many different groups such as Opus Orchestra, Hawkes Bay Orchestra and St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra. She is also an active member of Auckland Youth Orchestra.

MMus (Dist.), Post Grad Dip Opera & Voice, Grad Dip Tchg (Primary), F.T.C.L

Described as a mezzo-soprano with “warm lustre”, Kate has appeared as a soloist in New Zealand, Australia and throughout Europe.  She has extensive experience with Oratorio repertoire, regularly performing with Choral Societies and ensembles throughout the country.

Also, at home on the operatic stage, Kate has sung for New Zealand Opera, Opera Queensland, the Queensland Festival, OzOpera and English National Opera.

A qualified primary school teacher, Kate has worked as a Music Specialist in Years 1-8, teaches voice at Albany School of Music, Northcross Intermediate and Hobsonville Point Secondary School and runs a vocal studio at her home on the North Shore.  She is also a vocal coach to many of New Zealand’s leading choirs and regularly adjudicates vocal competitions, examinations and scholarships.

Most notable awards include a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship and 2nd and 3rd prizes in the NZ Mobil Song Quest.

Kate is looking forward to joining the Saint Kentigern community in 2020.

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Principal Percussionist since 2010, Eric Renick began his musical studies at the age of 12. Originally from Indiana in the USA, he received his Bachelor’s degree from Butler University, where he studied with Jon Crabiel. While at Butler, Eric also won first prize in the University’s Concerto Competition. 

He gained a Master’s degree and artist certificate from Chicago’s Roosevelt and DePaul universities under the guidance of Ed Harrison, Eric Milstein and Ted Atkatz.  While in Chicago he co-founded the Chicago Arts Orchestra where he currently still serves on the Artistic Advisory committee. He also performed with the Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony’s MusicNow Series, the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

In 2007 Eric was awarded a Fellowship with the New World Symphony (NWS), where he performed under the batons of Michael Tilson Thomas, Itzhak Perlman, Osmo Vänskä, Marin Alsop, Donald Runnicles, John Adams and Vladimir Ashkenazy, among others; Also performing in NWS’s Percussion Consort and participating in digital media collaborations. Eric has also performed with the San Francisco, St. Louis, Kansas City, and New Zealand symphonies; Hong Kong Philharmonic and Malaysian Philharmonic; and Grant Park, Breckenridge and Spoleto (USA) festival orchestras.

Eric Renick is a regular collaborator with cross-genre musicians as well as film scoring and presenting concert performances with digital/electronic elements. He also performs in the Antipodes Percussion Project, an ensemble focused on using percussion chamber music to educate young musicians.

In 2017 he performed the Southern Hemisphere premiere of Rautavaara’s Incantations, a concerto for percussion and Orchestra and in 2018 performed Michael Torke’s Mojave (a marimba concerto) on a tour to China with the New Zealand Chamber Orchestra. Eric has presented master classes and coachings across the USA, China, Australia and New Zealand. He is an artist teacher at the University of Auckland, Director of the Auckland Percussion Experience, a member of the TAPS faculty, and is endorsed by Zildjian.

BMus(Hons) Jazz

Chelsea Prastiti is a highly experienced vocal tutor with a BMus First Class Honours degree from the University of Auckland Jazz programme, where she now teaches. Her knowledge and expertise span many areas, including:  

• Basic and advanced vocal techniques pertaining to multiple genres
• Repertoire knowledge covering multiple genres including Jazz, Pop, RnB, Rock, Classical and Musical Theatre
• Music theory, notation and reading, aural theory
• Vocal improvisation and song-writing and/or composition and arranging.  

Lessons are tailored to suit the student’s tastes in music, and to prioritise whatever goals the student may have within singing and music overall. Chelsea uses the student’s chosen repertoire as a vehicle in which to give them a thorough grounding in Basic vocal technique, as well as any techniques specific to the student’s chosen genres (advanced techniques). She also aims to develop the student’s musical literacy and ability to use their ears to identify what they are hearing/writing, as well as starting them on the path to music notation. Additionally, if the student is taking music as a subject, she has the ability to supplement their learning in regard to class work if requested. 

John Mietus was born in Hong Kong and started studying double bass at the age of 4. He first began his studies with Nicole Castleberry-Clouser of The Cleveland Pops Orchestra, then furthered his education with both Henry Peyrebrune of The Cleveland Orchestra and Tracy Rowell, Bass Faculty at Oberlin Conservatory. He then pursued his Bachelors at the University of Southern California with David Allen Moore and completed his Masters of Music at Rice University with Paul Ellison and Tim Pitts. Past teachers also include Nicholas Walker, Peter Lloyd, Dominick Fiore, Francois Rabbath, and the late Anthony Bianco.

Currently, John is the Associate Principal Bass of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Previously he had won a position with the New World Symphony and has also performed with many other noteworthy ensembles such as the Houston Symphony, Warner Bros. Studio Orchestra, Pacific Music Festival Orchestra, Chagrin Valley Studio Orchestra, and the Cleveland Philharmonic.

He has an extensive solo career, including notable performances with orchestras such as the Cleveland Philharmonic, International Music Festival Orchestra, Ohio Music Educator’s National Conference, and the Concerto Chamber Orchestra. He has also been a featured performer on “From The Top”. He plays a 2016 Sergio Scaramelli “Majestic” Model Bass winning a Silver Medal at the Rome International Competition. Committed to the advancement of young musicians, John is a volunteer with the El Sistema strings program, Rainey Institute of Music, Community Outreach of Devoted Artists, and the Thornton Outreach Program, helping young artists learn and achieve through music. He also co-founded a Tarisio Trust winning charity called The String Bank dedicated to providing quality strings to schools and music students in need across the world.

BMus(Hons)

A New Zealand singer, composer, and conductor, Denzel graduated with a First-Class Honours Degree, majoring in Vocal Studio Pedagogy with additional studies in Conducting from The University of Auckland. He studied under the tutelage of Dr. Te Oti Rakena & Dr. Karen Grylls. 

Denzel's formative years were spent singing in various choral ensembles including, All the King’s Men (King’s College), The Graduate Choir NZ, The Auckland Chamber Choir, and the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir. He was a member of the New Zealand Youth Choir from 2017-2020 and has sung on occasion with Voices NZ. As well as teaching singing and directing the choirs at St Kentigern College, Denzel also directs the Black Watch Singers and Saints Alive at St Cuthbert’s College. 

Jono is a versatile multi-instrumentalist who has been a passionate student of the guitar for over 15 years. Jono's passion for music extends to playing an array of folk instruments including: Mandolin, Banjo, Lapsteel, Ukulele, Dobro, Handpan and Oud. As a songwriter and session musician, he frequently collaborates and tours with various original and cover artists, his main bands: Permission to Speak and the Sam Loveridge Band are both currently in the process of recording their highly anticipated third studio albums.

Jono is a passionate teacher who has taught privately and in schools across Auckland. Over the last 10 years he has helped students of all ages and walks of life to discover their passion for music.

Jono is a founding member of Holding Space Aotearoa, an organization dedicated to community funding and the facilitation of creative projects that champion and support the arts in Auckland. He has contributed through session work but has also played a key role in facilitating and sessioning on their recent project: Songwriters for Climate Action.

Jono honed his craft as producer and session musician at Earwig studios. This experience culminated in the establishment of his own recording studio, Catcave Studios in Kingsland, a studio that aims to make basic recording accessible to everyone. Jono is passionate about fostering a thriving and supportive creative community, he hosts two successful open mic nights at The Portland Public House and WinWin Bar.

In addition to his musical endeavors, Jono is a painter and photographer who exhibits regularly.

M.Ed (First Class Honours) L.Mus. A

Jane has over 25 years of piano teaching experience in helping students achieve excellence in both ABRSM and Trinity College piano and theory exams. Her up-to-date knowledge on teaching pedagogy enables her to design lessons that cater for individual needs and ability. 

Apart from piano teaching, Jane is also a percussionist specialized in Japanese drums.  She founded her own taiko group Kumo Taiko in 2017 and is the Head of Teacher and Creative Director for the team.  The group (Kumo Taiko) conducts taiko/music workshops at both schools and corporate events as well as performing for private events and festivals such as Lantern Festival and Taiwan Day.