Kyriaki Xexenis
Violin, Piano and Singing Teacher

Kyriaki is currently a year 12 student at Brigidine College Randwick studying Music for her HSC.

Kyriaki began playing piano at the age of eight, violin at the age of 10, guitar at the age of twelve and singing at the age of thirteen (although she has been singing in the shower long before then).

Since she can remember, Kyriaki has been involved in an array of music ensembles and productions, and runs many of the student-lead ensembles at Brigidine as Music Leader of 2020

Stefano Locascio
Guitar, Bass and Drum Teacher

Stefano is a producer, songwriter, professional guitarist, bass & drum teacher. With his multi talented skills, the ability to learn songs quickly, and more than 15 years experience, he has developed a personal style of playing influenced by listening to many famous artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Slash, John Mayer, B.B king, David Gilmour, John Petrucci and in particular to many different artist from the 80’s. Due to his artistic abilities he can easily work with musicians as well as students of all ages to teach guitar, bass & drums and he is a friendly, patient and supportive teacher.

Stefano started playing guitar at age of 13 listening to the most famous hard rock bands such as AC/DC, QUEEN, LED ZEPPELIN, KISS, IRON MAIDEN, GUNS N’ ROSES, VAN HALEN and many more.

Since he discovered his talent, he decided to study music theory and percussion at the Italian conservatorium. He has been working for a long time as a session musician for many bands and artists playing in weddings, pubs, public venues, music festivals and clubs.

He is currently the lead guitarist for the synth/rock band The Bright Young Things. He has worked to compose, produce and record an album with the band for release March 2020.

Since joining Learn2Play Music and he has been offering learning experiences in guitar, bass and drums that are tailored to the needs of his students to make lessons fun whilst achieving learning objectives

Josephine Sa
Piano Teacher

Josephine has been playing piano from a young age, reaching AMEB Grade 8 before taking a break in 2019 to focus on AMus flute and the Higher School Certificate. Throughout her experience with music, she has participated in numerous local competitions and concerts. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Music/Law double degree at the University of New South Wales.

Through Josephine’s experience as a tutor she will pass on her knowledge so students learn music through piano. Additionally, while being classically-trained, she loves all genres of music and is gathering more experience in its various fields.

Emma Snellgrove
Vocal and Piano Teacher

Emma has been singing and playing piano since the age of seven. She has studied multiple styles of singing, particularly Pop and Jazz, as well as Classical and Music Theatre. Emma is studying a Bachelor of Music in Composition and Production at the Australian Institute of Music. Emma has been teaching piano and music theory since the beginning of 2019.

Emma has performed at numerous events and locations, including the Sydney Opera House Cantabile Festival (2018), the Vocational Education and Training Awards (2017), The Brass Monkey (2017) and many more. She is also a songwriter, with one of her songs ‘Capsized’ released on iTunes in 2018.

Katie Malone
Singing and Piano Teacher

Katie has always had a passion for music.  

She has been playing the Piano from a young age, completing a variety of music examinations, and has also trained in Vocals from Jazz to Opera, Pop to Indie and even Musical Theatre, Katie has trained in a multitude of styles and can teach self-accompaniment.  

Katie currently offers Piano and Vocal Lessons.

Zoe Lau
Piano Teacher

Zoe Lau has been teaching piano for more than 15 years and holds a Music Performance Diploma in Solo Piano from the Trinity College of London and achieved Grade 8 Theory from Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). Zoe’s performance career includes a variety of musical events as a piano accompanist.

Living in Shire — and a mother of two young children — Zoe enjoys mentoring students of all ages. Her goal is to inspire a lifetime love of music.

Zoe enjoys all types of music with a special interest in classical. She also enjoys playing pop songs and is currently studying Jazz piano

Jake McDougall
Guitar, Bass, Drum and Rock School Teacher

Jake is an experienced guitar, drum and bass teacher with experience playing in live bands from a variety of genres, such as rock, reggae, jazz, and experimental.
With a vast knowledge of the musical vocabulary and history of multiple instruments, the creative mind of a cutting edge session musician and a fun friendly attitude, music lessons with Jake will be a great addition to ones educational endeavours

Curtis Newbitt-Hill
Drums Teacher

Curtis has been playing drums and percussion for 15 years, studying music throughout primary school and high school.

After playing orchestral drums and percussion in school based bands Curtis then moved onto rock, punk and later funk drumming styles.

His musical inspirations include: Nate Smith, Tony Royster, Chad Smith – Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Nick Mason – Pink Floyd

Whilst teaching all styles of drums, his favourite styles to teach are Rock, Pop, Indie and Funk

Curtis currently play in “Letters to Lions” an Indie Rock band, and a cover group “Great Southern Band”. He have toured the East Coast of Australia extensively and Canada twice with Letters to Lions.

Curtis has played iconic venues such as Black Bear Lodge – Brisbane, Oxford Art Factory – Sydney, The Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto

James Squier
Guitar / Bass / Rock School Teacher

James is a highly skilled and highly experienced guitarist and bass player who is always seeking to expand his musical knowledge and abilities. Having played almost all styles of music for many years, and being featured in many different bands in that time, he’s developed a knack for learning new songs, styles and techniques quickly and being able to explain how best to approach music to students and other musicians.

James first picked up a guitar during high school, and quickly started teaching himself classic hard rock and metal songs from bands in the vein of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Deep Purple, Rainbow and Queen. His style took a slight change when he was asked to join his first bands, playing faster and more aggressive thrash metal.

After high school he studied music performance at TAFE achieving certificates II and III and a Diploma. Here he developed an extensive understanding of music theory, began learning about music education, as well as gaining experience in almost of styles of music, from Jazz, pop, classical, country to rock. It was during this time that he also refined his live performance skills, having shared the stage many different musicians.

Busking became a test to put all the different elements of what James had learnt together. Looking at it as ‘practicing guitar in public’, he very quickly learnt how to use the music theory  he’d spent so long studying practically, and how to draw influences from all the different styles of music he’d played.

James’ experience with the bass guitar began by being asked to play for a band which would later become GYPSY. Having never played the instrument or any of the songs before, he not only set about learning them quickly, but was playing on stage with the band less than a week later! Now with years of experience on the instrument, and countless shows performed with GYPSY up and down the country, James is just as comfortable on bass as he is guitar.

After joining Learn 2 Play Music during 2015, James has learnt how to offer great learning experiences to his students, how to draw on his knowledge, and how to make lessons both fun and productive.

Leigh Elphick
Guitar / Bass / Rock School Teacher

Leigh has been playing guitar for more than 15 years, he attended Newington College where he studied guitar for 5 years. 

Now with over 10 years teaching experience at various schools; Learn2Play Music, Village Guitar, St Aloysius Primary & The Montessori School.

Leigh has played in several bands over the years with varying styles from punk rock to folk/country touring up and down the east coast of the country multiple times. He currently plays in The Daphne Rawling Band.

 Leigh is influenced by artists such as The Beatles, Wilco, Ryan Adams & The Rolling Stones.

 Leigh enjoys teaching students of all ages and likes to keep lessons professional but fun.

 His favourite styles to teach include- rock,pop, folk, punk, indie & country.

Lucinda Malone
Piano / Vocals / Kindy Beat Teacher

Lucinda, or ‘Lucy’, graduated from the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) in 2015, where she received her Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre.

Lucy has been playing the piano since the age of six, Violin from the age of eight, and has been singing since she first learnt how to speak.

She has studied various styles of singing, including Opera, Pop, Jazz, and Music Theatre.

In 2016 she toured as a member of the Ten Sopranos during their South Australia tour.

Lucy has also appeared in several different Musicals, the most recent being Heathers: The Musical where she played the role of Martha Dunnstock.

Lucy has been a Piano, Violin, and Vocal coach since graduating AIM, and has also helped run various ensemble groups featuring Ukuleles, Guitars, and Choral work

Marcus Grounds
Guitar / Bass Teacher

Marcus started playing guitar at the age of 10, since then he has participated in several different bands which formed due to school based opportunities and social influence.

Marcus preferred guitar style falls under percussive melodic finger-styles and classical musics. He was inspired by a Korean musician called Sungah Jung and his style is the foundation to Marcus’ way with the guitar. Further inspirations include Peter Gergely and Andrew Foy. His preferred guitar artists and bands were formed during the 60’s and 70’s

Marcus is fluent in his understanding of the pentatonic, major, and minor scales and understands the incorporation of scales and chords within keys and their respective positions in music

Marcus has the ability to play a vast variety of music from Heavy metal to classical pieces. Marcus see improvisation as a very important when it comes to understanding music. Marcus encourages his students to be more creative and have more freedom when playing their desired instrument

Rachael Halpin
Piano Teacher

Rachael has been interested in music from a young age.

Rachael has successfully completed various music examinations and has been working at Learn to Play Music for a number of years.

She has taught children from as young as four years old, through to adulthood. Rachael is currently completing her Primary Education degree.