Philip Eames
Australian pianist and composer Philip Eames, who’s playing has been described as “playful, mischievous, and vivacious” (The Australian Times) is much in demand as soloist and guest artist having performed with major Australian and international orchestras and festivals, including the World Event Young Artists, the Ligetti Academy, and the 2010 ABC Young Performers Awards.
He is the recipient of many notable prizes and scholarships including the inaugural 2011 Redland City Youth Development Fund Scholarship, the Australian Postgraduate Award, an Ars Musica Australis Fellowship, and generous support from the Tait Memorial Trust, Redland City Council, and the PPCA Performers Trust Association.
Currently a PhD candidate at the Sydney Conservatorium, Philip holds two Master of Music degrees with Distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, also having been awarded the Bachelor of Music in Advanced Performance with First Class Honours from the latter institution.
As a composer he was announced the winner of the 2013 Tagore Composition Competition, awarded first place in the 2010 ASKM Composers Competition, and has had his compositions and performed internationally, including in New York and Edinburgh.
Philip has actively commissioned new works and frequently participates not only as a soloist, but also as an orchestral and chamber pianist with a wide variety of new-music ensembles, involving many world, Australian and UK premieres of major composers, including George Antheil, Matthew Hindson and Donnacha Dennehy. He is also an experienced choral conductor, and served as Musical Director to the Greater Manchester Police Male Voice Choir.
Jessica Westcott
Jessica Westcott (Soprano) is currently studying a Bachelor of Music (Voice Performance) Honours at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under Dr Rowena Cowley. Previous to this she completed her Bachelor of Music at the Australian National University School of Music, and graduated with High Distinction and first in her class.
Jessica hails from the small country town of Parkes, NSW. Most recently, Jessica played the role of Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring, a production by the ANU School of Music In September 2012, to critical acclaim.
Jessica was featured in the Canberra Times article “Stars to watch in 2013”.
In July 2012 Jessica was awarded a grant to participate in the Tyrolean Opera Program, a highly regarded summer school in the Tyrolean Alps, Austria. There she sang 4 concerts and a gala under the tuition of Katherine Wright, Elizabeth Bachman and Kim Josephson of the Metropolitan Opera.
In the summer of 2011-2012, Jessica flew to London to participate in master classes at the most prestigious music schools in Europe: the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Royal Northern School of Music in Manchester. She also spent time in Salzburg, Austria, to sing for Barbara Bonney. In July 2011 Jessica flew to San Francisco to have lessons at the San Francisco Conservatoire, with soprano Catherine Cook.
At just 20, Jessica has performed in many concerts, galas and events; including recently being the featured soprano in the CAT-award winning charity gala “Opera at the Dish”, where she sang for the Govenor General Quentin Bryce, and an audience of well over 2000. Jessica enjoys singing all over Canberra for Friends of Opera concerts and other small events.
Jessica has had the opportunity to perform at many official functions during her time in Canberra, including venues like the French, Italian, Austrian, German and Papua New Guniean Embassies, Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial. For two years Jessica held the prestigious Wesley Music Scholarship, and in 2011 she won the Friends of Opera Scholarship at the ANU.
In the future she hopes to complete tertiary studies in opera in Europe.
James White - Drums
James White has been drumming for 12 years and has been performing in live bands for 10 years. Currently, he plays around Sydney in an experimental surf rock/western band, performs at events in a pop cover band, writes drums for a black metal band and does various session drumming gigs. James is a dependable, enthusiastic drummer and teacher who's always prepared to go above and beyond.
James is mainly influenced by technical metal and progressive pieces, but loves everything from pop rock to hip hop. He particularly enjoys double kicking, odd time signatures and polyrhythms. Loves playing something different and enjoys a challenge.
James is a friendly, reliable teacher who is happy to be sharing his passion of percussion with the world. He is a very patient with students of all ages and aims to bring out the creative best in his students whilst ensuring they develop the fundamentals of drumming.
Antonio Fernandez - Piano, Theory and Aural
Antonio is passionate about music and teaching, as he is believes in the social impact of classical music, and its potential to positively affect the cognitive abilities of students. He strives to provide the best results for his students while ensuring that lessons are enjoyable. He is also patient, and an experienced teacher of students both young and old.
Antonio has studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid (Spain). He specialized in classical contemporary music and graduated with the best qualifications available. He has been a member of the ‘Young Orchestra of the Netherlands’, performing under some of the best conductors in Europe and America. He has received masterclasses and artistic advice from the most prestigious tutors and performers in the world, such as Nikolai Lugansky, Andrei Gavrilov and Galina Eguiazarova.
Antonio is studying for a Graduate Degree of Arts Management at the Australian Institute of Music, as well as volunteering with the Australian Youth Orchestra. He wants to provide Australian students with the best of Europe's musical knowledge and history. He also plans to participate in several piano competitions, and run concerts and masterclasses along this year 2014. Praised by his students and their parents with proven results, Antonio will is a valuable teacher to the All Age Music team.
Casper Tromp
Casper Tromp is a professional jazz, pop and musical theatre pianist and composer. He recently moved from Amsterdam to Sydney and quickly found his way into the music scene, working with various established Australian jazz artists. As a piano teacher, his goal is to develop every student’s individual musicality. He provides a solid technical and theoretical foundation, whilst also making his lessons a lot of fun.
Following his broad classical training on piano and recorder, Casper began improvising and writing his own piano music. While studying his first degree – Industrial Design – he kept developing his improvisation and composing skills, and organised international jazz festivals. After graduating he was accepted into the Amsterdam Conservatorium. During his 4 years there he studied and played an eclectic mix of jazz, classical, pop and world music. These influences inevitably found their way into his style of composing and playing. Casper graduated in jazz piano at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam in 2012.
