Workshops 2023

ARVYDAS KAZLAUSKAS. Arvydas is one of Latvia’s leading saxophone players. An academic musician, he hasn’t limit himself to this, and is known for his creative curiosity. He is always up for unexpected adventures resulting in collaborations with musicians of other genres and explorations of yet-unknown territories. His playing has been described as having “exceptionally high qualities in sound, articulation and emotional nuances.” 

He studied in Latvia, then Berlin, winning international competitions. Arvydas has performed with symphonies, symphonic bands and chamber orchestras and presented master classes in 14 European countries.  He collaborates with singers, pianists, chamber ensembles and Latvia’s state choir.  A strong supporter of new composers, he has premiered performances of many works for saxophone, including concerti.  He founded Atomos Saxophone Quartet premiering dozens of new works and has recorded several albums.  In 2017 he was nominated for Latvian “Musician of the Year”.

ANITA AUSTIN. Anita is an Auckland freelance French Horn performer and teacher with an innovative and humourous approach! In 2019 she graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium in Brisbane with a Masters in Music Studies earning The Griffith Award for Academic Excellence twice. She is the current principal horn of Bach Musica and OPUS Orchestra. In 2021 she published “Duets from Aotearoa, 60 duets for Trumpet or French Horn” with the support of CNZ. She has performed Strauss and Mozart concerti with Devonport Chamber Orchestra and Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4 with three different orchestras. She has performed with orchestras including APO, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Hawkes Bay Orchestra, Festival Opera Orchestra and Auckland Chamber Orchestra. She presents engaging recitals to rest homes, retirement villages and in public venues.

ALEXANDER JEANTOU. From Melbourne, Alex’s teachers nurtured his tuba through concert bands and chamber music as a tubist, and big bands on tenor/bass trombonist. He was successful in Victorian solo competitions, as well as winning the regional division of the Australian Youth Classical Music Competition. In 2020, Alex completed a Bachelor of Music with first class honours from The University of Melbourne under Timothy Buzbee, winning several scholarships and prizes.

A keen chamber musician, he plays for Australian Tuba Quartet and Maverick Brass Quintet. Maverick received several prizes including third at the 2019 Jeju International Brass Quintet Competition. Twice it was ‘privileged fellow’ at Yale’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festivals. Since 2021, Alexander has played in the APO Principal Brass Quintet, delivering fun, dynamic concerts around Tāmaki Makarau. He’s played with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, NZSO and Victorian Opera and has been Acting Principal Tuba of the APO since 2021.

RICKY SHI. Ricky is currently studying bassoon under Judith LeClair at the prestigious Juilliard School in NYC, going into his final year of an undergraduate degree. Prior to university, Ricky attended the Auckland Grammar School and was awarded the Minister’s plate in the school’s Soloist Competition, Outstanding Soloist award at the KBB Music Festival, and first place in Auckland Youth Orchestra’s Soloist Competition. Recently, Ricky’s dulcet tones were featured in Auckland Music Theatre successful production of A Chorus Line.  Ricky is looking forward to meeting new double reed players and working with them.

ROWAN MEADE.  Rowan is a freelance clarinettist working and performing throughout NZ. He holds a Masters from the Sibelius Academy of Music in Finland and now leads an active orchestral, concerto and chamber music career, playing with many of our finest orchestras and chamber musicians. Rowan is an enthusiastic clarinet and saxophone teacher, working with beginner through to post-graduate students.  He’s taught at the University of Waikato, and has a successful clarinet/saxophone studio in Auckland. He has tutored multiple chamber music groups to win prizes in the National Finals of the NZSS Chamber Music Contest, and was an adjudicator in 2023. His students have won the AYO Concerto Competition. More information about Rowan can be found at www.nzclarinet.com.

STEPHEN BEMELMAN. Stephen has been performing with a vast array of groups over the last 35 years including a 15-year association with APO as Associate Principal Trumpet.  He grew up in Christchurch then moved to Wellington to study performance trumpet at the Wellington Polytechnic Conservatorium of Music. After studying and performing with pretty much every music group in Wellington including a contract position with the NZSO, he successfully auditioned for APO.

These days Stephen enjoys being able to perform, teach and continue to learn more about playing the trumpet.

TRUDY LILE. A NZSM Masters graduate, Trudy is a talented and versatile musician and lecturer, with a diverse background that includes the competitive world of orchestral classical flute, and has performed and recorded in a variety in genres from jazz, pop, Latin, classical to world music. She also teaches all aspects of jazz, popular and classical music, making good use of her wide range of musical skills, as a vocalist, arranger, soloist, band leader, side-person, section player, vocal coach, accompanist, pianist and academic. She is highly regarded as an educator, communicator, and for her enthusiasm and ability to get the best from her students.