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Summer School
5th - 16th January, 2026
St Laurence's College, South Brisbane

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International Guest Lecturers
Kodály Method

Meet our course lecturers

2026 Summer School Music Program

Monday 5th – Friday 16th January, 2026

St Laurence’s College, East Brisbane

Daily accredited classes for Musicianship, Conducting, Choir and Research Assignment subjects, as well as instrumental, vocal and performance programs on offer for children and adults.

Download the 2026 Summer School Music Program brochure (download begins automatically)

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Program Materials

For Musicianship, Conducting, etc, see Summer Program Materials

Required Textbooks

Please see the Summer Music Program Required Textbook List.

Class Placement Materials

See more information about Class Placement Materials.

Course Lecturers

  • Pete Churchill

    Jazz Program

    Composer, pianist, singer and educator. Formerly, head of Jazz at the Guildhall School of Music, Professor of Jazz Composition at the Royal Academy of Music (London). Director of the Jazz Choir at Trinity College of Music. Received 2007 Parliamentary Award for Services to Jazz Education.

  • Maree Hennessy

    Musicianship, Primary Education

    Director of Holy Names College (San Francisco), Lecturer in aural methodology, classroom music teacher, Past President of KMEIA QLD.

  • Körtvési Katalin

    Musicianship, Conducting, SSA Choir

    Conductor, Educator and Lecturer at the Zoltan Kodály Pedagogical Institute (Kecskemet, Hungary).

  • Dr Árpád Tóth

    Musicianship, Conducting, Choral Symposium

    Dr Árpád Tóth: Conductor, Composer, Educator and Lecturer at the Zoltan Kodály Pedagogical Institute (Kecskemet, Hungary).

  • The Borealis String Quartet

    Artists in Residence

    One of the most dynamic and exciting world-class ensembles of its generation, the Borealis String Quartet has received international critical acclaim as an ensemble praised for its fiery performances, passionate style, and refined, musical interpretation. Founded in Vancouver, British Columbia in the fall of 2000 and rapidly establishing a stellar reputation, the Borealis has toured extensively in North America Europe and Asia and performed to enthusiastic sold-out audiences in major cities, including New York, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Rome, Mainz, Shanghai, Taipei, Beijing, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and, of course, in their home town of Vancouver.

  • Kate Tyson

    Education Program - Primary

    Music Specialist at Ambrose Treacy College, workshop presenter and clinician. Past President of KMEIA Qld.

  • Lucinda Geoghegan

    Musicianship, Education Program - Early Childhood

    Teacher, lecturer and author. Education Director for the National Youth Choir of Scotland, International presenter of workshops on Kodály methodology.

  • Antoni Bonetti AM

    Strings Program

    Emeritus conductor of Brisbane Symphony Orchestra and conductor of Noosa Orchestra. Senior String teacher at Good Shepherd Lutheran College and St Aidan’s AGS. Lecturer, composer and arranger.

  • Aleta King

    Musicianship, Conducting

    Dr Aleta King is director of Avondale Conservatorium, lecturer in musicianship and conducting, and artistic director and conductor of choirs and orchestras at Avondale University. A former lecturer in musicianship at the universities of Queensland and Melbourne and accompanist for Queensland Conservatorium Chorus, and an invited guest presenter for ASME, KMEIA, ANCA, and MTA.

  • Andrew Pennay

    Education Program, Musicianship

    Director of Creative Arts at Brisbane Girls Grammar School, PhD Candidate. Noted lecturer and clinitian.

  • Annie Lower

    Children's Music Theatre, Pre-Tertiary Program

    Annie Lower is a singing teacher, choral conductor and soprano who has has sung extensively on both national and international stages in opera, oratorio, chamber music and musical theatre, and is currently a singing teacher and choral conductor at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School and, since 2015 has led the Pre-tertiary Classical and Children’s Musical Theatre programs at the Cuskelly College of Music Summer and Winter Schools. A Masters-level graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and the recipient of a Bachelor of Arts in Drama (QUT), Annie brings a wealth of performing and teaching experience to her work with young people. She is Annie also has a busy private singing studio and conducts regular musical theatre and opera workshops for school-age students around Queensland. Annie is delighted to be sharing her passion for performance in the 2025 Summer School .

  • Tess Laird

    Education Program, Musicianship, Conducting

    Tess Laird has been a music specialist in state schools for 33 years and holds a Masters in Music Studies from the University of Queensland. She has presented in National and International contexts, and currently serves on the Education Committee for Kodály Australia, of which she is an Honorary Life Member. Tess has a special interest in a cappella jazz performance and aural pedagogy, conducting and performing with various community choirs and ensembles in Toowoomba.

Videos

Choir

There is a growing body of evidence that singing in a choir is not only good for your musicianship but also good for your health! The combination of many voices into a wholistic ensemble requires that both the conductor and the choristers possess great skill, informed understanding and a sensitivity to the text.

Performance

Participation in Music is often sabotaged by ideas of giftedness and talent, resulting in piecemeal and disorganised thinking about music education. This preoccupation with the talented has failed to provide most students with meaningful engagement in music; what is needed is a deep understanding of processes which provide logical and measured progress from one level of skill and understanding to the next. Such a conception of music teaching and learning would mean that not only the talented but the majority can be led to a real love of Music in all its forms.

Methodology

Musicians are performers and it is important that music teaching and learning happens in an authentic manner, one which reflects the actual world of performance. However, successful performing requires much more than mere technique; a true artist demonstrates technical prowess, sophisticated aural musicianship, informed music knowledge and an expressive and sensitive connection with the music itself and with the audience.

Jazz

Jazz is a specialised genre of music requiring a sophisticated understanding of harmony and melody matched with great performing skills. Essentially improvisatory in nature, good jazz is recognisable through a personalised interpretation of musical materials. While jazz is characterised by this highly individualised and somewhat spontaneous musical expression, the underlying structures and gestures of the style are best taught and learned in an engaged and participatory fashion, led by musician-educators with great expertise and experience in the style.

Photos

“The course was brilliant to be part of and really helped me improve my own knowledge and musicianship. I look forward to the next one!”

“It was a truly wonderful experience. Thanks again.”

“A fantastic experience I will remember for the rest of my life! Will definitely coming back again and again.”

“Thoroughly enjoyed it, gave me a lot of confidence and motivation to become a more effective and influential teacher.”

“Thank you – as always, this is a truly life-changing and amazing program and I come as often as I can. Well done! I feel proud to be a part of this community.”

“My child was actually deeply disappointed that the experience had to come to an end! He expressed that he would love to go to school like this all year round and is already eagerly anticipating next year’s Summer School!”

“My first time and already I can’t wait till the next summer school! Am resolved and inspired to give a lot of time to improving my Musicianship levels throughout this year!”

“I really enjoyed the summer school. It was full on but I learnt so much and enjoyed every minute. Thank you, will defiantly be back again next year!”