Our experienced staff are dedicated to providing a high quality learning experience

Our teaching staff provide diverse industry experience, real-life context and a commitment to students beyond expectations. They are also invested in researching, publishing, and practicing within a broad range of industry, discipline and cultural domains – passing on the latest knowledge to students.

Queensland Conservatorium Executives

Vanessa Tomlinson
Director

Professor Vanessa Tomlinson

Professor Vanessa Tomlinson is a percussionist, composer, improviser, and artistic director who joined the faculty of the Queensland Conservatorium in 2003. Since then, she has held a number of senior leadership roles, including serving as the inaugural Director of the Creative Arts Research Institute. In 2026, she was appointed Director of Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QCGU).

Her internationally recognised creative and scholarly research explores ecological sound practices and acoustic ecology, alongside artistic research, speculative text-based composition, collaborative music-making, gender equity, and interdisciplinary practice.

ContactBrydie-Leigh Bartleet

Griffith Experts profilefor Scott Harrison

Donna Weston
Deputy Director
(Learning and Teaching)

A/Prof Donna Weston

From classically trained pianist to studies in audio engineering, to head of a popular music degree is not a usual career pathway, and yet this is exactly the path followed by Associate Professor Donna Weston. She has a personal commitment to supporting all kinds of music, and is passionate about not valuing one more than another—as she says, ‘there are infinite music listeners, and musical venues, and circumstances in which music takes place; thank goodness there is plenty of music to suit all of them.’

ContactScott Harrison

Griffith Experts profilefor Scott Harrison

Brydie-Leigh Bartlett
Deputy Director (Research)

Professor Brydie-Leigh Bartleet

Brydie-Leigh Bartleet FAHA is a Professor at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. She is a dynamic research leader, award-winning educator, respected community collaborator, and arts sector advocate. Over the past twenty years she has led an innovative program of research that advances our understanding of the role that music and the arts can play in addressing complex social challenges in communities. As a world-leading expert in community music, her work examines how participation in communal music making can open up pathways for greater social justice, equity, inclusion and wellbeing, especially in communities where entrenched social disadvantage, displacement and division exists.

ContactBrydie-Leigh Bartleet

Griffith Experts profilefor Scott Harrison

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Faculty

Brass

  1. Ms Sarah Butler, Lecturer in Upper Brass
  2. Dr Benjamin Marks, Lecturer in Brass

Vocal and Opera

  1. A/Prof Margaret Schindler, Head of Voice, A/Prof in Vocal Studies
  2. Mrs Shelli Hulcombe, Lecturer in Voice
  3. Dr Ron Morris, Senior Lecturer in Vocal Health and Pedagogy
  4. Ms Jillianne Stoll, Senior Lecturer in Opera and Professional Practice
  5.  

Music studies and research

  1. A/Prof Catherine Grant, A/Prof in Music Literature
  2. Dr Thomas Green, Lecturer in Music Studies and Research
  3. Dr Erik Griswold, Lecturer in Music Studies
  4. Ms Tanya Jones, HDR Student Teaching Fellow (Music Studies)
  5. A/Prof Alexis Kallio, A/Prof in Music Studies and Research
  6. Dr Rebecca Lloyd-Jones, Lecturer in Music Studies
  7. Dr Narelle McCoy, HDR Student Teaching Fellow (Music Studies)
  8. A/Prof Chris Stover, A/Prof in Music Studies and Research
  9. Dr Diana Tolmie, Senior Lecturer in Professional Practice
  10. Ms Rebecca Yarnold, HDR Student Teaching Fellow (Music Studies)

Winds

  1. A/Prof Tim Munro, Head of Woodwind, A/Prof in Flute
  2. Dr Martin Kay, Lecturer in Saxophone

Composition

  1. Dr Gerardo Dirié, Head of Composition, Senior Lecturer in Music Theory and Composition
  2. Dr Nicole Murphy, Lecturer in Contemporary Creative Practices (Composition)

Creative Music Technology

  1. A/Prof John Ferguson, Head of Creative Music Technology, A/Prof in Creative Music Technology
  2. Dr Matthew Hitchcock, Senior Lecturer in Creative Music Technology
  3. Dr Thomas Green, Lecturer in Creative Music Technology

Ensembles

  1. Dr György Déri, Head of Chamber Music, Senior Lecturer in Cello
  2. Professor Peter Morris, Head of Ensembles, Professor in Conducting

Jazz

  1. A/Prof Irene Bartlett, Acting Head of Pedagogy, Associate Professor in Jazz, Contemporary Voice Coordinator
  2. Dr Ajhriahna Henshaw, Lecturer in Contemporary Performance Practices (Voice)
  3. A/Prof Stephen Newcomb, Head of Jazz, A/Prof in Jazz
  4. Mr David Spicer, Lecturer in Contemporary Performance Practices (Voice)
  5. Mr James Sandon, Lecturer in Contemporary Performance Practices (Instrumental)

Acting

  1. Ms Jacqui Somerville, Senior Lecturer in Acting
  2. Dr Elise Greig, Lecturer in Acting
  3. Ms Claire Christian,  Scholarly Teaching Fellow (Acting)

Percussion

  1. Professor Vanessa Tomlinson, Percussion

Keyboard

  1. Professor Bernard Lanskey, (Piano and Chamber Music)
  2. A/Prof Daniel de Borah, (Piano and Chamber Music)
  3. Dr Angela Turner, Lecturer in Piano

Strings

  1. A/Prof Michele Walsh, Head of Strings, Associate Professor in Violin
  2. Mr Graeme Jennings, Senior Lecturer in Violin and Viola
  3. Dr György Déri, Senior Lecturer in Cello
  4. Ms Karin Schaupp, Senior Lecturer in Guitar

Popular Music

  1. Dr Brendan Anthony, Senior Lecturer in Popular Music
  2. Mr Caleb James, Senior Lecturer in Popular Music
  3. Mr Travis Jenkins, Lecturer in Contemporary Performance Practices (Instrumental)
  4. Dr Marisa Lee Naismith, Lecturer in Contemporary Performance Practices (Voice)
  5. Dr Sam Vallen, Lecturer in Contemporary Performance Practices (Instrumental)

Professional Staff

Executive support

  1. Mr Stuart Jones, Conservatorium Manager
  2. Ms Liz Tyson-Doneley, Administration Officer

Operations

  1. Mr Michael Hibbard, Front of House Operations Manager
  2. Ms Clare Wharton, Operations Administrator
  3. Mr Dan Fossi, Ensembles Administrator
  4. Mr Joshua White, Administration Officer
  5. Mx Grace Royle, Administration Officer
  6. Mr Timothy Tate, Administrative Support Officer

Open Conservatorium

  1. Mr Jason Budge, Manager
  2. Ms Lisa Dart, Administration Officer
  3. Mr Kevin Edwards, Administrator, Young Conservatorium
  4. Dr Natalie Lewandowski-Cox, Executive Officer Engagement
  5. Ms Michelle Stewart, Administration Officer, Honours Programs
  6. Ms Bianca Murphy, Administration Assistant, Open Conservatorium
  7. Ms Hannah Morrison, Administration Officer,  Marketing

Technical

  1. Mr Cameron Hipwell, Technical Team Leader
  2. Mr Keith Clark, Technical Officer
  3. Ms Amy Hauser, Technical Officer
  4. Mr Len McPherson, Technical Officer

Studio and Audio Visual

  1. Mr Kai Mohrholz, Senior Technical Specialist
  2. Mr Connor Townson, Music Technology Support Officer