Brett Weymark OAM
Patron
Brett is passionate about singing and the role that music plays in both the individual’s wellbeing and the overall health and vitality of a community’s culture. Music can transform lives and should be accessible to all.
He is one of Australia’s foremost choral conductors. Since 2003 Brett Weymark has conducted the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs throughout Australia and internationally. He has also conducted the Sydney, Adelaide, Queensland, West Australian and Tasmanian symphony orchestras, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Sydney Youth Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic and productions for WAAPA, Pacific Opera and OzOpera. He has performed with Opera Australia, Pinchgut Opera, Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Song Company and Musica Viva.
We are all delighted that Brett has agreed to be Patron of Celebration Sing Out! and that he will be guest conducting for the Puccini in this year's concert.
Brett's leadership and advocacy is a great boost to Celebration Sing Out, especially as a key annual choral event in Sydney.
Patron
Brett is passionate about singing and the role that music plays in both the individual’s wellbeing and the overall health and vitality of a community’s culture. Music can transform lives and should be accessible to all.
He is one of Australia’s foremost choral conductors. Since 2003 Brett Weymark has conducted the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs throughout Australia and internationally. He has also conducted the Sydney, Adelaide, Queensland, West Australian and Tasmanian symphony orchestras, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Sydney Youth Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic and productions for WAAPA, Pacific Opera and OzOpera. He has performed with Opera Australia, Pinchgut Opera, Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Song Company and Musica Viva.
We are all delighted that Brett has agreed to be Patron of Celebration Sing Out! and that he will be guest conducting for the Puccini in this year's concert.
Brett's leadership and advocacy is a great boost to Celebration Sing Out, especially as a key annual choral event in Sydney.
MAL HEWITT OAM
Music Director
Mal is the founder and driving force behind Celebration Sing Out! ® and the TOPS orchestra, both of which he established in 1993.
Mal is highly regarded for his leadership and advocacy for music education as a right for all children. He was awarded an OAM in 2014 for his services to Music Education and the community.
He graduated from Sydney Teachers College and Conservatorium of Music in 1966 and holds a Diploma of Music. His career spanned forty years with the NSW Department of Education as a classroom music teacher, a Head Teacher, Deputy Principal, and Senior Education Officer in the Performing Arts Unit, where he was responsible for school state-wide music programs.
His focus was the development of band and orchestral programs in schools of great economic disadvantage.
On retiring in 2004, Mal teamed up with colleagues to establish the Collegiate of Specialist Music Educators (CSME) to lobby for a quality music education for every child, especially those suffering economic disadvantage.
Music Director
Mal is the founder and driving force behind Celebration Sing Out! ® and the TOPS orchestra, both of which he established in 1993.
Mal is highly regarded for his leadership and advocacy for music education as a right for all children. He was awarded an OAM in 2014 for his services to Music Education and the community.
He graduated from Sydney Teachers College and Conservatorium of Music in 1966 and holds a Diploma of Music. His career spanned forty years with the NSW Department of Education as a classroom music teacher, a Head Teacher, Deputy Principal, and Senior Education Officer in the Performing Arts Unit, where he was responsible for school state-wide music programs.
His focus was the development of band and orchestral programs in schools of great economic disadvantage.
On retiring in 2004, Mal teamed up with colleagues to establish the Collegiate of Specialist Music Educators (CSME) to lobby for a quality music education for every child, especially those suffering economic disadvantage.
WARREN FISHER
Associate Music Director
Warren started his working life in the classroom and as a conductor of bands and choirs.
Warren’s equal love of performance took him away from the classroom for nearly a decade. On the stage he sang everything from Irish popular music with the Three Irish Tenors, and a singing snake in “Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing” (OZ Opera Schools Tour) to God/Dwight in “Jerry Springer: The Opera” for the Sydney Opera House Trust. Warren has more than 36 operas to his credit with the Opera Australia Chorus, as well as a couple of dozen roles and covers.
With great joy he returned to the world of education where he took over the reins of the choir program at Knox Grammar School. Warren is now Director of Choirs and Tech Crew Co-ordinator at Knox. He strongly believes that everyone should sing. Not because it helps brain development, concentration skills, or literary and numeracy skills, but because everyone can do it. "When we sing, we access areas of our being that may otherwise be left dormant; and it just feels so good," he says.
Associate Music Director
Warren started his working life in the classroom and as a conductor of bands and choirs.
Warren’s equal love of performance took him away from the classroom for nearly a decade. On the stage he sang everything from Irish popular music with the Three Irish Tenors, and a singing snake in “Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing” (OZ Opera Schools Tour) to God/Dwight in “Jerry Springer: The Opera” for the Sydney Opera House Trust. Warren has more than 36 operas to his credit with the Opera Australia Chorus, as well as a couple of dozen roles and covers.
With great joy he returned to the world of education where he took over the reins of the choir program at Knox Grammar School. Warren is now Director of Choirs and Tech Crew Co-ordinator at Knox. He strongly believes that everyone should sing. Not because it helps brain development, concentration skills, or literary and numeracy skills, but because everyone can do it. "When we sing, we access areas of our being that may otherwise be left dormant; and it just feels so good," he says.
LAWRENCE LAU
Administration
Lawrence started his music training with the Sydney Schools Symphony Orchestra in 1985, majoring in Timpani and Percussion with his debut at the Sydney Opera House in 1987. He has been actively involved in a number of ensembles in Sydney including Strathfield Symphony Orchestra, Kuring-Gai Philharmonic Orchestra, Northern Beaches Symphony Orchestra, East Sydney Chamber Orchestra, and has the current Principal Percussion seat with The Occasional Performing Sinfonia. He has extensive experience in IT and operations, and is currently a practicing lawyer in NSW and an officer of the NSW Supreme Court.
Administration
Lawrence started his music training with the Sydney Schools Symphony Orchestra in 1985, majoring in Timpani and Percussion with his debut at the Sydney Opera House in 1987. He has been actively involved in a number of ensembles in Sydney including Strathfield Symphony Orchestra, Kuring-Gai Philharmonic Orchestra, Northern Beaches Symphony Orchestra, East Sydney Chamber Orchestra, and has the current Principal Percussion seat with The Occasional Performing Sinfonia. He has extensive experience in IT and operations, and is currently a practicing lawyer in NSW and an officer of the NSW Supreme Court.
LOIS DONNELLY
Primary Choirs Co-ordinator
Lois is a retired primary school teacher who taught for 30 years in Sydney’s northwest. She grew up in a musical family and has always loved music and singing in choirs. Lois remembers singing with a primary school choir in Sydney Town Hall for the first time in 1962 and enjoyed performing in a madrigal group and combined secondary choir at Sydney Town Hall while she was a student at St George Girls’ High.
Lois first became involved with the Celebration Sing Out! in 2011 and is now coordinating the primary school choirs.
Primary Choirs Co-ordinator
Lois is a retired primary school teacher who taught for 30 years in Sydney’s northwest. She grew up in a musical family and has always loved music and singing in choirs. Lois remembers singing with a primary school choir in Sydney Town Hall for the first time in 1962 and enjoyed performing in a madrigal group and combined secondary choir at Sydney Town Hall while she was a student at St George Girls’ High.
Lois first became involved with the Celebration Sing Out! in 2011 and is now coordinating the primary school choirs.
SIMONE KATZ
Secondary Choirs Co-ordinator
As a high school student, Simone was heavily involved in performing ensembles both at Chatswood High School with Gavin Staines, and through the Performing Arts Unit with Mal Hewitt. These two great mentors inspired Simone to pursue a Bachelor of Music Education.
In 1995, Simone began her 29-year association with the Celebration Concert Committee, the same year she was appointed as a classroom music teacher at Cheltenham Girls’ High School.
Simone has been a member of the Cameraygal Wind Symphony for over 20 years and continues to instil a love of music in her students.
Secondary Choirs Co-ordinator
As a high school student, Simone was heavily involved in performing ensembles both at Chatswood High School with Gavin Staines, and through the Performing Arts Unit with Mal Hewitt. These two great mentors inspired Simone to pursue a Bachelor of Music Education.
In 1995, Simone began her 29-year association with the Celebration Concert Committee, the same year she was appointed as a classroom music teacher at Cheltenham Girls’ High School.
Simone has been a member of the Cameraygal Wind Symphony for over 20 years and continues to instil a love of music in her students.
JOHN HIBBARD
Business Development
John is a Music Educator with a body of work in classroom practice as well as in teaching and conducting school bands, orchestras and choirs. The building of connectedness and creativity are touchstones of his work, along with innovation.
He is an experienced presenter of large-scale music and education events and interviews live, online and interactive, including the utilisation of social media. Significant additional experiences include directing a large number of performing artists in the creation of hundreds of hours of instructional video for Music Viva.
His four years of projects with Musica Viva Australia featured the exploration and application of current and emerging technologies and media to improve the effectiveness and reach of music education in schools and communities.
As a music teacher in schools, John's work in the classroom and with music ensemble programs at Gorokan HS 1978-2005 and at Masada College 2005-2011 exemplified his principles and practices of excellence in student creativity, motivation and community engagement in classroom and group music education, and in public performance.
Business Development
John is a Music Educator with a body of work in classroom practice as well as in teaching and conducting school bands, orchestras and choirs. The building of connectedness and creativity are touchstones of his work, along with innovation.
He is an experienced presenter of large-scale music and education events and interviews live, online and interactive, including the utilisation of social media. Significant additional experiences include directing a large number of performing artists in the creation of hundreds of hours of instructional video for Music Viva.
His four years of projects with Musica Viva Australia featured the exploration and application of current and emerging technologies and media to improve the effectiveness and reach of music education in schools and communities.
As a music teacher in schools, John's work in the classroom and with music ensemble programs at Gorokan HS 1978-2005 and at Masada College 2005-2011 exemplified his principles and practices of excellence in student creativity, motivation and community engagement in classroom and group music education, and in public performance.
