Stef Billimoria Drum Teacher
Stef Billimoria is a professional drummer from Sydney, Australia and is the drummer for the Australian hard rock band, Lillye. He is currently in the studio preparing for an upcoming release with Lillye. With a progressive interest in drumming and drum tuition, Stef continues to study and teach alongside some of the world's leading drum teachers. He has attended many drum clinics and, in doing so, has met and learnt from some of the world's leading drummers. He is a drum teacher exclusively at School of Rock Sutherland. Armed with a solid reputation, coupled with a strong work ethic, Stef has become a well-known and in-demand live and studio drummer nationwide.
Matt Ellis Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Matt Ellis is a professional musician, originally from Perth, with over 15 years of teaching experience. He has 25+ years of live performance and touring experience both nationally and internationally, with bands and duos of many different styles, including rock, metal, country, avant garde, experimental and acoustic. Matt is the guitarist in Sydney-based rock band Lillye, who were invited to entertain Australian and US troops in the Middle East in 2015 and released their debut album "Evolve" in 2018, which received rave reviews from media outlets across the globe. He is a multi award-winning songwriter and session guitarist with a high level of music theory and a guitar technique background. Matt has a passion for helping students find their own unique voice on their chosen instrument. He is a guitar teacher, bass guitar teacher and show director at School of Rock Sutherland.
Belinda Murphy Singing Teacher
Belinda Murphy is a passionate vocal coach with many years of experience. As a lead vocalist she has performed at events all over Australia and has featured in big shows at some of Sydney’s leading venues Including: Sergeants Mess, Dubar House, Luna Park Sydney, The Sydney Opera House, The Enmore Theatre, NRL Halftime Entertainment. She has shared the stage and played with some of Australia’s best musicians, vocalists, performers including Marcia Hines, Delta Goodrem, Julian Hamilton (The Presets), Shannon Noll, to name a few.
Belinda has also dabbled in Musical Theatre where she played the lead role of Audrey in Jeunes Production of "Little Shop of Horrors". Over the years she has taught students of all ages, who have gone on to score lead roles in musicals, perform on stage and TV and go on to record albums. Belinda has a passion for teaching and holds it a very high privilege to be able to help people on their musical journey.
Sheren Bhakti Drum Teacher
Currently studying at the Australian Institute of Music - Sheren has been playing drums for 10 years. Sheren has a wide variety of live performance experience at the Recharge Festival, Friday Night Delight, and His & Hers Love The World Live and many more. Presently, she is involved in a few bands such as Darling Don, the Motherfunkers and various solo artists. Beside doing live performances, recording as a session player and solo artist, she enjoys helping young drummers better their craft.
Sheren lists Jeff Porcaro, Nate Smith, Steve Jordan and Dennis Chambers as her major drumming influences.
Ubai Dahoud Singing Teacher
Ubai is a young actor, singer and songwriter. Over the course of the last few years, Ubai has worked and performed with many theatre groups across Sydney. He is currently studying at the National Institute Of Dramatic Art - Australia’s leading centre for education and training in the performing arts. When he’s not performing, he’s busy teaching vocalists of all skill levels and ages. Showing vocalists that it’s not just about singing, he also guides them with showmanship. Ubai lists his favourite artists as Bon Iver, Ed Sheeran and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Leah Keremea Drum Teacher
Leah is a drummer of 20 years and has studied drumming at the Billy Hyde Academy. Recently joining our team she’s helped our Beginner and Intermediate drummers develop the necessary skills to get going, grow and feel comfortable behind the kit. When she’s not busy teaching Leah is performing with her band - The Walk On By which has played many shows nationally and across Europe.
Leah has listed her favourite performances as playing alongside acts: King Gizzard, Hard Ons, Preachers, Steve Kilbey, Ed Clayton Jones.
Laurence Pohan Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Laurence Pohan is a versatile musician that teaches both Guitar and Drums. He has studied music at a variety of educational institutions, including Mainz (Music & Audio Institute Of New Zealand), Excel School Of Performing Arts and Auckland University.
Playing for over 20 years, he has worked with many artists such as: Ben Lummis (New Zealand Idol Winner 2004) Addeaze (New Zealand Artist) Glen Samuel (Indonesian artist and Indonesian Idol finalist) Andy Ambarita - (Gospel Artist) and many other Australian artists.
Over his career he’s played at venues like Auckland Townhall, Spark Arena, Sky City Theatre, Bruce Mason Theatre and various other venues in Sydney.
Laurence’s experience covers many different musical genres, but specializes in Pop, Rock, RnB, and Jazz.
Matt Charleston Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher
Matt Charleston is a singer/songwriter and session blues/rock guitarist from Sydney. He has released singles and albums, whilst also featuring on tracks for multiple artists such as Nick Marcus, Elysa V., Dimi Poulos, Roxaan Foley, Empty Fish Tank, & So To Speak.
Matt has studied music at the Western Sydney University - completing AMEB Piano Examinations to a high standard (8th Grade, 2016) and a Bachelor of Music. He lists some of his favourite venues to perform at as: The Brass Monkey, Valve Bar & The Red Rattler Theatre.
Matt teaches both Piano and Guitar.
Jedd Fraser Guitar Teacher
Primarily a guitarist, Jedd has been playing music for close to 15 years now and has been building a career around teaching guitar and freelancing as a composer/sound designer for the last five years of that time.
His influences span across many genres as he loves most types of music ranging from modern composers such as Steve Reich, Jonny Greenwood, and Brian Eno all the way through to classic rock/blues, folk, jazz, 80’s pop, electronic, and experimental genres.
His favourite artists vary constantly as it’s mostly based upon what he's listening to at the time which right now would be a healthy combo of Talking Heads, David Sylvian, and The Police.
Geoff Marks Guitar Teacher
Geoff was born into a very musical family and as such, music has always been a part of his life. After learning much of his theory on piano as a child, he switched to guitar, aged 10, and it’s been with him ever since. He now has over 40 years of playing experience.
Throughout his teens and early adulthood he continued to learn, play in local bands, school bands and write songs. Over the next two decades Geoff played in many bands of differing styles. Ranging from Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Grunge to Blues Rock and acoustic folk styles. He truly believes an appreciation of different varieties of skills and genres is integral to becoming a well-rounded and better musician. Geoff has a love of all music from Mozart to Midnight Oil, Buena Vista Cuban to the Beatles, Black Crowes to Bolivian Folk, Slash to Sia and truly everything in between.
With an extensive history of live performance, Geoff has a lot of knowledge that he passes on to our guitar students to help prepare them for live situations.
In more recent years, Geoff’s live performance has trended toward tribute-style cover performances contributing to quality shows based around Free, the Black Crowes, The Seattle Era, The Californian Desert Rock Scene and others. During this time he was fortunate to play with some amazing musicians such as Syd Green (19Twenty, Kasey Chambers), Jak Housden (Badloves, The Whitlams) and Dave Leslie (Baby Animals) amongst others.
Nick Mackey Bass Guitar Teacher
Nick Mackey is a bass guitarist from Sydney. He is currently studying a Bachelor of Music Majoring in Contemporary Music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
His notable work includes playing with the Lost Tropics & Jordan Kenny Band, & more recently playing as a soloist. Along the way he’s notched up a wealth of experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals in their music.
His favourite bands include the Beatles, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix & Silverchair.
Matthew (MJ) Whyte Drum Teacher
Matthew is a young drummer that’s currently studying a bachelor of music at the Sydney Conservatorium. He was Encore nominated in 2018 for Music 2 and Music extension, and has had the opportunity to play with the likes of James Morrison and Dennis DiBlasio through the Kirrawee High Jazz Orchestra. Matthew is currently in quite a few bands and has been gigging around Sydney for the last couple of years.
Darren Bethall Keyboard Teacher
A versatile performer from Sydney, Darren started his professional career in stage shows performing at such venues as The Opera House, The Footbridge Theatre, Sydney Entertainment Centre and The Enmore to name a few. Being a part of The Kirrawee Big Band in which Darren sang, played piano and percussion. Sharing the stage with such greats as James Morrison, Tommy Emmanuel, and Don Burrows. With national tours around Australia and a tour to Grahamstown Jazz Festival in South Africa. Darren has played all over the Sydney club circuit while still involving himself in stage shows including the multi-million dollar production of Peter Pan at The Capitol Theatre. The last 12 years has seen Darren performing all over the world from cruise ships to 5-star hotels around Europe and most recently London’s most exclusive piano bars, The Savoy & The Dorchester. Now settled back in Sydney after years of teaching in the UK, Darren is excited to pass on his knowledge at School of Rock Sutherland.