DR rianne wilschut - PRESIDENT
Dr Rianne Wilschut is a Brisbane-based performer, educator, artistic director and researcher. She holds a Griffith University Doctor of Musical Arts degree, specialising in chamber music. Born and educated in The Netherlands, she obtained a postgraduate diploma in Chamber Music (Rotterdam) and a postgraduate degree in Advanced Performance ‘Uitvoerend Musicus’ studying with Walter Boeykens and Nancy Braithwaite (Rotterdam), and a ‘Docerend Musicus’ degree in Clarinet Performance and Teaching under Oscar Ramspek (Zwolle).
An active chamber musician, Rianne is the clarinetist of the Limpinwood Ensemble and founding member of Ensemble Entourage, who toured under the banner of Musica Viva In Schools nationwide. As a freelance orchestral player she frequently performs with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, with Camerata - Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, and with a variety of music theatre companies.
An experienced and passionate educator, Dr Wilschut combines her performance calendar with teaching at the University of Queensland and Anglican Church Grammar School, and conducts independent master classes, workshops and clinics. She has presented at academic conferences in Malaysia and Australia, at the International Clarinet Conference in Louisiana (USA) and at the Australasian Clarinet and Saxophone Conference in Melbourne.
Pierce hurne - Vice president
Pierce Hurne is an established freelance musician and educator in southeast Queensland. Born and raised on the Gold Coast, Pierce moved to Brisbane to complete a Bachelor of Music with honours in 2014 under the tutelage of Dr. Diana Tolmie.
Pierce has been privileged with several opportunities including his employment as a sessional tutor of saxophone at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music alongside work as a woodwind specialist at Iona College, Padua College, San Sisto College and Emmanuel College.
As an active freelance performer in Brisbane, Pierce is a saxophonist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and performs in numerous professional and pro-amateur productions in the region.
Julie elvery - committee member
Julie Elvery studied clarinet at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with Floyd Williams, receiving a Bachelor of Music and Graduate Diploma of Instrumental Performance. She has also attained her Licentiate of Music (LMusA) Diploma on clarinet , and Associate of Music (AMusA) Diploma on both saxophone and piano.
Julie has taught for over 25 years at a number of schools in Brisbane plus in her home studio. She is currently the Reeds Specialist teacher at Citipointe Christian College and Mansfield State High School.
She has enjoyed performing as a freelance clarinetist with the Qld Philharmonic Orchestra and various chamber music groups.
Julie has played clarinet in various community ensembles, including the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra from 2006-2010, and she currently plays clarinet in Orchestra Corda Spiritus.
Emily gould - committee member
Emily Gould is a professional clarinettist from England, who graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester in 1995 with an honours degree and a Professional Performance Diploma.
Since her graduation she continued to be a member of a professional chamber ensemble – Chinook Clarinet Quartet. She has performed with this group at many of the UK’s leading venues such as The Bridgewater Hall, the Wigmore Hall and the Purcell Room. They represented the UK at the European Clarinet and Saxophone Society Conferences in Hungary and Poland, won several major competitions, and have had numerous works written for them, including a BBC commissioned work subsequently broadcast on Radio 3.
As well as performing, Emily has always enjoyed a variety of educational work, teaching in many primary and secondary schools, coaching ensembles, and adjudicating competitions.
She moved to Australia in 2002, started a family, and has continued to enjoy a career as a musician, performing in local orchestras and teaching in various schools such as ‘Churchie’, Brisbane Boys’ College, Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School and currently teaches at Lourdes Hill College.
Cassie whitehead - committee member/marketer
Cassie Whitehead is a saxophone specialist, performer and educator. She is a Queensland Conservatorium of Music graduate, has also studied at New York University and has won the Magnetic Island Jazz Festival Award. She is currently saxophone tutor at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), runs the instrumental music program and bands at St Ignatius School Toowong and mentors for Talkin Jazz at the Brisbane Jazz Club.
Aside from being a sought after saxophonist within the Brisbane jazz scene, she has regularly toured internationally and nationally including many tours of New Zealand on the summer festival circuit and sold out shows throughout Australia and New Zealand. As saxophonist, co-songwriter and manager of reggae/soul/funk originals band Paua, Cassie has played some of New Zealand's biggest music festivals and the largest reggae festival in the Southern Hemisphere.
She has recorded with a range of artists as a session musician in many genres and worked as a horn arranger on a variety of projects. Her songwriting, recording and horn arrangement credits include many singles and albums with her band Paua that have charted in the Top 100 in New Zealand and reached number one on the iTunes Reggae charts in Australia and New Zealand. Some of the albums she has recorded on include 'Paua' - Paua, 'Sometimes' - Paua, 'For the People' - Paua, 'Bass & Bassinets' - Tomorrow People (NZ), 'Now or Never' - Blues Arcadia, ‘Arkism’ - Arkism, 'Celebrating Women in Music' - Yas Queen, 'At First Sight' - Bec Laughton, etc.
David Carson - TREASURER
David describes himself as a ‘former’ musician who now dabbles and takes great pride in coaching his children along on their musical journeys in flute and clarinet. Having played saxophone through senior school and later in several bands, he has a soft spot for baritone and soprano sax but concedes that clarinet has the better of him.
With degrees in law, finance and business management, David keeps an eye on our finances. He also keeps us up to date with our regulatory obligations.
David says it is his great privilege to work alongside such a wonderful group of talented and committed musicians allowing him to maintain his connection to the woodwind music community.
+ Emma Di Marco
+ Kristine Handley
+ Sophie Christensen