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OUR ENSEMBLE DIRECTORS, MENTORS & AMAZING TEACHERS

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JON STOCKMAN

Jon has been an active member of the hugely successful Australian band  Karnivool playing bass for them for 22 years. He began music at a young age when he started learning piano at 6 years old and has been playing bass guitar for 25 years. 

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With their acclaimed 2005 debut 'Themata' and 2009's ground breaking follow-up 'Sound Awake', Karnivool established themselves as one of the most vital forces in progressive modern music. The band belied expectations again with their third album, the brazen and introspection ' Asymmetry' (released July 2013). Asymemetry became their first number 1 Album, outselling all other artists combined in the Australian top ten and saw them pick up their first ever ARIA award. This album was one of the most acclaimed albums of 2013 and achieved gold status in just ten days.

 

In addition to this, Jono loves to help others and deems the relationships he holds within Music Rocks Australia as very important to him. Those who are lucky enough to work with Jon will gain an invaluable and priceless life experience and develop skills and knowledge about music that are world class and life changing. 

 

 

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SIOBHAN COTCHIN

Siobhan performed with her own band and music on the Australian tour for Matchbox 20 and Goo Goo Dolls in February of 2024. She is a prolific performer in our music industry and has a patience and energy for our musicians like no other, with her vocal teaching and keys and guitar accompaniment.

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She studied two years at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in the Music Artist Advanced Diploma course and has been playing and writing songs since she was 9 years old.  She has performed and written with artists such as Leon Bridges, The Teskey Brothers, Thelma Plum, Spacey Jane and Kingswood. Siobhan was a Laneway Fest (triple j unearthed competition winner. She has multiple WAM nominations and wins, including song of the year, best country act and vocalist (twice). Amazing!!!

 

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AARON BIRCH

Aaron is the 2023 Indigenous Artist of the Year! His band Joan and the Giants are nominated for another 7 WAMI awards this year! Just finished performing for P!nk at Optus stadium!!!

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Aaron has been an ensemble director at Music Rocks for 4 years. He is the co-founder and lead guitarist in Alt/Indie band Joan & The Giants. Joan & The Giants have supported world class acts, including P!nk and Eskimo Joe and Aaron and his band have been nominated for numerous Western Australian music awards. Most recently they took home 6 awards in 2023. Which included Best Indie/Alt act, Best Single and Best Music Video, they also came runner up in the WA Song Of The Year 2023.

 

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KEIR BROWN

The former Music Rocks Australia All-star is now our most famous producer and Ensemble Director. His music with Scatterback is simply fantastic! Hr is the heart and soul of what we do!!!

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Kier is a multi instrumentalist - bass, drums, guitar, piano and voice and producer - our main MRA Studio producer. Keir comes from a classically trained musical family and began learning music at a very young age. He studied music through high school, completed a Jazz Diploma and 2 years of the Contemporary Music Bachelor Course at WAAPA.

Kier is the bassist, backing vocalist and co-songwriter for Scatterback and Mirrors at the Arcade. He has performed at venues all over Perth, including headlining shows at The Rosemount, The Milk Bar and Mojo’s Bar. He is all over our KLowe Photography Concert photos as he has the longest hair of all EDs which makes his photos the Rock'est of all!

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GRACE NEWTON-WORDSWORTH

Grace is the lead vocalist and songwriter for Joan and the Giants who are nominated for another 7 WAMI awards this year! Our vocalists under her trust and guidance are doing amazing things! Bio coming soon

 

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JOSH MILLS

The Music Rocks drum specialist as also an amazing music industry sound engineer. His drummers are literally taking off! Josh plays a variety of different genres of music but his favourite to music is Punk/Rock. He performs in a punk band called "Running Out of Nuns" and likes to produce lofi hiphop music as Aloe Valley. Josh also works as a sound tech at various venues around Perth such as The Rechabite and Planet Royale etc..

 

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ANGUS LAWRIE

Angus is a WAYJO Trombonist and talented multi-instrumentalist. Angus's patience and cool teaching methods are seeing our musicians do amazing things! His work in our recording studio with the Beats per Min program highlights Angus's songwriting, producing, multi-instrumentalist and teaching expertise.

 

He specialises in bass, guitar, trombone and vocals, and also plays keyboard and drums. With an Advanced Diploma of Music Industry from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and a Diploma of Music Production, Angus has a deep understanding and passion for all things music.

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LIAM OLSEN

Liam is the bass guitarist and songwriter for Joan and the Giants who are nominated for another 7 WAMI awards this year! Just finished performing for P!nk at Optus stadium!!!

 

Liam began playing in high school bands with primarily funk, Rnb and grunge dtyles. He is the bass guitarists and keyboardist for Joan and the Giants after joinging the band in 2018. His key achievements include supporting great bands such as Odette, Eskimo Joe, Murray and the Soul Movers, Pink and more... He has recorded bass on multiple WAM award winning songs. His favourite artists are Jeff Buckley and Sam Fender.

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ASHAN WEERASOORIYA

Ashan holds a Bachelor of Jazz Performance (WAAPA) and he leads our mentorship on vocals and keyboards. He has been teaching at Music Rocks and other schools since 2021. Ashan’s goal with students (shared by many teachers at Music Rocks) is to foster an enjoyment for their instrument and provide a supportive practice environment to develop musicianship and stage confidence.

 

You may catch him some nights playing jazz standards at a hotel/bar somewhere in Perth... He is equally comfortable crooning over a jazz ballad or belting out some Beyoncé at a Music Rocks concert ;) Ashan also writes and produces pop music under the name Bravesun - a project launched in 2024

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SIMON MITCHELL

Guitar shredder and our most prolific producer, Simon's mentorship is simply amazing. Simon has been playing guitar for nearly 30 years, forming the progressive metal band Chaos Divine 20 years ago. He has toured nationally and internationally and played with some of the biggest bands in the metal genre. 

 

He completed his Advanced Diploma in Audio Engineering from WAAPA in 2010 and has gone on to produce a number of critically acclaimed albums, even working alongside ARIA nominated producer Forrester Savell. With a wealth of experience in various sectors of the music industry, Simon has plenty to offer to anybody who walks through the door into Music Rocks with just about any interest or goal - Simon is amazing!!!

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ZOLA LI

Zola brings international musical experience to Music Rocks. Her energy and talent on almost all instruments is unbelievable!

 

Zola is a multi-instrumentalist playing violin, piano, guitar, and is a singer-songwriter for experimental and improvised music. Originally from Taiwan, she has since taken her original music to many countries in Asia, Europe, and Australia. She has developed a passion for a wide range of musical styles, including anything from classical, Irish, blues, Latin, jazz, and flamenco, to world music.

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CALLUM NOBLET

Hip Hop production at its best! Callum is our Music Rocks DJ Instructor & one of our amazing Music Producers. Formerly known as CALIBR, Callum is a dynamic DJ with electrifying performances at Perth festivals like Origin Fields, Touch Bass, and Breakfest. Callum has amassed a global following on SoundCloud. His innovative tracks have resonated with audiences worldwide, showcasing a unique blend of genres and pushing the boundaries of conventional music.

 

Beyond his achievements in music, Callum brings a holistic perspective to his work, rooted in his background in occupational therapy. His passion for NDIS services drives his commitment to facilitating access to enriching activities for individuals with disabilities, fostering inclusivity and empowerment within the music community.

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KAIA CARBINE

Kaia is a versatile music educator, privileged by a family of musicians she has explored many styles & genres from Alternative to Psych-Rock, R&B, and Electronica. With a Cert III in music performance and an Associate's Degree in Music Production & Songwriting, she blends formal training with a natural talent for vocals and multiple instruments. Passionate about imparting musical wisdom. Kaia's teaching philosophy is to create a space to enjoy learning & encourage longevity as a musician.

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JESSICA HOOKS

Bio coming soon...

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NIKITA SMOUT

Nikita is in the final year of her Speech Pathology degree. She understands that good vocal hygiene is important and is aware of the structures that enable us to produce voice. She applies her knowledge for our vocalists in such a unique way.

She has been involved in many performances in choirs, musicals and as a solo artists. Nikita has recently completed the WAAPA Contemporary Vocal Performance short course and is delving into writing her own music. She has a passion for inclusivity and enjoys working with people of all abilities, with experience working with both children and adults.

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