Australian Violin Teachers

CatherineDobbie B.A. (Syd.) , L.T.C.L. , A.T.C.L. , A.Mus.A. , A.S.C.M., Grad.Dip.Ed.
Australian Violinist & Music Educator


Catherine Dobbie is one of Australia’s leading violin teachers. She is regarded as a leading figure in music education in Sydney and has twice been recognised by the Australian Music Examinations Board with the award of the A.M.E.B. Private Music Teacher Shield.

Following her primary education at SCEGGS, Catherine completed her secondary education at MLC School (where she was awarded the Lindley Evans Prize for Music) and the Conservatorium High School in Sydney followed by advanced musical studies with acclaimed Australian violinist Christopher Kimber and the Australian composer and pianist Marjorie Hesse. While completing her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Sydney she continued her violin studies and also studied singing with Grant Dickson at the Sydney Conservatorium. As violinist with the Pogodin Trio, Catherine has performed for the University of Sydney and has broadcast for Radio 2MBS-FM.

As a Director of the Sydney International Music Camps, Catherine has been involved with stimulating music education by bringing together young musicians to experience the joys of orchestral music making. In 1994 she was appointed Sydney Representative for the Trinity College London International Examinations Program before moving on to her current position as Co- Editor of the Sydney Directory of Music & Speech Teachers with her twin brother Warrick.

Following violin teaching positions at Trinity Grammar School, Meriden School and PLC Sydney, Catherine established herself as one of Sydney’s leading violin teachers and now teaches exclusively at her own private studio located at the heart of Sydney’s inner west education belt. Many of her students have had great success in gaining sought after music scholarships at Sydney private schools, a recent highlight saw two of Sydney’s leading private schools each offering one of Catherine’s students a full music scholarship both covering 100% of the student’s school fees for Years 7 to 12.

Phone : 0412 656233

Stephanie Brown  B.Ed. , ADMT

Stephanie Brown is an award-winning international music teacher and
the Founder and Director of Bella Quattro Strings.
Stephanie is passionate about teaching and combines this passion
with knowledge gained from 6 years tertiary study and over 28 years
experience working in the field of Music Education.

Stephanie holds a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education
from Macquarie University and an Associate Diploma in Music
Teaching with a major in Violin Pedagogy from the Sydney
Conservatorium of Music.

Stephanie has 15 years international teaching experience working in
Carmel, California.

Stephanie’s teaching experience in Australia spans 13 years working
at one of Sydney’s most prestigious private co-educational grammar
schools (S.C.E.C.G.S Redlands). She was a music scholar at
Redlands and was invited back shortly after graduating as the
Preparatory Music Specialist and also as a violin tutor.
During her time at Redlands, Stephanie prepared violin students for
examinations through Trinity College London and the Associated
Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).

Stephanie studied the Suzuki Method of violin instruction with John
Speer from 4 1/2 years old to 15 years old and the traditional method
of violin instruction with Phillipa Paige thereafter. Phillipa, a former
member of SSO is currently writing the Australian Music Examinations
Board (AMEB) syllabus for 2022.

Stephanie has successfully taught students remotely via the Zoom
video platform and maintained her studio of 28 students in the US.
Stephanie currently offers the traditional method of violin instruction in
Freshwater, NSW.

Stephanie is a member of the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) & Music Teachers’ Association of NSW (MMTA). 

She is also accredited as a violin instructor through the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC).

Phone : 0490 080154

Alla Rozumiak Masters Degree : Orchestra Soloist, Ensemble Performer, Tutor (USSR)
Teacher of Violin and Piano


Alla received her early musical training at the Special Music High School for Gifted Children in Kiev, Ukraine, studying with Nina Minko. She furthered her studies at the Kiev State Conservatory (class of Prof. Bogodar Kotorovich ). During her period of study, she was awarded the Liatoschinsky Memorial Scholarship for the most outstanding students.

Alla is a Laureate of the International Competition of Chamber Ensembles “Premio Vittorio Gui”, Florence Italy (1989). She has held the following positions overseas; Principal Violinist with the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra in Yalta, Ukraine; Concertmaster of the Symphonic Orchestra for the Opera and Operette Theatre in Szczecin, Poland , and worked with the National Music Conservatory in Amman, Jordan as Concertmaster of the National Orchestra, Violinist-in-Residence and violin and chamber music teacher.

Since coming to Australia in 1995, Alla has participated in performances with the National Chamber Opera, National Philharmonic Orchestra and Willoughby Symphony Orchestra. She is currently teaching privately ( in the Sydney suburb of St.Ives ) and working as Musical Director and 1st Violinist of the “Russian String Quartet”.

Mobile : 0416 198521

Studio located at St.Ives

Louisa Brand MACE, M.Ed.Admin., Grad.Dip.Ed.(UNE), B.Mus.(Hons.), L.Mus.A.(viola), A.Mus.A.(violin), JP
Teacher of Violin & Viola


Louisa has extensive qualifications and experience as a performer, teacher and examiner. She is a bubbly people person who loves working with young people, makes lessons fun, produces excellent AMEB exam results, helps students to attain music scholarships in private schools, helps students with their school orchestra music and inspires students to practise, perform and attend concerts.

Louisa studied violin and viola with Alex Todicescu before accepting a full scholarship to the University of Michigan USA to study viola in the Bachelor of Music program with world renowned violist Yizhak Schotten. She has taught at many exclusive private schools including being the Coordinator of K-6 Music at Ravenswood, Reddam House and at The Hills Grammar School, she was the Head of Strings at Scotch College in WA and at Abbotsleigh in NSW, she was a violin and viola examiner for the AMEB in WA and has also taught at Kambala, SCECGS Redlands, St. Aloysius’ College and the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.

Louisa is dedicated to string music education and was the Vice President of the Australian and New Zealand Viola Society for many years. She has attended conferences in Seattle, Canberra, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Switzerland.

Louisa has played with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra, the Manly Warringah Orchestra and currently performs with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and is the Principal Violist in the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra. Louisa is also a renowned soloist, having won the Ku-ring-gai Concerto Competition in 1992 and the ABC’s Young Artist’s Program in 1993. She has performed as a soloist with many orchestras around the world, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the SBS Orchestra, the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra, the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic, the University of Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra.

Mobile: 0419 010 692

Teaching studio located in Gordon

Janet Silverton A.S.C.M., D.S.C.M., Grad.Dip.Ed.
Teacher of Viola, Violin & Piano

Janet is an experienced teacher of piano, violin/viola and is also an experienced accompanist. She has successfully entered students for AMEB and St Cecilia exams.

She currently teachers piano at the Emanuel school and gives private lessons at her studio.

Janet is a registered Creative Kids provider.

Janet completed her music diplomas at the Sydney Conservatorium after completing her schooling at the Conservatorium High School in the 1970’s.

She studied piano with Igor Hmelnitsky attaining her ASCM.

Janet attained her ASCM and DSCM studying with with Alex Todicescu and had post graduate tuition with Harry Curby and John Harding.

In the 80’s and 90’s, Janet freelanced regularly on viola with Sydney’s major professional orchestras including Sydney Symphony and the Australian Opera and Ballet orchestra.

She currently directs and plays in the Leonora Ensemble and continues to perform in freelance engagements.

Mobile : 0417 657 178

Studio located in the Bondi / Waverley Area.

Beata Stanowska Master of Arts (Violin – Poland)
Teacher of Violin


Beata has extensive experience as a performer and music teacher. She gained her qualifications in the Lyceum of Music in Warsaw, Poland and completed her Master of Arts study in the class of Professor T. Kochanski, in the Academy of Music in Gdansk Faculty of Instrumental Studies, where she held a concertmaster position with the Symphonic Orchestra.

She was awarded a distinction in the National Childrens Violin Competition in Lancut (Poland). Beata became a principal violinist with both the State Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra and Baltic Chamber Orchestra, with which she toured extensively throughout Europe, including France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Spain. She has performed at such famous venues as The Munich Philharmonic, Alte Oper in Frankfurt and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Since arriving in Australia in 1992, Beata has performed with Willoughby Symphonic Orchestra (leader), East-West Symphonic Orchestra, Amadeus Players (co-leader), Macquarie Symphony Orchestra and Choir at the Macquarie University (leader) and a variety of string ensembles. In 1995 she gave her solo performance during the Gala Concert with WSO, receiving an excellent review.

For many years, she has enjoyed a successful private teaching practice in a variety of schools in Sydney, such as North Ryde, Asquith, Balmain, Sutherland, Bellevue Hills, to name a few. In 1998 she established a Music Studio in Balmain providing music tuition in violin, piano, and musicianship. Her students are highly regarded in AMEB, achieving high distinctions in their exams, and many were recipients of scholarships to private schools. Beata’s students were also successful in Eisteddfod competitions in Ryde, where they were awarded 1st, 2nd , 3rd prizes and high commendations.

Currently, she holds a concertmaster position in Sydney Contemporary Orchestra, leads a string quartet (Strings Attached), works as a recording musician (soundtrack for Water Diviner and movies by Pixar) while continuing teaching from Balmain and Castle Hill. Beata specializes in preparing her students for AMEB exams in subjects of violin, piano and musicianship. She also provides a piano accompaniment for exams and HSC performances.

In 2015 Beata performed at The Flute Tree Studio and Utzon Hall at the Opera House with Hourglass Ensemble.

Phone: (02) 8850 4805

Mobile : 0410 480 564

Studio located in the Castle Hill area.

Agnieszka Rypel-Polkas MA (Music Ed.) , B.Teach. , Dip.Mus.
Teacher of Violin

Agnieszka has over 20 years experience in teaching the violin to students of all ages and abilities.

She graduated from the well known High Conservatorium of Music School in Poland in 1986 and continued to pursue her music training at University. She gained a Masters Degree in Music Education at the Higher Pedagogical School of Music and continued her studies in Australia with a Bachelor of Teaching at the University of Sydney.

She has taught music at several High Schools in the Sydney region, tutored music in Primary Schools and continues to tutor theory and musicology along with violin performance. Recent public performances have included playing violin with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House and numerous performances with the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra and Solar Chamber Orchestra.

She currently teaches from her studio in Belmore.

Phone : 0404 041 965

Henry Avila Diploma : Violin Concert Performer & Teacher / M.A.
Teacher of Violin

I began my musical studies at the Juan Manuel Olivares Music School in Caracas, Venezuela. From 1983-1987 I attended courses at the Julliard School of Music in New York. In 1988 I won a scholarship to continue my studies in the former USSR and completed my Degree as a Violin Concert Performer, Teacher & Master of Arts. I graduated from the Yerevan State Conservatorium and have over 20 years of experience in both teaching and performing. I played for many years with the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela (El Sistema), Soloists of Venezuela Orchestra, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and as well as a soloist with the Penrith Symphony Orchestra.

Since arriving to Australia I have taught at the Australian Institute of Music, Newington College, University of Western Sydney, Burwood Girls High School, and The McDonald College of the Performing Arts among others.

I work with students of all levels and ages. Currently I work as a violin and viola teacher at St. Patrick’s College in Strathfield, Croydon Park Public School, Bexley North Public School, Georges River College ( Hurstville and Pershurst campuses). Along with the traditional violin teaching method, I also train students with the Suzuki method and other non-traditional but fun methods. I have extensive experience in preparing students from grades preliminary right through to A.Mus.A and L.Mus.A AMEB level exams.

Whilst setting a learning program according to the students’ needs and abilities, I always try to make the lessons fun and easy going. Playing classical music as well as popular music and duets has been proven to be a successful way of learning to play a musical instrument and I incorporate that into my lessons.

I also manage my own string quartet (Avila String Quartet) and also perform frequently violin and piano recitals as the violinist of Duo Deconet.

Mobile : 0416 013 370

His studio is located in the Bexley North area.

Teri Singer A.Mus.A.
Teacher of Violin

Teri Singer attended the Conservatorium High School in the 70’s studying with Carl Pini and Robert Pikler. She continued her studies at Indiana University in the US with Professor Jozef Gingold and later Yair Kless at Bar Ilan University in Israel. She was a founding member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, performing with them for many years in Australia and overseas. She later became a member of the Israel Chamber Orchestra and has freelanced in the Utah Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra where she still plays on occasion. She is an experienced chamber musician having played with the Robert Pikler Quartet in the Aldeburgh Festival and Wigmore Hall, and the Ariel Trio with performances in The Sydney Opera House and Conservatorium of Music. She’s taught privately for many years and for over a decade at St. Andrews Cathedral School as well.

Teri teaches at all levels and has prepared her students for auditions, AMEB exams and University entrance performance. She currently also teaches several adult students wishing to pursue violin for leisure.

Mobile : 0410 627596

Studios located at Rose Bay in Sydney.

Dr. Pourandokht Naseri Diploma (Violin) , Ph.D (Physics)
Teacher of Violin


Dr. Pourandokht Naseri obtained a major in music as well as a PhD in physics from the University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music and School of Physics, respectively. She has also studied violin at the Art University of Iran, Honar University. In her music studies, she focused on music performance and its interaction with society. This led her to organise music festivals with the aim of building bridges between cultures often locked in conflict by creating an environment for them to collaborate musically.

Pourandokht has played with many orchestras including Sydney’s East-West Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra of the National Radio and Television of Iran and Sydney Youth Orchestra. She was the national winner in violin performance in the age group of 16-19, in 1999 in Iran. Over the recent years, she has added Middle Eastern folk music to her repertoire and has participated in many local music festivals.

Pourandokht teaches violin at the beginners and intermediate levels to students of all age groups.

Mobile : 0433 806 380

Studio located at Glebe.

Adrian Keating Principal Violin, Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra
Teacher of Violin


Adrian has a repertoire of over 100 Operas and 100 Ballets as a Principal Violinist with the Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra, and Guest Concertmaster, Acting Deputy Concertmaster. Completed the International Masterclass, Conducting, St Petersburg.

As an improvising violinist, Adrian has lectured at the Sydney and Wollongong Conservatoriums, has released 2 Blues CD’s, produced his Live DVD/CD “Classically Blue Live”, and has led recording and performing sessions for Australian artists, including You Am I, Hoodoo Gurus, Grinspoon, Jimmy Barnes, Savage Garden; and has composed many hours of arrangements for Australian contemporary artists. Adrian has led orchestras for Sir George Martin, Bernadette Peters, Al Jarreau, David Helfgott, Sir Cliff Richard, and Rod Stewart.

As Director of the Sydney Lyric Orchestra, Adrian’s clients have included the Paris Opera Ballet (2007 / 2013), Richard Bonynge’s ‘Rodelinda’ 2012, Jose Carreras, Tina Arena, Martha Wainwright, Sir James Galway, Opera in the Vineyards, Kiri te Kanawa, UnKle, Ken Unsworth and Tim Woods Entertainment.
Adrian is currently running the Strings program at Riverside Girls High Scool, writing arrangements specifically for the girls involved in the String Ensemble.
Adrian has students ranging from 5 yr old beginners to those requiring assistance with Audition excerpts for upcoming orchestral positions – his students know him as a dedicated teacher and mentor.

Phone : 0419 194997

Studio located at Wollstonecraft

Robert Sek Master of Fine Arts (Violin, Poland)
Teacher of Violin


Well established and experienced violin teacher accredited with AMEB. Tailors his programs to the individual needs of students. Robert employs proven and powerful teaching methods. His students demonstrate high achievement in all sections of AMEB syllabus and receive top results in exams at all levels.

An exponent of the Polish musical tradition, he graduated with highest distinction from the Wieniawski Music High School in Lodz Poland and received Master Degree of Arts (Honours) in Performance from the Conservatorium of Music (Lodz, Poland), both in the violin class of the famous Polish teacher Zenon Ploszaj. As one of the best violin players of his age group he was privileged to take international master classes with Professor Zakhar Bron, Oleh Krysa and Ruggiero Ricci.

From 1992 to 1997 he was the associate principal and soloist with the prestigious Polish Chamber Orchestra touring Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany and Russia. Since 1998 he has held a permanent position with the orchestra of Opera Australia (Sydney Opera House).

He started his teaching career early as the assistant to his master, Professor Zenon Ploszaj, at the Lodz Conservatorium of Music, preparing young talents for the international competitions. He successfully integrates his performing engagements with private tuition and will consider teaching students serious about achieving the highest standard of musicianship. To make an appointment for an initial meeting please call his Hornsby studio.

Phone : 9476 8226

Mobile : 0434 879217

Studio located at Hornsby

Patricia Kastanias B.A , A.Mus.A
Teacher of Violin

Patricia is an experienced violinist and music teacher, having performed both in Australia and abroad with orchestral groups and chamber ensembles. She has experience teaching music beginners as young as three and is a committed and supportive teacher who is willing to work with each student to enable them to realise their potential and talents.

First lesson free !

Phone : 0427 905799

Studio located at Paddington