Harp Teachers
Gwenda was born of a Welsh father and English mother. Since her childhood years growing up in Sydney, Gwenda took an interest in music from the British Isles. Her training in voice, piano and harp, led to a performance career of harp and song.
Gwenda spent several years in San Francisco, completing an MA in creative arts, then pursuing harp interests alongside promoting and establishing markets for Australian Wines in the US. Gwenda later studied traditional Welsh folk music at UNW Bangor, Wales.
During the 1990’s Gwenda was employed by major hotels in the San Francisco Bay Area, playing harp during the lavish Sunday Brunch Buffets, including two years at the Top of the Mark, Mark Hopkins Hotel, and a year at the Berkeley Marriott Hotel.
Since her return to Australia, Gwenda completed an MMus(musicology) at UNSW in 2000. She joined the teaching faculty at Mitchell Conservatorium, Bathurst in 2005.
Gwenda performs under the banner of Emlyn’s Harp, (solo or ensemble) for weddings, private functions and cultural events in the Bathurst region, with a repertoire that sensitively combines light classical, traditional and popular themes to suit the occasion and atmosphere.
Performance highlights include a concert in Wellington Caves recorded by the ABC, Mitchell Conservatorium Bathurst Spring Recital Series, All Saints’ Cathedral Bathurst Lunchtime Recitals and Bathurst Autumn Colours series accompanying High Tea at Abercrombie House, Bathurst.
Bethany holds a BA Ed, BA Soc. Sc. (Psy), DipMus and AMusA (Voice), and is currently completing a research based Master of Music (Music Education) through Sydney University. She has many years of teaching experience in ensemble, classroom and studio contexts, and performs on harp (pedal and Celtic/lever), voice and piano across the Blue Mountains and Central Western region as an accompanist, and in orchestral and solo settings. She also is accredited as a classroom teacher for the Department of Education.
Bethany has experience conducting and coordinating various ensembles including concert band, string ensemble, harp groups and vocal groups, and is the deputy conductor of the Allegri Singers, Bathurst. Bethany is regularly involved in community theatrical productions as an instrumentalist, musical director and cast member. As a pedal harpist, Bethany has contributed to orchestras such as the Australian Doctors’ Orchestra, the Macquarie Philharmonia Orchestra and the Bathurst Chamber Orchestra.
Her particular expertise as a classroom educator (accredited at the level of Proficient Teacher), and capacity to adjust delivery of curriculum to suit individual learning needs, has enabled Bethany to assist other teachers with developing effective pedagogy, and assisted her role as a sessional academic at Charles Sturt University. Her current Masters research involves investigating the impact of group harp learning on students’ self–efficacy and self- concept. She has a passion for making music more accessible to students by continually developing and re-developing teaching practices that enhance both student potential and well-being.
Gwenda was born of a Welsh father and English mother. Since her childhood years growing up in Sydney, Gwenda took an interest in music from the British Isles. Her training in voice, piano and harp, led to a performance career of harp and song.
Gwenda spent several years in San Francisco, completing an MA in creative arts, then pursuing harp interests alongside promoting and establishing markets for Australian Wines in the US. Gwenda later studied traditional Welsh folk music at UNW Bangor, Wales.
During the 1990’s Gwenda was employed by major hotels in the San Francisco Bay Area, playing harp during the lavish Sunday Brunch Buffets, including two years at the Top of the Mark, Mark Hopkins Hotel, and a year at the Berkeley Marriott Hotel.
Since her return to Australia, Gwenda completed an MMus(musicology) at UNSW in 2000. She joined the teaching faculty at Mitchell Conservatorium, Bathurst in 2005.
Gwenda performs under the banner of Emlyn’s Harp, (solo or ensemble) for weddings, private functions and cultural events in the Bathurst region, with a repertoire that sensitively combines light classical, traditional and popular themes to suit the occasion and atmosphere.
Performance highlights include a concert in Wellington Caves recorded by the ABC, Mitchell Conservatorium Bathurst Spring Recital Series, All Saints’ Cathedral Bathurst Lunchtime Recitals and Bathurst Autumn Colours series accompanying High Tea at Abercrombie House, Bathurst.
Bethany holds a BA Ed, BA Soc. Sc. (Psy), DipMus and AMusA (Voice), and is currently completing a research based Master of Music (Music Education) through Sydney University. She has many years of teaching experience in ensemble, classroom and studio contexts, and performs on harp (pedal and Celtic/lever), voice and piano across the Blue Mountains and Central Western region as an accompanist, and in orchestral and solo settings. She also is accredited as a classroom teacher for the Department of Education.
Bethany has experience conducting and coordinating various ensembles including concert band, string ensemble, harp groups and vocal groups, and is the deputy conductor of the Allegri Singers, Bathurst. Bethany is regularly involved in community theatrical productions as an instrumentalist, musical director and cast member. As a pedal harpist, Bethany has contributed to orchestras such as the Australian Doctors’ Orchestra, the Macquarie Philharmonia Orchestra and the Bathurst Chamber Orchestra.
Her particular expertise as a classroom educator (accredited at the level of Proficient Teacher), and capacity to adjust delivery of curriculum to suit individual learning needs, has enabled Bethany to assist other teachers with developing effective pedagogy, and assisted her role as a sessional academic at Charles Sturt University. Her current Masters research involves investigating the impact of group harp learning on students’ self–efficacy and self- concept. She has a passion for making music more accessible to students by continually developing and re-developing teaching practices that enhance both student potential and well-being.