String Teachers
Doreen Cumming
Violin, String ensembles, Schools strings program
Senior teacher. Doreen began her music studies at the age of six with Juilliard graduate, Vincent Edwards. Over the following decade, Doreen’s instructors included many notable musicians such as John Painter, Chairman Gadd OAM, Larry Sitsky AO, FAHA, and Jan Sedivka AM. At the age of thirteen Doreen made her professional debut with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra (CSO). Since then she has worked with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Orquestra Sinfonia de Galicia (Spain), and many session and recording orchestras in Sydney.
Doreen currently holds the position of Principal Second violin with the CSO.
In 2021 Doreen performed with the Acacia Quartet and the following year
was appointed to the position of Second Violin. Following 11 concerts
with the violist and cellist from the renowned German Orpheus Quartet,
most of which were sold out, Acacia has been invited to tour Europe later
this year with concerts in Germany, Amsterdam, France, and The
Netherlands. The Acacia Quartet are regular mentors for the Regional
Youth Orchestra and the Four Winds Youth Music Festival.
Doreen moved to regional NSW in 2007 and has held the positions of
Head of Strings Tamworth Conservatorium and Co Head of Strings
Orange Regional Conservatorium, and she is looking forward to joining the
team at Mitchell Conservatorium.
Senior teacher, strings. Nicholas was appointed to the Mitchell Conservatorium in 1998. He received his Bachelor of Music in 1990 and has studied violin and viola with Dr. Anthony Doheney, Lyndal Edmiston and Jan Sedivka. In addition to his extensive ensemble and orchestral performance experience, Nicholas has more than 10 years experience teaching students from 5 years to 55 years of age in all eastern seaboard States and the Northern Territory. Nicholas believes that anyone with commitment can learn to play string instruments.
Robyn Stokoe Godfrey is a highly experienced performer and teacher who, in 2015, relocated to Windeyer, near Mudgee, after more than four decades of a busy professional life in Sydney. Upon completion of tertiary studies at the Sydney Conservatorium, Robyn became a founding member of the Palm Court Orchestra, Sydney’s leading “society” orchestra, directed by her late husband, John Godfrey. The PCO continues to this day and specialises in late 19th, early 20th Century light music, the vast library for which Robyn is the owner and caretaker.
A skilled and dedicated private teacher, Robyn taught at many leading private schools, including long-held positions at MLC School, St Andrew’s Cathedral School, Newtown High School of the Performing
Arts, International Grammar School, Santa Sabina College, and also in the late Chris Belshaw’s comprehensive Saturday programme, utilising Orff and Kodaly methodologies. Now, Robyn continues to teach both locally and at the Mitchell Conservatorium, where she is the cellist in Mitchell String Theory, the resident professional string quintet. Among many performance opportunities, she has also formed a duo with harpist and singer, Kim Deacon, a long-time friend and colleague, who currently lives in Hill End.
Mitchell Conservatorium welcomes back string teacher Michelle Stockwell. Michelle is a very experienced teacher, performer and composer and we look forward to her contribution to our dedicated and talented strings team.
Senior teacher, strings. Nicholas was appointed to the Mitchell Conservatorium in 1998. He received his Bachelor of Music in 1990 and has studied violin and viola with Dr. Anthony Doheney, Lyndal Edmiston and Jan Sedivka. In addition to his extensive ensemble and orchestral performance experience, Nicholas has more than 10 years experience teaching students from 5 years to 55 years of age in all eastern seaboard States and the Northern Territory. Nicholas believes that anyone with commitment can learn to play string instruments.
Robyn Stokoe Godfrey is a highly experienced performer and teacher who, in 2015, relocated to Windeyer, near Mudgee, after more than four decades of a busy professional life in Sydney. Upon completion of tertiary studies at the Sydney Conservatorium, Robyn became a founding member of the Palm Court Orchestra, Sydney’s leading “society” orchestra, directed by her late husband, John Godfrey. The PCO continues to this day and specialises in late 19th, early 20th Century light music, the vast library for which Robyn is the owner and caretaker.
A skilled and dedicated private teacher, Robyn taught at many leading private schools, including long-held positions at MLC School, St Andrew’s Cathedral School, Newtown High School of the Performing
Arts, International Grammar School, Santa Sabina College, and also in the late Chris Belshaw’s comprehensive Saturday programme, utilising Orff and Kodaly methodologies. Now, Robyn continues to teach both locally and at the Mitchell Conservatorium, where she is the cellist in Mitchell String Theory, the resident professional string quintet. Among many performance opportunities, she has also formed a duo with harpist and singer, Kim Deacon, a long-time friend and colleague, who currently lives in Hill End.
Mitchell Conservatorium welcomes back string teacher Michelle Stockwell. Michelle is a very experienced teacher, performer and composer and we look forward to her contribution to our dedicated and talented strings team.