Anna Sedcole

Anna is a NZ Registered Music Therapist (MMusTh) and Singing Teacher (ATCL). With a background in piano and violin, Anna has a broad range of musical experience spanning early music to contemporary pop. Anna sings regularly with Voices New Zealand, The Tudor Consort, Baroque Voices, and as a soloist with The Queen's Closet. Recently, Anna sang the role of Venus in The Queen's Closet's performance of 'The Judgment of Paris'. As a music therapist, Anna sees clients from early childhood to older adults living in residential care, using music as a tool to help with goals or challenges.

Anna also leads our Lyrica and Piccolo choir.

 

Jeremy Desmond

Jeremy also leads our Junior Kapa Haka group, coaches two of our bands and teaches Te Reo Māori in our junior classes.

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John Rae

John Rae is a jazz drummer and award winning composer and teacher. In 2009/10 he was the Creative New Zealand/Jack C. Richards composer-in-residence at Victoria University Wellington, New Zealand. John recorded his first album at the age of sixteen with the Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith and has subsequently recorded over 70 albums both as a leader and side man, including two BBC Jazz Albums of the Year. Awarded a ‘Herald Angel Award’ at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and leader and composer for the New Zealand jazz group, The Troubles. From 2000-3 drummer for the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and has performed and recorded with many world renowned jazz musicians including Ethan Iverson, Vijay Iyer and Mike Nock. Originally from Scotland, John has been a New Zealand citizen since 2016.

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Kamala Bain

Kamala Bain is a recorder performance graduate of the University of Auckland where she studied with David Coomber, and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam where she studied with Walter van Hauwe and Paul Leenhouts. Now based in Wellington, her work as a performer takes her back to Europe and Australia, with highlights including performances with Pinchgut Opera in Sydney, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and the Akademie für Alte Musik Bruneck in Italy. New Zealand performance highlights include Stroma’s Mirror of Time series, a Chamber Music NZ tour with Barocca, and performances with NZ Barok, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and the Night Watch ensemble. Kamala has been teaching at KNS since 2005, teaches privately, makes regular appearances as a tutor at workshops in Australia and NZ, has taught in Ireland and Canada, and is an artist teacher at the NZ School of Music.

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Margaret Guldborg

Margaret Guldborg has been teaching and playing in Wellington since moving here with her family in 2008. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Margaret has worked in orchestras in the States, Denmark, Malaysia, and Singapore. She currently performs with Orchestra Wellington and as a freelancer when she is not teaching. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Music in Performance.

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Mark Cookson

After studying music in Wellington, Brisbane and Chicago, Mark worked as a freelance musician in London for 10 years. Since returning to Wellington, he has maintained a busy career as a performer and teacher. A member of Orchestra Wellington and the RNZAF Band, Mark has also toured for Chamber Music New Zealand and performed with the NZSO and NZ Opera. Clarinet and saxophone were Mark's first instruments, but he also performs professionally on flute, bassoon and oboe.

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Martin Ryman

M.Mus (Distinction) B. Mus. (Executant) A.R.C.O. Dip. Tchg.Martin is a graduate of the University of Auckland where he first studied as a pianist with Janetta McStay, and also sang in Auckland Cathedral Choir under Professor Peter Godfrey. He later furthered his studies as an organist and harpsichordist at The Royal College of Music, London with Nicholas Danby and then at Oxford with Dr Walter Hillsman. In 1993 he gained a New Zealand Music Award and in 2004 graduated with a Masters with Distinction in harpsichord and organ performance from Victoria University of Wellington. In 2011 Martin formed Cecilia Music, an organisation which promotes young emerging talent. To date there have been concerts of lieder and a performance of J S Bach’s Coffee Cantata with the Wellington Baroque Ensemble with musicians drawn from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Martin has a thriving piano teaching practice in Kelburn, Wellington.

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Nicole Chao
Nicole Chao completed her graduate studies with American pianist, Thomas Hecht. A recipient of awards from the North Queensland Piano and Instrumental Concerto Competition and the Kapiti Coast National Piano Competition, she regularly performs with members of the NZSO, New Zealand String Quartet, and Orchestra Wellington. Her Duo Enharmonics presented a national tour with Chamber Music New Zealand in 2022. https://duoenharmonics.com/about-1

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Tristan Carter

Tristan Carter is a Wellington based violinist, improviser, composer and music teacher. Alongside session work  he plays in a variety of ensembles including jazz band The Troubles, new music group Moth Quartet, Indian/Jazz crossover project Shades of Shakti, and Balkan band Bazurka. He is a popular collaborator for theatre, dance and film/TV in New Zealand, with recent projects including featuring on the David Long’s soundtrack to the BBC Series The Luminaries and performing the live score and foley for Trick of the Light Theatre’s ‘The Griegol’ in NZ and the US. Since 2015 he has worked as a composer and performer with Java Dance Theatre, touring New Zealand extensively as well as performing in arts festivals in Australia, China and the Edinburgh Fringe.

https://www.tristancartermusic.com/

Tristan also coaches two of our bands.