Adjudicators

After juggling work life as a pharmacist and musician, Jonny Ng happily hung up his lab coat sixteen years ago to follow his passion – music. Jonny is a violinist, pianist, violist, composer, arranger, conductor, and leading Brisbane educator. As Strings Coordinator at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, he conducts three string orchestras, directs two string quartets and the Year 3 and 4 Strings immersion program, and accompanies two choirs and all the recitals in the school. 

He is Principal Violin and Education Manager of Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, violin tutor and audition panel for Queensland Youth Orchestras, AMEB Strings Examiner, and runs a private teaching studio at home. Jonny’s eclectic performing career has seen him share the stage with Bruce Springsteen, Opera Queensland, Pub Choir, Queensland Ballet, My Fair Lady directed by Julie Andrews, Kate Miller-Heidke, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, The Cat Empire, and Bernadette Peters, Tenzin Choegyal and monks of Tibet to name a few. 

He has appeared on numerous recordings including two recent Bluey albums Verandah Santa and Up Here, and performed at numerous classical and contemporary music festivals including Brisbane Festival, Blues and Roots Festival, Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Woodford Folk Festival, and 4MBS Festival of Classics. He has developed a school show with Ensemble Entourage for Musica Viva In Schools and a school show and kindy show for Camerata performing to hundreds of schools around Australia. 

He has facilitated string workshops in schools throughout Queensland and conducted Australian Honours Ensemble Program, State Honours Ensemble Program and Anglican Schools Music Festival string orchestras, and adjudicated for Queensland Youth Music Awards, Enogerra Eisteddfod, and many in house school competitions. Jonny is also a committee member of the Australian Strings Association Queensland.

Jason Redman is the Principal Trombonist of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, teaches trombone at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University and UQ School of Music and is also a Churchill Fellow.

He has adjudicated for ensemble and solo competitions for Education QLD Fanfare and for QYMA.

As a trombone soloist Jason has performed trombone concertos by Mozart, Rouse, Creston, Bloch, Lehmann and Lovelock with the QSO.

He has also played as a guest trombonist with all of the other Australian Symphony Orchestras.

Jason is a Bach Brass Trombone Artist and regularly gives workshops around Queensland as part of the QSO Education and Community outreach program.

With over 35 years’ experience as a conductor and instrumental music specialist, Jodie Lutherborrow has led national, state, and regional honours ensembles, youth orchestras, and large-scale school music programs. She is deeply committed to musical excellence, student wellbeing, and preparing young musicians to perform with confidence and professionalism.

Currently Principal Conductor of the Sunshine Coast Youth Orchestra – Youth Symphony and Instrumental Music Program Coordinator at Chancellor State College, she specialises in building high-performing ensembles, strong rehearsal culture, and meaningful performance outcomes. Jodie is a passionate advocate for music education and its transformative impact on young people. 

Peter Ingram is a noted conductor of school, university and community choirs throughout Australia. He is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and Florida State University (U.S.A.) where he gained his master’s degree in choral conducting under the guidance of Rodney Eichenberger and Andre Thomas. Previously the conductor of various choirs at both the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Griffith University) and the University of Queensland, he currently conducts two choirs as part of the acclaimed community arts organization Voices of Birralee: young adult ensemble Resonance of Birralee (co-conductor) and project-based adult choir Birralee Recycled.

Peter is Head of Music at Brisbane Grammar School where he directs several choirs including the Grammarphones which, in 2018, were place second in the Youth Choir section of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod where Peter was awarded the prize for the most outstanding conductor. He is a long-serving committee member of the Australian National Choral Association (ANCA) at both state and national levels, serving as national president for three years and president of the Queensland Chapter for five years. He was chair of the organising committee for the ANCA national conference Choralfest in 2017. He is in demand as a guest conductor, adjudicator, clinician and workshop leader at various choral events throughout the country.

Born into a musical family, Kellie Wilson has always had a love for instrumental music and singing. She has performed with orchestras and choirs across the country as well as overseas, and performed principal roles across numerous musicals. Kellie has achieved AMusA in both violin and singing, and holds a Bachelor of Communication (Griffith University), Masters of Learning and Teaching (University of Southern Queensland), and a Graduate Certificate in Music Studies (Queensland Conservatorium – Griffith University). 

Kellie has worked in artistic planning, marketing and management for performing arts organisations across Australia and internationally, and has adjudicated bands, orchestras, choirs and soloists. Kellie is currently enjoying conducting choirs and teaching singing, violin and speech and drama.

Kellie looks forward to encouraging the talented and courageous junior choral competitors in this year’s QYMA.

Rachel Howley is a conductor, music educator, and researcher dedicated to championing

inclusivity in music-making. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (Conducting) from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. She is a lecturer in Instrumental Pedagogy at the University of Queensland School of Music and conducts the University of Queensland Wind Symphony, Queensland Youth Orchestra 3 and various Young Conservatorium ensembles. 

Rachel has also conducted the Queensland

Symphony Orchestra, Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra and the Queensland Youth Symphony. A sought-after clinician, she was named one of Australia’s Most Influential Educators by The Educator Magazine in 2022 and, in 2023, was accepted as a Reynolds Conducting Institute Fellow at The Midwest Clinic. Rachel founded the Australian Women’s Wind Band Composition Award, fostering 70 new works by female-identifying composers and advancing equitable representation in the field.

Mark O’Leary OAMhas worked with young choirs for more than 40 years and is highly regarded for his work with Young Voices of Melbourne, Exaudi and Gondwana Voices with whom he has made more than 49 national and international tours and 18 Cd recordings. He has special interests in Kodaly teaching techniques, the development of excellence in children's choirs, the power of music to make better lives and Australian choral music. Mark publishes choral music for young singers in the YVM Choral Series and is the creator of the Sight Singing School website and books, used in more than 50 countries. He has three degrees from the University of Melbourne, is a Churchill Fellow, an Honorary Life Member of Kodály Australia and was awarded an OAM for services to choral music in 2018.

Julie Christiansen OAM is well known for her compelling work with children's and youth choirs both in Australia and overseas, with her ensembles recognised for their joyful vitality and quality of tone. Julie founded Voices of Birralee in 1995 and has worked with young people at all levels of experience in both school and community ensembles. She is a popular guest clinician regarding vocal/choral techniques and literature for children's choirs and is regularly invited to conduct and present at choral festivals and educational workshops throughout Australia. Julie has toured extensively nationally and internationally with Brisbane Birralee Voices, with a particular highlight fulfilling a five year commitment with the Department of Veterans' Affairs to sing at World War One centenary services in France and Belgium. Julie’s commitment to her work is driven by the vital role music plays, as a channel for developing responsible and caring young people. In 2006 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday honours list.

Mark O’Leary OAMhas worked with young choirs for more than 40 years and is highly regarded for his work with Young Voices of Melbourne, Exaudi and Gondwana Voices with whom he has made more than 49 national and international tours and 18 Cd recordings. He has special interests in Kodaly teaching techniques, the development of excellence in children's choirs, the power of music to make better lives and Australian choral music. Mark publishes choral music for young singers in the YVM Choral Series and is the creator of the Sight Singing School website and books, used in more than 50 countries. He has three degrees from the University of Melbourne, is a Churchill Fellow, an Honorary Life Member of Kodály Australia and was awarded an OAM for services to choral music in 2018.

Mark O’Leary OAMhas worked with young choirs for more than 40 years and is highly regarded for his work with Young Voices of Melbourne, Exaudi and Gondwana Voices with whom he has made more than 49 national and international tours and 18 Cd recordings. He has special interests in Kodaly teaching techniques, the development of excellence in children's choirs, the power of music to make better lives and Australian choral music. Mark publishes choral music for young singers in the YVM Choral Series and is the creator of the Sight Singing School website and books, used in more than 50 countries. He has three degrees from the University of Melbourne, is a Churchill Fellow, an Honorary Life Member of Kodály Australia and was awarded an OAM for services to choral music in 2018.

Julie Christiansen is well known for her compelling work with children's and youth choirs both in Australia and overseas, with her ensembles recognised for their joyful vitality and quality of tone. Julie founded Voices of Birralee in 1995 and has worked with young people at all levels of experience in both school and community ensembles. She is a popular guest clinician regarding vocal/choral techniques and literature for children's choirs and is regularly invited to conduct and present at choral festivals and educational workshops throughout Australia. Julie has toured extensively nationally and internationally with Brisbane Birralee Voices, with a particular highlight fulfilling a five year commitment with the Department of Veterans' Affairs to sing at World War One centenary services in France and Belgium. Julie’s commitment to her work is driven by the vital role music plays, as a channel for developing responsible and caring young people. In 2006 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday honours list.

Katherine Ruhle is a children’s choral conductor, composer, and early childhood music specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Music and a Postgraduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education.

Over the past twenty years, Katherine has conducted many massed choirs and presented at early childhood music seminars and choral events. She is deeply passionate about sharing her love of music with children of all ages and is known for the creativity, imagination, and original ideas she brings to choir rehearsals.

In her spare time, Katherine composes music for primary school choirs. She has written over 50 choral works and more than 30 canons and partner songs, which have been performed across Australia and internationally.

Dr Simon Petty is an internationally acclaimed musician, educator, and researcher, renowned for his significant impact on music education and research. His influence spans Australia, Europe, and the United States, where he is in high demand for conferences, clinics, adjudications, and workshops.

Simon is the music education lecturer at the School of Education and Professional

Studies at Griffith University and also serves as the Coordinator of Pre-Tertiary Jazz Studies at the Queensland Conservatorium. He has taught across all educational levels, from primary to tertiary, and professional settings, and is internationally recognised as a leading authority in jazz studies and pedagogy.

A graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium, Simon holds a Bachelor of Music in jazz trumpet performance and instrumental music pedagogy, a Graduate Diploma of Education, a Graduate Certificate in Music Studies, and a Doctor of Philosophy. His distinguished performance career includes regular engagements with Australia's premier big bands, jazz ensembles, and orchestras. Simon's professional instrumental and conducting activities spans radio and television appearances, musicals, and commercial recording sessions. Recognised for his musical expertise and inspirational teaching style, Simon is highly esteemed as both a performer and educator.

Sharelle Guest is an accomplished Australian flautist, conductor, and music educator with more than 25 years of experience across performance, teaching, and leadership. She is the National President of the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors' Association (ABODA) and a resolute member of the Pacific Chamber Players on the Sunshine Coast.

Sharelle has built a wide‑ranging career supporting instrumental music programs throughout Queensland. She has taught woodwind, brass, and percussion for Education Queensland and served as a Project Officer assisting schools statewide.

An experienced conductor, she has led ensembles from primary school concert bands to community orchestras, including the Coolum State High School Wind Symphony in performances at major national festivals. Sharelle is also a regular Project Manager and conductor with Griffith University’s State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP), coordinating and supporting events across regional Queensland and Brisbane.

In addition, Sharelle frequently works as a guest clinician and adjudicator at school camps and music festivals, contributing to events such as the Burdekin District Eisteddfod, Sydney Eisteddfod, and The Royal South Street Ballarat Eisteddfod. She remains an enthusiastic advocate for young musicians, and the advancement of music education nationwide.