Meet the wonderful Music staff team.
Our Music Department staff offer a wealth of experience and skills to the students. We have three full-time Music staff, one part-time Music staff and two external conductors who help with the Band Program. All of our staff are committed to providing engaging, exciting, modern and inclusive musical experiences to the students of Balgowlah Boys.
Mr Iain Robertson
Iain was a drummer in a professional rock band in the 90's and was signed to London Records and EMI Music Publishing. Iain then went on to study Music in the UK gaining degrees in Music Production at Newcastle College then a Music Education degree at London Metropolitan University. Iain started teaching in London and was in 2 different schools for 11 years between 2006 and 2017. Iain then moved to Australia with his young family and worked briefly in Emanuel school in Randwick. He then opted to come and work in the state system and he considers himself very fortunate to work at Balgowlah Boys. Iain is a multi-instrumentalist and considers himself a drummer first, but enjoys playing guitar, piano and trumpet. Iain is very passionate about rock and popular music and never stops talking about the Beatles.
Ms Eva Stokes
Since completing her Bachelor of Music Education with honours at UNSW where she gained accolades for her research into music pedagogy, Eva has been teaching at Balgowlah Boys since 2019. She has taken both Music 1 and Music 2 courses through the HSC with much success, channelling her knowledge and experience in performance, composition and musicology. Eva has a wealth of experience as a classical and jazz pianist, as well as a multi-instrumentalist who enjoys playing bass, drums and guitar. Eva is the main point of contact for the Band Program.
Mr Ben Corby
Ben completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Music at JMC Academy and a Master of Education at UNSW. From age 15 he has been performing regularly as a professional musician in original and cover bands across NSW. Ben has gained valuable experience in the music industry, recording in some of Sydney’s top studios and developing his own skills as a music producer. Since starting at Balgowlah Boys in 2016, he has continued working as a professional musician which allows him to pass on current information and advice to students interested in a career in the music industry.
Miss Amy Harris
Amy completed a Bachelor of Music at the University of Newcastle, majoring in vocal performance. She has performed around the Central Coast and Newcastle as a singer in a gypsy jazz and pop cover band. After completing a Masters of Teaching in 2019, she moved to Norfolk Island to work at the local school with students from K-12, working with a vocal group and organising Battle of the Bands. Amy is a new addition to the Music at Bally team.
External Conductors
Julian McKay
Julian McKay is one of Sydney’s young, up and coming trombonists and band leaders. Currently studying BMus Jazz Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, he has the luxury of working with many of Australia’s best musicians such as Judy Bailey, David Theak and James Greening. He is a regular performer in Judy Bailey’s Jazz Connection, and has performed with international artists such as James Morrison, Lionel Cole, The Cat Empire, Katie Noonan, Emma Pask, Sandy Evans and many more. Music has also given him the opportunity to travel internationally through China, Europe and the United States as well as rural trips through Australia. He has worked with many fantastic band-leader educators such as Steve Williams, Jason Isaac, Tim Crow, Simon Sweeney, and James Hill and is looking forward to passing on some of his acquired expertise to the boys at Bally. He is still thoroughly enjoying his time being involved with the Balgowlah Ensembles Program, and considering he is a former student, is heavily involved in creating one of the best musical opportunities for the boys this year for many years to come.
Damien Mathieson
Damien Mathieson is an accomplished saxophonist, clarinettist and educator.
A graduate of Sydney Conservatorium, Damien has collaborated with musicians across diverse musical genres, including Jazz, Pop and Classical. A Manly local, he is dedicated to sharing his musical insights with young musicians and enhancing their love of music through playing their instrument well and working effectively in ensembles.
The Music Department at Balgowlah Boys Campus prides itself on innovative learning programs designed to engage students in contemporary and traditional musical practices.
Students in Year 7 and 8 study the Mandatory Music course. At Balgowlah Boys this involves a highly practical curriculum that includes learning in percussion, guitar, keyboard, Electronic Music, Rock and Roll, Film Music, and Reggae. In this course students will gain experience in class bands, small ensembles and individual performance, as well as extending their knowledge of music theory.
In Years 9-10 and 11-12 students have the opportunity to continue their studies in Music and progress through the NSW Stage 5 and 6 curriculum. The elective program at Balgowlah will see students further their musicianship and understanding of Music performance, composition and theory.
Our Spaces
Balgowlah Boys has two curriculum Music rooms that are resourced for large classes. We have class sets of keyboards, guitars and a drum kit in each room, ensuring all students have access to an abundance of resources.
We also have a fully functional Music Studio, where our elective classes and smaller ensembles rehearse and record. The Studio has been used to record HSC compositions, student originals and mementos for Year 12 students.
Our rehearsal rooms are designed for small ensembles and rock bands to rehearse in, as well as facilitating our instrumental program. Each rehearsal room is set up with a drum kit, amplifiers and a keyboard to keep our elective classes rocking.
