Kelvin Haisman

Piano

What do you teach at the Con?

Piano.

What genres do you teach?

I teach all genres from Classical through to Latin and Jazz to Contemporary Pop and Soul. I also teach composition and arranging, and coach vocalists in selecting repertoire/keys/arrangements and in developing the ability to lead an accompanist/band and vice versa. I love focussing upon harmonic and rhythmic awareness, ear training and learning to memorise in my lessons.

What is it that you love about teaching music – particularly at Wollongong Conservatorium?

Watching any student grow in confidence and develop both pride in their skills and a commitment to music is what motivates me. Whilst I’ve been fortunate enough over the years to work professionally with a quite number of past students, it remains equally satisfying helping an absolute beginner to take their first steps.

I think the Wollongong community is very lucky to have this Conservatorium and all its associated activities so accessible . It’s a wonderful facility in surroundings that are certainly conducive to music making and teaching.

Please share a particular career highlight and why it’s special to you.

I’ve been a professional musician for over thirty years and have performed and taught in many many different and sometimes quite bizarre situations. Stuck in Naples on a broken-down Russian Cruise ship whilst fronting a Jazz Trio; working in Holland and having an absolute ball with Nelson Mandela’s close childhood friend, the ex boxing champion, soccer star, TV personality…and great Jazz Vocalist(!), Darius Dhlomo; touring the Western Desert in a ute giving songwriting workshops and performing and hanging out with Sammy and Gordon Butcher from the Warumpi Band, are just a few that spring to mind!

It’s impossible to nominate  a single career highlight but I think as a teacher, it’s been the privilege of living on and working with remote Indigenous communities and seeing first hand the joy and pride that music brings. Hearing seven year olds who’ve likely never seen, let alone  touched a keyboard before, play a complex phrase straight back to you is an education.

What’s one piece of music that you’d recommend people listen to?

Donny Hathaway’s live performance of Leon Russell’s “A Song for You”. Donny could go seamlessly from Ravel to pure Gospel on the piano and his vocals on what is already an amazing song are just unbelievably good and rightly famous.

…and Yo Yo Ma’s recordings of Bach’s Cello Suites. Wonderful compositions and my go- to listening when I can’t find my Donny Hathaway albums.

Sue is an accomplished and seasoned manager with a wealth of experience in government administration and community service delivery. With a strong background in strategic planning, organisational development, community engagement, project planning, and building strategic partnerships, Sue has consistently demonstrated her leadership and expertise and brings a wealth of knowledge to the board. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business focusing on Local Government and Creative Industries from the University of Wollongong, reflecting her commitment to public service and innovative leadership. Sue’s extensive career and dedication to community and social service make her a valuable asset, offering both strategic insight and practical experience to drive meaningful impact.

Anne has been a member of the Wollcon Board since 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from UNSW. She is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and an accredited Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. She has taught family law and other subjects at Wollongong University.

For a number of years she has been a subscriber to the Australian Chamber Orchestra which regularly performs in Wollongong . She has been passionate about music and in particular music education to children and adults.

Jake has worked in the disability sector for 24 years- 17 of these with Interchange and 7 years as their CEO. Jake is passionate about inclusion and equality for both people with disability and their carers.

He holds an MBA, Bachelor of Commerce, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, as well as completing Diploma’s in Case Management, Community Services Coordination and the AICD Company Directors Course.

Jake is also a committee member on the International Short Breaks Association Board and has been a Director on the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Board since 2022.

Wayne is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors as well as being a qualified company secretary and accountant with over 35 years experience in banking and finance. He performed for nine of those years as Chief Executive of IMB Ltd, and the preceding seven years as Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, also with IMB. Wayne’s primary expertise is in the areas of governance, management, accounting, risk management and banking and finance. He has spent his whole life living in the Illawarra and is passionate about ensuring the Illawarra can provide the best possible opportunities and lifestyle for its residents. In 2024 Wayne was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to the community.

Dr Terumi Narushima is a senior lecturer and Music Discipline Leader at the University of Wollongong. She is a composer, performer and sound designer specialising in microtonal tuning systems. Her works include Tritriadic Chimes, a sound installation for LA MicroFest, Hidden Sidetracks, a composition for custom-made instruments premiered by Ensemble Offspring at Sydney Opera House, and a project to build microtonal flutes using 3D printing. She has worked on theatre collaborations which have been presented nationally and internationally, including Yasukichi Murakami: Through a Distant Lens, Lost in Shanghai, and The Story of Chi. She performs with microtonal ensemble Clocks and Clouds, and her book Microtonality and the Tuning Systems of Erv Wilson is published by Routledge.

Nicky is the CEO of Community Industry Group. She has degrees in Dementia Care, Community & Environment and Marketing, and a Grad Dip in Project Management. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Honorary Fellow of UOW. In addition to Chairing the WollCon Board, she is Deputy Chair of the Regional Development Australia Illawarra Shoalhaven Board and an Independent Non-Executive Director of Warrigal, a large not-for-profit specialising in the provision of services for older people.

Her corporate governance and strategy experience extends through a 20+ year career on boards in the corporate, government and NFP sectors.