Luke Tierney

Head of Guitar | Guitar

What do you teach at the Con?

Guitar.

What genres do you teach?

I primarily teach classical guitar, although my interests and experience cover a far broader range of what the guitar can do.

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

Music brings a lot of joy to my life – whether it’s playing the guitar (or my current amateur pursuits on double bass and percussion), attending live concerts, or listening to dozens of albums every week. As a teacher, I get to help others to find joy in music in their own lives. Hopefully, my students will develop a strong love of music that will last a lifetime. Very occasionally, my students love music so much that they choose to commit their lives to a career in music.

Wollongong Conservatorium of Music provides the community with an extraordinary breadth and depth of music programs. As a teacher, this makes my role easier as I can encourage students to take up the opportunities in ensembles, classes or performances that are in alignment with their own learning goals.

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

Every student comes to me with a remarkable potential to create and enjoy music. The highlights for me as a teacher come when students choose to engage with music in a way that realises that potential. In decades of teaching I’ve seen hundreds of students with the potential to make a name for themselves in the Australian music scene, but only one (so far) who has done so. As an added bonus, we are working together again, this time with me focusing on all the work that needs to be done outside of the practice room in order to build a successful career as a performer.

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

The guitar repertoire has many wonderful pieces. I’ll share this recent performance by one of my former students (a piece that we played together – not this well – as part of his HSC assessment over a decade ago).

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.