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Sonia Sozio

Piano & Music Ready Program

Sonia Sozio is an experienced educator, musician and composer with a background spanning primary, secondary and tertiary education. She has taught music, dance, drama, mathematics, PDHPE and primary arts education at the University of Notre Dame Australia and has worked as a piano, theory, keyboard ensemble and early childhood music teacher at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music since 2003.

Sonia holds a Bachelor of Music with Distinction, a Graduate Diploma in Education, a Graduate Certificate in Theology, an Advanced Diploma of Music Performance and an AMusA in pianoforte. She is also an Australian composer whose classical works have been published by Wirripang. Her professional interests include creative and inclusive teaching, music and mathematics education, technology-supported learning and Cognitive Load Theory. She is preparing to undertake postgraduate research, with the longer-term goal of completing a PhD.

What do you teach at the Con?
Piano.
What genres do you teach?
All genres.
What is it that you love about teaching music – particularly at Wollongong Conservatorium?
I love teaching at the Conservatorium due to its attractive surroundings for music study and performance. I am proud to be part of the learning and teaching community as it is a most upstanding, well established and hence important music establishment in Wollongong, providing quality music education and many opportunities for students to develop holistically. My aim is to develop piano technique, integrate music theory, encourage creativity, and foster a love of music in students of all ages and abilities in a safe learning environment. I love to see students grow and develop as musicians and I believe music plays an important part in unlocking self-expression, intelligence and creativity in every composer, performer and listener.
Please share a particular career highlight and why it’s special to you.
During COVID last year, I decided to bring my passion of composing to the forefront. I wrote and submitted works to Wirripang and on the 8th July 2020 I read this Facebook message: “Welcome to Wirripang ‘Sonia Sozio’. Sonia has brought three new works for varying ensembles as an introduction to a promising composing career.”

I am proud to be an Australian composer whose works are being published. I love to share my passion for composition with my students through immersing students in improvisation on the piano.

What’s one piece of music that you’d recommend people listen to?
Immerse yourself into L’Isle Joyeuse by Claude Debussy. One of my favourite composers among many others. This piece was inspired by Jean-Antoine Watteau’s 1717 painting titled ‘L’embarquement pour Cythère’ (‘The Embarkation for Cythera’). The painting depicts a happy group of revellers departing from the mythical island of Cythera in the Mediterranean, birthplace of Venus, the goddess of love. The central female figure in the painting looks back at the island with fondness. Debussy’s music captures the expectation and excitement of the Island, beginning with the opening soft trills which pause and then fall, winding around in a descending, chromatic spiral. Leaping thirds boldly interrupt, before a whole-tone scale moves the trills and spirals down an octave, and then the piece continues, calling us to the Island through its excitement, quiet mystery, pandemonium and brilliant fanfares. How can one refuse?
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Matt Lynch

Director

Matt Lynch brings to WollCon extensive executive and governance experience across energy, infrastructure, defence, and government sectors. He has a proven record of delivering enterprise transformation, strengthening risk and governance frameworks, leading the development of innovative IT solutions, and managing data security and safety transformation projects within highly regulated environments. He is recognised for building high-performing teams that achieve sustainable outcomes.

He holds a Master of Commercial Law from Deakin University, a Bachelor of Information Science and Technology from the University of Wollongong, and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Sue Savage

Director

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 Mowbray

Director

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 Pearson

Director

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 Morris

Director

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

Deputy Chair

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 Sloan

Chair

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.