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"The Corelli School is to take all steps to develop excellence in the performing and visual arts, combined with academic achievement, in a select group of young people."
Corelli School's support crew is a "who's who" list of Auckland based instrumental teachers. Some have studied overseas and all have worked professionally with International musical icons. The collective experience they bring to Corelli School and pass on to students is invaluable in today's musical world.
DanceClaire has had a highly successful career as a Performer/Choreographer and Teacher. Originally from the UK,Claire trained as a Dancer (RAD Ballet and ISTD Jazz and Tap) and Singer and the majority of her career has been based in Musical Theatre. Claire has performed in numerous musicals, the highlight of which was performing in London's West End in Disney's 'Beauty and The Beast'. The next phase of her career saw her working for several acclaimed Cruise Lines (including Disney Cruise Line and P&O Cruises) and travelling the World. Needless to say she fell in Love with New Zealand and moved here in 2003!
Here in New Zealand,Claire continues to perform (most recently in the NZ Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's ' Starlight Express') but has also become recognised for her work as a Teacher and Choreographer ( work including TV's 'Stars in Your Eyes' 08 Season and most recently TVNZ's 'One Night Only') . Claire has a vast amount teaching experience and in the UK taught Dance for the Guildford School of Acting and as a Dance and Singing coach for 'StageCoach', a nationwide school that specialises in producing all round performers. She has also been Dance captain for various large productions,in charge of keeping the show in top shape.
Here in New Zealand Claire Teaches for several independent schools including 'Sole Movement' and Dance Dimensions'as well as running her own dance school 'The Dance Factory'. Because of her wide experience and training,she is an extremely versatile Teacher/Choreographer who prides herself on producing polished results. Only the best will do! Her patience and her attention to detail are second to none as she is renowned for her professionalism within the Industry.
After completing a Performance Diploma on Clarinet at Auckland University, Ashley joined the RNZN Band as solo clarinetist where he spent 13 years rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer in charge of the day-to-day musical activities of the band. During this time he developed an interest in conducting and on leaving the band took up the directorship of the Auckland Secondary Schools Orchestra for four years and conductorship of the North Shore Concert Band (six years). Other duties included playing in the highly regarded Big Band on alto and bari sax.
Ashley performed for years as an associate player for the Auckland Philharmonia and has also played with the NZSO. He has played with many touring shows including Les Mis (twice), West Side Story, and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" as well as visiting performers such as Shirley Bassey and Michael Crawford. Ashley has spent some time in the jazz field playing baritone saxophone for the Roger Fox Big Band. Ashley was principal clarinetist in the Auckland Chamber Orchestra for a number of years. He is currently principal clarinet in the Opus Chamber Orchestra and has been since 2005.
In September 2001, Ashley performed as a concerto soloist with the New Plymouth Orchestra.
Ashley has also branched out into the IT world and looks after Corelli computers including this Web site!
Instrumental:Jenny Raven studied percussion in the Uk before settling in NZ, she has extensive performance experience and has been a percussionist in the Auckland Philharmoia Orchestra for the past 20yrs.
Jenny has taught for the Auckland University, Kings College, ST. Kentigern college and prep, Westlake Girls school and Baradine College, and also acts as mentor within schools and amateur orchestras.

German - since 1984 living in New Zealand
Masters Degree in Violin performance and Suzuki pedagogy
from SIU Edwardsville
Diploma as state assessed Viola Tutor (Stuttgart 1984)
Diploma as Audio engineer (Auckland, New Zealand 1997)
From 1987 - 95 violist with the APO and Auckland String Quartet
Baroque performance studies with John Holloway
Baroque performances with Pipers and various other groups.
Since 1995 co-leader of the Auckland Bach Cantata Society orchestra

Alina Abraham is a pianist that has been trained in the tradition of the East European Schools of Music firstly, and then in the rigour of the Western Music Thought -- with her later studies in piano, the pedagogy of music, and musicology, in Transylvania/Romania.
In New Zealand, Alina has taught and performed with the University of Otago students and colleagues, and participated in venues and conferences organised through New Zealand, and Australia. Her interests also include contemporary music and jazz piano.
Here, today, Alina is keen to support The Corelli School of Music students on their journey - a journey of achievements and love of music, that spells... professionalism...

Charlotte worked as a performer in the UK before completing a Post Graduate Certifcate in Education in Drama to qualify as a teacher. She then taught in several schools in London in both the public and private sector.
Charlotte was lucky enough to have had a varied and exciting performing career back in the UK working in film, TV, theatre and radio, including Eastenders for the BBC, Keen Eddie for Paramount, and touring Shakespeare and Voice overs for many radio and television commercials.
Whilst in her early twenties, Charlotte set up her own children's theatre company and wrote, directed and performed in shows around London and at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Two years ago she moved to New Zealand from London with her husband and two boys, and is excited about sharing her skills and knowledge of Drama with the students at The Corelli School.
Expert Coaches are brought in for all areas e.g.
Sue appeared as solo mezzo soprano artist in all the major centres in South Africa, in Boston and New York City (U.S.A), in New Zealand, and in Australia. She has sung over 40 operatic roles and she has performed as a soloist in numerous concerts and oratorios. In South Africa Sue was a contracted solo artist for many years, during which time she was awarded the Nederburg Prize for Opera for her performance of ‘Amneris’ in AIDA, and the Vita Award for Opera for ‘Maddalena’ in RIGOLETTO. Her name has appeared in the Who’s Who of Southern Africa annually since 1986. In Australia Sue performed for Opera Australia, Opera South Australia, Opera Queensland, Melbourne Opera, Melbourne City Opera and Melbourne Lyric Opera. Some operatic highlights include ‘Azucena’ in IL TROVATORE, ‘Santuzza’ in CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, the title role of CARMEN, ‘Dorabella’ in COSI FAN TUTTE, ‘Olga’ in EUGENE ONEGIN, and ‘Madame Flora’ in THE MEDIUM. In 2008 Sue was nominated for a GREEN ROOM AWARD for her role as ‘The Princess’ in SUOR ANGELICA for Melbourne Opera.
Sue has a Ph.D in music education (Canterbury University, Christchurch, 2002). She has taught singing for many years in different countries to students of all ages. She has also lectured and run master classes for tertiary students, run singing workshops, adjudicated vocal contests and examined vocal students.
Instrumental:Dana studied classical piano and music theory at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada for eleven years. She then continued her studies in Los Angeles, California, at a specialized music program for a further two years, with a focus on composition and classical piano.
Dana is an avid composer and frequently performs her own works for private functions, fundraisers and concerts. Dana’s compositions have been used in films and documentaries and have won multiple awards. She has taught piano and music theory in Los Angeles, Canada and New Zealand, and is very excited to now be able to help students at Corelli School of the Arts achieve their dreams and goals in music.
Philippa is from Auckland, New Zealand & studied under Valerie Murray (RAD). Upon graduating from the English National Ballet School, she has danced professionally with the Berlin Opera Ballet, Xaris Dance Company, Ballet Arkansas & with the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company in their Giselle 2006 tour.
Philippa was Ballet Mistress with Ballet Nouveau Colorado 2005-2006 before returning to NZ. She has been a dance lecturer at AUT University – Bachelor of Dance Programme since 2007.
After being awarded a scholarship at eighteen, Kim Naden left his hometown of Auckland New Zealand to study at the Royal College of Music in London, majoring in performance and piano accompaniment.
After four years study and a successful career performing throughout England and teaching, he became repetiteur for the Royal Ballet School and worked with many Artists and Teachers from the Royal Ballet Company.
Alongside his piano career, Kim worked in Children’s Musical Theatre in the East End of London during the Summer Vacations bringing this medium to children who may never get a chance at stage musical performance. From here he went on to become Assistant Musical Director during London’s Pantomime season at the Theatre Royal.
Since his return home to Auckland, Kim has set up a large teaching practice and is continually in demand as accompanist and adjudicator in many NZ Arts festivals throughout the year. His students have gone on to study both at Auckland University and in America. He is now on the Instrumental Music Teaching staff at Kings College.
Apart from a busy career in piano, Kim was the Artistic Director of Opera in the Pa Rotorua for nine years, a successful event which takes place at the Rotowhio Marae in Whakarewarewa as well as Opera on Mokoia Island which premiered in 2004.
In 2002 it was awarded a New Zealand Tourism Award for Innovation and Ingenuity and a subsequent Television documentary made of the event.
In 2005, he was asked to produce the 50th Anniversary Mardi Gras concert in Rotorua.
A record 20,000 audience proved it to be one of Rotorua’s most successful public concerts. In this 5 hour production, Kim introduced the Legends of the Maori people with Choreography and Firework spectacular.