Tutors

Tutors for the

Grant Meese - Performance Director

Grant’s vast involvement with theatre started in Auckland as a 12 year old, and some 25 years on, his contribution now extends to the full theatrical spectrum, from performer to choreographer, musical director and director.

His most recent projects have been directing Cats in Wellington, My Fair Lady, Beauty and the Beast and Salute to Broadway in Auckland.

Earlier highlights for Grant include performing in 42nd Street and La Cage Aux Folles, choreographing Jesus Christ Superstar and Nunsense, Musical Director for Big River, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Chess, and Directing Jesus Christ Superstar, Company, and the Auckland Premiers of Crazy for You and Aspects of Love.

In recent years, Grants work has received acclaim at the NAPTA’s - The Northern Area Performing Theatre Awards. His productions of Chess, Suessical the Musical and Beauty and the Beast were named ‘Best Overall Show’, and for Company and Beauty and the Beast he was awarded ‘Best Director’.

Grant has also received countless other NAPTA nominations that are a rewarding appraisal of the consistently high standard of high work that he achieves.

Increasingly, Grant is now in demand for special corporate or entertainment events. This is an obvious extension to his passion for Musical Theatre and he enjoys the creative challenges that these new ventures provide.

Russell Pickering - Education Director

Russell is a professional actor and director. After completing his BA in Drama at the University of Waikato, he won the Bob Hope Scholarship to study for his MFA in Acting at Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas, TX. He has appeared on commercial television and on regional theatre stages throughout the US and NZ, including Dallas Theatre Centre, Dallas Shakespeare Festival,in New York at the Flea Theatre and Jean Cocteau Rep, in Auckland, Silo Theatre and Herald Theatre.

Russell has worked with Patsy Rodenburg (head of voice for the Royal National Theatre in London), three time Tony award winning actress Zoe Caldwell, and renowned performance artist Tim Miller. He has taught acting at Meadows School of the Arts, The University of Auckland's community education department, and at various summer programmes throughout the US. He worked for over a year as an assistant agent representing actors at The Henderson/Hogan Agency in New York .

He produced and co-directed '4.48 Psychosis' at Silo Theatre and starred in The Rebel Alliance's 'Night of French Mayhem' and 'The Bomb' at the Herald Theatre. Russell also runs 'SpeakEasy' – a company specialising in presentation training for corporations. www.speakeasy.co.nz

Michael Nicholas Williams - MD

Michael was born in Petone and studied Music at the Wellington Polytechnic.

He made his professional debut as Musical Director in 1983 with Tom Foolery at Circa Theatre. Since then he has been responsible for productions throughout New Zealand including Side by Side by Sondheim, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aunt Daisy!, Trafford Tanzi, Judy, and his own show, Dead Tragic.

In 1988 he was Musical Director for oNZtage at Expo 88 in Brisbane. He spent the following year in Sydney where he was Assistant Musical Director for Evita and repetiteur / alternative 1st keyboard in Chess. He returned to New Zealand in 1990 and since then has been Musical Director of National Tours of Ken Hill’s Original Phantom of the Opera, Blood Brothers (also in Australia), The New Rocky Horror Show and Boogie Nights.

He has been Assistant Musical Director/Conductor on tours of Cats, The Secret Garden and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (New Zealand and Asia) and Fiddler On the Roof. He has composed scores for several productions including Blithe Spirit and Elizabeth: Almost By Chance A Woman, and has completed two original musicals, Lonely Heart (chosen for the 2005 Adam Playreadings)and Dress. His score for Under Milkwood(Downstage 2006) was nominated for best score at the Chapman Tripp theatre awards and he’s also written scores for 4 Roger Hall pantomimes Cinderella, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk and Red Ridinghood. He recently wrote the score for Circa theatre’s production of The American Pilot.

He was Musical Director of Downstage Theatre’s acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd, and was Assistant Musical Director of Mamma Mia in Melbourne. Four years ago he was touring MD of Once Were Warriors and assistant MD of Evita before touring to Japan as MD of Ken Hill’s Phantom of the Opera. He has been the MD of the Gareth Farr/Paul Jenden shows Troy the Musical and Monarchy the Musical. His most recent show was Wellington Musical Theatre’s production of Cats

Michael is married to actor Emma Kinane and they have two children, Barnaby and Claire.

Louise Britzman - Vocal Tutor

After Graduating from Drama Studio Sydney NSW 1988 Louise worked in Sydney and Tasmania as an actor/singer. Inspired by a love of African American Gospel music and acappella Louise became a founding member of Sydney’s world renowned choir The Café of the Gates of Salvation. She went on to sing with a number of Sydney and Auckland based acappella groups culminating in a National Radio recording of her own compositions with a group called The Seven Sisters that she formed with Debbie Harwood.
Louise trained as a spoken word vocal tutor under Linda Cartwright and worked as a voice tutor alongside Linda on the acting degree programme that later became Unitec Performing and Screen Arts Degree programme.
Remaining in the voice department at Unitec for the next 16 years she went on to specialise in teaching the “actors singing voice”. During this time Louise also worked as vocal tutor on a number of other leading Auckland based acting courses namely South Seas Film and Television course and Selwyn College performing Arts Course alongside June Renwick and Auckland University dip drama course.
Louise was the founding Musical director and conductor of Auckland based Gospel Choir, Heaven Bent as has been vocal coach, and on occasion Musical Director for numerous Musical Theatre productions (from Big River to Happy End) both in the context of various training programmes and in a free-lance capacity.
Louise has maintained a role as a private tutor from her home studio for 15yrs training scores of young singers in contemporary singing craft.
Louise is a professional singer in her own right and presently sings with a functions band called After Dark.

Kenneth Cornish - Vocal Tutor

Kenneth Cornish is one of New Zealand’s premier tenor soloists and enjoys a professional singing career that currently spans more than 40 years throughout Australasia.

In the last 15 years, he has turned his attention to teaching which is his full time job. Kenneth focuses on establishing a strong technique, creating a fluid tone throughout the range and excellent diction which means his students have the flexibility to perform from a range of genres.

He encourages his students to not only sing the notes on the page, but to interpret a song conveying the emotion of the character they are portraying.

Kenneth’s students enjoy success in competitions and are familiar faces on Auckland’s musical theatre and concert stages.

Most recently Kenneth was vocal coach for the New Zealand premier of Ragtime at Auckland Music Theatre. The production was awarded Best Vocal work by a Musical Company for 2007.

For four years he was vocal coach for Avondale College’s musicals and for CCMT he is looks forward to the opportunity to again work with talented and enthusiastic young performers.

Kenneth is president of Auckland Choral. He sits on the committee of the Dame Malvina Major Foundation working to develop funding and opportunities for New Zealand’s most promising singers and musicians.

Jacque Drew - Drama Tutor

Jacque is an award-winning actor, recognized in the U.S. and New Zealand for her work on stage. She was a founding member of the Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company (Portland OR) and served as an artistic director/educational coordinator for the company, garnering accolades for her educational touring show based on Shakespeare’s greatest works. She has appeared in dozens of stage productions in Portland and has also worked on stage in Alaska, Idaho, California, Utah, Washington, Massachusetts, Hawaii and New Zealand.

Since arriving in New Zealand Jacque has appeared at the SiLo Theatre (The Women, Suddenly Last summer, Some Girls); at the Auckland Theatre Company (12th Night, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof); and produced her own work in Wellington (Danny & the Deep Blue Sea). TV viewers may recognize her as Shortland Street’s Martha Riley.

Jacque is a trained voice and dialect coach and has served as a US accent coach for SiLo theatre, Auckland Theatre Company; the films Bridge to Terabithia, The Ferryman, and Laundry Warrior; and at the country’s major drama schools. She is also one of the founders of Still Water Rising, a not-for-profit mentoring organization that partners theatre artists with young people to produce original plays.

Jacque received her training at the University of Portland (Portland, OR), The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London, England) and Shakespeare and Company (Lenox, MA). She is a proud member of New Zealand Actor’s Equity.

Taane Mete - Dance Tutor

Taane Mete is considered one of this countries most outstanding and versatile dancers.

After graduating with honours from the NZ School of Dance in 1988, his 24 years of experience has seen him perform with companies such as Footnote Dance Company, Fusion Dance Theatre, Taiao Dance Company, Michael Parmenters (Commotion Company), Douglas Wright Dance Company, The Royal New Zealand Ballet, Human Garden Dance Company, Mau Dance Company, Dance Assistant for the IBM Computers Conventions (Australasia). Taane was a founding member and a senior dancer for Black Grace Dance Company.

Taane has also been Dance Captain for various Opera New Zealand Productions, choreographer for Schwarzkopf Colour Trophy, Wellington Operatic Society, dance tutor at UNITEC Performing Arts and the New Zealand School of Dance, Val Murray Dance School, The Dance Studio (Auckland), Mt. Eden Ballet Academy, Tutor for Black Grace Dance Company and Douglas Wright Dance Company. Taane choreographed sections for the 2003 New Zealand Fashion Week and featured in Geraldine Brophy's play, "Mary" Gospel. Taane also featured in the short film "Hurtle" by Shona McCullagh. Taane has appeared on "Xena Warrior Princess" and featured as an extra on Peter Jackson's "King Kong".

In 2005, Taane began work for Front of the Box Productions as a television presenter for the programme, "Takataapui". He also produced a 2 hour Christmas Special which aired on Maori Television. This year Taane returned to Takataapui to continue with series 4.

The highlight of 2006 – 2007 was touring with Mau Dance Company to Vienna and Brussels. In July 2007 Taane was one of 3 Directors for Renu O Te Ra a youth project performance at the Concert Chamber in Auckland.

Sandra Rasmussen - Dance Tutor

Sandra Rasmussen has been an actor, director and choreographer primarily with the Court Theatre in Christchurch for 30 years. Direction /choreography credits include Guys and Dolls, Jerry’s Girls, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sound of Music, Oliver, South Pacific, The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, Cabaret, Kiss Me Kate, L’il Abner and Gypsy.
In 2007 Sandra directed and choreographed the New Zealand premiere of the Broadway smash hit “The Producers” to critical and commercial acclaim and is currently in pre production for La Cage Aux Folles.

Sandra also runs a successful dance school teaching jazz and tap, she has dance students from all over the country traveling to take class with her. Sandra has enormous passion for musical theatre and is lucky enough to travel regularly to the USA to update her knowledge and attend workshops.

William Green - Repetiteur

William Green comes from a musical family and began piano lessons with Jean MacLachlan in Ashburton. He studied piano performance at the University of Canterbury with Maurice Till, gaining MusB and MA. He now lives in Auckland where he works as a pianist, arranger, composer, music director, teacher and radio reviewer.
William has had extensive experience working with singers, dancers and actors, and as a pianist for silent film. He has played for overseas dance companies, including Rambert (UK) and Cloudgate (Taiwan) and has worked with many choirs and in opera. He also works at UNITEC's School of Performing and Screen Arts with both actors and dancers, and has been involved in several graduation productions as pianist, Musical Director, composer and choir trainer. He regularly works as a pianist and jazz vocal arranger for UNITEC's graduations, and has been a guest tutor at the University of Auckland and at AUT.
As a composer, William has written orchestral, choral, theatre and instrumental music, published in New Zealand and Australia. In 2006 Auckland's Opera Factory, where he regularly works, gave 8 performances of his comic opera 'A-tishoo' (written to his own libretto). As a solo recitalist he is committed to New Zealand music, having performed piano music by over 30 New Zealand composers.

Terence Penk - Repetiteur

Terence is a freelance pianist and graduated from the University of Auckland in 2006 after studying music composition. His work as a classical and modern pianist sees him performing and adjudicating regularly around New Zealand. He also works as an organist, music teacher and dance teacher and is regularly working with dancers, choirs, singers and other musicians.

Terence’s involvement in musical theatre began four years ago. He has been Musical Director for a variety of shows, most recently: ‘The Red Chair’, ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ and the NZ Premiers of ‘By Jeeves’ and ‘The Boy From Oz’. He was nominated for Best Musical Direction at the 2007 Northern Area Performing Theatre Awards for his work on ‘The Red Chair’; another of his shows, ‘By Jeeves’, won Best Musical.

Nicholas Forbes - Repetiteur

Originally from Christchurch, Nick is currently completing a BMus at Auckland University, studying conducting, historic keyboard and piano accompaniment. He has worked in both the UK and NZ as a music teacher, organist, pianist and singer and is the accompanist at Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland, as well as a current member and student conductor of the New Zealand Youth Choir. Nick has been involved in musical theatre since primary school as both an actor and musician. Most recently, he was the vocal coach for the Harlequin Theatre's latest production of "West Side Story", and directed the music for Dudley Benson's album and follow-up national tour "The Awakening". He will co-conduct the University's production of "Albert Herring" in October.

Joseph Murray - Senior School Tutor

Joe Murray started his professional career performing the role of Richie Valens in “Buddy” to sell-out audiences in Auckland. From there he went on to what he still considers a highlight in his career, “Blood Brothers”, playing the not-so-fortunate Perkins, whilst covering both of the brothers, throughout Australasia. A challenge, he said, he would repeat at the drop of a hat! His musical talents didn't go unnoticed by Cameron MacIntosh, and Joe was offered another cover-role, that of Chris in “Miss Saigon”, in Sydney, Australia, earning the title of "Best Export Entertainer 1995" by Style magazine.
Deciding to take a well-earned break from musical theatre, Joe returned to NZ as a freelance actor. His theatre & TV credits include the Roger Hall play, “Love Off the Shelf”, and guest starring on the ever-popular series "Xena" & "Hercules". He also enjoyed the luxury of narrating cultural stories to original music played by the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, throughout New Zealand. Joe then accepted the offer to go to Hamburg, Germany, to play Munkustrap & Rum Tum Tugger in “CATS” - "I wanted to learn how to dance before I got too old!" he laughs. Having grasped the idea of choreography & movement in general, he enjoyed the challenge of putting that together with taking his clothes off, stripping in the outrageously funny "Ladies Night", playing the role of Barry - auf Deutsch.
Joe remained in Germany, co-creating and performing in the pop-group “ATC”, earning 9 Gold & 3 Platinum records, throughout Eastern & Western Europe, Asia, Australia & America. Joe then moved to Italy, returning to acting with a vengeance, starring in the Italian box-office hit “Passo A Due”, as Argentinean Tango dancer, Luis. He found his niche in the film scene in Rome, with roles in varying film genres. From the Devil, in the two-hander Ital/Swiss art-house film “Transfert”, to Alex, a happy-go-lucky student who unwittingly finds himself robbing a bank payroll, in the thriller “Hell's Gate”. Recently shown on Italian TV “Coco Chanel”, the life story of the fashion legend, Joe was thrilled to work with Shirley McLaine & Malcolm McDowell . Also recently released - “Go-Go Tales”, by acclaimed director Abel Ferrara, starring Wilhem DaFoe and Bob Hoskins.
Having spent some of 2008 in NZ, Joe returned to Italy to star in the television series "Piper", and is currently filming with Robert Englund in the psycho-thriller "Sinners". Soon to start filming "The Shadow" with acclaimed Italian Director, Federico Zampaiglione.

Livio Salvi - Senior School Tutor

Livio Salvi started dancing, singing and acting at a very young age in his hometown of Bergamo, Italy. After several years of ballet training he won his first National Competition as a professional dancer at the age of 15. He then moved to Milan to perfect his craft, where he was discovered by the American choreographers ‘Brian & Garrison’ who offered him his first professional job as a singer-dancer for several National TV programmes (RAI & Mediaset).
He then danced for the 1997 ‘Ricky Martin’ Italian Tour and for several major corporate events. Shortly after he worked with the ‘La Rancia’ Theatre Company in the role of ‘Baby John’ in the production of ‘Westside Story’ touring throughout Italy.
Livio was then plucked from an International audition circuit by the German theatre company ‘Stella’, offering him the role of ‘Mungojerry’ in the Hamburg production of ‘Cats’.
Whilst in Germany he started writing songs and co-created the band ‘A.T.C.’ with 3 friends & colleagues from ‘Cats, attaining a recording contract with recording label BMG Berlin.
International success arrived fast and the foursome performed and promoted their music around the world, winning several awards including Gold and Platinum records throughout Europe, USA, Canada, Asia & Australia and charting at number 1 for several weeks in Germany, Austria & Switzerland, breaking the record for the most played song on European radio. Livio also choreographed for most of the band's concerts.
In 2004 after several years of an intense recording career he decided to move back to Italy to study acting at the ‘Duse International Centre of Cinema & Theatre’ directed by Francesca De Sapio. He also studied under acclaimed actors such as Allan Miller, Ennio Coltorti and many others. He took part in the Theatre production ‘Masquerade’ directed by Francesca De Sapio and in the same year he sang at the National ‘Festival Dell’ Operetta’ in Trieste.
During that time he collaborated with many Italian DJs and sang with a blues band for several summer festivals throughout the country. In 2005 he was chosen for the part of ‘Rolf’ in the Italian production of ‘The Sound of Music’ and toured Italy for 2 years.
From there he turned to film, interpreting ‘Taddeo’ in the movie ‘The 400 in Florence’ about the life of the painter ‘Masaccio’.
In 2008 he then spent a few months in Australia and New Zealand where he held several Master Classes in dancing & acting and also sang at the ‘Travel & Photography’ awards evening in Auckland, New Zealand.
He then returned to Europe, where he taught at the ‘International Cologne Summer Dance Session’ in Germany.
Livio is currently teaching at the Academy ‘Arte Nel Cuore’ in Rome, a performing art school, integrating children with special needs into the performing arts.