At Musica Viva Australia, we are proud to be one of Australia’s largest and most trusted providers of music education in the country. We are passionate about providing opportunities for teachers and students to engage in creative learning through our Musica Viva Australia In Schools program, and we are inspired to deliver on our vision to enhance children’s appreciation of music and boost their creativity.

In 2024, more than 55 of Australia’s best musicians travelled to all corners of our nation’s states and territories to perform interactive, musically, and culturally diverse performances for more than 170,000 students. We support thousands of teachers with the tools to teach music in their classroom with a portfolio of curriculum aligned resources and professional development opportunities.

We look forward to sharing our music with you in 2025.

Currently the Director of Music at Iona Presentation College in Perth, Annette has been a passionate advocate for Music Education for over 30 years. Her teaching experience is diverse, having taught Music in Independent, Catholic, Government and International Schools in Australia and Asia. Across her career she has worked with students from Pre-School to Senior Secondary years. Annette’s formal Orff-Schulwerk journey began in 2002 and she has enthusiastically embedded Orff principles into her classroom practice since.

While Head of Music – Performance at the Australian International School Singapore, Annette had the great fortune to work collaboratively with a team led by Richard Gill on developing an Orff-Schulwerk based vertical Music curriculum from Pre-School to Year 12. This project spanned several years and it’s results were described by Richard himself as an example of “a school that is getting Music Education right”.

Annette believes strongly that quality Music Education is the basic right of every child and advocates that this begins in the classroom, ideally from the very beginning of formal education. She enjoys leading a team of educators and collaborating with others to continue the good fight for raising the profile and level of understanding of the place and value of Music in schools.

Natalie has been a Music Specialist since 2012. After graduating with a Double Degree in Education and Music (Jazz Saxophone & Contemporary Vocals) from ECU/WAAPA, she worked at Swan Valley Anglican Community School, Canning Vale Primary School and now holds a full time position at Rossmoyne Primary School in Perth, Western Australia.

Natalie was first introduced to Orff-Schulwerk at the Voices of the Swan Conference in 2012. Shortly afterward, she joined the WAOSA Committee, where she still serves today as Publicity Officer. She has completed all four ANCOS Level Courses and is currently being mentored as a Levels Presenter. Additionally, Natalie has earned all three levels of the Australian Kodály Primary Certificate.

Outside of teaching, Natalie is proud to be ‘Mumma’ to her toddler Erin, and singing with Naya Chorale.

Natalie finds immense joy in singing, saying, dancing and playing the Orff way and sharing her love of music to her students in all the ways she knows how.

Peter is a music teacher and musician based in Broome, specialising as a Primary classroom music and instrumental brass teacher. With a Bachelor of Music – solo Euphonium and Secondary Education degree, he discovered his passion was in Primary Music education. Originally from country Victoria, Peter has extensive experience in community brass bands, having played as principal euphonium with various A Grade bands, Hawthorn and Footscray Yarraville City Bands.

He completed his Australian Kodaly Certificate at Brisbane Summer School in 2020 and began his Orff-Schulwerk journey in 2023 at WAOSA levels. Peter uses a blended pedagogy in his singing-based classroom, incorporating diverse listening materials, especially soundtracks. He is also a ‘Music in Me’ mentor, and honoured to be the first mentor for this great program in the Kimberley region. He works to empower non-music-trained educators to integrate music into their teaching.

Michaela is a passionate and engaging music teacher who has worked in a number of roles including as a member of the Teaching Artist team for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra’s Crescendo Program with whom they were awarded the APRA AMCOS National Art Music Award for Excellence in Music Education in 2019.

Since 2021, she has worked as Music Specialist at Challis Community Primary School and more recently, Music and Performing Arts Specialist at Queens Park Primary School, where she has been for the last couple of years. She completed her Australian Kodaly Certificate Primary Level 1 in 2021 and also holds her Level 1, 2 and 3 Orff-Schulwerk Certifications as well as her First Steps in Music Certification.

Michaela has a keen interest in music education in the early childhood years, since having three young children of her own, and enjoys sharing this with the wider community through her blog, classes, and workshops as “The Musical Mum”. Michaela is passionate about sharing the benefits and importance of music education in the early years and hopes to inspire other educators to be creative, meaningful, authentic and playful in their music lessons with their younger students.

Michael Aquilina (one half of “The Michaels” from SA) is a dynamic Performing Arts Teacher at Gilles Street Primary School in Adelaide, where he inspires students from Reception to Year 6, including those in the Intensive English Language Program. Blending Orff principles with a modern twist, Michael fosters a deep love for music and performance.

Beyond the classroom, Michael runs two choirs, a junk percussion ensemble, and leads the school’s renowned Taiko Drumming groups, which have performed at top-tier venues across Adelaide. He’s also heavily involved with the Primary Schools Music Festival, supporting the orchestra and coordinating special percussion features.