Dr Ian Cook
Ian Cook is currently a Senior Lecturer of Music at Avondale Conservatorium, Avondale University. Ian was a fulltime lecturer at School of Music – University of Newcastle 1997-2016. He completed his PhD in 2008 (University of Newcastle); the title of his thesis was Tempo Indications of Mozart: An Analytical Study of Performance Practice in the Twentieth Century as it relates to The Magic Flute and The Marriage of Figaro. His mentor was Maestro Myer Fredman. In 2013 and 2014 Ian held two Scholars and Artists in Residence Fellowships (SAR) at the National Sound and Film Archives in Canberra researching Sir Charles Mackerras’s recordings (2013) and Hector Crawford (2014). In June 2018 Ian presented at the Oxford Conducting Institute Conference. His paper is entitled Does speed matter? The interpretation of a tempo indication is central in realising the contextual issues of a Mozart opera libretto when conveying the story. In August 2019 Ian presented a paper on Hector Crawford’s contribution to the cultural life of Australian post WWII through his Music for the People and Mobil Quest at the Oxford Conducting Institute Conference at the Sydney Conservatorium, the first time the conference had been held outside of the UK.
In 2025, Ian was appointed the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Fernleigh Orchestral and Arts Network. This new arts organisation brings together orchestral musicians from the Newcastle, Hunter and Central Coast regions.
Along with his colleagues Beth Porter and Rodney Wikstrom, the excitement of starting a new comprehensive orchestral program will be evident in the programs presented by all our ensembles.
Rodney Wikstrom
Rodney is an experienced music educator, conductor, and accomplished string performer with over two decades of expertise teaching violin and viola. Since the early 2000s he has taught at various levels, including tutoring at the NSW DET state music camps and high school classroom music, specifically the Music 2 course.
As a performer, Rodney has collaborated with renowned artists and groups such as the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Jimmy Barnes, Katie Noonan, and Daniel Johns of Silverchair. His extensive performance credits also include television appearances on The Bachelor, Lego Masters, and The Farmer Wants a Wife. Rodney is a regular performer with ensembles like the Christ Church Camerata Orchestra, Sydney Ensemble, and Victor Valdes, alongside various freelance projects.
Currently, Rodney teaches violin, viola, and conducts at Newcastle Grammar School and the Newcastle Conservatorium, where he continues to inspire and shape the next generation of musicians.
Beth Porter
Beth has spent many years working as a music educator, particularly as an upper strings specialist and director of string programs. A graduate of the University of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music (BMus), Beth majored in Violin performance studying with Elizabeth Holowell OAM.
Beth is most passionate about string education and specifically about working with younger students in their developing stages. She has regularly worked alongside exceptional teachers and performers and has undertaken post graduate study with Kato Havas (Oxford, UK), Professor Gerald Doan (University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Wendy Ireland OAM (Australia) and Brian Buggy OAM (Australia) all of whom have been both inspiring and influential to her own practice.
Since 1998, she has held positions at numerous schools and institutions across Newcastle and Sydney including Newcastle Conservatorium and Newcastle Grammar School. Most recently for 14 years until mid 2020, Beth held the full-time position as Head of Strings at Moriah College in Sydney, during which time she toured Israel and the USA with String ensembles and Symphony Orchestras.
Returning to her home ground of the Hunter region in 2021, Beth has assisted in the continued growth of a String program at The Junction Public School where she currently teaches Violin and Viola and directs TJPS String Ensemble. She directs the Merewether High School String Ensemble and works on a regular basis with the Newcastle Young Suzuki Musicians. She enjoys and believes strongly in collaborating with enthusiastic and like-minded music educators to benefit both her own development and that of her students.
Beth also sustains a private studio and loves to work with and support string students of all ages in their musical growth and development. She has a deep commitment to the welfare of young people and encourages all students, irrespective of ability, focusing not on one method but working to find the best process for each individual student.
Associate Staff
Elizabeth Holowell OAM (Violin, Viola)
Elizabeth Holowell OAM commenced her career in the Australian Opera Ballet Orchestra and as a foundation member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. She is also an internationally acclaimed teacher of the violin and viola having held the position of Head of Strings in Universities in Australia and New Zealand for 35 years.
Her students have been prize-winners in major competitions and graduated to leading orchestral and prominent teaching positions around the world. Elizabeth is in high demand for residencies and masterclasses in Europe and the USA. Her passion and expertise in efficient practice technique led her to acquire the extra qualification of teacher of Alexander Technique to teach ease and balanced movement and to avoid injury. She has also trained in other modalities which address the psychological and energetic aspects of performance.
Elizabeth has released several CD recordings of works for violin and piano by composers from Australia and New Zealand. Her most recent CD, released by Centaur, USA, draws upon her specialism in Viennese classical performance practice in a recording of the Schubert Sonatas with renowned fortepianist, Erin Helyard.
Anthea Scott-Mitchell (Cello)
After obtaining the A.S.C.M. with Merit from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying cello with John Painter, Anthea received a Bachelor of Science in Music Degree (Majoring in Cello Performance) with High Distinction at Indiana University, Bloomington, USA, studying cello with Fritz Magg, Eva Czako Janzer and Janos Starker. Anthea was also invited to join the highly prestigious Fraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda, for academic excellence at the University.
Returning to Australia, she joined the Australian Chamber Orchestra, with which she played as co-principal cellist and soloist, touring extensively throughout Europe, Asia and Australia. She then joined the Camerata Lysy Gstaad, playing as co-principal cellist while furthering her studies with Radu Aldulescu and Pierre Fournier at the International Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad, Switzerland. Anthea then became a permanent member (Professoressa di Violoncello) of the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy for nine years, working, touring and recording with Leonard Bernstein, who was Guest Principal Conductor of the orchestra. She also played regularly under such conductors as Carlo Maria Giulini, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Valery Gergiev and Yuri Temirkanov. Anthea performed and toured with various chamber ensembles while living in Rome, and was principal cellist with the Camerata Strumentale di Santa Cecilia, appearing as soloist on several recordings.
On her return to Australia, Anthea was engaged as a chamber musician with groups such as the Sydney Alpha Ensemble, as guest cellist with the Australia Ensemble and as Guest Principal Cellist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She also appeared several times with pianist Natalia Ricci on ABC Classic FM Sunday Live National Broadcast series. Anthea was Senior Lecturer in Cello from 1995 to 2017 at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium, while also teaching cello at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music. She recorded a solo cello and piano album ‘Into the Silence’ (iTunes, AppleMusic, Spotify) with pianist Erin Sweetman in 2016. Anthea currently remains active as a freelance cellist, teacher and recording artist.
Nicole Cox (Violin)
Fiona Watson (Trumpet)
Stephan Muehr (Percussion)