Musicians
Melanie Walters
Dr Melanie Walters has been described as a “champion of new music in South Australia”(The Serenade Files), and her flute-playing as “truly exceptional” (The Advertiser)
She holds a PhD in flute performance, for which she has received a Dean’s Commendation, and a Master of Music degree in Australian flute music. Melanie is an active freelance performer and has played with ensembles including Soundstream Collective, Stereo//Mono flute and electronics duo, The Stables Flute Ensemble and Chronology Arts. She was a performance fellow at the 2014 Bang on a Can Summer Festival in the US and has also performed at Musica Viva Sessions, Recital Australia’s ReClassified concert series, and the Australian Flute Festival.
Her solo performances have included recitals at the Tilde New Music Festival in Melbourne and the Totally Huge New Music Festival Conference in Perth, and gigs at COMA (Creative Original Music Adelaide), Experimental Night at The Metro, and 3D Radio’s Live at the Sound Lounge. Since 2017, she has been presenting solo shows at the Adelaide Fringe Festival that aim to bring music by living composers to a wider audience.
Melanie has taught flute and piano for over 20 years both in her private studio and at various schools. She has tutored flute at Tabor College, and has given lectures on contemporary flute techniques and free improvisation at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. She is currently Vice President of the Flute Society of South Australia. As well as performing and teaching, Melanie has written about live music for The Conversation, The Advertiser, CutCommon, and Limelight Magazine.
Madeleine Stewart
Madeleine Stewart is a flautist and educator, having recently graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Masters of Teaching. Studying under Associate Professor Elizabeth Koch AM and Virginia Taylor across her studies at the Elder Conservatorium and Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Madeleine was awarded a University Medal, the Victor Edgeloe Scholarship for Woodwind, and the Florence Jones Woodwind Scholarship for her academic achievement.
Her recent solo performance highlights include Chaminade’s Concertino with the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, Nielsen’s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, and being selected to represent South Australia as a finalist in the Fine Music Young Virtuoso Award in 2017. In addition to solo performances, Madeleine has performed in a variety of ensembles, ranging from big bands to choirs. Throughout her studies, Madeleine was appointed the principal flute role of both the Adelaide Youth Orchestra and Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra, in addition to performing in the Adelaide Youth Wind Quintet, Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, and Elder Music Lab.
Madeleine’s passion for music education led her to working as an orchestral manager for the Adelaide Youth Sinfonia in 2016 and with the Australian Youth Orchestra as part of an orchestral management development program in 2020. Having graduated from her studies, Madeleine now works within the Department for Education as a classroom music teacher, conductor, accompanist, and instrumental music teacher, along with performing as a regular member of the Adelaide Wind Orchestra.
Mandy Hutchinson
Mandy Hutchinson studied the flute and music at Marryatville High School then Physiotherapy at the South Australian Institute of Technology, graduating in 1989.
After working as a physiotherapist for 18 years and performing flute regularly at community events, Mandy resigned from her physiotherapy job at the beginning of 2008 in order to pursue the study of music and the flute at a higher level.
She studied a Bachelor of Music in Classical Flute Performance at Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide, completing Honours in 2013. Whilst at University she had opportunities to participate in a study tour to London and Paris Conservatoriums, and to play in the Conservatorium Orchestras.
Mandy has taught flute privately and at schools in Adelaide, and has been a member of the Adelaide Wind Orchestra since its inception in 2011. She believes very strongly in the value of music in education and in personal development. She advocates the importance of physical well-being in connection with musical performance.
Jennifer Bird
Jennifer Bird is an Australian flautist and mezzo-soprano who is currently based in Adelaide. She completed her undergraduate studies in flute performance at the University of Melbourne and Malmo Academy of Music Sweden, before finishing her Masters of Performance at the University of Adelaide. She currently performs as part of the Adelaide Wind Orchestra and Lumina Vocal Ensemble.
Her passion for contemporary music has led to many exciting collaborations with Australian and international composers. In 2018, she had the privilege to perform the world premiere of the Concerto for Flute and Orchestra by Australian composer Peter Webb OAM with the Unley Symphony Orchestra. Between 2018 to 2021, while based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Jennifer enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with celebrated Indonesian jazz composer and pianist Metta Legita on projects such as her recording Cikaracak in 2021 and with the Metta Legita Ensemble, as part of the Joint Cultural Performance between Indonesia and Cambodia for His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni in 2019.
Tegan Beck
Tegan Beck is a flautist and music tutor. Under the tutelage of Associate Professor Elizabeth Koch OAM, she completed a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Classical Performance at the Elder Conservatorium in 2017.
Throughout her studies, Tegan was afforded the opportunity to play in a variety of ensembles including the Elder Conservatorium Symphony, Wind Orchestra and New Music Collective. She also performed on flute and piccolo in the Adelaide Youth Orchestra.
Believing strongly in the benefits of music education for young people, Tegan currently tutors both the flute and piano in a variety of schools and volunteers on the committee for the South Australian Flute Society. Since 2019 she has also performed regularly with the Adelaide Wind Orchestra.
Natalie Zwar
Natalie Zwar completed Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies at the Elder Conservatorium, The University of Adelaide under the tutelage of Elizabeth Koch AM and Geoffrey Collins. She has performed with the Australian Youth Orchestra, Adelaide Art Orchestra and Adelaide Youth Orchestra and has participated as principal flute in State and National Music Camps. Natalie has been awarded the David Cubbin Memorial Scholarship and numerous eisteddfod prizes.
During her Undergraduate studies in 2005, Natalie travelled internationally to participate in lessons and masterclasses with world renowned flautists Michael Cox, Paul Edmund-Davies, Susan Milan, Felix Renggli and Philippe Bernold. In 2009, Natalie travelled to the United States of America to conduct interviews with composers Lowell Liebermann and Robert Beaser and study with leading US flautists Paula Robison and Katherine Kemler as part of research towards her Master of Music degree.
Natalie has been an active member of the South Australian Flute Society for over 20 years and enjoys teaching students of all ages at schools around Adelaide along with actively performing in local recitals and concerts.