🎶🎶 Meet the 2025 Adjudicators 🎶🎶

BMus (Hons), LMusA, LTCL, AMusA, MMTA (Accredited Member)

Andrew Chubb is an Australian pianist, composer, conductor and educator. He is noted as Australia's pioneer when it comes to the specialised performance of Philip Glass’s piano music. Since 2003, he has given numerous all-Glass recitals at various cities in Australia and during recital tours to Canada in 2008 and 2013 and gave the Australian premiere performance of Glass's 'The Hours' piano transcription in 2006. More recently in 2017, Andrew gave a series of recitals in Australia, Philip Glass @ 80, celebrating the composer's 80th birthday.   Andrew is a recognised composer with radio broadcasts of his work through ABC Classic FM. His music has been commissioned and performed by a number of esteemed musicians nationally and internationally including Nicolas Horvath, Simon Tedeschi, Gladys Chua, Sally Walker, Sébastien Hurtaud, Paméla Hurtado, Kristen Stoner, Manabu Takasawa, Scott Kinmont, Giuseppe Zangari, Eleanor Betts, Marshall McGuire, Ben Opie, Tomoyo Ueda, the Strelitzia Ensemble, Duo Anno 1647 and the Tungsten Duo. As an educator, Andrew is also a passionate piano teacher successfully developing a number of early to advanced level diploma students in both Newcastle and Sydney and is an AMEB examiner in NSW. His interest in promoting contemporary repertoire has also included him giving Australian premiere performances of compositions by Hans Otte, Heins Chur and Andrew Shapiro. In particular, he gave the first Australian performance in 2007 of Otte’s epic 80-minute, The 'Book of Sounds', on the Australian made Stuart & Sons piano at Newcastle Conservatorium in 2007.

KCSJ, MMus, BEd, DSCM, AMusA, ATCL, LTCL, LGSMD, MACE, MACEL, FAIM, Hon TCL

Barry Walmsley has enjoyed a distinguished career as a music educator, piano accompanist, writer, and adjudicator.

At the Sydney Conservatorium, he studied for the DSCM in piano with Eunice Gardiner and Gordon Watson, as well as organ with Robert Ampt at Sydney, and Sharon Raschke at Newcastle. He went on to add a music education degree after this, as well as the Associate and Licentiate diplomas from Trinity College London.

In the mid-80’s, Barry took up a part-time lecturing position in music at Avondale University, teaching harmony, piano and curriculum studies to undergraduate students. 

For 11 years since 1990, Barry was the music critic for The Newcastle Herald, writing a regular column each week, as well as reviewing new books and CDs. During this time, he attained the Master of Music degree from the University of New South Wales, and was subsequently made a Member of the Australian College of Education.

He is a member of numerous professional networks including the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW (of which he is the Immediate Past-President). He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, and a member of both the Australian College of Educators and the Australian Council of Educational Leaders. In 2022, he was appointed to the Council of The Australian Society of Musicology and Composition).

He has worked for Trinity College London (1986-2021) and was awarded Honorary Membership to the College by the College’s patron, HRH The Duke of Kent at a ceremony in London’s Wigmore Hall in 1995, in recognition of his contribution to music education and Trinity’s work in Australia. He was appointed State Manager in 1998 and National Manager (2000-2021). In 2002 in London, he was again the recipient of an award: the Chairman’s Award from Lord Geddes (Chair, Board of Governors).

Barry has performed in such great venues as Sydney Opera House, Sydney Town Hall, City Recital Hall – Angel Place, Hoosier Dome (Indianapolis, USA) and the Cathedrals of St Mary’s (Sydney), St Andrew’s (Sydney), St Patrick’s (Parramatta), St John’s (Brisbane), Christ Church (Newcastle), and throughout USA and New Zealand.

He has been Musical Director for a number of productions and events. For the Gold Coast Arts Centre, he was the MD for the Australian premiere of Jekyll & Hyde starring Rob Guest (2004).

He has been Director of Music at two distinguished schools: The Southport School (2001-2005), and The King’s School, Parramatta (2005-2020).

He now teaches piano and theory from his Gold Coast studio as well as mentoring studio teachers undertaking diploma-level training. In addition, he teaches Musicology and Aural Skills in the Orchestral Musicianship (Stage 6 Music 2 course) online course for the Sydney Youth Orchestras.

Sally has been working in theatre, TV, film & cabaret for 45 years having made her debut in the title role of the original Australian cast of the musical Annie. She was then cast in the Australian productions of Nine & Les Miserables before moving to London in 1991.

Sally’s London credits include My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol, Les Miserables, A My Name is Alice, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hey, Mr. Producer, Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, The John Wayne Principal & the world premier productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Beautiful Game & The Royal National Theatre’s production of Jerry Springer the Opera. Sally was also a regular on the cabaret & stand up circuit, appeared in numerous plays & was cast as Eva’s maid in the film Evita whilst in the U.K.

Since returning to Australia in 2004, she has performed in Damn Yankees, The Boy From Oz, Brigadoon (State Theatre), Company & the world premier productions of Shane Warne the Musical as Brigitte Warne, Once We Lived Here (Green Room Award nomination) & as Layla in the Cat Stevens musical Moonshadow. Sally played the role of Trish in the Green Room Award winning production of Kinky Boots at Chapel off Chapel in Melbourne.
Sally has just finished a 10month tour of Australia as Sister Mary-Martin-of Tours in the musical Sister Act.

Her television credits include; The Sullivans, I Can Jump Puddles, Prisoner, Small Time Gangster, Neighbours, Newtons Law & Ms Fishers Modern Murder Mysteries.

Sally has been involved in over 30 cabaret shows as performer, writer, director and dramaturge as well as performing regularly with the improv comedy group Spontaneous Broadway & is one of Melbournes busiest singing teachers.

Maria Lurighi has over 50 years’ experience as a Singer and musician. Maria’s repertoire extends across Opera, Music Theatre, Jazz RnB, Soul and Gospel music. Maria is in her 26th year of teaching at the Conservatorium of Music and is currently the coordinator for Voice at the Hedberg, for the University of Tasmania. Maria has also been the vocal coach for the Southern Gospel Choir from 1999 - 2024. During her time teaching Maria been working with young indigenous artists supporting their pathway to UTAS for the past 6 years. Maria has been a company artist with Bighart having been a part of the music ensemble for Hipbone sticking out at the Melbourne Festival and Blue Angel for Ten days on the island. A strong advocate for Social Justice. Maria is also a champion for improvised works that create sonic atmosphere and context for the composer/ writer. Most recently with Justy Phillips for ‘Ringed by Language’ and creating welcomes for events at Mona from 2012 -2020. Maria has performed for Mofo and Dark Mofo festivals, Festival of Voices working on several commissioned works and shows. She has worked as Business Development Manager for Ten Days on the Island from 2004 – 2009. Maria was a past Chair of the Individuals panel for Arts Tasmania and a member of the arts advisory panel for Arts Tasmania. Maria was also a board member for TYO and worked as an assistant to the chair of Abaf Tasmania Peter Althaus. Maria is a champion for new orchestral works for voice having been the featured artist for new commissions by David Young (Overheard at Inveresk) Constantine Koukios for Olympic Spirit with TSO and Let Freedom Ring by Dr.Andrew Legg. Also, on new works for Brian Ritchie, Leo Schofield and Robyn Archer. Maria is currently on the board of Ten days on the island and the Lutrawitta Art Orchestra and has been a panel member for the Fullbright Scholarship for the past 3 years. Maria’s passion for the development of young people in Tasmania remains at the front of her commitment to her life on the island.