Who's who
Staff may be contacted via the Choir's office.
All staff are fully qualified to work with children, and have either a full teacher's registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching or a current Working With Children Check.
| Person | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sharon Batterham | Musical Director Conductor |
Mulgrave Keysborough / Rowville |
| Andrew Batterham | Managing Director Venue Supervisor |
Mulgrave Berwick |
| Ebony Birch | Conductor | Berwick / Keysborough |
| Vicky Pilley | Conductor | Rowville |
| Cameron Fellowes | Accompanist | Keysborough / Rowville |
| Kate Finlayson | Accompanist | Berwick |
| Meridee Kirk | Office staff | Mulgrave |
| Sally Mason | Office staff | Mulgrave |
| Daniel Moldrich | Accompanist | Rowville |
Sharon Batterham
Sharon Batterham is a choral music specialist, with over 25 years experience as a chorister, tutor and conductor. She has studied music at the University of Melbourne, and holds both a Bachelor of Music, in composition and voice, and a Bachelor of Music Education. As a chorister, Sharon sang with the Australian Children's Choir, and travelled to Hong Kong and the United Kingdom where the choir performed at the prestigious Llangollen Musical Eisteddfod. She continued singing while at University, with the Faculty of Music choir and the Chamber Singers, and enhanced her vocal studies by performing with the Royal Philharmonic Choir, Faye Dumont Singers, CHIME Choir and Australian Youth Choir.
Conducting became a particular interest when Sharon commenced tutoring the training groups of the Victorian Boys' Choir, and she continued developing this area with positions in the Australian Girls' Choir and the CHIME Choirs. Training in choral pedagogy followed, under Rodney Eichenberger, Andre de Quadros and Doreen Rao, and Sharon was selected from conductors around the world to attend the 3rd Choral Symposium held by the Toronto Childrens' Chorus under Jean Ashworth-Bartle.
After a short break to raise a family, Sharon is now conducting with the National Children's Choir and Youth Chorale of Australia, and is the founding conductor of Harrisfield Harmonies. She has spent spare time writing musical plays for children, whilst composing and arranging choral music for her choirs.
Andrew Batterham
Andrew has combined an interest in composing and arranging with music education for many years. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree and Diploma of Education. He has worked as a composer across many genres, as a professional performer with Latin bands, big bands and orchestras, as a high school music teacher and as a community musician. His music can be heard in the concert hall, on TV, radio and on film, and in many schools across the country.
With a wide output of classical, jazz, latin and corporate music to his name, Andrew is looking forward to contributing some original music to the Choir's repertoire in the near future.
Andrew is taking on the role of Managing Director with the Choir. As such he is responsible for overall decisions regarding the Choir's direction, and instigating new initiatives such as coporate sponsorship and tours. Multiple decision making should come naturally too, as he and Sharon share a house with four unique kids who never cease to surprise.
Ebony Birch
Ebony began her formal music education as a chorister in this very choir, which she remained a member of for almost ten years. She taught herself the keyboard from a young age and began formal piano lessons at secondary school. She is also a self-taught drummer and is aiming to become proficient in playing guitar.
During her VCE, Ebony elected to study Music Performance, in classical voice and Music History and Styles. Ebony has since completed a Bachelor of Early Childhood Eduation (Honours) at The University of Melbourne. As part of her honours stream, Ebony was required to design and conduct an educational research project. She researched the impact of instrumental music on the creative writing skills of lower- and higher-achieving students, from non-English-speaking backgrounds. Ebony received an award for obtaining the highest result of all final year students for her research paper. While studying at university, Ebony was able to gain invaluable experience by coordinating the prep - grade three music program at Coomoora Primary School. She has recently been on an intense overseas tour which saw her studying at the three major European music institutes - Kodaly, Dalcroze and Orff.
Ebony is delighted to now be working as a staff member with the choir. In addition to her position as a conductor, Ebony is teaching music at Dingley Primary School and the Peninsula Youth Music Society; and is working as an integration aid in a child-care setting. Ebony has a strong interest in using music as a tool to enhance children's development and assist them to learn school-based academic skills and concepts. She plans to further her knowledge of and experience in the European music methodologies and looks forward to sharing this with the choristers of the choir.
Vicky Pilley
Vicky's love of music began at the age of seven when she began studying the piano. Since then, she has studied performance at university level under Glenn Riddle and Kenji Fujimura and worked extensively as a repetiteur, teacher and musician. Her interest in choral music was ignited through her own participation as a chorister and accompanist for many different choirs.
With a double degree in Music and Commerce, Vicky has established a career in Arts Management, having worked for some of Melbourne's most prominent Arts organisations including Orchestra Victoria and the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra.
As a conductor, Vicky has developed her skills under the auspices of Jenny Mathers and has attended choral conducting courses featuring Faye Dumont and Rodney Eichenberger. She is particularly interested in the development of community music and has acted as the co-musical director of local community choir, Voca Beau, for many years.
Vicky is pleased to be returning to the NCCA as conductor at Rowville and is looking forward to her involvement in this exciting new phase of the choir's development.
Cameron Fellowes
Cameron has taught Music and piano in a variety of educational settings in the UK and Australia, holding positions of Co-ordinator of Music in two schools, as well as having extensive experience in numerous school Musicals and Productions. He is a member of the Australian Band and Orchestra Director's Association (ABODA), the Association of Music Educators (Amuse), and has been a member of the Victorian Music Teacher's Association for over 15 years.
As a young piano student, Cameron gained a place in a special music program - the Australian College of Education Music Project - under the tutelage of Professor Ronald Farren-Price and has also studied piano with other renowned Australian artists, such as Roy Shepherd, Keith Humble and Mark McGee.
Cameron obtained his A.Mus.A. in Pianoforte as a 16 year old and later gained his Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Teaching as a double degree at the University of Melbourne. He has been a repetiteur for the Australian Ballet School and has been playing for the National Theatre Ballet School since the age of 14. Cameron is currently undertaking a Master's in Education at the University of Melbourne.
Daniel Moldrich
In addition to his role as an accompanist for the NCCA, Daniel works as a piano teacher and freelance accompanist. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) as well as the AMEB's Associate Diploma. Though Daniel's musical interests are broad, choral music and in particular major sacred works are particularly special to him. He also has a keen interest in contemporary music.
Prior to his involvement with the NCCA, Daniel has worked as a piano teacher in both primary and secondary schools. He also has been a repetiteur for musical theatre, both in amateur companies and schools. Daniel also occasionally performs at weddings and other functions.
Since commencing with the NCCA in early 2008, Daniel has seen its value and success. He looks forward to further contributing to the development of our talented choristers.
