Artistic Director - Tom Pugh
A flautist, conductor and teacher, Tom currently holds the positions of Director of Music at Flinders Christian College, Co-Director of the Mornington Peninsula Chorale, Flute Tutor and Conductor in the Melbourne Youth Orchestras program and Assistant Artistic Director of the Peninsula Chamber Musicians.Passionate about making music, he has a wealth of experience across many different musical areas from musicals to opera to esoteric contemporary flute repertoire and symphonic works.
Tom graduated from the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide as a flautist and came to Melbourne in 1995 to study for a master’s degree in conducting at the Victorian College of the Arts. He was as an assistant conductor in the VCA Opera Studio and worked extensively with various VCA ensembles. He then became Director of Music and Chapel Choir at Queen’s College and conducted at Monash University. In 2000, Tom was appointed Teacher of Flute at Brighton Grammar and then added many other strings to that bow over the following 16 years, ending as Head of Middle School Music, Director of the Senior Choral program and the Senior Symphony Orchestra.
Most recently Tom has prepared and conducted Haydn’s Creation, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle and Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music for The Mornington Peninsula Chorale, as well as Guest Conducting the Frankston Symphony Orchestra and Conducting the Philharmonic Orchestra for Melbourne Youth Orchestras. On the theatre stage he recently musically directed Adam Yee’s opera Carmilla, based on the gothic opera for La Mama. He is currently studying for a PhD in Music Performance (conducting) through the University of Adelaide.
Married to mezzo soprano Katrina Waters, Tom enjoys nothing more than hanging out with their two daughters, making music, hacking his way around a golf course and following the mighty Adelaide Crows
Katrina Waters - PCM President and Mezzo Soprano
Mezzo soprano Katrina Waters has performed with leading opera companies and orchestras in venues in Australia and abroad including; Opera Australia, English National Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Cambridge Opera Society, Britten-Pears Festival, Dartington International Festival, Festival Belle-ile en Mer, Bath Philharmonia, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall London, The Ashmoleon Oxford, Arts Centre Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, and on the High Seas from India to Antarctica as a soloist with P&O World Cruises.
Recent Australian engagements reflect the diversity of Katrina’s artistic practice. Most recent performances include, Opera Australia’s Mefistofele at the Melbourne Arts Centre and presentations on Schumann and Mahler for the ANU’s Gender Symposium. Katrina is currently undertaking a PhD at the ANU. Her research interests focus on the lived experience of female performers, and the visibility and value of female creative artists in mid-career and beyond.
Katrina is based on the Mornington Peninsula - the lands of the Bunnerong people - where Katrina has forged significant artistic partnerships with local artists and companies. She facilitates large scale choral events for local Councils and is Co-Director of the Mornington Peninsula Chorale and President of the Peninsula Chamber Musicians.
Mezzo soprano Katrina Waters has performed with leading opera companies and orchestras in venues in Australia and abroad including; Opera Australia, English National Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Cambridge Opera Society, Britten-Pears Festival, Dartington International Festival, Festival Belle-ile en Mer, Bath Philharmonia, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall London, The Ashmoleon Oxford, Arts Centre Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, and on the High Seas from India to Antarctica as a soloist with P&O World Cruises.
Recent Australian engagements reflect the diversity of Katrina’s artistic practice. Most recent performances include, Opera Australia’s Mefistofele at the Melbourne Arts Centre and presentations on Schumann and Mahler for the ANU’s Gender Symposium. Katrina is currently undertaking a PhD at the ANU. Her research interests focus on the lived experience of female performers, and the visibility and value of female creative artists in mid-career and beyond.
Katrina is based on the Mornington Peninsula - the lands of the Bunnerong people - where Katrina has forged significant artistic partnerships with local artists and companies. She facilitates large scale choral events for local Councils and is Co-Director of the Mornington Peninsula Chorale and President of the Peninsula Chamber Musicians.
Cello - Megan Smithies
After completing a Diploma of Music at the Victorian College of the Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Melbourne University, Megan spent a number of years in Sydney, performing with ensembles as diverse as the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Philharmonia of Sydney and the Seymour Group. On her return to Melbourne, Megan played with the Melbourne Symphony and as a permanent member of the State Orchestra of Victoria (now Orchestra Victoria). She has vast experience as a member of the Australian Pops Orchestra and played for musicals such as Cats, The Wizard of Oz and The Phantom of the Opera. With a keen interest in chamber music, Megan played as a member of the Goossens String Quartet in Sydney, the Southern String Quartet in Melbourne as part of the Musica Viva In Schools program and The Macedon Trio. Megan has wide experience as a teacher and currently teaches cello at The Peninsula School in Mt Eliza.
After completing a Diploma of Music at the Victorian College of the Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Melbourne University, Megan spent a number of years in Sydney, performing with ensembles as diverse as the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Philharmonia of Sydney and the Seymour Group. On her return to Melbourne, Megan played with the Melbourne Symphony and as a permanent member of the State Orchestra of Victoria (now Orchestra Victoria). She has vast experience as a member of the Australian Pops Orchestra and played for musicals such as Cats, The Wizard of Oz and The Phantom of the Opera. With a keen interest in chamber music, Megan played as a member of the Goossens String Quartet in Sydney, the Southern String Quartet in Melbourne as part of the Musica Viva In Schools program and The Macedon Trio. Megan has wide experience as a teacher and currently teaches cello at The Peninsula School in Mt Eliza.
Flute - Marney Pope
Marney began playing the flute when she was in Grade 6 and continued playing throughout her school life. When she finished high school she attended both the University of Melbourne and the Victorian College of the Arts, completing Bachelor of Music degrees in both performance and education. Marney has studied the flute with Wendy Clarke, William Bennett, Peter Edge and Eileen Gilligan. She has performed with the Australian Wind Symphonia, Melbourne City Opera, Grainger Symphony, Peninsula Chamber Musicians and with many chamber ensembles. Marney has also completed a Masters in Gifted Education, and is interest in how music and instrumental education can be used to enhance learning. She currently works at Woodleigh School as a flute teacher and classroom music educator.
Clarinet - Paul Jenkins
Graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2000, Paul Jenkins also holds a Masters in Music and Graduate Diploma of Education from Monash University.
As a clarinetist, Paul has performed with many ensembles including Opera Australia, John Foreman's Aussie Pops Orchestra, Melbourne Opera Orchestra, Australian Discovery Orchestra and has worked in many 'scratch orchestras' for various projects.
Throughout his studies and career, Paul has focused his attention on performing many of the great chamber works for clarinet and has completed research into compositions by Johannes Brahms, Darius Milhaud and Miriam Hyde.
As a multi-instrumentalist, Paul performs frequently on instruments from the flute, saxophone and oboe families, in musical theatre, chamber ensembles and community orchestras.
Paul founded Peninsula Chamber Musicians Inc. in 2013, in an effort to inspire and reinvigorate chamber music on the Peninsula. The aim, to connect musicians, students and community. Paul is currently Head of Instrumental Music at Kilvington Grammar School.
Graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2000, Paul Jenkins also holds a Masters in Music and Graduate Diploma of Education from Monash University.
As a clarinetist, Paul has performed with many ensembles including Opera Australia, John Foreman's Aussie Pops Orchestra, Melbourne Opera Orchestra, Australian Discovery Orchestra and has worked in many 'scratch orchestras' for various projects.
Throughout his studies and career, Paul has focused his attention on performing many of the great chamber works for clarinet and has completed research into compositions by Johannes Brahms, Darius Milhaud and Miriam Hyde.
As a multi-instrumentalist, Paul performs frequently on instruments from the flute, saxophone and oboe families, in musical theatre, chamber ensembles and community orchestras.
Paul founded Peninsula Chamber Musicians Inc. in 2013, in an effort to inspire and reinvigorate chamber music on the Peninsula. The aim, to connect musicians, students and community. Paul is currently Head of Instrumental Music at Kilvington Grammar School.
Former Artistic Director - Andrew Hall
Andrew Hall played as a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as a casual musician before successfully auditioning for a role in the Second Violin section in 1996.
Born in Melbourne Andrew began violin lessons at the age of seven, later taking up the piano and viola whilst still in primary school. After studying with Nathan Gutman, Andrew joined Orchestra Victoria in 1990. In 1994 Andrew left Australia for 12 months to study in London with Rodney Friend before returning and working as a freelance musician for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Academy of Melbourne and Australia Pro Arte.
Andrew Hall played as a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as a casual musician before successfully auditioning for a role in the Second Violin section in 1996.
Born in Melbourne Andrew began violin lessons at the age of seven, later taking up the piano and viola whilst still in primary school. After studying with Nathan Gutman, Andrew joined Orchestra Victoria in 1990. In 1994 Andrew left Australia for 12 months to study in London with Rodney Friend before returning and working as a freelance musician for the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Academy of Melbourne and Australia Pro Arte.