Australian Music Centre staff
The Australian Music Centre is fortunate in having a highly motivated team of staff, many of whom have been with the organisation for several years. AMC staff have developed a high level of specialist expertise, which enhances the organisation's ability to provide a high standard of service.
Finance & administration
John Davis | CEO
John Davis is CEO of the AMC, a position he has held since July 1995, although he has worked in the organisation since 1989. He has an extensive knowledge of Australian contemporary music, and has worked as a performer (jazz and classical), composer, and administrator. He holds a Master's degree in Creative Arts (Music Composition) from Wollongong University, and has been active in the new music community through his work with AMC, having developed strong relationships with composers, performers and ensembles, and music institutions and organisations. He has also been active in establishing strong relationships internationally, representing Australia as Vice-President of the International Association of Music Information Centres (IAMIC), and the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM). He currently serves as President of the ISCM's Executive Committee.
Janet Piper | Finance Administrator
Janet joined AMC in 2003, prior to that she was a small business operator and freelance consultant working in administrative areas and as an MYOB consultant. She has owned and operated two businesses, a café in Glebe and a souvenir and printing company. She has Certificate 11 in graphic arts and desktop publishing. Janet has a strong affinity with Indonesia and speaks Indonesian as a second language. Her professional connections with Indonesia include performing with Rendra's Bengkel Theatre and monitoring the TVRI Indonesian news stories for SBS. Most recently, she has set up a small business in Bali with her partner, opening several natural therapy spas to cater for tourists visiting the island. Janet has a strong interest in fine arts. Her hobbies include drawing, painting and drumming.
Simon Chambers | Online Consultant
Simon joined the AMC in 2000, initially working in the library before managing the redevelopment of the Centre's internal business systems and public website. Simon currently works at the ABC managing multiplatform design and development for Radio National and Classic FM, and continues to provide support to the AMC's online operations. He holds an honours degree in communication from the University of Technology Sydney, during which he developed an interest in how our constructions of music are influenced and maintained by both broad social discourses and specific information and communication technologies. He has also completed post-graduate studies in project management. Before switching to the social sciences Simon had begun studying music performance in flute and baroque flute at Sydney University. He is also partial to the recorder and ukulele.
Music Resources
Judith Foster | Content and Transactions Manager
Judith has been with the Centre since 1995, and has over 30 years experience working as a librarian in a diverse range of libraries including those in arts, education and tourism organisations. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, along with librarianship qualifications. She sings in the gospel choir Café of the Gate of Salvation of which she has been a member since its inception in 1986.
Peggy Polias | Music Resources Coordinator
Peggy has worked at the AMC since 2009. She holds a Master of Music (Composition) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and is an active composer. Peggy spent some years teaching piano, and outside of AMC also works as a music copyist, typesetting composer manuscripts and assisting composers with physical and digital archiving. Peggy's musical tastes are diverse and include indie rock and gamelan.
Stephanie Marchant | Content Specialist
Stephanie joined the staff of the Australian Music Centre in 2009 after working in fundraising, marketing, event management and art museums.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Media Arts) from Sydney College of the Arts with a major in electronic and temporal art. Since graduating she has undertaken further training in digital imaging, website design and CMS administration, and is currently a post-graduate student in Interactive Multimedia at the University of Technology. Growing up, Stephanie studied the piano, tenor saxophone and jazz singing, and has performed as a lead vocalist for the last 12 years. Stephanie also enjoys yoga and swimming at the beach.
Jane Aubourg | Production Assistant
Jane has been with the AMC since May 2011 and is currently studying composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She writes, records and performs with violin and electronics, as well as playing electric violin with cabaret rock band Sophie Hanlon and the Falling Empire. Jane also loves making clothes, costumes and all things crafty, as well as getting muddy in her garden with her two beagles.
Rebecca Cernec | Production Assistant
Rebecca started working at the AMC in June 2010 and is currently studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She is completing a Bachelor of Music, with Honours, focusing on electroacoustic composition. Rebecca is also a keen flute player.
Lachlan Hughes | Production Assistant
Lachlan joined the AMC in June 2010. He is currently studying composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with Damien Ricketson. His works have been presented by Chronology Arts as well as the Volta Collective, of which he is a directing member. Lachlan is also a keen vocalist, having sung with the Sydney Chamber Choir and the Choir of St James Church, Sydney.
Marketing & communications
Janine Marshman | Online Business Manager
Janine has a background spanning business and marketing and the performing arts. She has a Master of Commerce majoring in marketing, with an additional focus in entrepreneurship, and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in music performance, both completed at the University of Sydney. Interested in the intersection of the creative arts and business, Janine began a career in marketing and brand management in creative-based industries. Most recently she has been focused on leading young designers to better understand and engage in commercial creative environments, through her work as a Program Coordinator and Lecturer at a major private design college in Sydney. Janine studied classical piano through her undergraduate degree, but can more regularly be found playing Javanese Gamelan with Langen Suka Sydney Gamelan Association.
Anni Heino | Web Editor
Anni Heino is a Finnish-born journalist and musicologist with a Master's degree in Social Sciences. Formerly Head of Classical Music at the Finnish Music Information Centre in Helsinki, she came to Australia in 2001. She worked initially as a freelancer, managed a community technology centre, and joined the AMC in 2008. Her other activities include articles for the print media, program notes, pre-concert talks, some web, design and radio work. In March 2008, ABC Books published Talking to Kinky and Karlheinz, a collection of interviews with musicians, edited by Anni. She has studied classical singing and used to accompany herself on the piano - recently it's been the ukulele. She also loves turning the compost, and her cordless drill.
Philippa Horn | Marketing Coordinator
Philippa Horn has worked for many arts organisations in Sydney, including Pinchgut Opera, Ironwood Ensemble, Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra, Aurora Festival, The Song Company, Orchestras Australia, Sydney A cappella Association, National Jazz Coordinator, Electra String Quartet and ABC Classic FM. She is currently Manager of the New Music Network and works as a freelance graphic designer.
All photographs © Bridget Elliot or the Australian Music Centre