Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

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 Masters 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.

Rachel Hadfield | Finance Controller

Rachel Hadfield has been consulting part time in the Arts Industry since her son was born in 2006 and joined AMC in December 2008. She enjoys maintaining a presence and adding value in a creative environment whilst spending the majority of her time as a Mum.

Prior to motherhood Rachel was Director of Finance at the Sydney Symphony, a demanding and incredibly rewarding position that she held for six years. Rachel trained as an accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers in London and transferred with them to Australia just prior to the Millennium in 1999.

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 Manager

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.

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.

Judith Foster | Music Resources 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 was born in Sydney and has lived there all her life. As a school student Peggy learned to play the piano and began writing original pieces for the instrument. Later she graduated from Sydney University in 2002 with a B.Mus. (Composition). Since graduating, Peggy has worked as a music copyist, setting works by contemporary Australian composers, and spent some years teaching piano and music theory from her home studio, as well as composing. Peggy is currently completing an M.Mus (Composition) and has started working at the AMC in 2009.

Stephanie Marchant | Documentation Specialist

Stephanie is a graduate of Sydney College of the Arts where she majored in Electronic and Temporal Art. She has worked and exhibited in galleries in Sydney and regional NSW. Stephanie was the coordinator of a live world music series prior to starting at the AMC and in her spare time is a blues singer.

Aristea Mellos | Production Coordinator

Aristea began working at the Australian Music Centre in 2006 and is currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Music (Composition) degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Aristea enjoys both composing and performing and has participated in several chamber music ensembles as a pianist and cellist.

Chris Williams | Production Coordinator

Chris started work at the AMC in 2006, and is currently an undergraduate student in composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He enjoys a variety of music from rock to classical, but has a strong passion for contemporary music.

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 as publications coordinator/web editor 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.

Philippa Horn | Marketing Coordinator

Philippa Horn has worked as a Coordinator / Publicity and Marketing for the 2008 Aurora Festival, The Song Company, Orchestras Australia, Sydney A cappella Association, National Jazz Coordinator, and as a freelance graphic designer. And has also been Administrator for the Electra String Quartet, and Publicity Coordinator at ABC Classic FM. She holds a Diploma in Fine Arts from the National Art School and has pursued further study in graphic and web design which has equipped her to make an important contribution in her current positions as Manager of the New Music Network and Marketing Coordinator at the Australian Music Centre.