Our Presenters

Award-winning Aboriginal and Torres Strait musician and cultural historian Jessie Lloyd is well known through her Mission Songs Project. Resources from this project are widely used by primary and secondary teachers across Australia.

Rachel has been teaching music, drama, dance and media in secondary schools for over 10 years. Rachel has worked in many curriculum and leadership roles including most recently as a dedicated Performing Arts Learning Specialist, working with staff to build opportunities for authentic and equitable teaching and learning practices in the Music classroom. With extensive experience working with EAL, refugee, low socio-economic, low academic and disengaged learners, Rachel is passionate about accessibility and inclusivity in all aspects of music education, and ensuring as educators our practice allows every student to take advantage of the many benefits we know music learning carries. Rachel’s experience in the VCE space as a teacher, exam assessor and Learning Specialist ensures that all of her students are provided equitable opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

Jennifer is an experienced music specialist based in the outer Western Suburbs of Melbourne. She holds a degree in Jazz Performance on Guitar and a Bachelor of Teaching in both Primary and Secondary school.  In 2023 she completed the Teaching and Excellence Program at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership. In her teaching practice, Jennifer utilises both Kodály and Orff methods and has completed Orff Levels 1 through 4. Alongside her full-time role in classroom music, she is an experienced mentor for the Music in Me Program (formally National Music Teacher Mentoring Program).

Aaron Silver is a passionate music educator based in regional Victoria, teaching at Wodonga Primary School, one of the largest primary schools in the area. He specialises in blending contemporary band instruments with marimbas, percussion, and classroom instruments to create inclusive and engaging programs. A strong advocate for the power of performing arts in schools, Aaron is currently undertaking a Teaching Innovation Fellowship (TIF) focused on establishing a Community of Practice in Wodonga that can build connections, opportunities, and local programs. A trumpet player with honours in jazz and improvisation from Monash University and a Master of Primary Teaching from MGSE, Aaron’s programs celebrate students' identities while building their confidence and creativity.

Felicity O'Halloran is an experienced educator and arts administrator with a background in performing arts education. She has taught music and the performing arts at both primary and secondary levels in government schools for many years. Additionally, Felicity has served as a mentor and state coordinator for the AYO's Music in Me Teacher Mentoring Program. Currently, she works in the Curriculum and Teaching Practice Division of the Victorian Department of Education, where her focus is on ensuring students in Victorian government schools have access to quality arts education. 

Al Parkinson has been a music community advocate for over 15 years. Entering the music industry as a songwriter and self-managed artist, she went on to curate and manage events and working on community radio. Her experience includes music education at Collarts and Box Hill Institute, and she served as Memberships Manager at Music Victoria before her role in artist management at Applejack Music, working with artists such Liz Stringer and The Teskey Brothers. Al has been the Victorian Manager of the SongMakers program since April 2024 and is passionate about incorporating songwriting in music education.