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James Belluz received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Performance from York University in Toronto, Canada. As a jazz performance major, his studies were primarily focussed on small ensemble performance skills with specialities on the saxophone and drum set. Simultaneously included in his education were both classical and jazz theory & harmony, general musicianship training, extensive aural training, arranging, composition and some history.

Directly after graduation James spent the better part of five years working on various cruise ships as an orchestra musician in the main showroom lounges playing saxophone, flute and clarinet. After returning to land James attended teachers’ college at the University of Toronto where he received his qualifications to teach music at all year levels in and outside of the classroom. There he learned the principles of pedagogy, management and curriculum as well as more specific skills tailored to music education such as conducting, ensemble concepts, technology, repertoire and engagement.

James continues to be a practicing artist while employed full time at Shalom College. He gigs on the saxophone and the drums as often as possible in local areas while composing and arranging new music.

Bernadette Connolly graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Instrumental Music majoring in performance. Her degree included studies in instrumental ensemble conducting, string pedagogy and studio teaching methods as well as history, music theory and musicianship and aural training. She has been part of several performing groups including the Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra with whom she took part in two international tours playing in concert halls in The United States, Canada, Japan, China, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

Bernadette began teaching for Education Queensland in 1989 and has since taught privately and in several schools in Brisbane and Bundaberg. She has had extensive experience conducting instrumental ensembles and has worked with children of all ages as well as adult groups. Bernadette has been part of the music team at Shalom College in some capacity since 1999. Currently she shares her time between St Patrick’s and Shalom where she teaches string students from years 3 to 12.

Bernadette has always enjoyed sharing her love of music with the Bundaberg community through her involvement in groups such as the Bundaberg Youth Orchestra, the Bundaberg Chamber Players and the Bundaberg Sinfonietta where she has performed as a soloist as well as a group member.

Megan Hoban received her Bachelor of Music (BMus) after completing studies with the University of New England in Armidale, NSW and the CQU Conservatorium of Music in Mackay, QLD. Her studies included performance, theory, history, ethnolmusicology, digital music software and applications, composition, arranging, studio teaching methods and conducting of both choral and instrumental ensembles. Megan also completed a Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary).

Whilst living in Central Queensland Megan helped to revive the instrumental music program at the local Primary and High school and served as a specialist teacher for district workshops. She takes every opportunity to play and has performed as a soloist and member of small and large ensembles for community events. Since returning to Bundaberg Megan has performed in Shalom’s production of Annie, the Bundaberg Players Incorporated production of Les Misérable and was the Music Director for Shalom's 2021 production of Footloose. In 2019 Megan was officially appointed as the Conductor of the Bundaberg Youth Orchestra’s training orchestra, affectionately known as BYO2.

Megan works at both Shalom and St Mary’s Catholic Primary school as a classroom and instrumental music teacher. She believes that every student learns in their own way and in their own time and is dedicated to help them successfully navigate their musical journey.

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Ian King is a graduate of The Elder Conservatorium at Adelaide University where he earned his Honours Degree in Music and a Diploma of Education. He followed this with performance studies at The Sweelink Conservatorium in Amsterdam. After moving to Queensland Ian was awarded the Associate and Licentiate performance diplomas through the AMEB. Ian was recognised for his 35 years work as an instrumental teacher with a prestigious nomination for the National Inspirational Teacher Award in 2013.

While employed with Education Queensland he was quickly recognised as a motivated innovator and was tasked to build the Beenleigh District instrumental program. In only 4 years he was invited to join the preeminent music team at Brisbane State High School where he became senior director of bands. After a decade of successes, the Anglican Church Grammar School invited him to reinvigorate their program as Director of Bands and within five years the program regained its well-earned prestige. Bundaberg is now Ian’s home.

Ian has always performed and conducted. He has played with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, South Australian Opera Orchestra, and Adelaide Fringe Festival. During his 21 years with the Queensland Pops Orchestra Ian played many of the major Australian concert halls.

Cameron Macdonnell is a long term performer and teacher of guitar music.

As a teacher he owned Bandwagon Music Studios in Brisbane where he taught his own students as well as oversaw a team of teachers giving lessons on guitar, bass guitar, vocals and drums.

Cameron also taught at two schools in Brisbane - St Dympnas primary school and St Ritas College. At both schools he taught private and group lessons as well as instructed guitar ensembles. Now that he live is Bundaberg Cameron is teaching privately again.

He is very excited to join the musical team at Shalom. Cameron will use his well-organised and methodical system to help students learn guitar. The focus will mostly be on popular style guitar but can also include lessons on classical and jazz guitar. For those interested there is the opportunity to sit exams in popular guitar.

Cameron has performed with many bands over the years playing styles of rock, heavy rock, pop, blues, funk and jazz. His most notable performances were at the Byron Bay Blues festival where he has played several times. Now in Bundaberg he continues to perform with jazz ensembles and a rock based duo.

Classically trained and with 37 years behind the keys, Christie McLucas is one of the region's most experienced and diverse performers. School choirs led her to develop an intuition for vocalists and a love for solo and choral accompaniment, which propelled her to found and accompany a multitude of successful choral groups. Christie considers it a privilege to have worked with Jon English, Normie Rowe, Rachael Beck and Suellen Cusack-Greensill and to have played for countless productions and professional shows. Always passionate about music in the community, she was recognised with an Australia Day Citizen Award for her efforts to Community Arts and Culture in 2011 and 2013. Christie has a rich background in musical theatre playing for shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables, Wicked and was musical director of productions including Legally Blonde, Mulan and The Little Mermaid. Christie is a professional musician and seasoned performer, currently involved in a variety of bands and ensembles in the Wide Bay region and about to complete her final semester of a Bachelor of Music degree through the CQU Mackay Conservatory.

Nicole Strohfeldt is an enthusiastic and experienced educator with a passion for sharing music with young people. She is committed to enriching the lives of her students through lessons, classes and ensembles.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Music (Performance) in double bass, a Master of Teaching (Instrumental and Classroom Music) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology. She has worked in several schools in the south-east Queensland region throughout her career and conducted the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra Strings and Junior Symphony for almost ten years. Nicole was Classroom Music Co-ordinator at Sheldon College in Brisbane for five years and was a District Panellist for Music and Music Extension.

In 2014, Nicole and her husband moved to Western Australia and she began teaching at Hale School, where she was Co-ordinator of Junior School Music; and on the committee of the Australian Strings Association (AUSTA) WA for five years (as President for three years). She was a part of the organising committee for the 2018 AUSTA National Conference in Perth.

Work then took the family to the USA, where they resided in Houston, Texas for almost two years and Nicole was able to work as a Double Bass specialist at Seven Lakes High School, a school that was awarded the top orchestral prize in the state. During her time in Houston she also studied bass at Quantum Bass Center, which is owned by renowned bassist Paul Ellison. Nicole has recently returned to Bundaberg with her family and she is very excited to share her love of music with the students of the region.

Natalie graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Performance Honours), majoring in Classical Voice. She then furthered her studies at the Brisbane Academy of Musical Theatre.

Natalie has studied singing extensively across many genres, but her true passion is Musical Theatre. A culmination of her training in dance, acting and voice, Musical Theatre has become the foundation of Natalie's performance career. Natalie made her professional theatre debut in Harvest Rain Theatre Company's Arena production of CATS, performing alongside and understudying Marina Prior. She then went on to perform at QPAC in both THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (alongside Andrew O'Keefe and Nancye Hayes), and INTO THE WOODS (as the role of Rapunzel alongside Rhonda Burchemore and Rachael Beck). Natalie is a highly regarded and versatile performer, having worked in not only large scale musical theatre productions, but cabarets, original works and corporate events.

In addition to her performing, Natalie is passionate about music education and has been teaching voice and musical theatre across Queensland for many years. In 2019, Natalie furthered her studies and completed her Master of Teaching at CQUniversity.

A graduate of Shalom College herself, Natalie is excited to share her knowledge and experience in the performing arts industry with her students and hopes to foster the same passion for music in her students that she has herself.