Dr harold gretton - Classical Guitar
BA(Mus) (ANU), PhD (ANU)
Harold Gretton began playing guitar at the age of 7. He first studied at the ANU in Canberra before completing a course specialising in guitar duo performance in Strasbourg (France).
He has won numerous international competitions, both as a soloist and in various chamber music combinations. He has been invited to perform concerts all over Europe, as well as in the USA, Mexico, Vietnam, and all over Australia. He has performed with orchestras in Australia and Europe, including Nigel Westlake's concerto Shadow Dances under the composer's baton.
He has recorded four CDs, two solo albums, an album released by Tall Poppies of Australian guitar quartets with Guitar Trek, and a mixed album of guitar duos released by German label ARS, funded by a successful crowd-funding campaign.
A dedicated pedagogue, Harold has given masterclasses in numerous guitar festivals, lectured at Universities and has participated on numerous juries in international competitions. He has held teaching positions in Stuttgart, Baden-Baden, Lichtenau (Germany) and Saint-Louis (France).
Harold is a committee member of the Riverina Summer School for Strings, Cootamundra Strings, as well as a member of the MTANSW Advisory Council. Harold joined the RCM's Guitar Department in 2018.
reg dury - Classical and contempory Guitar
AMEB CPM IV, BA(Philo) (ANU), BLaws (UNE), GDLP (ANU)
Reg Dury plays both classical and contemporary guitar as well as bass, mandolin, tenor banjo and drums. Reg studied at the Conservatorium of Music, in Jambes, Belgium. He taught at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music from 2004 till 2015 and has returned in 2023 to share his passion for music once again.
Reg has performed solo at the Sydney opera House, toured with well-known bands and is a busy session musician. Reg also plays at the Civic Theatre on regular occasions, including in recent years: conducting the orchestra for Oliver, playing guitar in Mamma Mia and Strictly Ballroom. He is currently a member of the Tin Shed Rattlers, The Black Shillings and plays with the Baker Boys session band.
Reg also writes music, some of his work having received over 3 million downloads and winning the Underearthed competition in 2006.
Reg enjoys teaching and seeing his students growing as musicians, passing grades and performing in public. His favourite pastime aside from playing music and reading books is playing more music.
DAVID WILSON - CONTEMPORARY Guitar
David has been playing guitar in many original and cover bands for 30 years as well as being a session musician mostly for the last 20.
David is also a producer working with many original bands over the last 20 years many of which have had charting songs with radio and TV play.
David has studied many styles under musicians such as Steve Housden (Little River Band/John Farnham), Paul Rettke (Jazz) and also studied Orchestral Theory with Joe Paperone at the Eastern Hill Conservatorium in Melbourne.
David joined the RCM's Guitar Department in 2018.
Jessica parker - Classical Guitar
BMus (CQUniversity)
Jessica began studying guitar at the age of seven through the Riverina Conservatorium of Music under the tutelage of Jeff Dovovan. Since then, she has developed a lifelong passion for the instrument.
She is a former member of the Guitarist’s Breakfast ensemble and is currently enjoying playing with Guitarist’s Feast and the Adult Guitar Ensemble. Jessica enjoyed the opportunity to perform with the Riverina Youth Orchestra at the Civic Theatre. She frequently performs at locations around Wagga and surrounding areas.
Jessica has a great passion for teaching and loves being able to share her enthusiasm for music with others. She finds great satisfaction in helping lead her students to their goals. Jessica likes a wide variety of guitar styles but has a particular fondness for the Romantic Era.
In 2024, Jessica completed her Bachelor of Music through Central Queensland University under the tutelage of Dr Harold Gretton. She earned this degree with Distinction.
brianna seary - bass Guitar, Guitar, and Ukulele
BMus (CQUniversity)
Brianna began studying contemporary guitar at the age of 12 through the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, from the age of 15 began learning Bass and throughout this time played ukulele.
Brianna is currently a member of the Simmons Street Big Band, some Wagga pub bands, and has been involved in performances with Guitarist’s Feast and the RCM’s Riverina Youth Orchestra. In the past Brianna has played in the RCM Rock Band playing guitar.
She enjoys composing original pieces and arranging for solo bass and guitar. Brianna is a previous winner of the Silver Scholarship in the Guitar category and has won Composition awards both within and outside of the RCM.
In 2024 Brianna completed her Bachelor of Music through CQUniversity under the tutelage of Dr Harold Gretton, and graduated with distinctions. She hopes to continue to develop her bass and guitar performance and composition skills. Brianna looks forward to sharing her knowledge and love for music with other aspiring musicians at all ages and abilities.
Tristan Tait - Classical Guitar
Tristan began studying classical guitar at the age of 7 at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music as a student on Jeff Dovovan, continuing under the tutelage of Dr Harold Gretton. He is a previous consecutive winner of the RCM Guitar Scholarship. While at the Conservatorium, Tristan has developed skills on both classical guitar and bass guitar, and a passion for a wide variety of music styles. He is a former member of the Guitarist’s Breakfast ensemble, a current member of the Guitarist’s Feast ensemble and has been involved in performances with the Simmons Street Big Band. He has been involved in many RCM events, including Christmas with the Con, Guitarific, and RCM Rising Stars, as well as a frequent performer around the Riverina. Tristan enjoys working with other guitarists to share his passion and knowledge, assisting and encouraging them with their studies across a range of guitar styles. In particular, helping new guitarists explore the amazing versatility of the instrument across a variety of styles.
Since 2026, Tristan has commenced studying a Diploma of Music through CQUniversity under the tutelage of Dr Harold Gretton and is currently participating in the RCM’s Student Mentor Program under Harold to develop his pedagogical and musical skills.
Madelyn Davis - Classical Guitar
BMus (UON)
Madelyn began studying guitar at the age of eight through the Riverina Conservatorium of Music under the tutelage of Jeff Donovan and Dr. Harold Gretton. Since then, she has developed a lifelong passion for music.
She is a former member of Guitarist’s Breakfast and Guitarist’s Feast and has been involved in many RCM events including Christmas with the Con, the Riverina Summer School for Strings and has performed in many areas around the Riverina. Madelyn has also been a previous recipient of the RCM Advanced Silver Scholarship for Classical Guitar and the recipient the Tertiary Music Scholarship and the Joy Ingall Scholarship for Music Studies at the University of Newcastle whilst undergoing her studies for a Bachelor of Music, in which she completed her degree in 2025.
Since joining the RCM’s Guitar Department in 2026, Madelyn has commenced studying a Master’s of Secondary Teaching through the University of Newcastle as she has a great passion for teaching and wants to help her students thrive and achieve their own goals through playing guitar and learning about the wide variety of music genres.
Elizabeth (Liz) Lieschke – Ukulele
GradDip Theology in Education (ALC), DipTeach (Primary) (Adelaide)
Liz began learning piano at the age of five while living in Papua New Guinea and continued her musical education after her family returned to Australia. During her school years, she was actively involved in choirs, musical productions and also learned the descant recorder. She briefly studied guitar as part of her teacher training.
With over four decades of experience as a primary school teacher in South Australia and New South Wales, Liz has always had a passion for classroom music. While initially working as a generalist teacher, in 2006 her role evolved into classroom music specialist (part-time). In this position, Liz not only taught music but also prepared and supported students for a variety of special events and performances. Highlights include involvement in programs with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Regional Tours, Opera Australia (The Barber of Seville), Musica Viva (including Makukuhan, TaikOz, Mara!), and participating in Music: Count Us In (2007 –2020) Liz’s professional development has included attending workshops led by Richard Gill, Kim Waldock, Susie Splitter-Davies, and Phil Splitter. In 2014, she was selected to attend the inaugural five-day TunEd Up program run by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Education Unit, and she continued to participate in workshops in subsequent years. Liz has also engaged in Orff training to further develop her approach to music education.
Liz’s passion for the ukulele was sparked at a concert by Mike Jackson at the Wagga Wagga City Library. During the performance, he showcased a wide range of folk instruments, including the ukulele. At the time, Liz had been searching for a small, practical stringed instrument for her students- something easy to store, durable, and affordable. She quickly realised she had found the perfect fit. Not long after, Liz purchased her own ukulele and enthusiastically began learning and playing this lovely little instrument. In 2013, she connected with Wagga’s S.T.R.U.M (Super Talented Riverina Ukulele Musicians), further deepening her involvement in the local music community and her own learning. Liz has been sharing her passion with others for many years. She led a ukulele workshop for fellow educators at a L.E.S.E.R conference in 2010 (now known as L.E.V.N.T.- Lutheran Education in Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania) and regularly presents at Strum Along sessions facilitated by S.T.R.U.M at the Men’s Shed.
In late 2017, Liz joined the teaching team at the Riverina Conservatorium, where she became the second director of the Ukulele Ensemble, a role she continues to enjoy. She also provides beginner lessons as needed. Alongside this, Liz still teaches classroom music part-time, incorporating Orff-based percussion, recorders, and, of course, the ukulele. When asked to name her favourite instrument, Liz doesn’t hesitate- the ukulele- “easy to learn, a lifetime to master.”
In addition to individual learning, the RCM guitar department offers musicians access to ensembles and group learning activities, including:
Beginner Classical Guitar Ensemble (Guitarists’ Entree) - AMEB Prelim - Grade 1
Advanced Classical Guitar (Guitarists' Feast) - AMEB Grade 5 and above
Adult Guitar Ensemble - AMEB Grade 2 and above
Ukulele Ensemble
RCM Rock Band - Junior & Senior
Bass Ensemble