Head of music Theory and Aural

Joanne Burrows - HSC and Advanced Music theory & aural

AMusA (AMEB), ATCL, LTCL, BA, DipTeach (UQ), Cert IV Assessment & Training, M.Ed (CQU)

Joanne started learning piano at the age of 14, becoming serious about it at age 17. She studied a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theatre at Queensland University Major studies including piano and composition and secondary studies in voice, recorder and later flute. Joanne completed a Diploma of Education in 1982 and spent several years teaching classroom music in Queensland and NSW. Joanne came to Wagga Wagga in 1986 where she taught at the Riverina Conservatorium (1986-1991) and started the HSC music program at Trinity Senior High School, (now Kildare College). Over this time she completed an AmusA in Piano, an ATCL and LTCL in piano pedagogy through Trinity College and was very involved with HSC Music including marking HSC papers, setting trial HSC papers and accompaniment work.

In 1999 Joanne returned to teach at the Riverina Conservatorium becoming Head of Keyboard and Music Theory & Aural in 2004. Joanne was part of the committee for the 10th Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference held in Wagga Wagga. In 2011, Wirripang Music published a number of piano and music craft books for beginning and intermediate level students. Joanne has also performed in various RCM Concerts in solo, ensemble and accompanist roles.

Joanne was appointed Chair of the RCM Curriculum committee in 2010. This group of professional musicians and teachers have drafted stage one of the RCM curriculum which has been most effective in ensuring quality music education.

Joanne continues to have piano music and teaching resources published by Wirripang, provide piano pedagogy workshops for music teachers, and perform when time permits. Joanne loves to teach, and offers a range of piano and music craft programs from beginner to advanced, over a wide range of styles, - classical, popular, jazz, improvisation and composition.

kimberley Scriven - music craft Grade 1-3

BMus (hons) (Syd)

Kimberley began her musical education as a student of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, winning many scholarships including the Major Woodwind Scholarship and the prestigious Dr Ray King Scholarship. She went on to teach at the Riverina Conservatorium and engage with the Wagga Wagga community through music and radio presenting. As a result of her community involvement, Kimberley was presented with the Young Citizen of the Year Award for Wagga Wagga in 2010 and was nominated for an Order of Australia Medal.

Kimberley Scriven completed her Music Performance degree at Sydney Conservatorium of Music with First Class Honours in 2017. During her studies at Sydney Conservatorium, Kimberley achieved first place in the renowned Historically Informed Performance Concerto Competition and consequently performed as a soloist, accompanied by the Sydney Conservatorium Early Music Ensemble and Camerata Academica of the Antipodes Ensemble.

Kimberley studied under Hans Dieter Michatz and Megan Lang at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She also performed in masterclasses and received lessons from world leading recorder soloists including Walter Van Hauwe (Royal College of London), Maria Martinez Ayerza (Royal College London/Conservatorium Van Amsterdam), Andreas Bohlen (Kunstuniversität Graz, Austria), Maurice Steger (Switzerland), and Horacio Franco (National Conservatory, Mexico).

Kimberley enjoys every opportunity to share her music with audiences using her unique style and flair. Her performances are founded in historical research and are given a theatrical twist as she aims to display the melodramatic style and rustic folk influences inherent in Baroque music.  

Kimberley also has a passion for Music Theory/Music Craft and is enthused by combining knowledge and fun to build each student’s ability. The foundation of Kimberley’s teaching practice is her emphasis on using creativity to make difficult musical concepts and processes simple and enjoyable.

MATTHEW GARVIE - Music Theory Grade 2+

Matthew has recently finished his third year at Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), studying with pianist Timothy Young. In 2021, he completed a Bachelor of Music with first class Honours and the University Medal, studying with Daniel de Borah at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

A passionate chamber musician, he has been a member of award-winning chamber groups with prizes including The Ursula Hoff Award for Most Outstanding Chamber Music Performance in 2021, and the Basil Jones Sonata Prize in 2020 and 2018. In 2017, Matthew was selected to perform in the first side-by-side student/faculty concert, and in 2021, performed as a mentee in Ensemble Q alongside acclaimed musicians Natsuko Yoshimoto, Paul Dean, Trish Dean, and Peter Luff. A highlight of Matthew’s career was performing alongside ANAM musicians and internationally renowned violinist Anthony Marwood, performing Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-flat.

Matthew began learning the piano at the age of seven with his grandmother, before continuing his studies at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, Wagga Wagga with Hamish Tait. During that time, he won numerous awards including the Conservatorium’s Senior Piano Scholarship, and the Dr Ray King Scholarship. He made his concerto debut with the Riverina Community Orchestra, performing excerpts from Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor. More recently, Matthew has appeared as a soloist with the South Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 2 in B-flat in 2022, and Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 24 in C Minor in 2024. Matthew joined the Piano Department at the Riverina Conservatorium in 2025.

Cindy bowen - Music Theory Grades 1-2

Cindy brings a youthful heart filled with excitement to the team at RCM.

Her experience in music dates back to nearly 50 years, where she began piano lessons and then after a decade , picked up the flute and fell in love.

Upon leaving school, Cindy joined the Royal Australian Navy Band and gained a wealth of knowledge and performance experience during her time there. Once becoming a mum, she settled into private lessons teaching students in the Riverina.

Since joining the RCM in 2021, Cindy's natural gift for teaching and commitment to learn in a fun and enjoyable environment has seen her students shine.

brianna seary - beginner Music Theory

Brianna began studying contemporary guitar at the age of 12 through the Riverina Conservatorium of Music and from the age of 15 began learning Bass.

Brianna is currently a member of the Simmons Street Big Band, CQUniversity band ‘Duck Duck Duck Goose’ playing bass, 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.

Brianna is currently studying a Bachelor of Music through CQUniversity under the tutelage of Dr Harold Gretton. 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.

MUSIC THEORY & AURAL CLASSES:

BEGINNER:  Beginner level theory/musicianship. This class covers the basic of theory, music reading, aural and rhythm. Best suited to younger students and beginner students up to 12 years of age.

ELEMENTARY: Elementary Level theory/musicianship. More advanced than beginners, but not reading for the intermediate level. Best suited to mid-primary aged students to mid-teens. Ages 10 to 16. This class covers Grades 1-2 and the beginning of Grade 3 AMEB theory.

INTERMEDIATE: Intermediate level theory/musicianship. Best suited to student aged 13-18 who have been playing for 3 or more years and can read well. Students of this age sitting AMEB performance exams will need to complete AMEB theory exams. This class is an intermediate class and covers Grades 2-3-4 AMEB Theory.

ADVANCED: Advanced level theory/musicianship. Is for advanced level class for students who have strong performance skills, at least Grade 5 AMEB. This course assists students to prepare for Grades 4-5-6 AMEB theory exams, which are advanced levels of theory.

HSC AURAL BASICS: Suitable for year 11 students and year 12 student who need extra revision. The class slowly covers from the basics through the concepts of music and learning to hear and write aural answers.

HSC AURAL: For year 12 students. This class assist students to develop aural skills, fix problems and practice aural exam papers.