Vicky Jacobs

Vicky Jacobs has developed a reputation for her ability to get anyone singing at their best – from Australia’s top music theatre stars to the most nervous new singers.

Vicky is currently musical director for “A Christmas Carol” at the Comedy Theatre. She was Musical Director for ‘Elegies’ for Clovelly Fox and ‘The Heartbreak Choir’ for Melbourne Theatre Company for both of which she received Green Room Award nominations.

Vicky has been Associate Musical Director on some of this country’s biggest musicals including ‘Hairspray’, ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Come From Away’, ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’, ‘Jersey Boys’, ‘Grease’ and ‘Singin’ in the Rain’. She has been guest conductor for the MSO Chorus and in 2023 studied with Bobby McFerrin in San Fransisco.

Vicky writes and arranges choral music which you can find at www.sheetmusicplus.comand The Australian Music Vault Choir Project.

Vicky is proud to be part of the team that developed the Number 1 Vocal Warm Up app for smartphone, Warm Me Upwhich you can download on iPhone or Android.

Most of all, Vicky enjoys making music for the fun of it so loves sharing her skills with singers and enthusiasts from all walks of life!

Katie Pryce

Katie is the incredible leader you’ll find at the front of Glee West.

Katie came over to Melbourne in 2017 from London where she enjoyed a busy career as a French horn player, singer, songwriter, arranger and musical director. She has played on West End shows such as The Lion King, Les Miserables, Mary Poppins and Billy Elliot, as well as working in orchestras such as the London Sinfonietta, Royal Philharmonic and The Royal Ballet.  She has a huge love for Jazz and has performed at Jazz Soho, The Pheasantry and Ronnie Scott’s in London. She has worked and recorded with artists such as Snarky Puppy, Burt Bacharach, Robbie Williams, Kayne West, Joss Stone, Justice and Elton John. 

Music education has always played a huge role in Katie’s career. She is passionate about making music accessible to all and has created many projects including starting a music programme in slums schools in Mumbai, to directing musical performances in prisons in London. She has taught extensively from teaching children and music students in conservatoires, to vocal coaching West End artists and keen amateurs.  Her main aim is always to de-mystify music, make it fun and have a laugh at the same time enable people to achieve things they didn’t think were possible.

Natalie Calia

Natalie is a dynamic and accomplished musical director, creative artist, educator, accompanist and multi-instrumentalist, whose work bridges performance, education, and collaborative artistry. A skilled performer across voice (jazz, musical theatre, and contemporary), classical and contemporary piano, and saxophone, she also brings additional versatility with ukulele, flute, and piano accordion. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Music Performance, Drama & Theatre Studies) and a Master of Applied Theatre Studies from the University of New England.

In 2016–17, Natalie took to the international stage with a 7-month tour across Austria and Germany as part of Stage Entertainment’s touring production of Ich war noch niemals in New York, serving as Assistant Musical Director, Deputy Conductor, Principal 2nd Keyboard, and Vocal Coach. Additionally, her passion for the transformative power of the arts in education has seen her present at conferences locally, nationally, and internationally, championing the role of theatrical productions in secondary school settings.

With a rich performance and production history spanning over 70 theatrical works across Melbourne, Natalie has worn many hats – performer, director, musical director, and band member, with credits including her role as Resident Musical Director for Melbourne Shakespeare Company since 2021.

Choral and a cappella music have been central to Natalie’s musical journey, inspiring a deep appreciation for the beauty of collective expression. She finds true joy in the shared and inclusive experience of ensemble singing, where individual voices come together to create something greater than themselves.

Amanda Hodder

Amanda is the fabulous leader of Hobart Glee Club and a centrepiece of Hobart’s musical landscape.

Amanda has worked as accompanist, vocal coach, pianist and music director with Opera Australia, OzOpera, Opera Queensland, Australian Musical Theatre Festival, Mona Foma and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Amanda has also co-created new works at Festival of Voices, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Melbourne Comedy Festival and Junction Arts Festival.

In 2021 Amanda collaborated with countertenor Nicholas Tolputt, director Benjamin Winspear and cinematographer Martin McGrath to create an immersive experience/performance of Schubert’s Winterreise, which resulted in a sellout season. In 2022 Amanda worked with neurodiverse children to create a rock cabaret based on their lived experiences, created and recorded a series of new piano works with composer Jabra Latham, and was invited for a third time to be resident at Performing Lines Tasmania’s Tarraleah residency. In Ten Days On The Island’s 2023 program, Amanda was Choral Director for Women of Troy, with new music and lyrics by Katie Noonan and Behrouz Bouchani.

In 2024 Amanda has written vocal arrangements for the 2nd season of Bay of Fires, and is the local children’s chorus master for Opera Australia’s touring production of La Boheme. Currently Amanda is collaborating with Nicholas Tolputt, Benjamin Winspear and Jabra Latham to create an opera for solo countertenor voice and piano, based upon the tale of Rumpelstiltskin.

 

 

Chris Nolan

Chris is a voice trainer specialising in working with professional singers, dancers, and actors and is the conductor of Glee East.

He began his career as a keyboard player and musical theatre performer before realising his true passion was teaching. He completed a Masters degree in the Practice of Voice and Singing in the UK at the Guildford School of Actin and is currently working towards a PhD in voice pedagogy.

He was formerly Head of Singing & Music at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (UK) and Head of Singing & Music at the Victorian College of the Arts (Australia). He has also taught singing/voice at The Guildford School of Acting, The Royal Academy of Music, The Royal Scottish Conservatoire, and NIDA. Chris is in strong demand to run workshops and masterclasses all over the world – Singapore, Slovenia, Poland, Australia, the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Chelsea Plumley

Chelsea is the incredible host of our Bayside singalongs. You’ll find her every month at Elwood Sailing Club leading the fun from the keyboard.

Chelsea Plumley is a five-time Green Room Award nominated musical theatre & cabaret artist, musician, host, producer, writer, masterclass teacher, singing coach & television actor.

Most recently you will have seen Chelsea as Miss Andrews in the Australian tour of Mary Poppins. Chelsea has written, produced & toured one-woman shows nationally & internationally. Her New York show, Angel in Training, was nominated for the 2001 U.S.A. Cabaret Hotline Online awards and her subsequent show, Live & Luscious, received the 2004 GLUG award for ‘Most Versatile Performer’.

Chelsea has hosted Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music for nineteen years and in 2019 she was commissioned to write & perform the opening host spot for the Australian tour of Love Actually In Concert. You can find out more about Chelsea’s work at www.chelseaplumley.com