Leadership & Administration

David Shaw | Executive Director

David Shaw is a multi-instrumentalist, specialising in flute and piano. He has extensive experience in many genres of music, including performing, arranging and teaching. As an orchestral musician, David has performed with several state orchestras in Australia and enjoys chamber music collaborations and projects with colleagues Australia-wide. David is a champion of new Australian music, with a long list of composer collaborators and premieres.

In Orange and the Central West, David has been involved in innumerable musical offerings. He has been a repetiteur and music director for the Orange Theatre Company in more than a dozen shows, and has performed in many school musical theatre shows. He has also led the Orange Symphony Orchestra as music director since 2017. David is a regular performer in the Orange Chamber Music festival and has also been onstage as part of the Orange Winter Jazz Festival. He founded the ORC Chamber Academy to give students a chance to explore the complex nature of chamber music while still at school and is always looking for innovative programs and ideas to share with new students. In 2023, David gave his first public performances on two new keyboard instruments – the piano accordion and the church organ – both of which were joyously tackled. David loves to connect with community and engage with the many varied musical offerings around him.

Tim Cummins | Finance & Operations Manger

Tim has 30 years professional accounting and management expertise.  He brings business experience from a wide range of sectors including health, data, contracting, facilities management, mining, and automotive. Tim grew up in Orange, he loves music (…and golf) and is passionate about:

  • Developing excellent relationships and strengthening our community

  • Building strong organisational culture and people development

  • Delivering brilliant customer experiences

  • Supporting organisational growth and sustainability with high quality business tools

  • Integrating business systems and technology

James Buchanan | Programs and Projects Manager, Head of Guitar

After 15 years of service, James now forms part of the Management Team of the ORC overseeing educational programs and managing large scale projects.

James works professionally as a guitarist for many local artists and groups, has an extensive teaching career including teaching music courses for TAFE NSW, specialising in performance, composition, recording and music technology. James also has professional skills in design, photography, and media, and is responsible for the conservatorium’s visual output.

Part of James’ role involves being the ORC representative to Orange City Council for New Conservatorium Building, being the ‘go-to’ person for design consultation, acoustics, operational logistics and much more.

James brings to the ORC a skill set that focuses on; attention to detail, reliability, creativity, consistence of quality, and strong organisations and planning skills.

Jenny McMillan | Administration & Finance Support Officer

Jenny grew up in Springwood before moving to Bilpin where she worked in Administration for a local family owned Bus and Coach company for many years. As an empty nester in 2017 she moved to Orange before taking a ‘gap year’ to do a lap of Australia. Upon her return she started at the Conservatorium in early 2019 as their Administration and Financial Support Officer.

Stephanie Li | | Innovation Officer, Head of Strings, Associate Conductor

Stephanie is an Australian cellist whose passion for music has led her all over the world. She graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with a Bachelor of Music Honours degree, and in 2019 she graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with a Master of Music. 

Experienced with historical and modern instruments and bows, Stephanie’s work covers a range of repertoire from early Renaissance repertoire to contemporary pop. From touring internationally with a session band to premiering new solo, chamber and orchestral works and recording tracks for films and video games, Stephanie continues to perform, compose and arrange music in a variety of settings and genres.  

Stephanie’s teaching philosophy centres around her belief that everyone is capable of learning music, and she fosters an individualised approach to learning with each student. Prior to her return to Australia, Stephanie taught at various schools in the Bay Area through the San Francisco Symphony Education program and was also on the cello faculty at the San Francisco Community Music Centre. Stephanie is particularly passionate about bringing music to those who may not have access to live performance, and she has performed in many schools, hospital wards and aged care homes. Her internship with the UK organisation “Music in Hospitals” led to a performance at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Manchester which was broadcast on BBC. 

Bridget Kerr | Development Manager

Bridget grew up in Orange and attended James Sheahan Catholic High School during which she gained a passion for all aspects of music and the arts. She attended the Orange Regional Conservatorium as a vocal student under the tutalage of Helen Barnett. Leaving school, Bridget persued a career in the arts and gained a Bachelor of Arts Management from the Western Australian Academy of Performing arts (WAAPA) and then completed a Post Graduate certificate in HR. During her career, she has been fortunate to work with organisations including Bell shakespeare, Musica Viva, Platform Youth, Opera Australia and the Sydney Opera House. Her most recent management position was at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

Bridget moved back to Orange in 2020 and has now settled back in the community where she is raising her two young kids with husband Jared. Bridget is enthusiastic about music education and making music fun and accessible for all.

Bridget is passionate about fostering growth and impact in the not-for-profit sector. As ORC’s Development Manager, she leads philanthropy, community engagement, and strategic partnerships, ensuring strong support for the Conservatorium. She drives fundraising, events, and marketing initiatives, building connections that amplify ORC’s mission. Dedicated to making music accessible to all, she works to secure a vibrant future for the ORC and its community.

Samantha Bartholomeusz | Head of Voice

Samantha is a passionate and experienced voice teacher with a strong academic and practical background. She holds a Bachelor of Science, Licentiate in Music (Voice), and Graduate Diploma in Music Studies (Vocal Pedagogy). Dedicated to continuous learning, she regularly engages in professional development in early childhood music, young voices, vocal technique, aging voices, and choral training. She also adjudicates at Eisteddfods, providing valuable feedback to aspiring singers.  

Samantha teaches students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, from beginners to those pursuing tertiary studies. Her teaching spans across all genres, with a particular focus on musical theatre and classical, and she prepares students for AMEB exams, HSC performances, Eisteddfods, auditions for Gondwana and tertiary institutions, and more. As a performer, she enjoys singing in various styles, with a special love for jazz.  

In lessons, Samantha creates a welcoming and supportive space where students can develop their own natural, free voice. She uses visual, aural, and kinaesthetic techniques to suit individual learning styles, helping students gain confidence, self-expression, and a deep connection to music. She also runs group classes for young and older singers and directs various choirs, fostering a strong sense of community.  

Beyond teaching, Samantha is deeply committed to nurturing a love of music in every student. Whether someone is singing for fun or pursuing a professional career, her goal is to inspire confidence and joy in every voice she teaches, helping each student discover their unique sound and a lifelong love of singing.

Victoria Chatterley | Head of Brass

Victoria Chatterley grew up in Western Australia, and after early adventures with the piano and ballet, discovered the horn at the age of 12. After studying with Darryl Poulsen at the WA Conservatorium, she moved to Sydney to pursue a career as a professional horn player. Victoria spent 22 years as a member of the horn section of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, having the opportunity to work with many great singers, conductors and fellow musicians. During this time, she also appeared as a guest with other orchestras including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony and Malaysian Philharmonic. Since moving to Orange in early 2017 with her family she has spent time working on other interests – gardening, permaculture and brewing beer among other things. She is continuing her playing, with regular appearances with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra as well as some more local projects. Victoria had a small teaching studio for many years in Sydney, and began teaching at the Orange Regional Conservatorium in 2018.

Laith Ismail | Head of Woodwind

Laith Ismail graduated with a Master in Fine Arts from Gnessin State Musical Pedagogical Institute, Moscow, where he qualified as a Concert Performer in Oboe, Music Teacher and Orchestra Conductor. He joined the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra and toured Iraq, Russia and Azerbaijan. In 1991-92, Laith conducted the Jordanian String Orchestra at the National Music Conservatory, Amman, Jordan, and performed in concerts as oboe soloist in numerous symphony and chamber concerts with the above orchestras and the Baghdad Chamber Music Group.

He has taught Theory, Aural, Music Appreciation, Flute and Recorder at the Music and Ballet School, Baghdad and Musicianship at National Music Conservatory, Amman.

 Since coming to Australia he has played oboe with Willoughby Symphony Orchestra (1993) and Balmain Sinfonia 1994-95 and is now a resident in Orange teaching and performing in many of the concerts undertaken by Orange Regional Conservatorium.