Our Teaching Team

All teachers are fully qualified and have extensive experience. The difference at the Inner West Music College is that all staff teach because they love it! Whether it's for pleasure or exams each teacher will design their lessons to suit each indiviaul learner and what they want to achieve.  

Piano

Brian Donnelly BMus, A.Mus.A

Brian completed a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the University of Sydney in 1988 and achieved the Associate Music Australia (A.Mus.A) piano in 1983.

Brian has previously worked as an accompanist with the Sydney Conservatorium Access Centre, MLC Burwood, Newington College, Roseville College and the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. Brian has also performed in five-star resorts including Hayman Island and Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas.

Brian has spent over 20 years teaching students of all levels. He enjoys introducing the piano to beginners right through to those who are preparing for AMEB exams and tertiary auditions. He is the principal Musicianship and Theory teacher at the Inner West Music College for students undertaking 6th and 7th grade written examinations. He is also a specialist in Classical music and prepares students for AMusA exams.

Singing

Prudence Holloway BMus, GradDipMus(Pedagogy)

Prudence has been performing since the age of 12 and trained in the fields of Acting, singing and dancing. 

She graduated in 2004 from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice followed by a Graduate Diploma in Pedagogy at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she studied teaching techniques for students of all ages and stages. She has taken workshops to extend her knowledge of vocal pedagogy, including Estill Voice Training.

Whilst pursuing her studies Prudence has worked professionally in both Melbourne and Sydney with The Production Company in “Bye Bye Birdie”, Lambert House Enterprises “Godspell” and a sell out season at Bar Me of her self directed one woman show “Lady in Waiting”.  Prudence is currently studying the Meisner Technique at the Actors Pulse.

Violin

Agnieszka Rypel-Polkas, BMus, MMus, BTeach

Agnes, as she is warmly known to all students, has been teaching the violin for over 20 years. She has prepared students for all levels of exams, auditions and competitions.  

Educated at the High School & High Conservatorium of Music in Poland, Agnes completed her first music degree, followed by a Masters Degree in Music at The Higher Pedagogical School, Poland.  

Agnes has performed with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House and is currently a member of the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra.  

Agnes teaches students from ages 7 years and above in all areas of violin performance studies and incorporates Theory, Musicianship and Aural into lessons. Creating a vibrant, positive learning environment, Agnes is adored by all students.

Piano

Carolyn Croker JP, BMus, GradDipEd, M.MTA

Carolyn completed a Bachelor of Music in 2001 followed by a Graduate Diploma in Education at the University of Newcastle. Her deep interest in music education led to further study, completing specialty training and accreditation in Orff Music Education and AMEB Music Craft and Musicianship/Theory.

Carolyn has performed in the Grand Hall of the Newcastle Conservatorium and the NSW Parliament House. She has also accompanied professional performers in many public concerts and competitions including the Australian Youth Choir in the Western Sydney District. She continues to accompany students in AMEB examinations at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Carolyn is a reputable member of the Ashfield community who regularly provides services as a Justice of the Peace.

Piano   

Giovanna Van Leeuwen   A.Dip.A, Dip. Music, BMus (Current)

Giovanna’s journey in music began during her teenage years. She always had a passion for playing the piano, and during her late twenties decided to make music her career.

In 2003 she completed the A.N.Z.C.A Series (Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts) which she graduated as an Associate Performer. Giovanna went on to graduate in 2005 with a Distinction for the Diploma of Music at the Wollongong Con.

She moved to Sydney the following year to pursue her music studies at the University of New South Wales, in the Bachelor of Music Performance degree. During which time she joined the jazz ensemble “The Con Artists” as pianist, Giovanna has recently returned from London where she worked as a freelance pianist, accompanist and teacher for Wave-Length Tuition as well as teaching private students in her own studio in Bayswater, London.

She is a highly esteemed accompanist who provides services for AMEB exams -  for instrumentalist and vocalists.

Guitar

Antonino Proia BMusic, MMus (Current)

Antonino (or Nino as he is well known to students) has being playing guitar since he was 5 years old. He graduated from the Australian Institute of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree specialising in Guitar Contemporary Performance and is currently studying towards a Master of Music degree.

Nino has been teaching classical, electric and bass guitar to students from beginner to advanced levels for over 15 years.

Nino has been involved in many projects ranging from album covers of original projects as well as various sessions here and overseas.

Nino believes that learning should be fun, and likes his students to leave their lesson with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Learn what YOU want to learn and at the same time take advantage of his experience and know-how to learn a lot faster, incorporating his fast track methods to get you up and playing in no time!

Flute & Piano  

Magdalena Czarnocka BMus, BMusEd, MMus

Magdalena in a professional teacher of Flute, Piano and Early Childhood Music.

In 2003 she graduated from the High School of Music, Warsaw, Poland with two degrees; a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Music Education. While teaching primary and secondary levels of flute and piano performance at the Cracow Music Centre in Poland and accompanying the Cantores Minores Choir she completed a Masters Degree of Music in flute.

Magdalena has taught the flute and piano extensively in Poland, England and Australia to students as young as 4 years old and from beginners to advanced diploma level.

Guitar

Oskar de Mari - Jones BMus, BMus(Hon)(Current)

After completing a Bachelor of Music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Oskar was selected to complete a Bachelor of Music (Honours). Oskar has enjoyed ongoing employment as a Guitar Tutor at Rose Bay Secondary College and currently at the Inner West Music College; allowing him to share his expertise in Classical acoustic guitar performance techniques with students of all ages and abilities.

Oskar has been the winner of the McDonalds Performing Arts Challenge,  Ensemble Section with the Sydney Guitar Quartet and was a finalist in the Musica Viva Chamber Music Competition with the Sydney Guitar Quartet. In 2005 Oskar was the winner of Sydney Region Music Festival Competition including a solo performance at the Sydney Opera House.

Trumpet  

Rainer Saville AMusA, BMus (Current)

Rainer was seen as a gifted musician from a young age and upon reaching high school was offered a place at the highly selective Sydney Conservatorium of Music High School. During his high school studies Rainer completed the AMusA Trumpet Performance Diploma with the Australian Music Examination Board and is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.  

Rainer has accompanied the Sydney Philharmonia Choir for the Verdi Requiem, worked with the Australian Chamber Orchestra with fundraising and is a currently a member of the Sydney Conservatorium Orchestra.

Rainer enjoys teaching beginners of all ages.

The Inner West Music Collegeis registered with the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation and  all teachers have been screened with the NSW government Child Protection Authority.