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Enriching lives through
the gift of music
Our mission
To provide a fully funded and inspiring performance music programme to young New Zealanders with limited opportunity.
To foster diligence, nurture confidence, celebrate aspiration and achievement.
Together discovering the joy of music making with others.
Our music programme
We partner with ten primary and intermediate schools in Papatoetoe and Mt Wellington to deliver a challenging, rewarding and fun instrumental music programme to 550+ students in years 4-8. We provide a four year course of study for band instruments from Year 5 and five year course of study for strings from Year 4.
Band instruments are taught at Papatoetoe West, Puhinui and Papatoetoe North Schools and stringed instruments at Papatoetoe East, South and Central Schools. At Bailey Road School and Stanhope Road School in Mt Wellington the string programme is taught from Year 4 through Year 8. The band programme continues at Kedgley Intermediate, and both the band and string programmes continue for Years 7 and 8 at Papatoetoe Intermediate.
Students participate in weekly small group lessons and ensemble rehearsals delivered by skilled and enthusiastic professional instrumental tutors who maximise music learning and literacy.
Regular performance opportunities are provided throughout the year and students are further motivated through exposure to uplifting performances by professional musicians. At the conclusion of the multi-year programme, outstanding students receive scholarships to fully cover the costs of private instrumental tuition throughout their high-school years.
Our teachers
String Programme
Helen Brinkman
Helen Brinkman is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington having completed an honours degree in both baroque and modern cello performance. She continued her studies in baroque performance, completing a postgraduate diploma at the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague, The Netherlands where she studied with Jaap ter Linden. Helen co-founded NZ Barok with Graham McPhail in 2004. She has played continuo for and performed with many leading soloists, music ensembles and choirs within New Zealand and overseas including Andreas Scholl, Pepe Becker, Jayne Tankersley, Musica Sacra, Kowhai Baroque (Founder 2000-2003), Extempore, Bach Musica NZ, Piper's Sinfonia, Baroque Voices, Cantoris Choir & The Wellington Baroque Players. Alongside her performing career Helen is the Executive Producer of NZ Barok, cello tutor (Associate - IRMTNZ) for the Tironui Music Trust and Kelston Music Centre and is a Learning Support person at Whenuapai School.
Veronica Dale
Jennie Khan
Jennie began her music career growing up in Auckland. She was a regular member in the cello section of several youth orchestras and began performing professionally in musical theatre, string quartets and as a soloist during her final years at college. Travelling overseas, she continued performing in orchestras in England and France, developing her enthusiasm for a wide variety of musical styles and traditions. She spent time volunteering in a community music school in Costa Rica and an orphanage in Tanzania. There she had the opportunity to immerse herself in the culture and music, also gaining invaluable experience working with children from very different backgrounds and abilities. Having had many years teaching experience, she enjoys exploring different teaching styles and appreciates the importance of developing the personal and emotional side of the art form, as well as technique. Jennie performs regularly as a member of the Manukau Symphony Orchestra, on session recordings, as an occasional member of local indie bands, and within theatrical performances. She is passionate about teaching students of all ages, currently teaching in various schools as well as her private studio. Her approach encourages students to develop an enthusiasm for playing through multiple mediums, musical appreciation, interpretation and high technical standards.
Richard Pickard
Gill Ripley
Originally from the U.K., Gill was awarded a scholarship to study the violin at Manchester University and completed her Master’s Degree in performance at the Royal Northern College of Music. After graduating, Gill enjoyed a busy and varied career as a freelance violinist & teacher in the U.K. She has performed and recorded with the Hallé, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of English National Ballet and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, including many performances at the BBC Proms and tours throughout Europe and Japan. An interest in music and movement lead Gill to study Dalcroze Eurythmics, gaining a qualification in this innovative approach to experiencing and teaching music in 2018. Gill relocated to Auckland in 2019 with her husband and two small boys, where she has enjoyed freelancing with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra & teaching for the Tironui Music Trust in South Auckland. She has also worked as a mentor and ensemble coach at schools around Auckland for the APO Connecting programme.
Claudia Ruff
As well as being Programme Manager for the Tironui Music Trust, Claudia teaches violin within the programme. Her teaching experience ranges from individual and group violin lessons, Early Learning music workshops to numerous pre-concert presentations in schools around Auckland.
Robin Snape
Robin grew up in Auckland, studied at Otago and Auckland Universities, and pursued postgraduate study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where she worked and taught as a freelance cellist. Robin teaches the cello, and is a member of the Nikau String Quartet, a group with a passion for playing great music from classics by Bach to jazz. As cello teacher with the trio of string teachers including Lyn Insley and Loata Mahe, Robin has worked for TMT since 2008, and now teaches Year 5 and 6 students at Papatoetoe East Primary, and Year 7 and 8 students at Papatoetoe Intermediate.
Wendy Yang
Wendy was born in Taiwan and moved to New Zealand in 1995. She studied Bachelor of Science at the University of Otago and played for Southern Sinfonia while studying for her degree. After gaining her Bachelor of Science, she went on to pursue her Bachelor of Music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and won the Sydney Arts Performance Challenge in 2005. She moved back to Auckland in 2007 and gained her Master of Music in First Class Honours from the University of Auckland. Wendy has performed solo recitals in Auckland, Dunedin and Taiwan. She is also an active 1st violinist and a mentor at the Manukau Symphony Orchestra. Wendy has Level One Orff Schulwerk Certificate and enjoys teaching her students through singing and movements. She has been teaching violin and piano for over 15 years.
Band Programme
Katherine Clayton
Albert Lee
Albert Lee studied Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance in Piano/Drums) at the NZ School of Music in Wellington (Victoria University) and relocated to Auckland in 2017 to begin his full time teaching career. As a musician, he has had the privilege of winning many individual awards at national level as well as being selected to play with some of the top level bands in NZ during his high school and university years. His weekly students range from pre-school students to retirees which has allowed him to develop a great teaching skill set to successfully guide students of all types and abilities in their musical journey. As a teacher, Albert strives to give students a positive musical experience, one step at a time. With his teaching, the students will not only benefit from him in their learning of music, but they will also gain confidence, passion and pride in what they do.
Kathleen Mulligan
Tim Sutton
Tim Sutton was appointed bass trombonist of the Auckland Philharmonia in 1990 right after his completion of a Bachelor of Music degree from Victoria University of Wellington. After his appointment Tim went to study for his Master of Music at De Paul University (Chicago) in the studio of Mr. Charles Vernon and more recently received a study grant to study with Brandt Attema in the Netherlands and Stefan Schulz in Berlin. Tim has played at the Pacific Music Festival 1991 under Leonard Bernstein, the Music Academy of the West summer school in 1993 and the Asian Friendly festival concert with the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra. He is a founding member of 175 East (contemporary music ensemble) and BonaNZa New Zealand’s premier (and only?) trombone quartet. He has also performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the NZSO, the Wellington Orchestra and Auckland Chamber Orchestra. Tim takes an active role in Auckland’s musical culture having performed as soloist with the Auckland Wind Orchestra and Manukau Symphony and is regularly asked to run workshops/sectional rehearsals for many schools in the Auckland area and holds teaching positions at Liston College and with the Tironui Trust since 2016.
Mary-Kate Thomson
Mary-Kate graduated with her a Bachelor of Music degree in performance flute from The University of Auckland in 1987, where she studied with Amanda Hollis and Uwe Grodd. Also a registered nurse, her professional life sees her mixing nursing with her flute teaching and performing. She was actively involved with the Auckland Flute Society and since 2008 she has been busy working in Auckland schools as an itinerant flute teacher, and she regularly performs within St Matthews Chamber Orchestra. Regarding her philosophy on teaching and music in general, she writes: “Musical success and a life time of pleasure, as well as socially and spiritually up-lifting and rewarding activity, looks different for everyone. Young people need a plethora of exposure to the art. For their part, a young person needs to put in their own time practising plus many years of constantly turning up for, and being a part of, things that are bigger than themselves. In this way students develop the many valuable and transferrable skills that music playing demands – time management, concentration, interpersonal skills etc. Music ought never be an exclusive or divisive club – it’s for everyone to enjoy and participate in.”
Tavite Tonga
Tavite is currently studying at the University of Auckland towards a Bachelor of Music/Arts majoring in Classical Performance and Criminology. He is currently studying under Doug Cross, the Principal Trombone of the APO. He is an active member of the music community in Auckland. Currently he is a member of the Manukau Concert Band, Manukau Symphony, Auckland City Brass Band, and the Auckland Youth Orchestra. He is also a former student of Papatoetoe East and Papatoetoe Intermediate. This is currently his first year working for Tironui Music Trust and looks forward to giving back to the community that helped him grow as a musician as well as a person.
Hanna Wiskari
Hanna Wiskari Griffiths is a Swedish musician and educator, based in Aotearoa since 2016. She studied the saxophone at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg and graduated from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm with at Bachelor degree from the Folk Music Department. Hanna has 20 years of experience as a freelance musician with numerous bands and projects and extensive tours both in Scandinavia and abroad. Alongside her playing Hanna has always been a passionate educator, teaching both youth and adults. Since 2010 Hanna has worked as an Artistic leader for Ethno, an international organisation with the aim of to celebrate diversity and to learn music from musicians from all around the world. When Hanna moved to Aotearoa she decided to bring Ethno here as well and is now organising Ethno NZ together with a dedicated team. Both as a musician and a teacher Hanna is strongly driven by how music connects people, no matter age, experience and cultural background.
Our management
Claudia Ruff
Claudia started her role as Programme Manager in May 2021, bringing a deep love for music and music education as well as a wealth of experience in Arts Project Management. She studied Theatre, Media and Early Learning Music Education in Germany where she worked in the education and arts industry for many years as festival director and coordinator as well as music and theatre educator. She moved to New Zealand in 2011 to work for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra as Education Concert Producer, workshop presenter and manager of the orchestra’s partnership with schools programme. Her teaching experience ranges from individual and group violin lessons, Early Learning music workshops to numerous pre-concert presentations in schools around Auckland.
Albert Lee
Albert Lee studied Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance in Piano/Drums) at the NZ School of Music in Wellington (Victoria University) and relocated to Auckland in 2017 to begin his full time teaching career. As a musician, he has had the privilege of winning many individual awards at national level as well as being selected to play with some of the top level bands in NZ during his high school and university years. His weekly students range from pre-school students to retirees which has allowed him to develop a great teaching skill set to successfully guide students of all types and abilities in their musical journey. As a teacher, Albert strives to give students a positive musical experience, one step at a time. With his teaching, the students will not only benefit from him in their learning of music, but they will also gain confidence, passion and pride in what they do.
Our Board
Peter Hubscher
Peter Hubscher graduated from Massey University with a degree in Food Technology from where he entered the N.Z wine industry in Hawke's Bay. He joined Montana Wines in 1973 as the company's Chief Winemaker; there his role grew to that to that of Managing Director. In that position he was awarded national recognition as Marketer of the Year and Executive of the Year. Under his leadership Montana became the country's leading commercial sponsor of the arts This investment brought great benefit to the company and helped artistic groups throughout the country reach a wider audience. He has held governance positions at Board level with a range of commercial and artistic organisations. These include The Ports of Auckland, Auckland Regional Holdings, The N.Z School of Music, The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, The N.Z. String Quartet and the World of Wearable Arts. His family background in music, with his father being a foundation member of the NZSO and an itinerant string instrument teacher in Auckland, contributed to Peter's shared initiative with his wife.
Tom Hamill
Jonathan Tommy
Jonothan is a professional engineer with experience in the food industry as a project manager and general manager. He has also served as a member and chairman of Kelston Boys High School Board of Trustees.
Pam Hubscher
Pam’s vocation in life has been in providing educational opportunities for people with few advantages, whether as a primary school teacher, teacher of English for migrant and refugee women, parent and foster parent. It was in these roles that she came to see what a powerful effect music could have in nearly every aspect of learning, and how being involved in musical activities brought so much joy to the participants. The concept of a performance music programme for children who would not otherwise have this opportunity seemed to fill a need in many primary schools, as well as combine Peter and her own particular interests. Pam's own involvement in music is as a keen listener rather than a performer.
Barbara Glaser
Barbara has been the CEO of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra since April 2006. She holds a B Mus and B.A. from the University of Melbourne, majoring in music performance and art history. She has taught music and been involved with orchestras for all of her professional career beginning by heading the brass department at PLC Melbourne and simultaneously founding a chamber orchestra.
Murray Rutherford
A graduate of Victoria University (Commerce), Murray began is career as a Chartered Accountant. He has had roles in various financial advisory positions and most recently retired after 25 years with JBWere as a Private Wealth Advisor.
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