Kailee Marshall – President

Kailee currently works at Bannister Creek Primary School teaching Music to students from Kindy to Year 6. She has been involved with WAOSA since 2012 and has held various positions within the association. Her current roles are as Vice President and Levels Coordinator. Kailee has completed her Level 4 training and been lucky enough to attend various Orff conferences and workshops around Australia and overseas. When not at work Kailee enjoys playing sax in the Leeming Area Concert Band, singing with Consort Cantare and walking to her local cafe with her partner.

Eboney Yapp – Vice President

Eboney has been the Coordinator of Preparatory School Music at Christ Church Grammar School, Western Australia since 2018. Prior to this, she was the Junior School Music Teacher at All Saints’ College for 4 years. Eboney holds a Bachelor of Music Education (First Class Honours) from the University of Western Australia. She is also a member of Consort Cantare, a female vocal group comprising of six music teachers.

Eboney has been the Vice President of the West Australia Orff Schulwerk Association since 2022. She has also held the positions of President, Student Representative, Book Sales Officer, Orff-West Editor and Secretary and presents at local Orff workshops. She first discovered Orff-Schulwerk in 2012 through the University of Western Australia and has completed Levels 1,2 and 3 in Western Australia and Level 4 in Victoria. Eboney has also completed Primary Level 1 and 2 of the Australian Kodály Certificate.

Amelia Verlato – Secretary

Amelia is a Music Specialist who graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education (Hons) from the University of Adelaide. She has worked in International Schools in Nanjing, Doha and Turin, where she taught Early Childhood and Primary Music and she currently teaches full time at All Saints’ College. Amelia was first introduced to the Orff Schulwerk approach at university and has never looked back!

Michelle Beins – Treasurer

Michelle is a Music Specialist who graduated from UWA with a Bachelor of Music Education in 2013. She is currently teaching classroom music and directing numerous ensembles at The Quintilian School in Mount Claremont. Michelle was first introduced to Orff Schulwerk at a workshop presented by WAOSA during her university studies and could see the value in exploring this approach further. Since then, she has completed two ANCOS Levels courses and joined the WAOSA committee in 2014. Michelle enjoys using Orff Schulwerk to immerse her students in music learning and to develop a life-long connection to music.

Lauryn Stanlake – Memberships

Lauryn currently works at Bicton Primary School teaching Music to students from Kindergarten to Year 6. She grew up in Zimbabwe and learnt piano and trumpet, completing both practical and theory exams through ABRSM. Lauryn studied at the University of Western Australia and then at Edith Cowan University earning the Australian Educators Prize for Excellence in Teacher Education. Lauryn has been involved with WAOSA since completing her Level 1 in 2021 and has never looked back. Orff Schulwerk has completely changed her outlook on music education. Lauryn’s main goal is to foster a lifelong love and appreciation of music in her students. She is a wife and a mum to two beautiful young boys and enjoys cycling, camping and playing ukulele in her spare time.

Natalie Tran – Publicity Officer

Natalie has been a Music Specialist since 2012. After graduating with a Double Degree in Education and Music (Jazz Saxophone & Contemporary Vocals) from ECU/WAAPA, she worked at Swan Valley Anglican Community School, Canning Vale Primary School and now holds a full time position at Rossmoyne Primary School. Natalie’s first encounter with Orff Schulwerk was at the Voices of the Swan Conference in 2012 and soon after joined the WAOSA Committee. She has completed three ANCOS Level Courses and has also completed the three Levels of the Australian Kodály Primary Certificate. Natalie finds immense joy in singing, saying, dancing and playing the Orff way and sharing her love music to her students in all the ways she knows how.

Ash Bisdee – OrffWest Editor

Ash is a full-time music specialist at Aubin Grove Primary School. She has been teaching for 18 years and is especially passionate about teaching music to children of all ages. She has completed the Orff Sculwerk Level 1 & 2 Courses with WAOSA and loves the hands-on, fun approach that Orff offers to music education. Ash is looking forward to completing levels 3 & 4 soon. Ash believes that music speaks to the soul and is a wonderful way for children to express themselves.

Music brings everyone together!

Amanda Johnston – Levels Co-ordinator

Amanda currently teaches Music at Treeby and Mundijong Primary Schools, working with students from Kindy to Year Six. Amanda began teaching after returning from several years living overseas, where she was involved in a number of Arts projects, including show choirs and youth musical theatre. She was introduced to Orff-Schulwerk in 2019 after completing Level One, and joined the WAOSA Committee in 2021. When not teaching, Amanda is the founder and conductor of Tone Deft, a women’s choir specialising in pop and musical theatre.

Andy Stewart – General Member

Andy moved to Perth, from Zimbabwe, in 2008 and was introduced to the world of Orff at a one-day PD. Before she knew it, she was on the WAOSA committee as the Orff West Editor and later held the Executive role of WAOSA President and the WAOSA Secretary. Andy has completed her Orff Level’s and had the joy of completing David Spurgeon’s Dance course in Sydney.   Andy has a particular interest in Dance and Creative Movement, and she has presented on this subject at many WAOSA workshops. Andy is currently the Junior School Music Co-ordinator at Iona Presentation College.  She is the wife of an Engineer and mum to two high school children, one of whom is a budding musician and artist and the other a rising triathlete.

Gavin Poole – General Member

Gavin has taught music for 22 years now across the Catholic and Public systems. Currently employed at Willetton Primary School as the full time Music specialist, he works with students from year 1 through to year 6. Having grown up being involved in Music from learning the trumpet, playing in community bands, leading community bands as well as being a DJ and providing music for many people across Perth, its easy to see that Gavin lives and breathes music. Gavin is looking to expand on his knowledge and understanding of Orff Schulwerk by completing his levels in the coming years and further incorporate it into his teaching and especially with the use of drumming (djembe). Music is a universal language which we all relate to and speak in one way or another.

Tanya Harte – General Member

Tanya currently works as the music specialist at West Busselton primary school teaching all students from Pre-Primary to Year 6.  She graduated from WA Academy of Performing with a Diploma of Performing Arts in Classical Music in 1997.  Tanya worked as an instrumental teacher for 15 years in the private school sector.  She then went on to further her education and graduated with a Bachelor of Primary Education specializing in Music in 2021.  She completed the first ANCOS Levels Course in 2021 along with Level 1 Kodaly.  Tanya believes in using a mixture of Orff and Kodaly in her classroom to give her students a balanced approach to music education.

Elizabeth Campbell – General Member

Elizabeth has taught music full time at Winthrop Primary School for many years and loves it there as the students, staff and parents are very appreciative of the arts. The school has two concert bands, a string ensemble and a choir. Elizabeth has completed all four ANCOS levels of Orff training and enjoys the open-ended nature of the Orff approach.