Teachers | Mae Collard School of Music

Mae Collard

Principal and Voice/Piano Tutor

Mae is the Principal of the Mae Collard School of Music. She is a skilled teacher of voice and piano and the lead vocalist of the Mae Collard Trio. Mae has extensive experience teaching both adults and children in private tuition settings and various schools, including the teaching of VCE Music (classroom and private voice tuition). She has facilitated many choirs throughout her career, as well as taken on the role of Musical Director for a number of productions.

Highly qualified, Mae holds a Bachelor of Music (Contemporary Jazz Voice - Monash University), Bachelor of Performance Arts (Monash University), Postgraduate Diploma of Teaching (Melbourne University), Estill Voice Training Certificate for Levels 1 and 2, has a current registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and a current Working with Children Check.

Stewart Garrett

Head of Piano, Piano, Guitar, Voice, Drums and Double Bass Tutor

Stewart Garrett is a highly accomplished musician that has worked with theatre groups and school groups as a Music Teacher, Education Support and Production Musical Director. A highlight of Stewart's career was training under Jonathon Welsh at the School of Hard Knocks.

Stewart is an experienced music teacher in education, specifically in Special Education focusing on levels prep to year 12 and early childhood years.

Alice Woodberry

Head of Voice, Voice Teacher and Piano Tutor

Alice is a qualified music, singing and choir teacher, a professional musician and a singer-songwriter.

She performs across many genres including in rock bands, jazz ensembles and contemporary/original music groups, as well as for musical theatre, classical and opera performances.

Alice completed her Bachelor Degree in Contemporary Jazz Voice (Monash University), Postgraduate Diploma of Teaching (Monash University), Estill Voice Training Certificate for Levels 1 and 2, has a current registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and a current Working with Children Check.

With extensive experience teaching in both private and in various school settings, she is skilled at working with a wide variety of ages and abilities.

Through her teaching, Alice strives to guide her students toward the sense of joy and success that can be achieved through music practice and performance.

Tahlia Makunde

Voice Teacher and Piano Tutor

Tahlia is a graduate of the Australian National University School of Music with a degree in vocal performance majoring in jazz/contemporary and is moving to Melbourne to study her honours year at the Melbourne Conservatory of Music. She has been performing around Canberra and interstate in choirs, bands, and as a soloist since the age of seven. Tahlia has completed her Grade 7 AMEB Classical Piano examination and is an experienced and specialised Piano Tutor and Pianist.

Tahlia has been teaching voice and piano since the commencement of her degree in 2014 and is passionate about theory games, and enabling her students to reach their full potential as musicians through a thorough understanding of their instrument.

Tegan Joiner

Piano and Voice Tutor, Children's Choir Director

Tegan has completed a Bachelor of Music Degree at Monash University, specialising in contemporary vocal and performance. An experienced performer and songwriter, Tegan developed a passion for music at a young age and enjoys exploring a diverse range of genres from music theatre and pop/rock to jazz. With a focus on Estill vocal training, vocal health and increasing students musical capabilities, Tegan has the capacity to support individuals through their musical journey and guide them through arising challenges. She strives to provide a fun and positive learning environment and assist students in achieving their desired goals. Tegan is a motivating and skilled teacher able to take her students to the next level by instilling optimal vocal technique, fundamental piano instruction, efficient practice regimes and developing performance confidence. Having a deep love for music and expression, Tegan looks forward to the opportunity to share her skills with new, evolving musicians.

Chris Mackenzie

Expert Guitar and Drum Tutor

Chris is the newest addition to the Mae Collard School of Music, and is now available as our expert guitar, bass and drum tutor. Chris is a graduate of the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts where he completed an Advanced Diploma of Contemporary Music. Chris has performed alongside touring acts from The Lumineers, Gang of Youths, The Delta Riggs, Stonefield, British India, Hanson, Newton Faulkner, Elli Schoen, Tash Sultana. He has worked with various award winning producers Joel Quartermaine, Charlie Young, Andy Lawson and
James Newhouse. Chris has a vast knowledge of various styles of music from Country to Jazz and is looking forward to inspiring the next generations of musicians through his teaching.

Susie Cloete

Piano, Voice & Guitar Tutor

Susie is a vocalist and songwriter undertaking a music degree in contemporary voice and performance at Monash University.

Susie has a diverse musical background as a multi-instrumentalist, performing in various bands, choirs and orchestras as a singer, guitarist and pianist. She is passionate about helping her students develop solid musicianship skills so they can thrive in both solo and group situations. Using activities from methods such as Kodaly and Solfege, Susie encourages ear training alongside note reading. Her lessons are always positive and engaging experiences for her students.

Susie has completed Estill Voice Training Levels 1 & 2 and uses this knowledge as the basis for her teaching of vocal technique. She strives to help her students sing safely, helping them expand their variety of vocal tones and dynamics.

Regardless of the instrument, whether it's guitar, voice or piano, Susie readily adapts to each student’s style of learning, to help them achieve their musical goals in a safe and encouraging environment.