Professional Development for Teachers
Two Essential Seminars for String and Orchestral Educators
Join us for two inspiring professional development sessions designed specifically for music educators and conductors working with school-aged ensembles. Whether you’re looking to refine your pedagogical approach across age groups or deepen your engagement with Australian repertoire, these practical, hands-on workshops offer valuable insights and strategies you can implement immediately in your own teaching context.
Registration & Pricing
Single Session
AUSTA NSW/ABODA NSW Member – $80 (Must show evidence of membership)
Non-AUSTA/ABODA NSW Member – $90
Both Sessions
AUSTA NSW/ABODA NSW Member – $140 (Must show evidence of membership)
Non-AUSTA/ABODA NSW Member – $160
When: Wednesday 14 & Thursday 15 January 2026
Time: 3:30–5:30pm
Location: Santa Sabina Library, Strathfield
Early Learners to Emerging Artists: Effective K–12 Approaches in an Educational Context
with Martyn Hentschel
How do we adapt our teaching strategies to meet students where they are, from beginner string players to advanced young musicians?
In this practical workshop, Martyn will guide participants through the developmental landscape of K-12 music education, sharing specific strategies and tools that have proven effective across different age groups and skill levels.
This session will explore:
- Understanding and working within your unique educational context
- Ages and stages of learning K-12: what works when, and why
- Practical strategies and tools for each level, drawn from Martyn’s work at Cranbrook School with discussion of wider applicability
- Hands-on demonstration and discussion
Participants are encouraged to bring their instrument to fully participate in the practical elements of this workshop.
Sounds of Home: Programming and Conducting Australian Music for Your Ensemble
with Dr Joanna Drimatis
Discover the rich landscape of Australian orchestral music and gain practical strategies for bringing these works to life with your ensemble.
Whether you’re programming Australian repertoire for the first time or looking to expand your knowledge of contemporary Australian composers, Dr Drimatis will share her expertise as one of Australia’s leading advocates for homegrown musical voices.
This session will cover:
- A brief overview of Australian orchestral music: key composers and works
- How to find Australian music suitable for your ensemble’s level
- Practical strategies for conducting and rehearsing new Australian orchestral works – whether world premieres or pieces new to you and your ensemble
- Programming considerations and building meaningful concert experiences
Participants are encouraged to bring their instrument to fully participate in the practical elements of this workshop.
MEET YOUR PRESENTERS
Dr Joanna Drimatis
Dr Joanna Drimatis is a highly respected conductor renowned as a champion of Australian music, contemporary classical music, and emerging musical voices. Recognised in the 2020 Art Music Awards with the Music Luminary Award for her advocacy, programming, and performance of Australian music, Dr Drimatis currently serves as Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Beecroft Orchestra. Her extensive conducting portfolio includes previous positions with Christchurch Youth Orchestra and Adelaide Youth Sinfonia, as well as guest conducting roles with The Cooperative, Australian Doctors’ Orchestra, Sydney Youth Orchestra, NSW Doctors Orchestra, and Mosman Symphony.
As a specialist in string pedagogy, she has taught across three countries and was formerly Head of Strings at MLC School in Sydney, now serving as Music Education Specialist for the Australian Music Centre. Dr Drimatis’ recent engagements showcase her versatility and continued innovation in the field. In 2025, she conducted the professional Opera Workshop premiere of “EMERGENC/y” by Felicity Wilcox, followed by her acclaimed work with the Orange Festival of Chamber Music’s Cultured Youth Orchestra, where critics praised her ability to balance “complexity with enthusiasm” and noted her “witty baton” as “a very welcome” addition to the chamber music festival programme.
As both a performer who has played professionally with orchestras including the Boulder Philharmonic, Christchurch Symphony, and Adelaide Symphony, and an educator who has presented at international conferences including the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Dr Drimatis continues to shape Australia’s classical music landscape through her multifaceted career.
Martyn Hentschel
Martyn Hentschel is Head of Strings at Cranbrook School, a position he has held since 2017, where he has built a comprehensive string program across all year levels. With a deep commitment to transforming students’ lives through high-quality music education, Martyn brings both pedagogical expertise and professional performance experience to his teaching. Prior to his role at Cranbrook, he served as Acting Head of Strings at Sydney Grammar School and worked as a professional violinist with Opera Australia for nearly nine years.
Currently serving as an NSW Committee Member of AUSTA (The Australian Strings Association), Martyn is actively engaged in the broader music education community. He holds a Master of Secondary Teaching from the University of New England, where he was recognised as Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar in 2023, as well as a Master of Music and Graduate Diploma (Performance) from the Australian Institute of Music. Martyn’s teaching philosophy centres on crafting carefully sequenced developmental pathways for students while fostering rigour, focus, and disciplined music-making through ensemble playing. His approach emphasises music’s power to promote both cultural cohesion and essential 21st-century individual skills
