Meet our Teachers
Loretta Walker
Education Coordinator
Christian Ruiz
Guitar & Multi-instrumentalist
Michael Ladson
Drums
Georgia Taylor
Drums
Nikita Brook
Vocal
David Bathgate
Guitar & Trumpet
Martyn Cook
K-6 Curriculum
Ashlee Woodgate
Vocal - Virtual
Marian Kwon
Violin - Virtual
Michael Bakrnčev
Composition
Biographies
Loretta Walker
Education Coordinator
Loretta’s love for music was nurtured from a young age within her musical family. She began learning the violin at just eight years old through the Conservatorium, sparking a lifelong passion for music. Her musical journey led her to perform as a fiddle player in a local Australian folk band, where she deepened her love for traditional music.
With a Bachelor of Education in Primary Teaching and over 15 years of classroom experience, Loretta brings a wealth of educational expertise to her role as our Education Coordinator, focusing on supporting our teaching staff in curriculum delivery and program development.
Loretta plays a key role in writing programs, developing lesson plans, overseeing student reporting, and ensuring high-quality teaching and learning across our K–6 programs. Her priority is to support students, teachers, and school communities throughout each term—ensuring meaningful, consistent, and curriculum-aligned music education for all.
Christian Ruiz
Guitar / Bass Guitar / Double Bass / Flute / Clarinet / Saxophone / Ukulele / Piano / Recorder / Composition & Arranging / Music Production / Group Programs (Music Explorers, Ukulele Club, Creative Soundscapes) & Curriculum K-6
Christian is a passionate and professional musician with years of experience as both a performer and educator. A talented multi-instrumentalist, he teaches guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, recorder, flute, and beginner piano, and is also proficient in clarinet and saxophone.
Christian brings a rich background in composition, improvisation, and music production to his teaching, alongside a strong commitment to student engagement and creativity.
His performance experience includes notable projects such as The Guitar Orchestra Cristian Zarb, where he served as concertino, arranger, and composer, as well as appearances in events like Flutes of the World Festival – Mendoza, Argentina, and El Conservatorio en el Virla, featuring chamber music ensembles and flute-guitar duets. As a bass player, he has collaborated with a variety of artists in both live performances and studio recordings.
In 2025, Christian performed his first international recital at South West Music Regional Conservatorium in Deniliquin, NSW, to a full house—with his wife Luciana joining as guest vocalist.
With over a decade of teaching experience, Christian has worked across private tuition, small group settings, and classroom environments. He has taught students from Kindergarten through to secondary school, with a particular focus on regional and community-based music education.
Michael Ladson
Drums
Michael Ladson is a professional drummer with nearly 30 years of experience and a prominent figure in the Deniliquin community. He studied Jazz Performance and Composition, which influenced his career and appreciation of many genres of music.
For over 20 years, Michael has dedicated himself to teaching drums, and mentoring students, many of whom have gone on to become professional musicians, including ARIA award winners. Michael is passionate about exploring diverse musical styles and ensuring good technique on the drum set. His performance career spans Victoria and NSW, including festivals, clubs, and the Sydney Opera House.
Beyond his drumming expertise, Michael often serves as a sound engineer for community events in Deniliquin, showcasing his dedication to local arts and culture. Michael's approach to teaching focuses on fostering a deep appreciation for music and developing a strong technical foundation in his students. His commitment to excellence and his ability to inspire make him a valuable addition to South West Music Regional Conservatorium for aspiring drummers.
Georgia Taylor
Drums
Georgia Taylor began learning drums at the South West Music Regional Conservatorium at the age of 12 and has since developed into a versatile and dynamic performer. She is a founding member of the band Anagram Riot, who have performed at the Deni Ute Muster and competed in Battle of the Bands at Play on the Plains.
Since joining the teaching team at the Conservatorium in 2023, Georgia has brought her enthusiasm and diverse musical taste into the classroom. She enjoys playing and teaching a wide range of styles and regularly performs with bands across regional Victoria and New South Wales.
Georgia is passionate about inspiring the next generation of drummers and creating engaging, practical learning experiences for her students.
Nikita Brook
Singing, Early Childhood (Mini Musicians), Musical Theatre, Glee Club! & K-6 Curriculum (Registered Classroom Teacher)
Nikita Brook began her musical journey in primary school, learning guitar before adding vocal training and completing 5th Grade AMEB exams during high school. She studied HSC Music with a focus on performance and musical theatre, laying the foundation for a vibrant and diverse music career.
Nikita went on to study Primary Education at the University of Sydney, where she also performed with the Sydney University Musical Society choir. Since graduating in 2013, she has worked across government and Catholic schools as a mainstream classroom teacher, special needs educator, and specialist music and drama teacher.
With a strong background in both education and performance, Nikita has led school and church choirs, coordinated extracurricular arts programs, and now teaches singing, musical theatre, Mini Musicians, Glee Club, and K–6 curriculum programs. She currently leads Mini Musicians classes in Deniliquin, Finley and Barooga, bringing energy, creativity, and care to her work with young learners.
David Bathgate
Guitar, Bass Guitar, Jazz Improvisation & Rock Band Coaching, Trumpet, Low Brass (Including Beginner Trombone) & Ukulele Club
David Bathgate is a versatile and experienced musician, working across performance and instrumental teaching for over 20 years. He brings a deep passion for a wide range of musical styles and is particularly drawn to improvised music, including jazz, rock, and country. David is committed to helping students develop a practical understanding of the skills and techniques required to play expressively and confidently across genres.
A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, David has performed on ABC Radio, recorded theme music for the Big Bash cricket league, entertained for the Geelong Football Club, and toured nationally with a band from Australian Idol. He regularly performs as a solo guitarist, but his greatest joy lies in making music with others.
David is dedicated to sharing his love of music and supporting students in discovering their own musical voice—whether through individual lessons, jazz improvisation, or coaching rock bands.
Martyn Cook
K-6 Curriculum
Martyn Cook is a full-time musician with over 20 years of professional experience on the Celtic Harp, along with expertise in clarinet, flute, saxophone, and trumpet. He has performed widely across genres, including with Jazz Daiquiri and The Kate Woolfe Trio.
From 1983 to 2000, Martyn served as a musician in the Band of the French Foreign Legion, performing on clarinet, flute, piccolo, and euphonium across multiple international postings. Prior to his military service, he played electric bass with a ten-piece dance band and frequently sat in with jazz groups in southern England.
Martyn holds performance and theory qualifications in clarinet and has also worked with the Lithgow Music Therapy Team at Mitchell Conservatorium of Music. At South West Music, Martyn currently teaches music to students in K–6, bringing his depth of musical knowledge and warm teaching style to support young learners.
Ashlee Woodgate
Vocal
Ashlee Woodgate is a classically trained soprano with extensive performance and teaching experience across Australia and internationally. She holds a Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, a Bachelor of Music (Distinction) from the Newcastle Conservatorium, and is currently completing a Master of Music (Performance Teaching) at the University of Melbourne.
Ashlee teaches voice exclusively online for South West Music, offering high-quality, flexible lessons for students of all ages and skill levels. With a strong foundation in opera and stage performance—including appearances at Carnegie Hall and roles with Opera Hunter, Central Coast Opera, and Opera Australia—Ashlee brings a wealth of vocal knowledge and dramatic insight to her teaching.
Her approach blends classical technique with performance psychology and acting methods, helping students develop expressive, confident, and technically sound voices.
Marian Kwon
Violin
Marian Kwon is a dedicated violinist currently completing her Master of Music Studies (Performance) with Dr. Goetz Richter. She began playing at age ten and has since participated in masterclasses with internationally acclaimed artists including Yun-Jin Cho, Andrea Gajic, Thomas Carroll, and the Vision String Quartet.
Marian has also studied in Germany with Gregor Sigl (Artemis Quartet) and Wayne Foster-Smith, supported by the George Henderson Scholarship. In addition to her solo and chamber pursuits, she performs regularly with leading ensembles such as Ensemble Apex and the Sydney Concert Orchestra.
Marian is passionate about sharing her love of classical music with students of all ages and levels, helping them grow in both technique and musical expression.
Michael Bakrnčev
Composition
Multi-award-winning composer Michael Bakrnčev (pronounced bah-KARN-chev) is one of Australia’s most highly-driven and successful young professionals in that field.
Within a decade of composing, his music had already been performed in Australia, Western and Eastern Europe including Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland, Serbia, Macedonia, Belarus, Spain and Ukraine, and in the USA and Canada.
Performers have included the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, the Macedonian Philharmonic, the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra, the Australian Youth Orchestra, the Queensland Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Metropolitan Sinfonietta, the Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra, and some of Australia’s best community orchestras, as well as prominent ensembles, chamber groups and soloists.
Michael’s many awards include the Music Teachers’ Association of Queensland (MTAQ) Composition Competition (2011), the June Fox Patron Award (2011), selection from a short-list for the Vox Novus Fifteen Minutes of Fame (New York City, 2011), the Adolph Spivakovsky Scholarship for the Composition of Music (2011), the A G Francis Prize for Composition (2012), the Alan Lane Award for Composition (2012), the Silver Harris and Jeff Peck Award (Composition) (2012), and the Chamber Music Australia: New Works Award (2015).
His academic qualifications in composition include a Bachelor of Music (Honours 1st Class), Queensland Conservatorium of Music – Griffith University, and a Master of Music (Honours 1st Class), Melbourne Conservatorium of Music – University of Melbourne. Michael is a member of the Australian Music Centre, the national organisation through which he is promoted and his music is made available internationally.