Our Staff

Brett Allitt

Brett learnt piano at a young age then went on to learn classical guitar.
He attended Lismore Conservatorium of Music and Box Hill College of Music, where he studied Jazz and Improvisation and completed a Higher Diploma of Commercial Music.
Brett enjoys all styles of guitar including rock, blues, jazz, country and folk. he has been teaching at South West Music for nearly twenty years.

Brett currently teaches guitar.

Chris Bodey

Chris is a multi-instrumentalist who has been playing guitar in all of its many forms for more than 50 years.
Chris currently delivers classroom music programs in primary schools in the Southern Riverina, reaching as many as 400 students a week through the ukulele program.

Chris currently teaches guitar and strings.

Sophie Butcher

Sophie was 12 years old when she decided she wanted to be a singer.
Sophie completed Senior Music for her HSC and holds a Cert III in Early Childhood Education & Care.
Sophie has been teaching with South West Music for 4 years and enjoys sharing the positive impact of music with her students and seeing them reach their personal goals.

Sophie currently teaches singing.

Michael Ladson

Michael has been playing drums for over 25 years.
Throughout his drumming career, Michael has been fortunate to have played on stages from the Deni Ute Muster to the Sydney Opera House.
Michael joined the South West Music team in 2020.

Michael currently teaches drums.

George Maddison

George started playing the piano at the age of 6 and has managed to love and play music ever since.
He studied clarinet under AMEB Examiner Edward Oxley and went on to serving 10 years as a musician in the army band. During this service that he attended the Defence Force School of Music. He has been teaching music for 25 years and teaches principally Flute, Clarinet, and Saxophone and is a member of the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association.

George currently teaches woodwind.

Tomoko Niwa

Tomoko started playing piano at the age of four and by the age of 16 she successfully passed her Grade 8 piano exams with the Yamaha Music School in Japan.
Tomoko holds an Associate Degree in Preschool Education and recently sat for her AMEB Performance Certificate.
Tomoko started at South West Music in 2015. She enjoys classical piano and the fun and energy of playing the Electone.

Tomoko currently teaches piano.

Richard Sievers

Richard's professional life has included performing with companies such as Sadler’s Wells Ballet, Orchestra Victoria, Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, Brass Parts Brass Quintet and the Bolshoi Ballet, something he had dreamed about while in the Australian Boys Choir at the age of ten.
Prior to moving to Deniliquin in 1986 Richard taught at the Victorian Boys Choir and many private schools in Melbourne.

Richard currently teaches singing and brass.