Lyn Williams exceptional skill in working with young people is recognised internationally for its artistic quality and ground breaking innovation. As Founder and Artistic Director of Gondwana Choirs, Lyn Williams OAM has created the critically acclaimed Sydney Children’s Choir and Gondwana Voices (Australia’s national children’s choir), as well as the Gondwana Chorale, Junior Gondwana, Gondwana Singers and the Gondwana National Indigenous Children’s Choir. In addition to her work with young people Lyn Williams is one of Australia’s foremost conductors and music directors for major events, most recently the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games opening and closing ceremonies.

www.gondwanachoirs.com.au

Dan Walker Aus

Dan Walker is quickly building a reputation as one of Australia's most promising young artists. Composer, arranger, performer and conductor, Dan Walker seems to have his fingers in various musical pies around Sydney.  He has had works commissioned and performed by such groups as The Boston-based Firebird Ensemble, The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Gondwana Voices, The Australian Voices, Sydney Chamber Choir, The Song Company and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. He is also currently assistant conductor of the acclaimed Sydney Children’s Choir and Gondwana Voices.

www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/walker-daniel

Returning to Festival of Voices in 2010,  Myron and Timberlyn Butler.  Myron is a  Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and performer and a leading USA Gospel star. Myron has worked in collaboration with modern gospel innovator Kirk Frankland for the past eleven years. Myron’s teaching will inspire you to sing with your heart and your soul. His wife Timberlyn is co-teacher and collaborator and a member of the Levi Gospel Choir. 

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=37101423

Austin Willacy has toured the U.S, Europe and Japan with The House Jacks, a groundbreaking all-vocal rock band. He’s appeared in Rolling Stone and has performed with Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, James Brown and rising stars like Jem, Rachael Yamagata & Amos Lee.  Austin has also toured extensively as a solo artist since 2005 while continuing his domestic and international touring with The House Jacks.

“His vocal prowess is a never-ending source of amazement.”    Buddy Saleman, President, APG Records (San Francisco, CA)

Simon Kenway is an acclaimed orchestral and operatic conductor working
across Australia and internationally, having recently conducted Hong
Kong Philharmonic and OzOpera's Madama Butterfly for Opera Australia.
Simon has held posts as Principal Chorus Master of Opera Australia,
Musical Director for Opera in the Vineyards and Chief Vocal Coach for
the Sydney Conservatorium Opera School.  (Photo credit John Elder)

www.artsmanagement.com.au

Tony Backhouse, BA, B.Mus, is one of the leaders in the Australasian a cappella movement. He founded Australia’s foremost a cappella gospel choir Cafe of the Gate of Salvation in 1986, and directed it for 21 years. He arranged and composed the bulk of their repertoire and still writes music regularly for them. He has directed and sung with reclusive male a cappella trio Heavenly Lights since 1996. In demand for his inspiring teaching style, Tony has run more than 2000 vocal workshops throughout the world for the public, for festivals, schools, universities, churches, organisations and corporate training events. He currently lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

www.tonybackhouse.com.au

Stephen Taberner is a singer, songwriter, double bass player, composer and choir leader based in Melbourne. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1961 Stephen claims much of his early musical damage was inflicted in church. He took up the double bass at 21 and played in local jazz bands leading to a personality crisis and move to Sydney to study at the Conservatorium of Music in 1989. Stephen continues to work with choirs, and is the notorious conductor of The Spooky Men’s Chorale and Another Roadside Attraction who have appeared twice on TV backing Paul McDermott and Mark Lizotte.

www.stephentaberner.com

Born in London England, to an Italian father and Anglo Burmese mother and  migrating to Australia in the early sixties, Kavisha is an ARIA Award winning musician and singer who crosses musical boundaries and create community experiences in her shows .She makes passionate, life-affirming music which is an energetic fusion of her own original music in which you can also hear echoes of Italian folk traditions tinged with Country, Celtic and Gypsy styles.

www.kavisha.com