Meet the Team
With our main Studio based in Sydney's Inner West suburb of Five Dock, the students of Sydney Guitar School travel from all over Sydney to make the most out of the best quality of teaching on offer. We also offer tuition in Kirribilli, in North Sydney and in the Sydney Central Business District.
Our teachers have a wealth of knowledge and experience on guitar and are Conservatorium trained and educated. With both teaching and International performing careers, you know you are in great hands.
We are committed to our students, assisting them with preparation for A.M.E.B exams, eisteddfods and tertiary auditions. Lessons are conducted in a friendly, warm environment, where students can feel comfortable and inspired about learning to play.
Giuseppe Zangari ensures that the training that each and every student receives is comprehensive, tailored to the student’s needs, and moreover, enjoyable.
If you or your child is in need of a guitar instructor, lessons are available 7 days a week.
Our teachers have a wealth of knowledge and experience on guitar and are Conservatorium trained and educated. With both teaching and International performing careers, you know you are in great hands.
We are committed to our students, assisting them with preparation for A.M.E.B exams, eisteddfods and tertiary auditions. Lessons are conducted in a friendly, warm environment, where students can feel comfortable and inspired about learning to play.
Giuseppe Zangari ensures that the training that each and every student receives is comprehensive, tailored to the student’s needs, and moreover, enjoyable.
If you or your child is in need of a guitar instructor, lessons are available 7 days a week.
SGS GUITAR-TEACHING TEAM
GIUSEPPE ZANGARI PRINCIPAL, SYDNEY GUITAR SCHOOL
Master and Bachelor of Music, Sydney University
Giuseppe Zangari
Principal Sydney Guitar School
Born in Sydney, Giuseppe received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying under Gregory Pikler. He was awarded an Australia Council Grant and a scholarship from the Italian Government which saw him head abroad to Milan in 2006. There Giuseppe undertook further studies with Duo Maccari-Pugliese at the Accademia Internazionale della Musica, and Paolo Cherici at the Conservatorio di Musica "Giuseppe Verdi".
Since 2003, Giuseppe has been a teacher and lecturer at the Newcastle Conservatorium, University of Newcastle, and more recently has taught at the Sydney Conservatorium, University of Sydney and at the School of the Arts and Media, University of New South Wales. His duties have also included direction and tutoring of guitar ensembles in the chamber music program. At the Newcastle Conservatorium Giuseppe assisted in the development of a new guitar syllabus with colleagues. In addition to Giuseppe’s University teaching activities, he is also a guitar examiner for the Australian Music Examinations Board (A.M.E.B.).
Giuseppe has a deep interest in the research and performance of the nineteenth century Italian composer, Mauro Giuliani. Giuseppe’s research specifically looks at instrumental music created from popular operas of the nineteenth century. Giuseppe also has an interest in the advancement and development of contemporary Australian compositions. He has performed in premieres of solo and chamber works by Australian composers including Rosalind Carlson, Andrew Chubb, Nigel Butterley, Stephen Lalor and Jim Chapman.
As a soloist and chamber musician, Giuseppe has given live broadcasts for ABC Classic FM through the 'Young Australia Series' and ‘Sunday Live’, 2MBS FM and 2NUR FM. He has also performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician at a variety of festivals and concerts throughout Australia. His concert tours have included New Caledonia with celebrated Australian pianist Simon Tedeschi, an Australian concert tour with noted French guitarist Rafael Andia in the Alhambra Guitar Quartet and this year, a concert tour of Sweden with flautist Sally Walker and the Haga Duo (Sweden). Giuseppe’s recent chamber collaborations include, renowned flautist Jane Rutter, baritone Jose Carbo, violinist Victoria Jacono-Gilmovich, mezzo-soprano Jenny Duck-Chong, and conductor Christopher Bearman.
Recent ensembles/orchestras that Giuseppe has worked with include the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Nova, Central Coast Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Classical Guitar Society Orchestra, Concertante Ensemble, Christ Church Camerata, Halcyon Ensemble and the vocal quartet Waxing Lyrical. Giuseppe has a keen interest in developing young guitarists to realise their full potential through comprehensive instruction in a fun and enthusiastic learning environment.
Since 2003, Giuseppe has been a teacher and lecturer at the Newcastle Conservatorium, University of Newcastle, and more recently has taught at the Sydney Conservatorium, University of Sydney and at the School of the Arts and Media, University of New South Wales. His duties have also included direction and tutoring of guitar ensembles in the chamber music program. At the Newcastle Conservatorium Giuseppe assisted in the development of a new guitar syllabus with colleagues. In addition to Giuseppe’s University teaching activities, he is also a guitar examiner for the Australian Music Examinations Board (A.M.E.B.).
Giuseppe has a deep interest in the research and performance of the nineteenth century Italian composer, Mauro Giuliani. Giuseppe’s research specifically looks at instrumental music created from popular operas of the nineteenth century. Giuseppe also has an interest in the advancement and development of contemporary Australian compositions. He has performed in premieres of solo and chamber works by Australian composers including Rosalind Carlson, Andrew Chubb, Nigel Butterley, Stephen Lalor and Jim Chapman.
As a soloist and chamber musician, Giuseppe has given live broadcasts for ABC Classic FM through the 'Young Australia Series' and ‘Sunday Live’, 2MBS FM and 2NUR FM. He has also performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician at a variety of festivals and concerts throughout Australia. His concert tours have included New Caledonia with celebrated Australian pianist Simon Tedeschi, an Australian concert tour with noted French guitarist Rafael Andia in the Alhambra Guitar Quartet and this year, a concert tour of Sweden with flautist Sally Walker and the Haga Duo (Sweden). Giuseppe’s recent chamber collaborations include, renowned flautist Jane Rutter, baritone Jose Carbo, violinist Victoria Jacono-Gilmovich, mezzo-soprano Jenny Duck-Chong, and conductor Christopher Bearman.
Recent ensembles/orchestras that Giuseppe has worked with include the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Nova, Central Coast Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Classical Guitar Society Orchestra, Concertante Ensemble, Christ Church Camerata, Halcyon Ensemble and the vocal quartet Waxing Lyrical. Giuseppe has a keen interest in developing young guitarists to realise their full potential through comprehensive instruction in a fun and enthusiastic learning environment.
JOSEPH LITTLEFIELD
Bachelor of Music, Sydney University
Joseph Littlefield
Contemporary, Classical, Bass Guitar
Joseph received his Bachelor of Music with first class honours in 2007, under scholarship from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Joseph has been teaching guitar for over ten years at some of Sydney's most exclusive schools. He enjoys teaching a diversity in styles on nylon-string, acoustic, electric and bass guitars.
Joseph is an active solo performer. Apart from putting on concerts in Sydney, 2015 saw Joseph performed his transcriptions of works by György Ligeti across the U.S. and Europe. He has recently recorded these works and they will be available for commercial release in the near future. He has also performed with Sydney’s top contemporary classical groups including Ensemble Offspring, Halcyon and the Sydney Chamber Opera Company.
He is currently preparing to play a program with the Australian Opera and Balet Orchestra in April 2016. He has performed and recorded with baroque music ensembles and personalities such as Salut Baroque and recordist Alicia Crossley. He also plays with a variety of jazz and African music groups.
Joseph's teachers and mentors have included some of Australia’s leading guitar teachers Gregory Pikler, Phillip Houghton and Jane McClennan. Joseph has worked with some of the world’s best guitarists in Europe at festivals, summer schools and master classes with renowned performers such as Paul Galbraith, Pavel Stiedl, Dennis Azabagic, Miles Okazaki, Dusan Bogdanovic and Carlos Bonell.
Joseph has won various competitions including the Sydeny Eisteddfod, the B’nai Brith Eisteddfod, the Inner West Performing Arts Challenge and was finalist at the 2012 Adelaide International guitar competition.
Joseph has been teaching guitar for over ten years at some of Sydney's most exclusive schools. He enjoys teaching a diversity in styles on nylon-string, acoustic, electric and bass guitars.
Joseph is an active solo performer. Apart from putting on concerts in Sydney, 2015 saw Joseph performed his transcriptions of works by György Ligeti across the U.S. and Europe. He has recently recorded these works and they will be available for commercial release in the near future. He has also performed with Sydney’s top contemporary classical groups including Ensemble Offspring, Halcyon and the Sydney Chamber Opera Company.
He is currently preparing to play a program with the Australian Opera and Balet Orchestra in April 2016. He has performed and recorded with baroque music ensembles and personalities such as Salut Baroque and recordist Alicia Crossley. He also plays with a variety of jazz and African music groups.
Joseph's teachers and mentors have included some of Australia’s leading guitar teachers Gregory Pikler, Phillip Houghton and Jane McClennan. Joseph has worked with some of the world’s best guitarists in Europe at festivals, summer schools and master classes with renowned performers such as Paul Galbraith, Pavel Stiedl, Dennis Azabagic, Miles Okazaki, Dusan Bogdanovic and Carlos Bonell.
Joseph has won various competitions including the Sydeny Eisteddfod, the B’nai Brith Eisteddfod, the Inner West Performing Arts Challenge and was finalist at the 2012 Adelaide International guitar competition.
BILJANA MITROVIC
Bachelor of Music, Sydney University
Biljana Mitrovic completed high school Kosta Manojlovic in Belgrade, Serbia and in 2003 received her Bachelor of Music from the Sydney Conservatorium, majoring in guitar performance.
Biljana has years of guitar teaching experience at various Sydney schools, including the Sydney Conservatorium Open Academy, St Andrew's School and for the past ten years has been teaching at Shore School, North Sydney and Cranbrook School.
Biljana has years of guitar teaching experience at various Sydney schools, including the Sydney Conservatorium Open Academy, St Andrew's School and for the past ten years has been teaching at Shore School, North Sydney and Cranbrook School.
OSKAR DE MARI-JONES
Bachelor of Music (Hons), Sydney University
Oskar de Mari-Jones. Lute, Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Music Theory
Born in 1987, Oskar de Mari-Jones has had an eclectic and multi-faceted musical education. His first guitar lessons were with his father at the age of five; aged 10 he took up the trombone and at sixteen, he returned to the guitar to seriously study the instrument, in particular the classical repertoire, studying privately with Giuseppe Zangari.
In 2006, Oskar received an Entry Scholarship to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he studied guitar with Greg Pikler and Phillip Houghton, internationally renowned guitarist-composer and educator. During his studies, Oskar received various scholarships, including the McCaw-Baiton scholarship, the Mary Little Memorial and prizes for high academic results. During this time, Oskar was a core member of the Sydney Guitar Quartet, which recorded the music of Phillip Houghton for a documentary film and won prizes in various ensemble competitions.
In 2008, Oskar also pursued studies of the Baroque Lute and historical plucked instruments with AustraliaÕs leading lute-specialists, Tommie Andersson and Andrew Byrne and attended master classes and private lessons with Hopkinson Smith, Ben Verdery and Ricardo Gallen. On completing his studies, Oskar's Conservatorium of Music Honours Recital and Thesis were awarded a Sydney University Academic Merit Award.
Oskar has performed throughout Sydney, making his Opera-House solo debut in 2005 at the age of 17 for the Sydney Region Music Festival. In 2008 he recorded a program of Lute music for the soundtrack of Serenity, a Music-Therapy DVD. In 2010 he broadcast a solo recital for 2mbs as part of their Young Performer Award, for which he competed as a finalist later that year.
Recently, Oskar has expanded his practice into composition, improvisation and jazz, developing a concept for teaching others to hear and improvise more fluently. Oskar is an Ars Musica Australis Fellowship-holder.
In 2006, Oskar received an Entry Scholarship to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he studied guitar with Greg Pikler and Phillip Houghton, internationally renowned guitarist-composer and educator. During his studies, Oskar received various scholarships, including the McCaw-Baiton scholarship, the Mary Little Memorial and prizes for high academic results. During this time, Oskar was a core member of the Sydney Guitar Quartet, which recorded the music of Phillip Houghton for a documentary film and won prizes in various ensemble competitions.
In 2008, Oskar also pursued studies of the Baroque Lute and historical plucked instruments with AustraliaÕs leading lute-specialists, Tommie Andersson and Andrew Byrne and attended master classes and private lessons with Hopkinson Smith, Ben Verdery and Ricardo Gallen. On completing his studies, Oskar's Conservatorium of Music Honours Recital and Thesis were awarded a Sydney University Academic Merit Award.
Oskar has performed throughout Sydney, making his Opera-House solo debut in 2005 at the age of 17 for the Sydney Region Music Festival. In 2008 he recorded a program of Lute music for the soundtrack of Serenity, a Music-Therapy DVD. In 2010 he broadcast a solo recital for 2mbs as part of their Young Performer Award, for which he competed as a finalist later that year.
Recently, Oskar has expanded his practice into composition, improvisation and jazz, developing a concept for teaching others to hear and improvise more fluently. Oskar is an Ars Musica Australis Fellowship-holder.
JEFFREY CHEAH
Jeffrey Cheah is an Australian guitarist and prize-winner/finalist in over 14 international competitions including 2nd place at the Melbourne International Guitar Competition, 3rd place at the Singapore International Guitar Competition and 4th place at the Asia International Guitar Competition.
Since graduating summa cum laude from the Australian National University under the tutelage of Timothy Kain and Minh Le Hoang, Jeffrey has sought to further develop his artistic personality and musicianship through postgraduate studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under Dr. Vladimir Gorbach.
His ambition as an artist is to showcase the intimate and expressive qualities of the guitar in a way that speaks profoundly of the instrument and its repertoire and in 2017 had his international recital debut in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Jeffrey is also currently enrolled in an Emerging Artists’ program with Fine Music FM 102.5, Australia’s largest independent classical music radio station.
During his travels, he has sought masterclasses and private lessons from world renowned pedagogues including Roberto Aussel, Shinichi Fukuda, Aniello Desiderio, Marcin Dylla, Aleksandr Tsiboulski, and Gerard Abiton.
Jeffrey is a successful participant of the Sydney Guitar School Teacher-Mentorship Program.
HEATHCLIFFE (Heath) AUCHINACHIE
Heathcliffe began his classical guitar studies under Georg Mertens at the age of 10. He then went on to study under Russian virtuoso Vladimir Gorbach at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. During his studies Heathcliffe has accomplished much, including the Mudgee High Performing Arts Award, a nomination for Encore, a scholarship to study at the Sydney Conservatorium and a highly commended in the 2017 Sydney Eisteddfod.
Heathcliffe has also received tuition and masterclasses from some of the most highly respected performers in the world, such as Lorenzo Micheli, Tim Kain, Z.o.o guitar duo, Dene and Irena Grant (SSO, Goldner String Quartet), Cathy McKorkill (Australia Ensemble, ACO), Gian Marco Ciampa and Jane Curry.
Heath is currently in his 3rd year of his B.Mus Performance degree and aims to compete and study abroad in order to develop further as a musician. He regularly performs with his former teacher Georg Mertens and enjoys performing both as a soloist and in chamber ensembles.Although his passion is classical guitar, Heathcliffe loves teaching all styles of music and immensely enjoys engaging with students through the creative process. Heath is a successful participant of the Sydney Guitar School Teacher-Mentorship Program.
Heathcliffe has also received tuition and masterclasses from some of the most highly respected performers in the world, such as Lorenzo Micheli, Tim Kain, Z.o.o guitar duo, Dene and Irena Grant (SSO, Goldner String Quartet), Cathy McKorkill (Australia Ensemble, ACO), Gian Marco Ciampa and Jane Curry.
Heath is currently in his 3rd year of his B.Mus Performance degree and aims to compete and study abroad in order to develop further as a musician. He regularly performs with his former teacher Georg Mertens and enjoys performing both as a soloist and in chamber ensembles.Although his passion is classical guitar, Heathcliffe loves teaching all styles of music and immensely enjoys engaging with students through the creative process. Heath is a successful participant of the Sydney Guitar School Teacher-Mentorship Program.
JAMES AUDET
Bachelor of Music (Hons), Sydney University
MA, Salzburg Mozarteum Universität
James Audet is a classical guitar performer and educator from Sydney, Australia. He developed a passion for the guitar at the age of 10, and developed his skills throughout his younger schooling. In 2011 he was accepted into the Sydney Conservatorium of Music,
where he completed his Bachelor of Music Performance with Honours. During this degree, he was able to study under the renowned classical guitarists Giuseppe Zangari, Gregory Pikler, Marco Tamayo and Roger Lock. In 2015 he auditioned for and was successfully admitted to the degree of Masters of Classical Guitar at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, where he studied for 3 years under professor Marco Tamayo.
In Australia, James has had an active performance career, playing concerts of both solo and chamber repertoire. He participated in the Sydney Baroque Music Festival in 2014, performing on the baroque guitar, and in the same year was awarded a highly-commended
certificate in the Sydney Eisteddfod classical guitar competition. He has had experience in numerous chamber music settings including guitar duo and trio, guitar and flute, guitar and cello, and performing as part of a baroque chamber orchestra.
In Europe, he has performed numerous concerts, both in Austria and abroad. In 2017 he was awarded the first prize in the Bosnian IMKA music competition and performed a solo recital in Sarajevo the same year, and in 2018 he was awarded the 3rd prize in the Vilnius international guitar competition. Across Europe he has partaken in numerous masterclasses with professors such as Alvaro Pierri, Marcin Dylla, Paul Galbraith, William Kanengiser, Dale Kavanagh, and many others.
Having recently completed his Masters degree abroad, James now resides in Sydney once more, and intends on returning to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music to complete his Doctorate in Music under the tutelage of the renowned guitarist Vladimir Gorbach.
where he completed his Bachelor of Music Performance with Honours. During this degree, he was able to study under the renowned classical guitarists Giuseppe Zangari, Gregory Pikler, Marco Tamayo and Roger Lock. In 2015 he auditioned for and was successfully admitted to the degree of Masters of Classical Guitar at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, where he studied for 3 years under professor Marco Tamayo.
In Australia, James has had an active performance career, playing concerts of both solo and chamber repertoire. He participated in the Sydney Baroque Music Festival in 2014, performing on the baroque guitar, and in the same year was awarded a highly-commended
certificate in the Sydney Eisteddfod classical guitar competition. He has had experience in numerous chamber music settings including guitar duo and trio, guitar and flute, guitar and cello, and performing as part of a baroque chamber orchestra.
In Europe, he has performed numerous concerts, both in Austria and abroad. In 2017 he was awarded the first prize in the Bosnian IMKA music competition and performed a solo recital in Sarajevo the same year, and in 2018 he was awarded the 3rd prize in the Vilnius international guitar competition. Across Europe he has partaken in numerous masterclasses with professors such as Alvaro Pierri, Marcin Dylla, Paul Galbraith, William Kanengiser, Dale Kavanagh, and many others.
Having recently completed his Masters degree abroad, James now resides in Sydney once more, and intends on returning to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music to complete his Doctorate in Music under the tutelage of the renowned guitarist Vladimir Gorbach.
JAMES MCDONALD
Master and Bachelor of Music (Hons), Sydney University
James McDonald was born in Sydney where he began learning guitar at the age of seven. He completed his Bachelor of Music (Hons), with a major in Classical Guitar, at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2015. During his time at the Conservatorium, James learnt with international guitarists Marco Tamayo and Vladimir Gorbach and was featured on two of the Conservatorium's Regional Tours (to the Central Coast, South Coast and Snowy Mountains) championed by pianist David Miller.
During 2016, he performed in masterclasses abroad for many prominent international artists, including Pavel Steidl, Marcin Dylla and Elliot Fisk. In 2017, James performed guitar and banjo with the Sydney Symphony Fellows in their performance of Kurt Weill's 'Seven Deadly Sins'. James is prodigious amongst his peers as a guitar pedagogue, having already accumulated 10 years of teaching experience.
James is currently engaged in a Masters of Music at the Sydney Conservatorium, conducting research into the music of Australia’s leading composer for the classical guitar, Richard Charlton. In 2019, James performed at the Melbourne Guitar Festival as a founding member of the Codex Quartet, which specialises in performing arrangements of Radiohead for four guitars.
During 2016, he performed in masterclasses abroad for many prominent international artists, including Pavel Steidl, Marcin Dylla and Elliot Fisk. In 2017, James performed guitar and banjo with the Sydney Symphony Fellows in their performance of Kurt Weill's 'Seven Deadly Sins'. James is prodigious amongst his peers as a guitar pedagogue, having already accumulated 10 years of teaching experience.
James is currently engaged in a Masters of Music at the Sydney Conservatorium, conducting research into the music of Australia’s leading composer for the classical guitar, Richard Charlton. In 2019, James performed at the Melbourne Guitar Festival as a founding member of the Codex Quartet, which specialises in performing arrangements of Radiohead for four guitars.
MELISSA ABDALLAH
Bachelor of Music (Pedagogy), University of New South Wales
Born in Sydney, Melissa Abdallah has been playing the guitar since the age of seven. Melissa is a classical and contemporary guitar teacher who has studied a Bachelor of Music majoring in Pedagogy at the University of New South Wales and is now doing a Master of Teaching (Secondary) at the same university.
During her teenage years, Melissa received scholarships from guitar schools in Sydney and performed at various events. When she commenced her studies at UNSW, she began private guitar lessons with Giuseppe Zangari and has since completed a Grade 8 AMEB exam for classical guitar performance.
At the age of 18, Melissa joined the University of New South Wales Guitar Ensemble and performed with them for three years. With this ensemble and for other solo performances, Melissa participated in multiple recitals at the Io Myers Theatre and more. Through her own private practice, Melissa has had experience in guitar teaching and aspires to continue to spread her passion for music to others. Melissa is a successful participant of the Sydney Guitar School Teacher-Mentorship Program.
During her teenage years, Melissa received scholarships from guitar schools in Sydney and performed at various events. When she commenced her studies at UNSW, she began private guitar lessons with Giuseppe Zangari and has since completed a Grade 8 AMEB exam for classical guitar performance.
At the age of 18, Melissa joined the University of New South Wales Guitar Ensemble and performed with them for three years. With this ensemble and for other solo performances, Melissa participated in multiple recitals at the Io Myers Theatre and more. Through her own private practice, Melissa has had experience in guitar teaching and aspires to continue to spread her passion for music to others. Melissa is a successful participant of the Sydney Guitar School Teacher-Mentorship Program.
SGS Tutors at the 2018 End of Year Concert at Club Five Dock RSL