Meet our Wesley Music Scholars!
THOMAS ALLAN – Baritone
Thomas is currently in his fourth year of study at the UWA Conservatorium of Music, under the tutelage of Lisa Harper-Brown and Dr. Andrew Foote. Alongside his music studies he is also completing a third major in German Language. A passionate solo and choral singer, Thomas has had the opportunity to perform with UWA ensembles Con-Cantorum and Symphonic Chorus, Schola Aedis Christi at Christ Church Claremont, Irwin Street Collective, OpusWA, and St George’s College Consort and Chapel Choir. In 2022 he travelled to Melbourne as a member of the National Youth Choir of Australia (NYCA). Passionate about engaging younger generations with classical music, Thomas is on the Opera Orientation Committee at West Australian Opera and was selected to take part in the Young Voices Program with Perth Festival.
Thomas is thrilled to have the opportunity to perform for the community at the Wesley Uniting Church and looks forward to the opportunities that it will present.
SOPHIE ALLISON – Clarinet
Hello! My name is Sophie and I am in my third year of studying clarinet performance at the UWA Conservatorium of Music under the tutelage of Allan Meyer.
Music making for me started, when I was 6, on the piano. Throughout primary school I was exposed to a number of different instruments eventually settling on the clarinet mostly because it looked like a big recorder (and because mum wanted me to play the flute - I couldn’t pick an instrument she liked)! After a few lessons, it turns out that I loved this new ‘big recorder’ and played it for my family almost every day! Since then I have been involved in music programs at Rossmoyne Senior High School, WACO, UWA and WAYO, performing in numerous chamber groups and ensembles.
I love sharing music with others and I am extremely grateful and honoured to be awarded this scholarship and to be given such a wonderful opportunity to perform as a soloist for the lovely Wesley community! I hope you enjoy listening some of my favourite repertoire for the clarinet!
SAMANTHA ANDERSON-MAYES – Soprano
I am currently in my third year of a Bachelor of Music studying classical singing under the tutelage of Sara Macliver. Music has been in my life since an early age, starting with basic piano lessons in pre-primary and flute lessons from Year 3 to Year 10. While jazz flute was my main focus during this time, I had dipped into the singing world in school choirs and Australian Girls Choir, and finally began taking private lessons with Shamara de Tissera during Year 10. During my time as a UWA voice student, I've been fortunate enough to perform with WAO, WASO, and Breaksea, take part in small student-led ensembles, and organise concerts with Swan Harp Studios. I am so grateful to be selected as a Wesley Scholar this year, and I plan to make the most of every opportunity offered!
I have many and varied interests besides music, and I plan to spend some time after graduating pursuing public policy and social work, but I will continue nurturing my love of music and performance regardless of where my career takes me!
EMMA JOHN – Horn
Emma John is a third year Bachelor of Music student at UWA studying horn performance with WASO horn Julia Brooke.
As an accomplished horn player, Emma plays with many groups around Perth. She plays casually with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and the Perth Symphony Orchestra, and is currently the principal of the West Australian Youth Orchestra.
Emma also has extensive solo experience, culminating in a performance in 2022 of Strauss' first horn concerto with the St George's Orchestra.
LISA SMITH – Violin
Lisa began learning the violin at the age of 4. After graduating Churchlands Senior High School she was awarded the top instrumentalist prize. At the UWA Conservatorium of Music, she has been awarded the Ann Brett Country Strings Scholarship and in 2021 received the Lynn Kan Memorial Prize, awarded to the student with the highest aggregate mark in second year performance units. Lisa has completed her Associate Diploma as well as winning first prize in various competitions, including the UWA Flora Bunning Prize. She has been a member of the UWA Symphony Orchestra, St. George’s College Orchestra, Orchestra Collective and Banksia Ensemble. Lisa was a finalist in the 2022 VOSE Memorial Prize, performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and won the People's Choice Award.
JOSH SPIREK – Double Bass
Josh Spirek is a current first year double bass student at the University of Western Australia, under the tutelage John Keene. Josh is also currently principal bassist of the West Australian Youth Orchestra and the University of Western Australia’s Symphony Orchestra. Josh has been fortunate to receive the Delano scholarship at UWA. He is also a keen composer and conductor, and was the recipient of the John Bates Prize for musical composition at Christ Church Grammar School in 2021. Josh has also recently formed an ensemble, “a2. orchestra” that he looks forward to working with in the future.
