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Vote now for the 2022
Telstra ARIA Music Teacher
ARIA Award

Nominees Announced Today

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In partnership with Telstra and supported by The Song Room, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) is proud to announce this year’s Telstra ARIA Music TeacherAward nominees and open voting.

2022 sees this very special award enter its sixth year in recognising the incredible contribution of music education and music teachers throughout Australia.

Previous award winners include Zoë Barry (2021, Sacred Heart School, Wurundjeri, Fitzroy, VIC), Sarah Donnelly (2020, Wilcannia Central School, Barkindji, Wilcannia, NSW), Antonio Chiappetta (2019, St Andrews College, Gadigal, Sydney, NSW), Scott Maxwell (2018, Grant High School, Boandik, Mount Gambier, SA) and Renee McCarthy (2017, Woodcroft College, Moorundie, Adelaide, SA).

Every year, public voting helps determine the winner of the Telstra ARIA Music TeacherAward, with the winner to be announced as part of the 2022 ARIA Awards in Partnership with YouTube Music this November at the Hordern Pavilion (Gadigal Land) and broadcast live on Channel Nine.

Vote now for the Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award here.

Every year, each school is visited by a Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award ambassador to share the news of their teacher’s nomination. This year, David Collins-White was visited by Anthony Wiggle, Jane Nicholas by Mitch Tambo, Matt Orchard by Ben Gillies with a special surprise from Jack Black, and Kath Dunn by Tsehay Wiggle.

You can watch all the videos with the teachers and ARIA Awards ambassadors on ARIA’s YouTube Channel.

The nominees for this category are the first to be announced for the 2022 ARIA Awards in Partnership with YouTube Music, with the remaining nominees to be announced next month. 

The four nominees for this year’s Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award are: 

David Collins-White // Photo credit: Vasili Papathanasopoulos

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David Collins-White 
Haberfield Public School – Eora Nation, Haberfield, NSW

Mr David Collins-White has been a music teacher at Haberfield Public School for 22 years, teaching weekly music lessons to all 650 students and conducting an additional 10 musicensembles. He has created resources, including a popular YouTube channel, to help teachers across Australia implement their own quality music programs. 

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Jane Nicholas // Photo credit: Kelvin Chong

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Jane Nicholas 
Willandra Primary School – Noongar Land, Seville Grove, WA

Ms Jane Nicholas has been the music teacher at Willandra Primary School for over 10 years with students from over 40 different countries. She captures their diverse identities in music to build greater understanding, respect and peace. 

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Matt Orchard // Photo credit: Harmony Rose

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Matt Orchard 
Apollo Bay P-12 College – Gadubanud Territory, Apollo Bay, VIC

Mr Matt Orchard, or Matty O to his students and colleagues, is a working musician with 25 years in the business and over 3,500 gigs under his belt. He brings his years of experience and passion for rock music into the classroom to inspire the next generation of music students. 

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Kath Dunn // Photo credit: Rachael Cramp

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Kath Dunn 
Wollondilly Public School – Gundungurra Land, Goulburn, NSW

Mrs Kath Dunn has created a daily 10-minute beat program that engages all 300 students at the school through regular and fun activities, supporting them to grow their skills and a love of music learning. It is having a noticeable impact on the student’s academic success, improving focus and self-esteem. 

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The Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award has quickly become one of the award’s most cherished categories as we recognise the importance of music education and our teachers, in forming the industry and nurturing the next generation of musicians. 

Research shows that children who participate in music studies have higher grades, better school attendance, and improved self-esteem and confidence, while the study of music and the connection with music in the classroom help to manage stress, depression, loneliness and anger issues.

Annabelle Herd, ARIA CEO said: “With everything going on around us in 2022 the musicclassroom and our music teachers are more important than ever as a place of sanctuary, comfort, learning, connection and joy for children and music students. This year, I’m so thrilled to see such a high number of nominations for passionate, dedicated and inspiring music teachers who go above and beyond for their students.

The Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award is all about recognising the special people who are key in nurturing the next generation of music lovers and musicians. I want to thank Telstra for their ongoing support over the previous five years and I cannot wait for The Wiggles to announce the winning teacher at the ARIA Awards in November. To all the nominees, from the bottom of my heart thank you for all the great work you have done and continue to do.”

Genelle Sharples, Head of Sponsorship at Telstra, said: “Our continued partnership to deliver the Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award is important to Telstra as music connects people, creates shared joy during the good times and uplifts our spirits during the challenging times. We are proud to recognise the music teachers from across the country who dedicate their experience and talent to inspire the next generation of Australian musicians.”

Alice Gerlach, CEO of The Song Room, said: “From remote communities to inner cities, we see the transformative and long-term positive effects music has on students and their schools. The Song Room is so proud to team with ARIA for the sixth year to once again bring the nation’s attention to music teachers and the inspired work they are doing around Australia.”

Voting is now open and closes at 11.59 PM Wednesday 16th November. 

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AMNPLIFY – DB