JMI Jazz Clinics

Paula Girvan

MMusSt(QCGU), BMus(QCGU), AdvDipMus(JMI), AssDipMus(QCGU)
Head of School, Piano, Jazz Materials, Aural & Analysis, Concert Performance Practice

Paula Girvan is a highly acclaimed and versatile pianist with many years of experience as a performer and educator. She performs in various musical formats with renowned artists from Australia and around the world.

Paula is Head of School and senior lecturer at JMI (Jazz Music Institute), where she is widely recognized as a leading voice in jazz education.

Paula’s impressive performance credentials includes touring nationally with award-winning blues rock band, Blues Arcadia. She has also performed with The Drifters, Normie Rowe, Little Pattie, Denise Drysdale, Emma Pask, Jazz at Lincoln Centre artists – Vince Gardner, Sherman Irby, Jerome Jennings, and Belinda Munro- Gardner; Vivian Sessoms, Roger Manins, Kristin Berardi, Michelle Nicolle, Trichotomy, Qld Music Awards, AWMAS (Australian Women in Music Awards).

Paula’s sophisticated musical style, technical prowess, and unwavering dedication to music have earned her a reputation as a sought-after performing artist. Her exceptional musical direction and contributions to various projects and productions have further cemented her status as a respected and accomplished musician and director in the music industry.

Josh Hatcher

MMus, BMus(QUT)
Woodwinds, Improvisation Techniques, Ensemble

Joshua Hatcher is a Brisbane-based saxophonist, composer and music educator. He was a finalist in the 2016 National Jazz Awards (saxophone) at Wangaratta, and 2 selections from his album “Now and Then” were finalists in the 2016 QMusic Awards Jazz Category.

His big band compositions and arrangements were recorded by the Enthusiastic Musicians’ Orchestra on “One for B” (2011) and “Long Way Home” (2014) and he was the 2016 Composer-in-Residence for the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra. In 2018 he completed his Master of Music Research in composition at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

He has lectured in a range of subjects at Jazz Music Institute since 2012 including Saxophone, Improvisation, Theory and Ensemble Skills, and is the current musical director of the JMI Jazz Orchestra. He is a regular rhythm section coach for QYO Big Band and MOST, and gives regular high school workshops in improvisation, rhythm section playing, and big band performance.

Travis Jenkins

BMus(JP)
Jazz Composition, Ensemble, Guitar, Jazz Materials

Trav has been studying and playing the guitar for over 25 years. He is a prolific composer and multi-instrumentalist, having written and arranged music for a variety of circumstances including film music, video game soundtracks, small and large string ensembles, big band, and choir.

Trav is in high demand as a session musician and arranger, and has played in various contemporary outfits at major music festivals around the country, such as the “Brisbane International Jazz Festival”, “Broadbeach Jazz Festival”, “Melbourne Jazz Festival”, “Woodford Folk Festival” and “Big Day Out”. Travis has also played alongside reputable Australian Jazz musicians such as James Morrison, John Morrison, Craig Scott, and Jonathon Zwartz.

Graduating in 2013 from the Jazz Music Institute with a Bachelor of Music (BMus), Trav studied guitar under both Bruce Woodward and Ben Hauptmann, achieving academic awards in all 3 years and in 2015, receiving a nomination for the Freedman Jazz Fellowship. Trav worked for 5 years at the Brisbane Music Studio teaching guitar and directing an ensemble program.  Working with Caleb James at The Queensland Conservatorium, he developed a new performance component to Griffith University’s Bachelor of Popular Music program, which commenced at the Gold Coast campus until it moved to the South Bank campus where he has been running all of 1st and 2nd year contemporary ensemble classes.  Trav has been teaching at JMI for over 7 years and currently teaches guitar (Principal Study), Jazz Composition 1 and 2, Jazz Materials 3 and 4 and Ensemble.  Aside from working as a jazz guitarist in his organ trio and as a sideman, he currently performs regularly in yacht-rock outfit “Tommy Sexton & the Suggestions”,  funk review band “Golden Sound”, and world-beat/reggae outfit “Kooii”.

Andrew Shaw

BMus(JazzPerf)(JMI)
Business Studies, Ensemble, Bass, Jazz in Context

Double bassist, Andrew Shaw, has performed with many greats of the music world, from jazz to cabaret, from tango to country and western, and flamenco. Some of the artists he has performed with across the spectrum include John Scofield, Dave Liebman, James Morrison, Grace Knight, Tom Burlinson, Bill Watrous, Tony Malaby, Matt Wilson, David Ades, Dale Barlow, Mike Nock, Lyndon Terracini, Scott Tinkler, Rhonda Birchmore, Mandy Patinkin, Patti Lupone, Lady Rizo, Joaquin Amenabar, Sarah Blasko, James Ryan, Victor Morosco, The Saruzu Quartet, Flamenco Fire, Olayo Jimenez, Carla Pugliesi, and Jamie Oehlers.

Andrew is currently leading his own ensemble, Road Plant, concentrating on his original music inspired by the secret lives of earth moving equipment. He is also performing with Toby Wren Quartet, David Bentley, Caxton Street Jazz Band, Jeff Usher, Andrew Garton’s Abbreviations Orchestra and others.

Shaw has performed nationally and internationally at many major venues and festivals. He has recorded on more than 40 albums with various artists.

Dr Rob McWilliams

Ph.D., M.Mus., B.Mus.Ed.
Ensemble, Improvisation Techniques

Professor Rob McWilliams, an internationally accomplished musician, conductor, and educator, was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. A United States resident from 1991 to 2014, Prof. McWilliams holds a Ph. D. in Music/Music Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Melbourne. Prior to his time in the USA, Prof. McWilliams served on the faculty of the University of Melbourne Institute of Education where he taught and coordinated courses in brass, jazz, and instrumental music pedagogy and conducted the Wind Symphony, Brass Choir, and Jazz Big Band. In the USA Dr. McWilliams served as Professor of Music and Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh from 1996 to 2014 where he also served as Head of the Music Department from 2011. Prof. McWilliams conducted most of the university’s symphonic and jazz ensembles, including the University Orchestra, and held primary responsibility for the University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. He also taught courses in instrumental music education, conducting, and jazz.

As a performing artist on trumpet and keyboard Dr. McWilliams has extensive performing experience with a number of domestic and international symphonic and jazz ensembles including performances with the following jazz artists: Mickey Tucker, Bobby Shew, Pete Christlieb, Nat Adderley, Vincent Herring, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Eddie Daniels, Ed Shaughnessy, Andy Martin, Dale Barlow, Wilbur Wilde, and Paul Grabowsky.

Dr. McWilliams has been published in a number of professional publications including the Journal of Band Research, Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, and is a published composer/arranger with Alfred’s Music. In early 2015 he relocated to Brisbane, and currently works for Yamaha Music Australia as an Educational Outreach Clinician and freelances as a musician, educator, conductor, adjudicator, and composer/arranger.

Charlotte Mclean

BMus(JMI), MMusSt(QCGU)
Course Coordinator, Voice, A Capella Ear Training, Aural and Analysis

Charlotte Mclean is emerging as one of Australia’s most captivating and original vocalists. Possessed of a velvety-smooth voice, she produces her own addictive style and her original tunes have garnered critical and popular acclaim. Charlotte’s exemplary skills as an improviser allow her to put a fresh spin on classic jazz repertoire, and she sings with honesty, strength and a unique combination of contemporary musical influences.

Having had a passion for music and performance from a young age, Charlotte released her second originals album “Magnolia” in June 2020, which was met with great praise. She was thrilled to be named a finalist in the prestigious Queensland Music Awards (Jazz Category) for her original music in 2021. In 2023, Charlotte released her third originals album “Spinning wheels and sideshows,” along with a trio jazz album titled “I know why and so do you” and a live album titled ‘Live at the Jazz Club’. Her impressive body of work led to her being nominated for the esteemed Freedman Fellowship Jazz Award in the same year.

Charlotte is a two-time graduate, having received a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music (Majoring in Vocal Pedagogy) with an award for academic excellence. In 2022 she presented her paper “An analysis of tertiary teaching approaches: Modifying curriculum to prepare vocalists for a professional career in Jazz Music.” Currently serving as the course coordinator at the Jazz Music Institute, Charlotte also continues to hone her skills as a tertiary lecturer in voice, Aural & Analysis, academic research units and AET. She continues to push musical boundaries and captivate audiences with her unique vocals and infectious tunes.

Mikael Strand

BMus(ConMusic)(Con), GradDip(Ed)(UQ)
Trombone

Mikael Strand is a Musician, Multi-Instrumentalist, Composer, and Music Educator. Equally versed in Classical, Jazz, Popular & World Music languages, Mikael has been performing as a professional Trombonist since 1999. Mikael holds a Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Music from the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University and a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Queensland.

A talented Multi-Instrumentalist, Mikael is proficient on all of the Brass Instruments as well as Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Piano, Bass Guitar, and Percussion. Mikael has performed, toured and recorded with the likes James Morrison, Don Burrows, Renee Geyer, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Jerry Lewis, Ingrid Jensen (USA), Jim Pugh (USA), Mad Professor, The Saints, Mista Savona, Kate Miller-Heidke, Hot 8 Brass Band, West End Composers Collective, Doch Gypsy Orchestra, Dubmarine, and many other high-profile Artists and Groups.

In 2002, Mikael was selected to be the musical director of the Queensland Conservatorium Trombone Ensemble, which toured Indonesia as part of Australian Education Week. In addition, Mikael has performed at numerous national and international festivals such as the iconic Woodford Folk Festival, Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival, Cape Town International Jazz Festival (South Africa), Festival Mondial (Netherlands), Colours of Ostrava Festival (Czech Rep), and many others.

Currently, Mikael enjoys a busy performing career, regularly performing with Hip- Hop/Funk/Soul Brass Band BULLHORN, the Sweet Thunder Jazz Orchestra, as well as performing and recording as a freelance Trombonist all over Queensland and Australia.

A passionate music educator, Mikael currently holds the position of Multi-Instrumental Music Teacher with the Queensland Education Department, and has held teaching positions at Primary and Secondary Schools since 2003. Mikael has also received acclaim as a conductor, with several of his ensembles receiving awards at state and regional band competitions such as Fanfare, Prestige Music Festival and the Gold Coast Eisteddfod.