The 2011 MySchoolAct Competition Selection Committee

After studying Music at the University of Sydney, Alan has worked at the ‘coal face’ of Music education for over twenty years as a teacher in Sydney’s South. This exciting, if exhausting, work constantly employs his skills an arranger, conductor, accompanist, performer, and educator. The cut and thrust of High School teaching has involved Alan in a constant stream of concerts, musical productions, community performances, band tours and, of course, preparation for those all important Higher School Certificate examinations. A reward for his years of service in this field is the growing number of former students who find employment in the Music industry as either educators or performers.

Shae Constantine has been working in the Music Industry for the for the last 16 years mainly focusing on the development of Australian Artists. He started his career in the Independent Sector working for MGM with Artists such as The Whitlams, John Butler, The Waifs, Nitocris & Sneaking Soundsystem. He moved to Warner Music as Director of Domestic Music working with Eskimo Joe, Lisa Mitchell, Dead Letter Circus, Evermore & Thirsty Merc. He was the Associate Producer of the 2010 ARIA Awards & now holds the position of Director of Marketing – Australian Artists at Sony Music working with acts such as Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Drapht, Kte Miller-Heidke, Pete Murray, Georgia Fair & X Factor.

Michael Costa is the Technical Director of MySchoolAct and has over 15 years experience as an IT professional with varied roles in small business through to global corporations. Michael is passionate about the web and computers and has fond memories of experimenting with music on his Amiga 500 in the early 90′s.

Maree Davidson joined the Motorola Mobility Australia Team as the Retail Manager 18 months ago working on marketing activities including the exciting Motorola sponsorship of Big Day Out 2011. With a very lively personality, Maree enjoys music filled summer afternoons, whether it be on the beach, local bar or a music festival.

Zoe kicked off her career with a six-year stint at ACP Magazines working on a number of titles before snagging the role of National Sales Manager on heritage music title, Rolling Stone. During this time, Zoe launched the Annual Rolling Stone Awards, seeing both the first and second awards through to completion. In 2011, Zoe moved to Peer Group Media where she has dual roles as Head of Business Development, selling sponsorships across a number of music festivals, and as Associate Publisher on The Music Network – Australia’s #1 music industry magazine and website.

Pat Handlin started off in the music industry 5 years ago as an intern at Sony Music. From there, Pat started scouting and not long after signed young folk group “Georgia Fair”. Pat has also studied at JMC Music college and has experience as an intern at Columbia Records in New York. Now A&R manager at Sony Music Australia, Pat works closely with artists like Stan Walker, Jess Mauboy, Justice Crew and new signing Timomatic.

Steph Harmon has been the editor of Sydney streetpress The Brag for almost two years, and has written for other publications like The Vine and Time Out. Highlights include interviewing Jonsi, Band Of Horses, Odd Future and Sufjan Stevens, and that time Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips showed her a picture of seven frozen human heads on his phone backstage.

Paul Harris has been working in the music industry for over 10 years. He got his first role in A&R at London indie label B-Unique Records, signing The Ordinary Boys who achieved three Gold Albums in the UK. In 2004 he signed Kaiser Chiefs to the label, who have since gone on to sell over 3 million albums globally. Working a roster of licensed US acts including Coheed and Cambria and Bedouin Soundclash he also went on to sign The Automatic to the label in 2005, who had a string of top 20 hits in the UK. In 2008 he was the Senior A&R Manager at Columbia Records. In mid 2010 he join the A&R team at Sony Music Australia and his roster currently includes Drapht, The Vines and Tonight Alive.

Craig is the Head of A&R / Creative of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia. He is also one of the patrons of the Australian Music Prize (AMP). Craig has worked in the Australian music industry since 1999 holding key positions in A&R for EMI Music Australia for over 11 years – most recently Vice President A&R / Labels Australasia before joining Sony/ATV Music Publishing in February 2011.Craig has worked with a diverse array of Australia’s leading artists including Empire Of The Sun, The Sleepy Jackson, 360, The Cat Empire, Birds of Tokyo, Angus & Julia Stone, Chris Lilley, Miami Horror, Bob Evans, Operator Please, Paul Dempsey and Faker, to name a few, and was Co-Executive Producer of the She Will Have Her Way / He Will Have His Way series.

Emma Hughes is the National Marketing Officer for SAE Institute, one of Australia’s leading creative media colleges. Since graduating from university in 2008 with a degree in digital media, Emma has been closely involved with the film and audio industry working on the sound production and post-production for and number of short and feature length films, as well as embarking on a career as a singer/songwriter.

Nathan Jolly is Editor of The Music Network, Australia’s number one music industry magazine. He has worked in music journalism for a number of years, interviewing members of Sonic Youth, KISS, The Velvet Underground, Weezer, The Stooges, Ride, The Stone Roses and numerous other acts (Tori Amos too!), plus almost every Australian band that has strummed a guitar over the past decade. He also worked for a parenting magazine, despite having no experience or right to do such a thing. When not writing, Nathan enjoys watching shows such as Gilmore Girls season 3 and Gilmore Girls (all the other seasons).

Completing a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (Music) in 2005 followed by a Bachelor of Teaching with Honours in 2007 through the University of Tasmania, Catherine is now working as Music coordinator at Queechy High School. She facilitates a range of live performance events involving her students, and co-produces the school’s major annual production. Outside of school she has performed with the Launceston Musical Society’s orchestra during their recent production of ‘Oliver!’ and as part of a local 5-piece Jazz ensemble.

Glenn Matthews is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of MySchoolAct. Glenn has a BE in Civil Engineering and in 2005 Glenn received the prestigious award of Young Professional Engineer of the Year. Over the past 3 years, Glenn has commuted between Sydney and California to increase the awareness of the MySchooAct and to prepare for its launch within the USA.

John O’Donnell is one of the most highly regarded music executives in Australia. After a career in music journalism, as Music Editor at Rolling Stone magazine and Editor of Juice magazine, John joined Sony Music in 1994 and started the internationally successful Murmur label, signing Silverchair, Something For Kate, Jebediah and more. In 2002, John left Sony to become CEO of EMI Music Australia/NZ, working closely with Empire of the Sun, Silverchair, Angus & Julia Stone, Kasey Chambers, The Finn Brothers, Missy Higgins and others.

Nathan Sapsford is an actor and TV host from Bondi in Sydney, Australia, now living in Los Angeles. His substantial past hosting credits include his role as the much loved Host of Australia’s highest rating music and entertainment show on Network TEN Australia, Video Hits, from 2007-2009. Prior to this position, Nathan was a host / VJ for MTV Australia for 4 years, hosting pretty much everything on the channel, including TRL, the movie show MTV Screen, Full Tank, QT:LA, Beach House, Snow Cave and more, as well as voicing all post produced shows and promos for MTV and VH1. He came back to his MTV roots last year to host the MTV Bacardi Express around the country.

Daniel Simic is a Co-Founder and the current CEO of MySchoolAct. Having founded several successful construction and electrical installation business (which has been operating for over 10 years) as well as hand full of internet and technology based companies, Daniel is a true entrepreneur. Daniel has a deep love for Rock n Roll and is on the look out for the next Guns N Roses (the original with Slash).

Barry leads the marketing team at Motorola Mobility for the South Pacific. He has been with Motorola for 7 years and has worked in Chicago and Singapore prior to settling in Melbourne. As a passionate music fan Barry gets just as excited to see live arena act as he is a local band at the pub.

Sami Stewart is an Account Manager at entertainment, media and marketing agency Peer Group Media. As well as overseeing all aspects of the 2011 MySchoolAct competition, she also runs the singles only record label for General Pants Co. MAJOR LABEL who to date have signed the likes of Guineafowl, Made In Japan. Myth & Tropics and most recently Sydney based The Khanz. Having spent all of her high school years moshing and dancing at venues all over town, she knows that Australia’s high schools are a goldmine for talented, driven and exciting bands and can’t wait to see who the 2011 competition unveils!

Damian is the Managing Director of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia, a Director of APRA (Australasian Performing Rights Association), Director and former Chairperson of AMCOS (Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Limited) and AMPAL (Australasian Music Publishers Association Limited) . He is also one of the patrons of the Australian Music Prize (AMP). Damian has worked in the Australian music industry since 1982 holding key positions in sales, marketing, promotion and A&R before taking up the offer to come in and head up the newly established Sony Music Publishing (now Sony/ATV Music Publishing thanks to the addition of the Beatles catalogue) in 1992.

With twenty years experience in building global careers for his artists, Todd Wagstaff is a legend of the music industry. Across his career, Todd has signed, recorded, marketed or managed a list that includes The Veronicas, Bluejuice, The Vines, Empire of the Sun, You Am I, James Reyne, Pnau, Wendy Matthews, Lost Valentinos and Holly Valance.Todd Wagstaff is a current Director / Artist Management of Parker & Mr. French, with a current roster of The Vines, Bluejuice, Evermore & Gypsy & the Cat.