Our Teachers

image Christina Pilgrim_edited_edited.jp

Christina Pilgrim - Singing Teacher

Christina Pilgrim is currently studying Music Performance (Classical Voice) and European Studies at the Australian National University and, throughout her time there, has received the 2022 Bill Hislop Prize for Voice as well as the 2020 Dorothea Christel Larko Scholarship. She has studied under several well-known singers including Cheryl Barker AO and Peter Coleman-Wright AO.

In 2023, Christina was offered to perform alongside the Luminescence Chamber Singers in A Luminous Christmas, and, over the past ten years, has had the opportunity to perform both solo and with various ensembles in the High Court of Australia and Parliament House. Further, she was the youngest performer (at age 16) in Canberra Opera's Recital Series no. 2 in 2018.

Christina has also performed in the opera choruses of Alcine, the Magic Flute, La Boheme, and Esther and is looking forward to working with Pacific Opera in Die Fledermaus and Mozart’s Requiem in 2024.

Judith Marshall - Singing Teacher and Vocal Coach

Judith Marshall began training in Bel Canto through the British Royal Academy of Music before studying Musical Theatre (Tshwane University) and Acting (ACTA) in South Africa. Her career has spanned over three decades across five continents in opera, operetta, stage and film, jazz, rock and as a recording artist, session singer and voice-over artist. Judith completed Estill Levels I and II in 2007 and opened a singing and recording studio on the Central Coast whilst continuing her professional career in Musical Theatre and as an actor and musician with The Sydney Playback Theatre Company. She started the Contemporary Vocal Department at the Central Coast
Conservatorium where she directed two children’s operas whilst continuing her own vocal development with Ghillian Sullivan.

Judith taught at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music and has taught in a number of schools and marginalised communities. Her interest in working with students with neurodivergent, mental health and other challenges led her to studying counselling and becoming an expressive arts therapist. Career highlights include The Merry Widow, Don Carlo, Me and My Girl, Phil Collins – All sides, Cliff Richard The Musical, Grizabella the Glamour Cat (Cats), Katisha (The Mikado), working with Robert Edwin (‘the best belt teacher in the world’), Warren Fisher (Opera Australia), Chris Bearman, Hamish Tait, Claire Brassil and Graham Sattler in a televised performance of Handl’s Messiah, John Paul Young, the Kapooka Army Band, in numerous recitals, fundraisers, ANZAC Day and multicultural events.

Judith has also worked in education and the community sectors in NSW, QLD and the ACT, is an advocate for Mental Health and is currently studying a Masters of Counselling, bringing to the fore the holistic and neurobiological benefits of singing.

Julia Walker - Singing Teacher

Julia is passionate about giving students a strong understanding of proper technique so that they can sing freely, safely, and find joy in their voice. She has been studying voice privately since the age of 12.

After leaving school, she studied Opera at Monash University but soon discovered her true passion was musical theatre. She studied a Diploma of Musical Theatre in Melbourne and, since moving to Canberra, has performed in a number of productions with local companies. She recently moved to Brisbane to continue her musical journey with a Graduate Certificate in Music Studies (Performance - Jazz Voice) from the Queensland Conservatorium. When she's not singing, she works as a lawyer. Her preferred genres to teach are musical theatre, jazz and contemporary/pop.

Julia is currently fully booked

Madeleine Rowland - Singing Teacher and Vocal Coach

Madeleine Rowland has always loved singing, classical music and music theatre. Madeleine has studied voice privately for over 20 years, primarily with Patricia Whitbread, Colin Forbes and Elisha Holley. She has participated in various workshops and masterclasses including the interntional New Zealand Singing Summer School and with Tenor Stephen Anthony Brown in London. In 2017 Madeleine completed Estill Voice Training Level 1 and 2.

She has appeared in numerous theatrical performances in the Canberra region. Solo roles include Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Phyllis in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe, Oberto in Handel’s Alcina, Second Woman in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Rosie in the musical Bye Bye Birdie. Chorus roles include Die Fledermaus, Tosca, The Merry Widow, La Traviata, The Marriage of Figaro, La Bohème, various Gilbert & Sullivan operettas and musicals.

Madeleine began teaching singing in 2009, and has taught all ages from young children to adults. Madeleine particularly specialises in teaching young voices to sing safely and have fun with music. Since working at Canberra Vocal Development, Madeleine has taken a special interest in music therapy and using music and the voice as a healing tool. Her favourite genres to teach include music theatre, Disney songs and opera.

Madeleine is currently fully booked

Elisha Holley - Singing Teacher and Vocal Coach

Elisha Holley is one of Canberra's most experienced and well-known singing teachers. Her reputation across the ACT has made her highly sought after especially by experienced students seeking to take their singing to the next level. Elisha has been performing since primary school and completed a Bachelor of Music in Performance and Pedagogy from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 2004. She has been teaching and performing ever since. Her extensive technical knowledge of the singing voice means she can assist to rectify technical difficulties experienced by both inexperienced and experienced singers and vocalists. Elisha utilises techniques from her pedagogy degree, Estill and Accent Method Breathing. Her holistic approach enables her to provide students of all ages and levels with the tools needed to bring their voices to life and maintain a healthy singing voice for a lifetime.

Elisha has a strong interest in developing singers who are seeking to work on their technical knowledge of the voice, working with teachers on proven methods of addressing difficult technical issues and delivering vocal coaching in a corporate setting to assist executives deliver strong and well thought out presentations.