Nehama PATKIN,

 

8 Cadby Court , Caulfield 3162

Tel: 9571 6641 Fax: 9572 3374

Mob: 0418 539 023 E: nehama@mira.net

 

OAM 1998 - for service to the community, particularly as a piano and music teacher, and as an administrator and organizer of musical events for charity.

Born Melbourne 24 May 1939 , daughter of Ben Zion Patkin and Hemda Patkin (Shani).

Two children – Anton Grodeck (b 1961), Damien Grodeck (b 1965)

Two grandsons – Ben (15) and Adam (11)

Educated at Shelford Girls Anglican School 1944-48

Mount Scopus College 1949-1955

Melbourne University , B.Mus. 1956-59, M.Mus. 1974

*Father was Founder of Mt Scopus College and its first President.

Nehama was first student enrolled and the first to graduate from the school and university

 

CAREER:

*Teacher of Creative Movement 1956-1966

*Accompanist for dance at Australian Ballet School and

Australian Ballet Company 1966-1974

*Accompanist for Movement and Dance classes at Institute of Early Childhood Development-Melb University (formerly Kindergarten Teachers' College)

*Lecturer in Dance department (as above)*Freelance accompanist for dance and theatre include

Festival Ballet Co. (UK), J.C. Williamson's, Princess Theatre, Tivoli Theatre, Union Theatre

• Teacher for Yamaha Music Foundation 1970-1976
• Director of Yamaha Music School (Caulfield) 1971-1976
• Lecturer at Victorian College of the Arts 1976-1981
• Director of Music at Yavneh College
• Lecturer at Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music
• Lecturer at Deakin University
• Guest lecturer at Melbourne and Monash Universities annually
• Staff member of Australian National Academy 's inaugural Junior program – 1998
• Director of Suzuki piano teacher training
• Director of Israel 's Independence Day celebrations at Melbourne Concert Hall for 8 years
• Specialist in Movement and Dance for musicians
• Has taught at workshops, festivals and institutes throughout Australia , Europe , and North and South America , Scandinavia , New Zealand , Israel , South Africa
• Musically involved as solo pianist, accompanist, singer, choir director, adjudicator, script writer, music critique, arts reporter for radio, producer, director, conductor, compere
• Member of vocal group “Hatzlilim”-performed on all major “live” TV shows in ‘60s
• Extensive work in radio and TV: “Playschool” presenter with Peter Drake
• ( ABV -2), “Partyland” with Clive Winmill ( ABV -2), “Free and Easy” with Geoff Raymond (HSV-7), guest singer and pianist on all channels, scripted and compered schools' programs on ABC, presenter on Jewish radio program (3XY &3AK), Arts reporter on 3AK with Yvonne Lawrence and community radio 94.1

 

MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS:

*Composed music for The Australian Ballet Company, “Arena” performed throughout

Australia – 1970

*Piano soloist with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra

*Piano soloist with Camerata de Florionopolis (Brazil)

*Piano soloist with Chamber Orchestra in Hawaii

*Piano soloist with all major Symphony Orchestras in Australia

*Organized concert with 4 Grand Pianos, orchestra, choir and dancers with own students as the performers. Raised over $3,000 for Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children

*Performed for Israel Independence Day celebrations in Sydney , Perth , Brisbane and Adelaide … also Melbourne in FLORIDA

*Received an OAM at Government House (1998)

*Performed in own One Woman Cabaret Show –“It's All New but Nothing's Changed” for 2 separate seasons at Chapel-off-Chapel and also for Jewish Festival of Arts (2003/04)

*Being awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research Family and Schools' Concerts in USA (2003)

*Devising and producing Patma Music Family Orchestral Concerts (12 November, 2005; 30 July, 2006 and 12 November, 2006)

 

CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Being invited to perform and teach at Summer Festivals, Music Conferences and Suzuki Institutes in many different countries:- USA, Canada, UK, NZ, Israel, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Chile, Peru, Korea, Japan and throughout Australia.
• Lectured about digital keyboards for Yamaha throughout Australia and South Africa .
• Toured through Europe with “Australia Felix”- a contemporary music group led by noted composer, critic and lecturer, Felix Werder – performing contemporary music by Australian and German composers.
• Performed with Dr. Peter Clinch (saxophone & clarinet) for over 11 years throughout Victoria, Europe and Singapore giving concerts for both school children and adults.
• Composed music for children's balletwhich was performed on ABC television
• Three documentaries made about Nehama's work:

My Music Teacher's OK by Eve Ash for Seven Dimensions (1982) which won an Educare Award in Munich

The Music Teacher by Nicholas Sherman for TV (1998/99)

A Teaching Inspiration for Channel 31 by Rebecca Chambers (2000)

• Produced symphony concerts for school children under auspices of Arts Ed at the

Victorian Arts Centre (1987-2002) – Proms for Preps

•  Recorded improvised music for Creative Movement with percussionist Barry Quinn

• Recorded CD with Dr. Peter Clinch – saxophone /clarinet
• Recorded with Brian Brown (jazz musician)
• Recorded music for several TV documentaries
• Recorded piano music for TV series Return to Eden
• Recorded piano music on Anthony Warlow's CD - On the Boards

 

HONORS and AWARDS:

• Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to music education and organizing concerts for charity – 1998
• Churchill Fellowship to research Family and Schools' Concerts in USA (2003)

* Avon Spirit of Achievement award for women for Excellence in the Arts –1993

* Finalist in the BP pursuit of Excellence awards – 1991

• Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) – Woman Achiever of the Year – 1995
• Honored in the Melbourne Museum Exhibition Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives (2002)
• Paul Harris Award – Rotary Club of Caulfield – (2004)
• Life member – Suzuki Talent Education Association of Australia
• Life member – Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

 

*Member of Board of Governors of Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children (1995-2004)

•  Patron of Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children (2004 - current)

•  Member of Rotary Club of Caulfield (1996 - October 2005) President (2000/01)

•  Member of Rotary Club of Hawthorn (November 2005 - current)

•  Have performed for many charity organizations including Red Cross, Care Australia , Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions Clubs, Royal Children's Hospital, Women's Hospital, Jewish organizations and Welfare groups.

 

COMMITTEE MEMBER OF:

 

* Foundation for Youth Excellence in City of Glen Eira

* Suzuki Talent Education of Australia (Director of Piano Teacher Training in Victoria)

•  Victorian Music Teachers' Association of Australia

• Victorian representative of Australasian Piano Pedagogy Association
• Artistic Director of Young Musicians of Excellence