Brass
Victoria Chatterley | Head of Brass
Victoria Chatterley grew up in Western Australia, and after early adventures with the piano and ballet, discovered the horn at the age of 12. After studying with Darryl Poulsen at the WA Conservatorium, she moved to Sydney to pursue a career as a professional horn player. Victoria spent 22 years as a member of the horn section of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, having the opportunity to work with many great singers, conductors and fellow musicians. During this time, she also appeared as a guest with other orchestras including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony and Malaysian Philharmonic. Since moving to Orange in early 2017 with her family she has spent time working on other interests – gardening, permaculture and brewing beer among other things. She is continuing her playing, with regular appearances with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra as well as some more local projects. Victoria had a small teaching studio for many years in Sydney, and began teaching at the Orange Regional Conservatorium in 2018.
Dahle Innes | Brass
Dahle Innes attended the Conservatorium High School, where she majored in piano and French horn, studying piano with Nea de Mestre and Josephine Bell and horn with Alan Mann and Clarence Mellor. She then continued at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with tertiary music studies.
For six years, Dahle played horn with the Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra (now the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra). She was a member of the ABC Sinfonia for 18 months, occasionally performing as a soloist. She has played casually with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, as well as at events such as the Leningrad-Kirov Ballet tours. In the field of music theatre, she has played in professional productions including Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Man of La Mancha.
Since the mid-1980s, Ms Innes has been primarily engaged in music education. As head of Brass at Kinross Wolaroi School for over 30 years, she tutored in all areas of brass from Years 2 to 12 and was also involved in senior performance technique development and accompaniment. She directed various ensembles including the secondary school orchestra, which successfully toured Europe and the United States under her direction.
Since 2021, Dahle has been a staff member at the ORC, where she teaches brass, piano and Musicianship. She also currently directs two brass ensembles and is a co-conductor of the Orange Youth Orchestra.
Her interest in learning styles and the social and cognitive influences on behaviour led Ms Innes to pursue and gain an honours degree in psychology.
Dahle has been an examiner for the AMEB since 1997.
Christopher Perrin | Trumpet
Christopher Perrin is a trumpeter of 40 years experience and for 12 years held a position with the State Orchestra of Victoria. Professional orchestras with which he has also performed include Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia Orchestra & Olympia Chamber Orchestra (USA). His other musical activities include recitals, commercial CD recordings and Opera Australia's DVDs of La Traviata, Madama Butterfly and Turandot.
As a teacher he has held positions at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Lecturer in Trumpet at the Australian Institute of Music, and Head of Brass at the Orange Regional Conservatorium of Music (2002-2007). He has also been a performance examiner for brass at the University of Tasmania. Chris enjoys teaching beginners to advanced students, adult learners, and preparing students for auditions, AMEB and HSC exams.
As a composer Chris has works for trumpet in the AMEB syllabus and performances of his works have been heard throughout Australia and internationally.
Away from music Chris enjoys photography, growing produce and cooking.
Philip Rees OAM | Brass
When Philip Rees was eight, two events impacted his life: his first piano and brass lesson and his parents being given a complete recorded performance of Messiah. Since then he can’t recall a time of not wanting to be a musician. Philip has spent his entire working life involved in music education and performance. As the musical director of the Central Coast Philharmonia, he conducted many major works of the choral tradition, as well as a number of Australian premiere performances of works by Christopher Tin, (Calling All Dawns) Karl Jenkins, (Joy to the World) John Rutter (Feel the Spirit) and Alexander Lestrange (Zimbe and Ahoy). He was the chorus master for Central Coast Opera productions of Magic Flute (2016), Carmen (2017) and La Bohème (2018).
Since moving to the Central west in 2019, Philip teaches brass and piano at the Orange Regional Conservatorium, is the conductor of the City of Orange Brass Band, and participates in a variety of school music programs. In 2010 he was awarded an OAM for services to music.