The Vov Dylan Violin Academy endeavours to bring together a team of teachers to give each student the best opportunities and learning potential in every area of their musical journey.
On this page you will find details on some of the regular teachers that students will become familiar with over the course of their study with Vov Dylan.
DR STEPHEN WATSON
| DR STEPHEN WATSON PH.D; MCA; BME; DSCM; FTCL; LTCL; LMUSA; AMUSA
DR STEVE WATSON HAS PROVIDED MUSIC EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS IN PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION. HIGHLIGHTS OF HIS TEACHING CAREER INCLUDE HIS TENURED POSITION AS SENIOR LECTURER IN MUSIC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN SYDNEY. WHILE AT UWS, STEVE TAUGHT HARMONY AND ANALYSIS, AURAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT, PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUES, MUSIC HISTORY, MUSICAL DIRECTION, ARRANGING AND ORCHESTRATION, AND SONG WRITING.
AT THE VOV DYLAN ACADEMY OF VIOLIN STEVE’S RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:
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glenn amer
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GABRIEL DEBURGH
| Gabriel Deburgh’s musical roots go back into his childhood. At age three, Gabriel was given the opportunity to indulge his love for the sound of the cello. His parents noticed his fascination every time this instrument played on a classical recording and decided to see if he possessed any aptitude for the “big violin”. Thus, Gabriel’s musical journey began.
From age three to six, Gabriel participated in the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music’s Childhood Music Education Program; showing potential in both cello and piano. The Conservatorium nurtured these talents and would play a pivotal role throughout the entirety of his pre-university years. At age ten, Gabriel began work with the distinguished Albanian Cellist Ilir Merxhushi, who took him under his wing and fostered a desire for excellence. It was during this period that Gabriel was also introduced to composer, pianist and vocalist John Spence. John opened to him the worlds of theory and composition, and began to explore Gabriel’s newest interest: singing.
In his teenage years Gabriel had the opportunity to study and perform across a wide array of musical disciplines and styles. As a cellist, he has put on a number of well-received public recitals; and has toured with several youth orchestras, most notably as the principal cellist of the Bluescope Steel Orchestra during its tour of Italy in 2013. Gabriel was also the principal cellist performing in conductor and composer Nigel Edwards’ prize-winning Camerata chamber ensemble, which held regular concerts around NSW. As a vocalist, Gabriel received classical instruction under Opera Australia’s David Foley and International Soprano Christa Leahmann. He also has enjoyed the privilege of working with the renowned Dr. Steve Watson in both classical and contemporary fields.
In 2014 Gabriel undertook an Advanced Diploma of Music at TAFE NSW’s North Wollongong Campus, headed up by Dr. Michael Barkl. Under his tutelage Gabriel developed a keen interest in jazz and graduated top of the class, receiving both the Creative Industries Award and Outstanding Achievement Award. This was also the year that Gabriel became the keyboard/synth player for the Reggae, Funk-Rock band Blueberry Circuit; which toured extensively around the Eastern Seaboard with acts such as Ocean Alley and Lime Cordiale.
In 2018 Gabriel completed a Bachelor of Music Performance majoring in Classical Voice at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. During the four year degree programme, he covered an enormous range of repertoire and has learnt from some of the best in the profession; including the internationally acclaimed Baritone Barry Ryan, Dr. Maree Ryan, Dr. Michael Halliwell, Dr. Rowena Cowley and Dr. Neil McEwan.
Gabriel’s primary project outside of university is fronting Sydney-based pop band Cosmic Spice. The group is made up entirely of fellow Conservatorium students, and the camaraderie and chemistry they share is obvious when they take to the stage. Gabriel is best able to put his creative flair to use in this situation as his deep love of 70s and 80s classics, mixed with his background in jazz harmony, is perfectly met when composing for Cosmic Spice. Though less than two-years-old, the band has met with some fantastic success. Cosmic Spice featured regularly in shows across the NSW seaboard, sharing the stage with Sex on Toast, Tyne-James Organ, Bad Pony and Thunderfox to name a few. Their debut EP In Spring was met with enormous enthusiasm, generating hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify and Apple Music, and packing out venues in the resulting tour.
Gabriel Deburgh is a unique performer with a substantial toolset of influences, styles and techniques at his disposal. He is devoted to his music, and eagerly anticipates discovering the path ahead.
Some of Gabriel’s accomplishments include:
Bachelor of Music (Performance) Classical Voice – Sydney Conservatorium of Music; achieving a Distinction average over four years of study ATCL Cello Recital with Distinction Advanced Diploma of Music TAFE Outstanding Achievement Award TAFE Creative Industry Award TAFE Final AMEB Contemporary Popular Music (Vocal) – High Distinction Grade 8 AMEB Speech and Drama – High Distinction 2012 Shoalhaven Arts Board Certificate of Recognition 2010 & 2012 May Pusey Scholarship, Wollongong Eisteddfod |