About Us
Simone Maurer, Director
Queensland born flutist, Simone Maurer, is a classical-contemporary freelance performer, tertiary educator, music psychology researcher, and a Certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst currently living in Melbourne (Naarm), Australia.
Simone uses her Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis training and doctoral studies in music psychology to research the embodied cognition of musicians, and also coaches stagecraft and performance skills.
As an educator, Simone has significant experience teaching flute, musicianship, and movement analysis at several Australian Universities. She is currently Lecturer in Applied Aural Musicianship at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.
Monash Lal, Featured Composer
Monash Lal is a professional flute player and multi-instrumentalist based in Brisbane, Australia. He frequently performs in a variety of genres and styles, from classical music, to heavy metal, and has a particular passion for flute ensemble. Monash currently coordinates a high school band program and is affiliated with the University of Queensland School of Music as composer in residence.
As featured composer of the Australian Flute Ensemble, Monash's vibrant compositions are cornerstone repertoire for the ensemble's performances and recording project. All scores are available for digital download via his website below.
Mark Xiao
Mark Xiao has won prizes throughout Australia and Europe. He holds three Master’s degrees from the Zurich University of the Arts and the Munich University of Music and Theatre and was a former guest member of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. He is currently the Managing Director of Flutes & Flutists, the Australian Flute Festival, and president of the Flute Society of NSW.
Merryl Neille
Merryl Neille(DMA, University of Michigan) Merryl performs regularly in the flute section of the Metropolitan Orchestra. Her Winter Solstice for Flute and Piano has been recorded on a South African Music Award winning album, African Bird. Merryl was former principal flutist of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and doctoral assistant to Amy Porter at the University of Michigan. Merryl is the director of the Australian Flute Festival and operations manager at Flutes and Flutists.
Joanna Sullivan
Joanna Sullivan is an accomplished Australian flutist with a rich and diverse performance career spanning more than four decades. A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, she performed extensively with the Victorian State Opera before relocating to Queensland. Her international career includes an acclaimed collaboration in India with Sarod master Arman Ali Khan, as well as annual chamber music performances in France as part of a piano trio. She currently holds the position of Principal Flute with the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to her performance work, Joanna has taught flute at the Queensland Conservatorium and in leading independent schools. Her long-standing interest in flute pedagogy led her to complete a Master of Music at the University of Queensland, where she explored the teaching philosophies of professional flutists. Joanna is the author of The Fab Flute Player program.
Aaron Smart
English born Australian, Aaron started playing the flute at the age of 7 and was taught by Bournemouth Flautist Alan Melly. Aaron completed his ABRSM Grade VIII at the age of 14, under the tuition of former Principal Flautist of the Royal Opera House Carol Bacon-Harty. Aaron continued tuition with the Principal Flautist of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) Laurie Beers and obtained his Performer's Degree from the Royal College of Music.
Throughout his music career, Aaron has performed with orchestras and ensembles at the Edinburgh Festival, The Barbican, the Royal Festival Hall-South Bank Centre and the Royal Albert Hall. Aaron has played in theatre groups as a multi-woodwind player and has played flute and piccolo with the Southern Highlands Symphony Orchestra.
Teaching at all levels, he has a passion for sharing his musical knowledge and regularly assists High School students in their preparation for exams. Today, Aaron works full time in the Vocational Education Training (VET) sector and lives in Bowral located in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW.