Jazz Performance - Guitar

Guitar Teaching Staff

Mike Bevan
Colin Elmer
David Innocente
Greg Wain

Meet a Current Student

Sam began playing guitar at age six. Learning initially from his father and uncle (SA Harmonica legend), he became more serious about learning the guitar in high school. Here he started having lessons with Elder Conservatorium guitar lecturer Mike Bevan, as well as other Adelaide players. He started playing in bands professionally at age 15. During high school, he also showed considerable talent on acoustic guitar, developing a large ‘fingerstyle’ repertoire. Sam pursued music further, enrolling in the Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide, as a Jazz Guitar major. Whilst at university learning from Dustan Cox, Derek Pascoe, Mike Bevan, Peter Dowdall and Mike Stewart, he further developed his professional career, playing around town in jazz trios, quartets and big bands, rock and fusion acts, and musicals. He also pursued an interest in Brazilian music, through his teacher Mike Bevan. While in his final university year, Sam played for the Australian premiere of ‘Metro Street’ as well as touring to Daegu, Korea for the Daegu International Musicals Festival. From this, he made contact with Australian renowned popular singer and actress Debra Byrne with whom he recently toured with through Regional Victoria, Australia. He has also auditioned for Cirque Du Soleil. Sam has finished his degree in Jazz Guitar, is studying Honours this year, and teaches around Adelaide in schools. He also received the Undergraduate Award for Jazz Guitar in 2009 from the Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide. He currently plays with 'The Belle-Phonics', 'Jayne-Anne Power', 'Two For the Road Duo' and is often hired for jazz, blues, funk and acoustic gigs.

'I have enjoyed my time at the Elder Conservatorium in the Bachelor of Music (Jazz Guitar). The teaching staff are fantastic and have given me with many opportunities throughout the course of my degree. It is great to have excellent peer support and to be surrounded by people that just want to play music. Whilst studying music is fantastic, it is also vital that a student immerses themselves in the music culture, especially locally. In this business experience is what counts and it is important to keep this in mind, and play any gig you get asked to do, preparing yourself for any situation as a musician; and what better place to harvest this, than the musical breeding ground of a Conservatorium.'

Samuel Leske
Bachelor of Music student (Jazz Performance - Guitar) - Honours

How to Apply

Applying is easy, visit our Future Students page for all the information you need.