Kenneth Kelley - Principal
Piano and Theory

My learning started at the age of 5. My older brothers were learning and I kept interrupting their lesson so eventually my mum added me to the afternoon lesson session. From a very early age I was involved as a musician at our church and my dad who had a beautiful tenor voice (and did his Grade 8 piano) had me from age 12 accompanying him as a soloist. Precious days. I have been involved in many different bands and duos including German Oktoberfest, and Hungarian /Russian Gypsy.
I started teaching in 1995 with fun class based Kids on Keyboards program through state schools. This has helped me make music lessons fun.
In April 2004 having been teaching one on one for some years, I was led to open Caloundra Music Academy. We opened up at the Strand Complex in Caloundra, and in 2005 moved to bigger premises on Bowman Road which is now where Dan Murphys is.
In May 2015, when the landlord decided to demolish the building we again moved to the premises of Caloundra Christian College utilizing their teaching rooms. We had been supplying instrumental teachers to them from 2011 and it made sense to them and myself.
I remain humbled in that we have had many of our students move into different areas of the music Industry.
I teach Piano/Keyboard, + some guitar and singing.
My hope and prayer for Caloundra Music Academy is that we will continue to offer high quality, affordable lessons and hold fast to our motto 'Dedication To Education'.

Graham Bishop
Keyboard Player, Teacher, Arranger, Composer

Graham has been playing piano since he was 10. He first studied classical piano and finished his Associate Music award (A.MUS.A). He then began working in original and covers bands and developing his keyboard skills in different styles.
Moving to Perth and while playing solo piano, he joined a composite covers / original band and toured Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland over a 7 month period.
Graham released an original relaxation album titled “Earth’s Wish” – later titled “ Once Upon a Moment”   that received regular TV  airplay on the SBS Television channel throughout Australia. He has since added video to the music – “Tranquil Moments in Time”
Later he formed a couple of jazz/ rock /blues/ fusion original bands, one  called “Liquid Groove” the other “Vertigo4” where Graham was the main songwriter, and the band received some radio exposure on PBS radio in Melbourne, Australia.
Graham and his family moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2013 and began teaching with Caloundra Music Academy shortly after. Due to his busy schedule Graham teaches from his home studio at Currimundi.
Graham continues to play for a number of tribute shows both in Queensland and around Australia.
To book a lesson with Graham or any of our other teachers please fill in the contact form or call us on 54925952 / 0412838546

Amy Welsh
Piano Flute Theory

Amy Welsh completed her A.Mus.A (Associate Diploma of Music – AMEB) at the end of 2003 in Classical Flute Performance. She won 5 consecutive scholarships to study the flute at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide. She reached grade 8 AMEB in classical piano and was offered to continue her training at the University of Adelaide. She began teaching in 2001 from her home and has worked in different music Academy’s and Schools.
She has won multiple competitions and had the privilege of performing at weddings, conferences, at SA Military Events, the Young Australian of the Year awards and many other concerts.
She has also frequently worked as a piano accompanist for students performances and exams.
Amy started teaching with Caloundra Music Academy in 2020 and has helped her students achieve wonderful results in exams eisteddfod and concert performances

She has completed Child Mandatory Notification Training, has a national police clearnace, and is First Aid & CPR qualified.
To book a lesson with Amy or any of our other teachers please fill in the contact form or call us on 54925952 / 0412838546

 Tim Dashiell - Guitar and Drums

Tim joined our teaching team in 2019 and has been helping students achieve their goals not only with Caloundra Music Academy but has his own studio 'Hinterland Music School'  up at Mapleton. Timothy is a Bachelor of Music Performance graduate from the Victorian college of the Arts, University of Melbourne. With many years experience teaching as a high school instrumental music teacher, private music school tutor and as a working professional musician all over Australia. Experienced in progressing students through AMEB and ANZCA Modern Method grades, as well as preparing students for tertiary music courses. Tim's aim is to deliver a comprehensive learning experience by offering a solid foundation in music fundamentals and musicianship skills, that is also orientated around the students natural interest and desire to develop in the styles they love.
Tim joined our teaching team in 2019.
To book a lesson with Tim or any of our other teachers please fill in the contact form or call us on 54925952 / 0412838546

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Miss Emily Porter - Voice, Piano, Choir

 Emily joined Caloundra Music Academy in 2023 after moving to Australia in 2022. She grew up in England studying Music, Voice, and Piano, and completed her Bachelor of Music in 2018 majoring in classical vocal performance. She studied such modules as Arranging and Orchestration, Stylistic Composition, and Research for Music, whilst performing in many British youth opera companies alongside her studies. After graduating, she performed in a choir tour in Italy with Cambridge University’s Pembroke College Choir; and performed in a University-led music tour across many locations in China. Emily has been teaching privately for many years, and loves to teach all vocal styles: Classical, Pop, R&B, Musical Theatre, Jazz, and more. 
To book a lesson with Emily, or any of our other teachers, please fill in the contact form or call us on 54925952 / 0412838546

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Miss Amalie Grime
 Violin - Theory

I began my journey at Talara Primary College in 2013 through their string program and a year after I started taking private lessons. My family doesn’t have much music knowledge or experience so I’ve started right from scratch. Since then I have gone through many teachers such as Julie-Anne and Sprios Rantos, who is my current teacher. Sprios has been teaching and guiding me this year up to my goal where I will hopefully get into Griffith Conservatorium to further my studies in the classical world. During my time there I hope to improve on myself as a player as well as explore more knowledge about becoming an instrumental teacher. Even though I have had 12 months of being a student teacher with a few children privately, they have all seen significant improvement in their playing over the last year and are about to take their first AMEB exam. 
I completed year 12 at Meridan State College  and have been lucky enough to showcase my talents through a number of  instrumental programs. However, they are not as exposed to classical like most schools so I have been attending Sunshine Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Strings. I have been playing with them since 2015. During my time here I hope to gain more experience and exposure in teaching but my main goal for my future students is to introduce them the world of classical violin and allow them to discover the technicalities but also the elegance of violin where they can one day play composers such as, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, or even Paganini.
I will be heading off to the Conservatorium once I hear from them.