MUSIC BOX ACADEMY TUTORS
Anna Wild
Drum Tutor
Anna has always had the passion and rhythm for drumming and has been playing the drums for the past decade. Anna has had experience tutoring in Rotorua both privately and at Lakes Performing Arts Company before moving to Wellington where she now teaches here at Musicbox Academy. She has impressive experience working with Jazz, Concert and Brass bands across the country playing both behind the kit and with auxiliary percussion.
She has been in the lineup for multiple New Zealand festivals, including Newtown festival, CubaDupa and Winterfest in Queenstown. Anna is currently finishing her final year studying Commercial Music at Massey University. Anna is excited to share her love of music with you and her knowledge in drumming to the next generation of musicians.
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David Lester
Advanced Guitar Tutor / Owner
David Lester has been studying music for well over a decade and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Rock, Jazz and Commercial Music. David has explored and performed many styles of music over his musical journey, including but not limited to: Blues, Jazz, RnB/Soul, Metal, Pop, Reggae and many others. Whether you are a student or an established artist – David will guide you to reach your goals!
Ben Kelly
Piano
Ben Kelly is a multi-instrumentalist and has been playing piano from a very young age. He has studied Classical to Jazz, to everything in between.
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Ben is an active composer and sound designer, and a professional piano accompanist in the Wellington theatre scene.
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He has many years of experience tutoring piano around the Wellington region, and prioritises making learning music enjoyable as possible. This allows his students confidence to dive deeper into styles they are interested in and enjoy.
Jasper West
Guitar & Bass Tutor
Jasper has been playing music since he was three years old and has had many years of being the student as well as the teacher. He has Bachelor's degree in Commercial Music and is interested in blues and country music as well as pop punk icons like Green Day. Jasper is looking forward to bringing joy to learning music and helping you reach your goals!
Hanno van den Berg
Guitar & Bass Tutor
Hanno is a bassist, guitarist, singer and songwriter studying his Music Therapy Masters at Te Herenga Waka. Originally from South Africa he is qualified with a BMus degree and many years of writing, performing, recording and tutoring experience. He also creates is own original music under the name Well Done Sun.
Bella Mason
Vocal Tutor
From the age of 4, Bella has been belting out tunes.
While Bella recieved classical voice training, she has also performed in jazz, blues, rock, pop, opera and musical theatre.
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From the early days of teaching in the Far North, Bella's passion for music education has led her to her current path. Alongside her teaching ambitions, Bella continues to pursue her own musical endeavours as a performer and singer-songwriter.
Caleb Brbich
Piano Tutor
Growing up in Taranaki, Caleb was drawn to music at a very early age. In his time growing up, he participated in numerous musical events such as New Plymouths Festival of the Lights, Smokefree Rockquest and The Wellington Jazz Festival.
Wanting to gain more experience in music he decided to study Jazz performance at NZSM, where he gained a degree in Jazz Performance.
He enjoys playing various types of music from pop and Rock, to Jazz and Latin at venues all around the city. Passing on musical knowledge has become an important part of his passion for music, and he enjoys seeing students grow in their musical learning.
Chan Ka Man
Piano & Vocal Tutor
Camen is an exceptionally accomplished pianist and vocalist, and has achieved an internationally recognized PhD in Classical Singing and a Masters in Music from Victoria University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
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She has been learning music from a very young age, and has been graded in not only piano and vocals but Violin, Flute, and recorder as well.
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She has many years of experience teaching all kinds of students all over the world, and brings a bubbly and kind energy to all her lessons, which her students love her for!
Ashleigh Cole
Piano & Vocals
CEO / Founder of Music Box Academy
With over 11 years of teaching experience, Ashleigh Cole has shared her vocal talents, songwriting skills and piano knowledge with hundreds of her students.
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In 2016 she Graduated the Whitireia School of Music leaving with a Bachelor of Arts in Rock, Jazz and Commercial Music Performance, majoring in vocals.
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Continuing with her itinerate music teaching at various schools in the wellington region, she then moved onto teaching her own songwriting curriculum at Whitirea/TeAwaha School of Music in the Star Songwriting Course for aspiring Wellington songwriters.
Sharing and creating music with people has been one of her biggest passions, and that is what inspired her to open Music Box Academy in 2018.
With the help of small local cafe, ‘Le Maquis’ in Wadestown, Wellington. She began teaching piano and vocals there, and soon overflowed to the Wadestown Community Centre, where she now has a team of talented musicians that teach Drums, Guitar, Piano, Vocals and more.
"Music Box Academy is my dream and I want to bring as much joy and inspiration through music to the community that I can. I love what I do and I want to help more aspiring Wellington musicians find their voice in music, while giving back to the Wadestown community."