The Conductors
Shaun Dorney - Director of Music
As Director of the Brisbane Regional Youth Orchestra (BRYO) Shaun has been musical director for various music camps and festivals across the nation and is Co-Director of Music for the McGregor Summer School at the University of Southern Queensland. He has adjudicated at many eisteddfods and was program consultant and assistant Musical Director for the Brisbane Festival's highly successful What a Classic! And all that Jazz! series with Tommy Tycho and 500 musicians. Shaun was National President of ABODA(2007)- the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association, which is aimed at furthering the skills of Australia's conductors.
Shaun is also Music Co-ordinator for the Logan-Beaudesert District, Education Queensland, organising instrumental music camps, festivals and functions catering for in excess of 4,200 students annually in over 55 schools and providing professional development and support to Primary and Secondary Music Teachers and Instrumental Music Instructors. An Instrumental Music Instructor in brass, woodwind and percussion, Shaun is touring Japan with the 35 piece Logan Youth Music Exchange Orchestra for a series of concerts. He has been Musical Director for many stage productions, and has toured Japan, China, Taiwan, Hawaii, and New Zealand and numerous parts of Australia with school and community bands and orchestras.
Rachelle Lee - Conductor, Scherzo Strings
Rachelle Lee began her music career in the Brisbane Regional Youth Orchestra at the age of eleven, so it is fitting that her experiences are now assisting the group that began her orchestral journey. As a violinist and violist, Rachelle has performed with the Queensland Pops Orchestra, The National Youth Music Camp String Orchestra, The Queensland Youth Orchestra and the QYO Chamber Orchestra, leading tours to Bundaburg and regional areas. She has also toured as a part of the Tommy Emmanuel Orchestra and has performed for a number of local musicals.
Rachelle's conducting career began with the BRYO Chamber Orchestra and having studied with Ralph Hultgren, Patrick Pickett and Roland Yeuong, she now conducts the Ormiston College Orchestra and BRYO Scherzo Strings. Rachelle was the music director for the Redlands Gala Music Spectacular, the Concerts for Cures Series and has been involved in producing a number of events with Vavachi Musical Occasions.
Rachelle's passion for music teaching extends over a decade, developing string orchestras and young string students to meet their potential. She is constantly seeking new ideas for events and experiences for the students through interesting an engaging repertoire and activites.
Erin Thomson - Associate Conductor
Erin Thomson is the associate conductor of the BRYO Symphony Orchestra, a post her father Shaun Dorney held soon after they moved to Brisbane from Roma, in 1988. Erin has been a member of BRYO for over 12 years, starting on Violin and moving to French Horn. Erin studied French Horn as the performance major of her Bachelor of Music at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. Erin's performance career has seen her participate with many other community ensembles including the Qld Youth Choir, Logan Youth Music Exchange (LYME), Sunshine Coast Choral Society and QYO II, QYS and QYO Wind Symphony. She has also performed with some of Australia’s finest musicians, including Andy Firth and Maestro Tommy Tycho to name a few. In addition to her studies at the Con, Erin has also studied courses in classical voice at the University of Southern Qld (USQ). With her father as her main inspiration and teacher, she has also studied conducting with Paula Holcombe, Neil Flottmann, Ralph Hultgren, and Emily Cox. Erin is a member of the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association (ABODA) and is constantly seeking professional training to continue her passion for conducting.