Faculty of Performing Arts

Dean
Aubrey Mellor

Performing Arts Foundation Studies

Programme Leader, Foundation Studies
Harris Jahim

Master of Fine Arts in Theater (Acting), Florida Atlantic University, Florida, United States of America
Certified Integral Yoga Teacher, Satchidananda Ashram, Virginia, United States of America
Lessac Kinesensic Training, Lessac Training and Research Institute, California, United States of America
Professional Actor Training Program, Ohio University, Ohio, United States of America
Actor Training Program, University of Miami, Florida, United States of America
Bachelor of Arts (Drama and Media), Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia

School of Dance

Lecturer/Programme Coordinator
Melissa Quek

Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons.) in Dance and English and American Literature, Tisch School of the Arts , New York University,  USA

Professional Achievements:

• Dancer in commissioned works for Dan:s Festival (2006, 2007) , Arts Festival Forward Moves (2008)
• Choreographer M1 Fringe Festival (2009)

School of Contemporary Music

Lecturer and Programme Co-ordinator, Jazz
Timothy O'Dwyer

Bachelor of Arts in Music, Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne, Australia

Lecturer, Popular Music
Darren Moore

Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance, Edith Cowan University, Australia
Associate Diploma in Music (Jazz Performance), Edith Cowan University, Australia
Certificate in Music (Classical Percussion), Edith Cowan University, Australia

Lecturer, Music Technology
Justin Hegburg

Master of Music in Music Technology, New York University, United States of America
Certificate in Master Recording Program II, Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences, United States of America
Bachelor of Music in Music Theory, University of Miami, United States of America

School of Theatre

Programme Leader, Musical Theatre
Tony McGill

Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Australia
Graduate Certificate in Arts and Entertainment Management, Deakin University, Australia
Associate of Music (A.MUs.A), Australian Examination Board
Licentiate Diploma (LRAM) Royal Academy of Music, London, United Kingdom

Professional Achievements:

• Played roles in Australian touring productions of Annie, 42nd Street and The Secret Garden
• Musical direction credits include Anything Goes, The Phantom of the Opera and Sunset Boulevard
• Founding member of the highly successful Australian cabaret group Combo Fiasco which performed, toured and recorded internationally
• Musical director and accompanist for Australian stars which include Marina Prior and Hugh Jackman. Lecturer, Acting

Programme Leader, Acting
Edith Podesta

Bachelor of Dramatic Art in Acting, National Institute of Dramatic Art, Australia
Graduate Diploma of Dramatic Art in Movement Studies, National Institute of Dramatic Art, Australia

Lecturer, Musical Theatre
Bronwyn Gibson

Master of Music, University of Western Australia, Australia
Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours), University of Western Australia, Australia

Lecturer, Voice
Aole Miller

Lecturer and Programme Co-ordinator, Technical Theatre Arts
Yo Shao Ann

Master of Fine Arts in Theatre (Lighting Design), University of California, San Diego, United States of America
Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Credit), National Institute of Education, Singapore
Bachelor of Arts (Merit), National University of Singapore, Singapore

Professional Achievements:

• Front Award, TV12 Arts Central, 2007
• Recipient of the Singapore National Arts Council Young Artist Award, 2006
• Recipient of the Asian Cultural Council (USA) Fellowship, 2001

Lecturer/Programme Co-ordinator Theatre Arts
Elizabeth de Roza

Masters of Fine Art, Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore
Bachelor of Arts (Theatre & Drama Studies, Communication Studies), Murdoch University, Western Australia

Professional Achievements:

• Practicing Professional Theatre Maker
• Presented performances at 3 International Magdalena Theatre Festivals in Rhode Island U.S.A, Singapore and Cuba
• Participated and presented work at the 18th International Theatre Laboratory, organised by Teatro Radici Lugano, Switzerland 2006
• Collaborated and presented commissioned works in Berlin Ghost Festival, Tacheles Arts Centre 1999 and M1 Fringe Festival 2005
• Associate Artist of The Substation Singapore

School of Integrated Studies

Head of School of Integrated Studies
Suyin Chew

Master of Arts in Arts Management, City University, London, United Kingdom
Professional Certificate, Public Venue Management School, Australia
Certified Behavioral Consultant, Institute of Motivational Living, United States of America
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, State University of New York at Purchase, United States of America
Certificate in Arts Management, State University of New York at Purchase, United States of America

Professional Achievements:

• Programme Leader for Arts Management at LASALLE College of the Arts from 2004 to 2006
• Lecturer and curriculum developer for Specialist Diploma in Arts and Events Management at Temasek Polytechnic from 1997 to 1999
• Programme Manager at the Esplanade in 1996
• Awarded a full BAT Scholarship (initiated by Esplanade) to pursue postgraduate studies in Arts Management at City University, London
• Head, Culture at the People’s Association, Singapore from 1992 to 1994

Postgraduate Coordinator, MA Art History
Jeffrey Say

Master of Arts (with Distinction) in Art History, LASALLE - Open University Validated Award
Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours), University of Queensland, Australia

Professional Achievements:

• Did pioneering research work on pre and post-war Singapore sculpture
• Played a key role in developing the art history programmes at LASALLE
• Conducted courses on Asian and Western art as part of LASALLE’s Professional Development Programme
• Gives frequent public lectures on art history in museums and other venues
• Conducted lectures on history of Singapore sculpture to docents from the Singapore Art Museum

Lecturer & Programme Coordinator, BA Arts Management & MA Arts & Cultural Management
Eilena Ong

MA Arts and Cultural Management, The Open University, United Kingdom
BA (Hons) Interior Design, University of Central England, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Professional Achievements:

• Programme Manager for Arts Management (Undergraduate Studies) and Professional Development Programme at LASALLE College of the Arts (2008 - 2009).
• Adjunct Lecturer for Interior Design and Retail & Hospitality Design at LASALLE College of the Arts, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Temasek Polytechnic (2003 - 2007).
• Business Development & Events Manager at Violet Oon Consultants (for Singapore Food Ambassador & Celebrity Chef, Ms. Violet Oon), for industry projects including Tasty Singapore Culinary Mission (TSCM, 2007) and World of Flavours (Culinary Institute of America - WOF, 2007).
• Design Consultant/Studio Director specialising in residential and commercial design projects. Clients include Interface Overseas Holdings Inc. in Tokyo, Japan; Miulan International Swimwear Boutique Chain; Gold Heart Jewelry, SingTel and Ministry of Defence Singapore, from 2000 to 2006.
• Research interests include the poetics of space and the analysis of form, function and meaning in the contemporary built environment and in the field of Food and Culture Anthropology; the significance and values transcended through the food of different cultures .

Lecturer, Arts Management
Benny Lim

Masters (Post-Lauream) External Relations, Marketing and Fundraising in the Arts, Libera Accademia Di Belle Arti, Italy
Licentiate Diploma in Performing Speech and Drama, Trinity College London, United Kingdom
Associate Diploma in Performing Speech and Drama, Trinity College London, United Kingdom

Professional Achievements:

• Invited to the initial creative retreat in May 2008 to generate creative/artistic ideas for the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010
• Conceptualised and developed ‘Initiation International’ a performance festival in Singapore, which attracted the participation of artists from different parts of the world (since 2005)
• Produced over 50 arts events (mainly theatre productions locally and internationally) since 2001 and has gathered corporate sponsorships from established local companies, such as SMRT Corporation, Hyflux, City Gas etc
• Received Seed Funding from MICA to develop an arts and heritage social networking network to promote arts education (2007)
• Performed monologues in arts events/ festivals in Singapore, Hong Kong and USA.

Programme Leader, Art Therapy 
Elizabeth A. Coss

Registered Art Therapist in the United States of America (ATR-BC)
Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in New York State, United States of America
Registered Art Therapist in Australia and New Zealand (AThR)
Master of Arts in Art Therapy, New York University, United States of America
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of Southern California, United States of America

Professional Achievements:

• Previously a faculty member at New York University’s Graduate Department of Art Therapy and New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Supervisor of Creative Arts Therapies for the Department of Psychiatry for a major New York City hospital
• Worked extensively with children and families in hospitals, hospice, foster care settings, schools and in private practice
• Co-author with Dr. Steven Schachter - Associate Director of Clinical Research for Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies at Harvard Medical School
• Presented about and developing art therapy education and practice throughout Singapore and Asia-Pacific

Director, The Learning Centre
Ruth Morgan

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Geography, The Polytechnic of North London, United Kingdom
Licentiate Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Trinity College London, United Kingdom
Certificate in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language to Adults, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Certified trainer on Cambridge University teacher training courses for English Language teachers
Certified examiner and examiner trainer for Cambridge English exams

Lecturer, English Language
Sean Lacey

BA French and German, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
MA Applied Linguistics, NIE, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Professional Achievements:

• Head of Dept (ESL) International School of Belgrade, Serbia
• International Baccalaurate teacher, Language B and Theory of Knowledge, ISS, Singapore
• Teacher of Second Languages (English, French, German) in South Korea, Canada, USA, Singapore, Serbia and Bosnia
• Research interests include Second Language Acquisition and Cultural Pragmatics