Principal’s Update – 20

Santa Sabina College is excited to announce the appointment of our new Artistic Director, Mr Timothy Chung, and Head of Instrumental Music, Mr James Pensini, who will both commence at the College in 2018. They will build on the vision for Music of our acclaimed Artistic Director Mrs Karen Carey, who will continue to assist us as the Artistic Director Emerita.

TIMOTHY CHUNG BMusEd, MMus, AMusA

Tim began his music training as a Choral Scholar at St Andrew’s Cathedral School and The Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has devoted his life to teaching, singing and conducting. He has directed many Sydney-based ensembles including the Willoughby Symphony Choir (Chorus Master), Coro Innominata (Guest Conductor), The Joubert Singers (Musical Director), Sydney Philharmonia Choirs (Chorus Master) and VOX (Foundation Artistic Director/Conductor), Polyphony (Foundation Artistic Director/Conductor), Principal Conductor of the Macquarie University Singers (2010–2012), Voces Sacrae (Founder/Singer), Mosman Symphony Orchestra (Guest Conductor) and Musical Director of Sydney University Musical Society SUMS (2012-2014).

As a countertenor, Tim has performed with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Choir, the Sydneian Bach Choir Cantatas Series at Sydney Grammar School, Sydney University Graduate Choir, Coro Innominata, Newcastle University Choir, St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir, Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Choir, Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra, Pinchgut Opera, Cantillation, ACO Voices and The Renaissance Players.

Tim has taught music at MLC School, The King’s School, Trinity Grammar School (Master of the Chapel Musick) and most recently, St Aloysius’ College as Head of Music (Performance). He continues to perform regularly with the early music ensemble Consort 8 and the Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral. He has adjudicated for the City of Sydney Eisteddfod (Choral) and is only the 5th conductor in the 77 year history of the Combined Church Choir’s annual Christmas performances of Handel’s Messiah in the Sydney Town Hall. Tim is particularly honoured to be taking up the role of Artistic Director at Santa Sabina College and continuing the vision of acclaimed music teacher Karen Carey, Artistic Director Emerita.

JAMES PENSINI MTeach(Sec Music), BMus(Perf), AMusA

James Pensini is one of the leading conductors of youth instrumental music in Australia and comes to us from St Aloysius’ College where he has been the Head of Brass, Woodwind and Percussion alongside newly appointed Artistic Director Timothy Chung.

James studied trumpet and conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has performed and toured extensively with many orchestras and ensembles. Performance highlights include performing as Principal Trumpet with the Sydney Youth Orchestra for five years including a tour of Spain and Portugal; performing as Principal Trumpet with the Australian Youth Orchestra including a tour of France, Germany and the Netherlands with pianist Jean Yves Thibaudet; performing as a member of the Sydney Symphony Training Orchestra and performing as Lead Trumpet with the Australian Youth All-Star Big Band including a tour to the Monterey Jazz Festival.

As a conductor James has worked in and run many of the finest instrumental music programs for young people at a school and representative level in Australia and has been privileged to lead multiple international tours to the United States and Europe. James currently conducts the Western Sydney Youth Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Orchestra for the Sydney Youth Orchestras and in 2017 James conducted the Sydney Youth Orchestra on a European Tour including workshops with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. James is a former National Board member of the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association and is regularly called upon as an adjudicator and guest conductor.