QPC 2025 ADJUDICATORS
Introducing our esteemed adjudicators, bringing their expertise and wealth of knowledge to our 32nd Queensland Piano Competition
Antoni Bonetti AM
Section: Concerto
M.Mus (UQ), D.S.C.M. (Sydney Con), ARCM (Lond), AMusA Antoni Bonetti AM is the founding conductor of Brisbane Symphony Orchestra and Noosa Orchestra. He also lectured at both the University of Queensland-School of Music (2004-2014) where he completed a Master of Music degree, and the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (1982-1992). He is Senior String teacher at both St Aidans Anglican Girls School, Brisbane and Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Noosaville. Antoni has composed and arranged many works for String ensemble and Orchestra.
Antoni has adjudicated Eisteddfodau in New Zealand (PACANZ), Rockhampton, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Longreach, Charleville, Armidale, Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Cairns, Gladstone, Dalby, Bundaberg, Lismore and South-East Queensland (Redlands and Aria & Concerto Competition). He has also performed, conducted, and given masterclasses across Australia, USA, Europe and New Zealand.
Antoni completed his secondary schooling at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music High School, studied violin with Robert Pikler and on completion of his degree spent 7 years playing and teaching in Europe.
In 1981, Antoni accepted the position of concertmaster of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra. He and his clarinettist wife, Ruth, form the nucleus of Quartetto Bonetti.
During twenty-four years at St Peters Lutheran College as Head of Orchestral Studies, Antoni built the programme to encompass many diverse ensembles. The Youth Orchestra of St Peters made six national tours, two New Zealand tours and a European tour in 1995.
Antoni has commissioned and written a number of compositions and arrangements for school and community orchestras, and has released a number of CDs with his various orchestras. Antoni speaks German, Swedish, French and some Italian, and his other interests include cycling, golfing, selling Paesold Bows and wine tasting, not necessarily in that order. He has held Memberships of various organizations including The Conductor’s Guild(USA), The Orchestras Of Australia Network and the Australian String Teacher’s Association (AUSTA).
He teaches violin and viola, coaches chamber groups and directs music camps.
Dr Hila Yusupov
Sections: Diploma, Concerto, Two Pianos
Dr Hila Yusupov is an accomplished pianist, educator, and researcher with an international career spanning performance, teaching, and academic leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Music and Music Education (1992) and a Master of Music (1997) from the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, as well as a PhD in Music from the University of Queensland (2019), where her research focused on the underrepresented chamber music repertoire of Uzbek composers.
After migrating to Australia in 2005, Dr Yusupov was appointed to the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney as a piano teacher, accompanist, and chamber music fellow. Her performance career includes collaborations with distinguished soloists and ensembles across the country. Among her notable engagements are performances with the New Cologne International Philharmonic Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House, with the Wesley International Chamber Orchestra at St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane, and chamber music tours in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide.
Dr Yusupov is equally committed to music education. She has held teaching roles at leading private schools and has served on the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Music Panel, including as Chair. Her adjudication experience is extensive, having served on panels for the Griffith University Young Conservatorium, the Hilda Woolmer Prize for Piano Accompaniment, the John & Sue Thompson Vocal and Accompaniment Scholarship, the Margaret Nickson Prize for Voice and Accompaniment, and the Bach Competition for Senior Piano, and the Queensland Piano Competition.
Currently, Dr Yusupov is a Specialist Lecturer in Piano at the Young Conservatorium, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. She also teaches piano at Somerville House and serves as an examiner for the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB). Her dedication to fostering musical excellence and promoting lesser-known repertoire continues to shape her inspiring contribution to Australia’s cultural and educational landscape.
Paula Girvin
Sections: Popular Style or Jazz
Paula Girvan is a highly acclaimed and versatile pianist. She has been involved with piano and music education since 1991.
She plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of musicians as the Head of School and senior lecturer at JMI (Jazz Music Institute), where she is widely recognized as a leading voice in tertiary jazz and music education. Her expertise and leadership in education are highly regarded, making her a prominent figure in the realm of jazz pedagogy. Her remarkable musical expertise and leadership has educated, fostered, and nurtured many students. Which has had an impact on the southeast Qld music industry and community.
Paula's sophisticated musical style, technical prowess, and unwavering dedication to jazz have earned her a reputation as a sought-after musician and standout performer. Her exceptional musical direction and contributions to various projects and productions have further cemented her status as a respected and accomplished musician.
Wendy Lorenz
Section: Diploma
Active as pianist, teacher, adjudicator and clinician, Wendy Lorenz has performed extensively throughout Australia and overseas and appeared for many of the major radio and television networks in Europe and Asia. A ‘Student of the Year’ graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium and Beethoven Bicentenary Medallion winner (awarded internationally by the West German Government), she has also belonged to a number of successful chamber ensembles including the highly acclaimed New England Ensemble, the Australian Piano Trio, the Young Sydney Piano Trio, the Phoenix Ensemble, Trio Empyrean and the Lanyon Trio.
In the solo realm she has appeared as concerto soloist with many of Australia’s leading orchestras and has featured as soloist on commercial releases with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Also active as a music educator, she has taught at the NSW Conservatorium, the Universities of New England and Southern Queensland, (where she was also Head of Music from 2000 to 2004 inclusive) and most recently the Australian National University. An experienced adjudicator and presenter of workshops, masterclasses and piano teaching seminars throughout Australia and overseas, (including guest residencies in China, Singapore, Malaysia and the USA), she has served as National Chair of the Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference Committee and recently succeeded Max Cooke, OAM as Artistic Director of the Australian National Piano Award. She is a Federal Examiner for The Australian Music Examinations Board for which she has also presented numerous examiner, teacher and student workshops.
Inna Kogan
Sections: Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and Two Pianos
M.Mus (Dist), B.A. (Mus) (Hons 1st Class, IL), B.Mus.Ed (AZ)
AMEB Examiner | Adjudicator | QMTA Mentor & Life Member
Inna Kogan is a highly respected pianist, teacher, examiner, and adjudicator with a lifetime dedication to music education. She began her piano studies at the age of five at a specialist music school for gifted children in Baku, Azerbaijan. A celebrated child prodigy, Inna performed publicly from a young age and won numerous youth competitions across the USSR and later in Israel.
She holds a Master of Music (Distinction) from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, where she studied under the renowned professors B. Lvov and M. Boguslavski. Her academic excellence is also reflected in her Bachelor degrees in Music and Music Education from institutions in Israel and Azerbaijan.
Since relocating to Australia in 1986, Inna has established one of the country’s leading private music schools. As director, she oversees the curriculum and teaches using her own Accelerated Learning method—developed over more than 40 years of experience. This method offers students a clear and structured pathway to technical and artistic excellence, enabling many to achieve high levels of performance at a young age. Many of her students have earned Performing Diplomas by the ages of 12–13, and many alumni now enjoy successful careers in music performance and education, both in Australia and internationally.
Inna is an AMEB examiner and a sought-after adjudicator, regularly engaged for major competitions including the Brisbane, Toowoomba, Gold Coast, and Central Highlands Eisteddfods; the Little Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition; the Queensland Piano Competition; the ASKM Gold Coast Competition; and the Toowoomba Charles & Motee Rogers Memorial Piano Competition.
As a dedicated mentor and life member of QMTA, Inna frequently presents masterclasses and professional development sessions across Queensland. She has also delivered a series of music history talks on Radio 4EB (Russian Ethnic Program) and actively supports regional communities by offering workshops and masterclasses in rural areas.
Paula Melville-Clark
Sections: Years 12, 13
Pianist | Educator | Adjudicator | Syllabus Consultant
Paula Melville-Clark is a highly regarded Australian pianist, educator, and music education consultant with an international career spanning over four decades. With a reputation as one of Australia's leading voices in piano teaching and pedagogy, she began her formal training in London, achieving a Licentiate Diploma in Piano from the Guildhall School of Music.
Moving to Australia in 1993, she furthered her studies with a Bachelor of Arts (Creative) with Distinction, a Graduate Diploma of Music, and a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Southern Queensland.
Paula’s professional journey includes teaching positions in England, France, Hong Kong, and Australia. From 1996 to 2008, she served as a Lecturer in Music and Music Education at the University of Southern Queensland, where she founded the Junior Academy of Music, a program designed to nurture young musical talent. Her innovative, student-centred approach integrates movement-based and kinaesthetic learning and has been widely recognised for its impact on piano pedagogy.
Paula has presented workshops and conference sessions nationally and internationally, including appearances at the Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conferences, National AUSTA Conference, Dalcroze International Summer Schools, and the National Institute of Education in Singapore. Her book Music, Moving & Learning in Early Childhood (2006) remains a valued resource in early childhood music education.
As the author of the ANZCA Teaching Diploma syllabus and current Specialist Consultant to the Board, Paula played a central role in designing ANZCA’s modern, flexible teaching qualifications. In 2025, she was awarded an ANZCA Fellowship in recognition of her outstanding contribution to music education.
She is also the founder and director of The Music Diploma Hub, an online learning platform that supports candidates preparing for ANZCA teaching diplomas through structured resources, video lessons, mentoring, and academic guidance.
Currently based in Toowoomba, Paula continues to teach piano, mentor music teachers, and support the professional growth of educators across Australia and internationally. Her legacy is one of generosity, curiosity, and deep commitment to excellence in music education.
Mimia Margiotta
Sections: Duets, Years 17-18
Diploma di Pianoforte (Italy); MPhil Musicology (UK); Honors degree Musicology (Italy)
Mimia maintains a busy teaching schedule both at her private studio and at the Young Conservatorium, Griffith University. She received her Diploma di Pianoforte with full marks from the Music Conservatoire “Gesualdo da Venosa” in Potenza, Italy. While living in Europe, she took part in several piano festivals and national and international competitions as a soloist, in piano duos, and in chamber music ensembles.
Alongside piano, Mimia pursued musicological research in the field of modern and contemporary music. She was awarded an Honours Degree with distinction (summa cum laude) in Musicology from the University of Bologna, Italy. She received an ERASMUS scholarship to spend nine months at the Music Department of Lancaster University, UK, and a European Community scholarship to complete a two-year Master of Philosophy in Musicology at City University, London. There, she specialised in the piano music of the Anglo-Indian composer K. S. Sorabji, producing a dissertation and critical edition of Sorabji’s Transcendental Study No. 99 for piano. During her MPhil she was awarded the Louise Dyer Award (Musica Britannica) to support her postgraduate research.
Before moving to Australia, Mimia became an accredited Associate Teacher of the Tobin Music System (UK), a method that teaches children the rudiments of music, harmonisation, and composition. She has also researched in the field of pedagogy, focusing on parental support in the musical development of young children, which led to the publication of an academic paper in the Australian Journal of Music Education (2011).
Teaching piano is Mimia’s true passion. Since relocating to Brisbane, she has prepared many students for competitions and has gained deep insight into the world of competitive performance. Most of her students are regular prize-winners at local competitions, with some successfully competing at national and international level.
Mimia is also an examiner for the AMEB.
Daniel Johnson
Section: Years 15-16
Pianist, Daniel Johnson, has been described by Yamaha Australia as "masterful and insightful", and his Chopin described as "stunning" and "a true pianist" by the late, internationally renowned concert pianist, Dr. Marilyn Meier. Born and raised in Mount Isa, Daniel began piano lessons locally with Pam Breen. After winning the Yamaha Keyboard Award for Queensland and the Yamaha Most Outstanding Performer of the year in 2000, he commenced studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with Oleg Stepanov and Dr. Diane Selmon. He then continued studies at the School of Creative Arts, University of Southern Queensland with concert pianists Wendy Lorenz, Renate Turini, Dr. Marilyn Meier, and at the conclusion of his degree with Helen Smith.
Daniel gives masterclasses, adjudicates, and examines for various piano competitions and eisteddfods across Australia. He has broadcast live recitals for the MBS network as part of the City Hall Recital Series in Brisbane and the New Sounds Recital Series at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. He has presented research papers for international conferences such as the Inaugural Messiaen International Conference and has been invited each year since 2009 to present research and perform at the World Piano Conference in Novi Sad, Serbia.
An advocate for Australian composers, Daniel has focused most of his academic research on the vocal, symphonic, and instrumental works of composer Miriam Hyde. He has piano works dedicated to him by Australian composer, Phillip Wilcher (Pirouettes, 5 Nocturnes for Left Hand Alone), and has given world premieres of piano works composed for him by American composer, Forrest Starling (Nocturne for Piano). He has just finished recording the second volume of the piano music of Dr. Nicole Murphy for Wirripang.
Daniel serves as a councillor, mentor, and artistic director of The Marilyn Meier Chopin Award with the Queensland Music Teachers Association (QMTA). He holds examination and performance diplomas from Trinity College (London), ABRSM, and the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) where he is also a senior examiner for piano, and a national/international examiner for Rockschool. Daniel has a Master of Music majoring in piano performance and analysis with distinction from the University of Queensland where he studied with Professor Max Olding. He currently lectures in music theory at UQ. When he isn’t busy practicing, he is working with students at his private studio The Artistry Labs: an audition-based program for advanced musicians in Brisbane.
Mitchell Leigh
Sections: Years 14, 15-16, 17-18
Mitchell Leigh commenced his musical studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, where his teacher was Max Olding. He subsequently studied at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver with Robert Silverman before returning to Australia in 1990.
He has established a significant career, primarily as an accompanist but also on occasion as a soloist. He has performed recitals with many world-class instrumentalists, including both touring soloists and principal players in major orchestras. He has accompanied at numerous International conferences, including the International Double Reed Conference (Melbourne, 2005), the International Horn Society Conference (Brisbane, 2010), the international Clarinet Society Conference (Melbourne, 2011), and the International Flute Guild Conference (Brisbane, 2017). His recent solo performances include recitals for the 4MBS Festival in 2023 and 2024.
Mitchell has performed many times as a member of the Qld Symphony Orchestra and has acted as repetiteur for several Opera Queensland main stage productions including Phillip Glass’s The Perfect American for the 2014 Brisbane Festival. He has also performed in numerous chamber groups throughout Queensland and other parts of Australia. He has been on the staff of the Qld Conservatorium since 1991 and continues to work in a casual capacity at the University of Qld Music Department.
Mitchell needs to spend more time away from the piano to work on his golf game, which is in serious need of improvement.
Jennifer Newcomb
Sections: Novice, Intermediate
T.Mus.A , QDEC I&II (Piano Pedagogy); A.Mus.A Classical Piano, Cert.Perf. CPM (Contemporary Piano); A.Mus.A. (Musiciaship); A.Mus.A (Singing performance); Principal Examiner AMEB Qld, Adjudicator and Presenter
Jennifer Newcomb has a busy studio at Oxenford, Queensland where she teaches Piano performance, Pedagogy, Teacher mentoring, written music subjects, Chamber music and Composition. She is called upon regularly for lecturing/workshops in pedagogy and piano performance. Her students regularly achieve high standards of results and awards and various musical occupations. She has held administrative roles in music organizations and has taught both privately and in the educational environment. Jennifer has a strong belief that music can be, and can remain a lifelong passion for those she has the privilege to mentor.
Jennifer has previously taught Choral ensembles and theory at Griffith University Qld Young Conservatorium (Gold Coast Campus); Has taught and conducted choral ensembles in the school and community environment; Adjudicated regularly in Eisteddfodau; Presented workshops and Teacher presentations and various Pedagogy information sessions.
Jennifer is currently Principal examiner for AMEB Qld, having examined for many years; She is Co-Coordinator of QMTA Gold Coast Teacher Group Composers’ Competition and has been past President/Coordinator or QMTA Gold Coast, past Secretary of ASKM Gold Coast, Gold Coast Light Opera Company and past Convenor of Choral sections at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod.
Jennifer’s students range from beginners to advanced performers exploring various styles of music. She tutors Pianists and string players in her Chamber Music Program was founder and director of “Opus Singers” vocal ensemble since 1986 and has been an accompanist to vocal and instrumentalists.