About Us
Our Philosophy
The art of singing, playing music and performing should be a natural and joyful experience, whether you are a beginner or professional student.
Stella Studioz aims to provide not only a service, but a community. We strive ourselves to deliver quality music and performance tuition by an elite team of professional musicians and performers, maintaining an excellence of standard for our industry.
With that said, we are a community, and not everyone wants to be a professional musician. We, with pride and unwavering commitment, ensure that we provide a haven for creativity, a refuge for originality and a sanctuary of humanity, where race, colour, age and history are irrelevant to your potential as an expressive individual.
Everybody is different, and we welcome this with open arms.
We teach longevity for not only the voice, but for the soul. We teach technique not only for the skill, but for the passion in pride of growth. We teach music not only for the experience, but for the power of healing it holds. We offer a place for everyone.
The Studio
Stella Studioz is the only vocal and performance studio of its kind in the Shoalhaven.
Boasting five tuition rooms, each are equipped with professional P.A., lighting, instruments and computing. Our rooms are designed to inspire creativity in a safe, welcoming environment.
One of our features is the Music-Room, adorned with graffiti art from local artist Julian Sinclair, it is the ultimate space to develop aspiring performers. Our quality professional lighting setup allows us to create dynamic scenes for our performers, with both live & recording opportunities happening throughout the year.
The technology of each Studio allows for not only for audio-production, but for graphic and video productions allowing our students to stay up to date with todays industry.
Our Practice
Here at Stella Studioz, we have an inspiring line-up of teachers. All our teachers are guaranteed to bring exceptional, tuition founded upon their years of professional experience. They are friendly and respectful communicators in their given fields of expertise.
Stella Studioz is committed to providing their students with the highest quality tuition, with a strong focus on performance across all styles/genres including Contemporary, Rock and Pop, R&B, Rap, Country, Jazz, Blues, Indie, and Dance.
Stella Studioz has an unwavering commitment to developing and inspiring our students to blossom into confident and skilled vocalists, musicians and performers, focused on leaving a lasting impact on their audience.
Our Team!
Sian Ludlow
Director, Vocal & Performance Coach
Bio
Sian has worked as a professional vocalist for over 17 years, and is a highly-recognised and sought after performer in the duo Stella Girlz, leading her to pursue a career in teaching vocals and performance with the creation of Stella Studioz in 2014. Following the Voiceology Method, Sian’s expertise in vocal & performance tuition is highly sought after up and down the South Coast.
As a singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Sian provides in-depth knowledge to her students that only years of performance and gigging can provide, turning beginner singers and performers into paid professionals. Sian also works closely writing with artists, and provides coaching in recording sessions to guarantee the artist can give the best performance they can in record time.
Sian’s dedication and business ethic paid off with her receiving the Business Awards’ ‘Young Entrepreneur of The Year 2017’, winning both the Shoalhaven & Illawarra region and placing in State.
Outside her role as Director of the Studio, Sian is currently singing & performing in the trio, Stella & Sam, comprised of herself, Nicki Taunton-Gibb and Sam Tacey.
Sam Tacey
Director, Guitar, Bass, Keys & Production Coach
Bio
Sam has lived on the South Coast since 2010, beginning a career in music in 2013 and completed his Bachelor of Music – Contemporary Performance at JMC Academy in 2015. Currently Sam teaches Guitar, Bass, Keys, Production and Theory.
Picking up the guitar at the age of 10, Sam has cultivated his knowledge in a variety of music styles and instruments, working on a variety of composition & production projects resulting in extensive knowledge on a broad range of industry topics.
In between students, Sam develops programs in the studio and regularly provides recording opportunities for students.
Outside of the studio, Sam performs with local artists as a session musician and is currently playing & performing in the trio, Stella & Sam.
Jasper Almond-Smith
Administration & Vocal Coach
Bio
Jasper was born on the South Coast, however shortly after moved to Darwin. Returning in 2017, Jasper joined the Studio as a Receptionist and has since been a critical part of building it to what it is today. Hailing from a family entwined with artists, Jasper has a keen eye on literature and a passion for contemporary music.
During her high school years, Jasper worked as an instructor for a dance studio in Darwin. Shortly after starting at the Studio, Jasper trained in Voiceology under Sian, and Keys with Sam. This training combination has made Jasper in high demand as a Vocal & Performance coach, while in between her students she assists in program development and coordinating Reception.
Scott Bowcher
Saxophone, Violin and Drama Coach
Bio
”Scott Bowcher is a well-known local multi-instrumental professional musician & actor, holding an Advanced Diploma in Performance (Acting) and a Diploma in Musical Theatre (Singing, Dancing and Acting) from the Canberra Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Scott’s musical talent stems from his family, himself with over 20 years playing Fiddle/Violin and 15 years as a Jazz/Blues Saxophonist. A highlight of his career has been touring alongside Jon English as a Tenor Saxophone, Violin, Vocalist & Actor, performing in 4 states over 8 months.
Scott has been, and continues to be, involved in both the Stage and the Screen, and is currently working within the Albatross Musical Theatre Company. His recent credits include performance as Freddie Trumper in ‘Chess’, and as the Orchestral Director for ‘The Little Mermaid’.
His other involvements include Honest Puck Theatre Company, Wild Voices Music Theatre, Roo Theatre, Blue Vibes Music, The Harbour Agency and Sound One.
Neil Foley
Guitar, Drum & Production Coach
Bio
Neil has spent the last 15 years in an alt-rock band playing in the circuit across Sydney and NSW, has played at well known festivals such as the Vans Warped Tour, Bushfire relief concerts alongside titans of Australian music such as Yothu Yindi, Jimmy Barnes and many more.
Neil is currently working on his solo project ‘Old Haunts’. Which has had over 50,000 streams. Mr Foley has been writing, recording, and working with some of his biggest musical influences in the music industry.
In Recent achievements Neil charted #13 on the Netherlands alternative charts, and featured in the Australian Guitar magazine.
John Gwilliam
Bass & Guitar Coach
Bio
Nathan Edwards
Drum & Vocal Coach
Bio
Nathan is a UOW alumni, graduating with a Bachelor in Music. After leaving University, Nathan began to turn his focus to teaching music and drums to students of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. With a strong passion for drumming and music, he hopes to instil the same passion in his students.
Nathan has toured and performed with successful bands across Australia, mixing with some of the biggest names in Australian music. Some of these big names include: Dead Letter Circus, Tzar Bomber, Latham’s Grip and many more!
His experience means he has the ability teach and perform a range of genres, including: Progressive Metal, Rock, Jazz & Country.
Jaden Spence
Vocal & Guitar Coach
Bio
Jaden resides on the South Coast and is a passionate musician. An exceptional guitarist having played since he was 13 years old, Jaden is a gifted musician well beyond his years.
Jaden completed his Diploma of Music, majoring in Jazz theory, and is trained in Voiceology under Sian for 4 years. An accomplished performer as a singer/songwriter and guitarist, Jaden is a vocal & guitar coach at the studio. Outside of the studio, Jaden gigs professionally across NSW/ACT as a soloist as well as being involved in various duos/bands, most notably local act The Groove.
Jaden currently performs in the local band Gotu.
Harmony Dyer
Vocal & Keys Coach
Bio
Harmony is an amazing teacher and live music & theatre performer!
In 2021 she received full marks for her HSC music performances, and she is a featured vocalist in Southern Stars, Arena Spectacular and The Illawarra Regional Touring Ensemble. Harmony is a proud member of Albatross Musical Theatre Company, and has featured in a number of productions to date.
Adored by her students, Harmony is an inspirational coach for young vocalists and pianists.
Damion Stirling
Traditional Percussion & Dance Coach
Bio
Sako Dermenjian
Classical & Flamenco Guitar Coach
Bio
Sako Dermenjian is an Armenian classical guitarist, born and raised in Syria, and now based in Australia.
He was given his first guitar at the age of 7 as a gift from his grandmother and it hasn’t left him since. When he left Syria at the age of 17, the guitar became one of the few constants over the next few years of Sako’s life.
After studying with the great Mazen Al-Saleh for 9 years in Damascus, Sako was already on the path of achieving his dream to become a world-renowned classical guitarist and teacher. Then war broke out and changed his plans.
On arrival in Australia a few years later, Sako was forced to re-think the direction of his music. The intensity of war had left him with a sense of urgency to make the most of his life. He was eager to start a-new at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, but again plans were delayed when he learned he needed an extra qualification in order to gain admission. He would have to call on all those years of patience and dedication that made him the guitarist he is today.
Studying a Diploma of Music at TAFE Illawarra with teacher Michael Barkl turned out to be a year full of exploration and growth for Sako. It allowed him to discover different parts of himself musically and took his playing to a new direction. His music gave him a way to participate more in the community and it wasn’t long before people started to notice him.
One gig led to another, in 2016 he was invited to perform for the Lord Mayor at the Wollongong Australia Day awards dinner. Later that year he was invited to play in front of a global audience at TEDx Wollongong and talk about his journey under the theme ‘It’s about time’.
In 2017, Sako was accepted into a Bachelor of Performance majoring in classical guitar at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. After being completely self-taught for the last five years, he is about to start his first year with his new teacher, Vladimir Gorbach.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, the Wodi Wodi & Wandandian people of the Yuin nation. We recognise their connection to the land and the waters over thousands of years and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and future, and extend that respect to First Nations peoples here today.
