Kinta Wilson - President

Growing up on the fringe of Melbourne’s south east Kinta began learning Flute at the age of 12.  Music became her passion from her first introduction to the Flute and she began lessons and joined the school Concert Band, Flute Ensembles and Chamber Ensembles. She was accepted into the Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne in 1996 and completed a Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Teaching. Kinta began teaching Instrumental and Classroom music in Melbourne before travelling to London teaching (and travelling Europe) for several years.  On her return to Australia she moved to country Victoria, teaching music, and performing in several ensembles. 

Kinta now lives on a farm outside Penola, SA with her Hay Baling husband and three small children. She occasionally drives tractor’s, but much prefers to teach and play Music, currently at Naracoorte High School.  Kinta has been involved with the LCSO since its inception in 2012 playing Flute and Piccolo.

 

 

Helen Drinkell - Vice President

Helen has recently retired from a career which included working as a veterinary surgeon and teaching literacy and numeracy at TAFE. A passionate lover of a range of musical genres all her life, she had piano lessons as a child and sang in church choirs as a young adult. After hearing a friend play the clarinet, she put this on her “to do” list and finally began lessons after all her children had left home.

Since then Helen has enthusiastically seized opportunities to play in the LCSO, The South East Primary Schools Music Festival, her church music group and The Mount Gambier City Concert Band where she also performs the role of secretary. Her musical activities have brought her many friends and introduced her to some magical musical compositions.

Apart from her musical involvements, Helen’s commitment to lifelong learning sees her participate in a number of programs in the University of the Third Age.

 

Jennie Matthews - Secretary and Artistic Director

Jennie graduated from the Elder Conservatorium as a music teacher and violinist. After commencing her teaching career in Adelaide, she moved to Penola in 1985 and taught instrumental music in the Limestone Coast region until her retirement in late 2014. She was the founder of StringBeans, an ensemble for senior students and adult players, which had celebrated ten successful performing years in 2013 and became the backbone of the LCSO string section.

 

Jennie also plays oboe. She played horn with the Mount Gambier City Band for fifteen years and is currently President of the Mount Gambier City Concert Band. On retirement, Jennie received the 2014 Brand South Australia Community Individual Award and the AUSTA String Teacher Award in 2014-15 for her work in music education.

 

 

John Pratt - Librarian and Accommodation Manager

John was born in Mt Gambier and raised on the family farm at Mumbannar, which he now manages. He commenced piano lessons in early primary school and continued until finishing his secondary education, picking up the tuba in Year 10, which enabled him to play in the school concert band and orchestra. After leaving school, John returned to the farm and had a break from music until 2006 when he started viola lessons with Jennie Matthews.

 

He has been a member of the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra since 2010 as well as Mt Gambier’s StringBeans. John also volunteers with Camp Quality as a Camp Companion, is on the committee of the Dartmoor Show Society and a Trustee of the Dartmoor Cemetery Trust, and is an active member of the Mumbannar Brigade of the Country Fire Association.

 

 

Sebastien Pratt - Stage Manager and Website Administrator

Sebastien has long been a familiar face with the LCSO, helping out as ASM since 2013 at the young age of 15 he has been alongside the crew and committee to lend a hand whenever and wherever he physically can. Although having little experience in performing music, Seb takes a large interest and enjoys listening to classical music. Studying at Grant High School, Seb took an interest in performing arts, taking parts in several of the school’s prestigious musicals and working closely with the staff of the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Seb considers the theatre to be a second home for his adolescent life.

Seb considers his time with the LCSO career defining as he studies to become a drama teacher in Adelaide his decision to do so, heavily influenced by his adolescent years spent at the SRHT. Seb has recently taken over the mantle of Stage Manager and Website Administrator from Monica Hart and Dr Chris Waite respectively, utilising the knowledge and experience he has accrued thus far in his life.

 

The Management Committee sincerely thank the musicians and the many behind-the-scenes assistants who have given, and continue to give, their time and talents to bring the live orchestral experience to our patrons.