Guitarist Michelle Shih, one of our wonderful guitar teachers here at Jazz Workshop Australia, is nearing completion of her third music degree. As if a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music weren’t enough, she is soon to complete a Bachelor of Music Performance in improvised music from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Her final recital is on Thursday 23 November, 10am at the Conservatorium in the Music Workshop. The recital is open to the public and free to attend.
As well as teaching guitar, many of you might know Michelle through her admin work with JWA, answering emails and coordinating students & teachers. She also performs regularly as a freelance guitarist and leads the popular MiSa Jazz Sydney project – a guitar duo, trio, and band.
Michelle’s background was in classical guitar and traditional Taiwanese Nanguan music. She majored in classical guitar in her first music degree and won first place in the prestigious Taiwanese National Guitar Competition. On moving to Sydney her interest shifted to jazz and improvised music. Michelle set about this challenging shift in focus with impressive energy and determination. She took jazz guitar lessons with Australian master Steve Brien. She also began studying at Jazz Workshop Australia, taking private lessons with Saul Richardson and, probably most impactfully, joining the jazz combo program.
Since then and remarkably quickly Michelle Shih has established herself as an important emerging artist in the Sydney improvised music and jazz scenes. She plays professionally and teaches a dedicated cohort of private students at JWA. A very impressive story. We’re proud to have Michelle with us at JWA and congratulate her on her soon-to-be-completed studies!
Michelle’s recital is Thursday 23 November 10am at Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the Music Workshop. Entry is free, all welcome.
