Hermann-Lietz School - Haubinda
Westville Girl's High School, Durban, South Africa
Phorms Süd
Academic & Professional Training
My path has been a transformation from performer to educator. Trained as a pianist and organist at the Mozarteum Salzburg, I began my career on stage before shifting my focus to teaching.
I was formally accredited to teach through a state certification process in Germany (Berlin Senate for Education), based on my teaching experience, academic qualifications, and successful classroom evaluation, and have since built extensive experience across national and international school systems.
Working in different countries and cultures has given me the opportunity to grow as an educator, adapting my teaching to diverse contexts and student needs. This combination of artistic background and pedagogical practice continues to shape my approach: combining excellence in performance with a clear and practical commitment to guiding students.
1991 - Bachelor of the Arts in Music Degree
I completed my Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Studies (organ and piano) at the Mozarteum University Salzburg, in Mozart’s birthplace, and one of Europe’s leading conservatories with an international reputation for excellence in music and the performing arts. The programme combined rigorous academic study with intensive performance training, including music theory, history, pedagogy, harmony, counterpoint, and choir conducting.
A central component was the final public recital, demonstrating solo and chamber repertoire across a range of styles and periods, reflecting both technical mastery and musical versatility.
This training laid the foundation for my work in both performance and education, combining artistic depth with a practical approach to musicianship.
2010 — Teaching License
In June 2010, I was granted permanent approval to teach music in Berlin by the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family. This state teaching license qualifies me to teach at secondary level and reflects formal recognition within the German education system.
It has supported my continued international teaching career, including work within IGCSE and IB programmes.
https://www.berlin.de/sen/bjf
2022 — IB Diploma Programme Music
(Category 2)
Completed advanced IB training in curriculum development, assessment strategies, and delivery at an experienced level.
2013 — IB Diploma Programme Music
(Category 1)
Completed foundational IB training covering course structure, assessment, and implementation of the programme.
2012 – University of Cambridge
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) – Accreditation in School-based Assessment (Music)
In 2012, I completed official training and accreditation with Cambridge International Examinations, qualifying me to assess and moderate student coursework in IGCSE Music in line with CIE regulations.
This accreditation strengthened my role as a music educator within international school systems, supporting the delivery and assessment of performance, composition, and listening components to recognised international standards.
1991 – Art & HandcraftStudies
Alongside my music studies at the Mozarteum Salzburg, I undertook visual arts and handicrafts as part of a secondary teacher training programme. This included drawing, painting, and sculpture, alongside practical disciplines such as woodworking, metalwork, paper crafts, bookbinding, and calligraphy.
This broad artistic training deepened my understanding of creativity, design, and material processes, and continues to inform my interdisciplinary and hands-on approach to music education. It also proved valuable in later leadership roles, particularly as Head of Fine Arts, where a wider artistic perspective was essential.
My early experience across multiple artistic disciplines, combined with my later focus on piano and organ, has shaped a teaching approach that balances technical development with creativity and individual expression.