Meet the people.

Jo Kelsey (She/Her/They/Them)

Studio Director, Singing & Piano Teacher

Jo Kelsey is the director of We Are Loud Music School, where she is dedicated to empowering musicians of all ages to explore their creativity, build confidence, foster community, and improve mental health through the power of music. Jo founded We Are Loud as an inclusive and safe space for musicians, educators, students, and whanau, particularly those from the rainbow, disabled, and neurodiverse communities, ensuring everyone has access to opportunities to grow and thrive. With 15 years of experience as a music educator, Jo holds a BMus (Hons) in Vocal Performance and a Diploma in Music Teaching, along with extensive studies in psychology, coaching, performance anxiety, and neurodiversity. As a voice teacher, Jo is passionate about helping others discover their unique voice in a non-judgmental and supportive environment. Previously a performing and recording musician in both London and New Zealand, Jo has experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating the music industry as a young female artist. This motivates her to educate and empower the young people at We Are Loud, creating a more inclusive and equitable space for all musicians.

Teaches

Piano, Singing, Rock Band, Choir

Qualifications

BMus (Hons) Vocal Performance; Diploma in Music Teaching; Committee member, NZ Association of Singing Teachers

Experience

15+ years performing , 12+ years teaching

Wendy Mansfield (She/Her)

Studio Accounts Manager, Piano & Theory Teacher

Wendy handles the studio accounts and teaches piano and harp. With Grade 8 Harp and Grade 6 Piano and Music Theory qualifications, she brings solid foundations and a calm, encouraging teaching style. Over 10 years of performance experience and 8 years of teaching mean she knows how to meet students where they're at — whether they're playing their first scale or working through theory grades.

Teaches

Piano, Harp

Qualifications

Grade 8 Harp; Grade 6 Piano & Music Theory

Experience

10+ years performing , 8+ years teaching

Nikolai Pasichnik (He/Him)

Piano & Violin Teacher

Nikolai holds a BMus (Hons) in Classical Performance from the University of Auckland. He teaches both violin and piano, bringing a strong classical background with over 5 years of teaching and performance experience. His patience and attention to detail help students build solid technique while keeping lessons enjoyable.

Teaches

Violin, Piano

Qualifications

BMus (Hons) Classical Performance, University of Auckland

Experience

5+ years performing , 5+ years teaching

Becca Meyrick (She/Her, They/Them)

Drum Teacher

Becca has been performing for over 10 years and brings that energy straight into lessons. With 4 years of teaching and mentoring experience, she teaches drums, ukulele, and helps run our rock band sessions. Her approach is hands-on and encouraging — focused on getting students playing and feeling confident behind the kit.

Teaches

Drums, Ukulele, Rock Band

Experience

10+ years performing , 4+ years teaching

Jenni Smith (She/Her)

Piano, Singing, Guitar, Ukulele, Banjo, Mandolin & Songwriting Teacher, Health & Safety Coordinator

Jenni is a multi-instrumentalist and award-winning songwriter with a BMus in Popular Music and Songwriting. Named Songwriter of the Year at the NZ Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year Awards in 2018, she teaches piano, singing, guitar, ukulele, banjo, mandolin, and songwriting. With 15 years of performance experience, Jenni also serves as our Health and Safety Coordinator.

Teaches

Piano, Singing, Guitar, Ukulele, Banjo, Mandolin, Songwriting

Qualifications

BMus Popular Music & Songwriting; Songwriter of the Year, NZ Country Music Association 2018

Experience

15+ years performing , 5+ years teaching

Matthew Scarfe (He/Him)

Guitar, Drum, Bass & Band Teacher, Band Project Coordinator

Matt brings a wealth of experience as both a performer and educator with a BMus in Jazz Performance and an MMus from Auckland University. With over 15 years of performance experience across a range of genres, he coordinates the Band Project programme — giving students the chance to play together, develop ensemble skills, and perform live.

Teaches

Guitar, Drums, Bass, Band

Qualifications

BMus Jazz Performance; MMus, Auckland University

Experience

15+ years performing , 10+ years teaching

Ava Shields (She/Her)

Piano & Singing, Student Teacher

Ava is a singer-songwriter and performer who teaches piano and singing. With over 5 years of performance experience and 2 years of teaching, she brings a fresh perspective and genuine passion for helping younger students find their voice.

Teaches

Piano, Singing

Experience

5+ years performing , 2+ years teaching

Aeryn Aranda-McCue (They/Them)

Piano & Singing, Student Teacher

Aeryn has been a We Are Loud student since age 11 and now teaches piano and singing. A member of the band Mind The Gap, they bring 5 years of performance experience and a deep understanding of what it's like to learn here. Their teaching is warm, relatable, and grounded in their own experience growing up at the studio.

Teaches

Piano, Singing

Experience

5+ years performing , 2+ years teaching

Billie Swayn (She/Her)

Singing, Piano, Guitar, Bass & Songwriting Teacher

Billie teaches singing, piano, guitar, bass, and songwriting. Currently studying a Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance at the University of Auckland, she brings over 10 years of performance experience and a strong foundation in vocal and instrumental technique. Her teaching style is supportive and creative, helping students build confidence across multiple instruments.

Teaches

Singing, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Songwriting

Qualifications

Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance (student), University of Auckland

Experience

10+ years performing , 2+ years teaching

Logan Hunt (He/Him)

Singing, Piano, Guitar, Violin & Ukulele Teacher

Logan is one of our most experienced teachers, with over 15 years of performance experience and 10 years of teaching. He holds an ATCL Diploma Certificate from Trinity and studied composition and musicology at Victoria University. Logan teaches singing, piano, guitar, violin, and ukulele — bringing versatility and depth to every lesson.

Teaches

Singing, Piano, Guitar, Violin, Ukulele

Qualifications

ATCL Diploma Certificate (Trinity); Studied composition & musicology, Victoria University

Experience

15+ years performing , 10+ years teaching

Darin Findlay (He/Him)

Drum Teacher

Darin brings over 20 years of performance experience across rock, hip hop, jazz, and reggae styles. With 2 years of teaching experience, he shares his deep knowledge of rhythm and groove in a relaxed, encouraging way.

Teaches

Drums

Experience

20+ years performing , 2+ years teaching

Leah Garcia-Purves (She/Her)

Singing, Piano & Songwriting Teacher

Leah teaches singing, piano, and songwriting. She holds a Grade 6 ABRSM Piano Performance along with degrees in Communications and Law. With 10 years of performing experience, Leah has a particular understanding of how neurodivergence and music work together — making her a great fit for our inclusive studio.

Teaches

Singing, Piano, Songwriting

Qualifications

Bachelor of Communications; Bachelor of Laws; Grade 6 ABRSM Piano Performance

Experience

10 years performing , 2+ years teaching

Marcus Cheal (He/Him)

Drum Teacher

Marcus has been playing drums since he was four years old. With over 15 years of performance experience, he brings natural musicality and infectious enthusiasm to his teaching. He's proof that starting young pays off — and he helps his students find that same love for rhythm.

Teaches

Drums

Experience

15+ years performing , 1+ years teaching

Quenee Ragual (She/Her)

Studio Admin Team

Quenee supports the studio from behind the scenes as part of our admin team. With 2 years of experience as a Marketing Manager and 3 years as an Administrative Assistant, she helps keep everything running smoothly so our teachers can focus on teaching.