Christine Bartlett, Musical Director
Christine learned piano from the age of 6 from a variety of teachers including Jennifer Hammond, a pupil of Frank Hutchins. Music elective at high school presented opportunities to branch into other instruments including clarinet and violin. It was during this time Christine first joined the orchestra (then the Blue Mountains Youth Orchestra) in the role of accompanist.
After securing a scholarship to the Conservatorium of Music she studied piano under Margaret Hughes, violin with Magda Hammond, singing with Roslyn Dunbar and developed a love of that much maligned instrument, the recorder, after studying with Victor McMahon. Further studies presented the opportunity to take up the trumpet under Peter Walmsley, from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
A career in primary teaching led to extensive experience with school choirs and music teaching in schools.
Christine returned to the Blue Mountains Orchestra over 20 years ago, occasionally performing some piano works with the orchestra such as Rhapsody in Blue and movements from Mozart piano concertos. The need to start a training orchestra provided an introduction to orchestral conducting.
A desire to make orchestral playing accessible to amateur musicians is the basis of Christine's approach to music selection and rehearsal for the BMO, providing music that is enjoyable to play and listen to.
History of the Orchestra
The Blue Mountains Youth Orchestra (BMYO) was founded by Springwood violin teacher Kathleen Stokes in the early 1970s. When she retired in 1981, Richard Bournes became the conductor. He first conducted the orchestra on 12th June 1981 in the Uniting Church Hall, Springwood - a building which no longer exists. In 1982 the BMYO was wound down and the Blue Mountains Orchestra (BMO) was formed. Under the structure of the BMYO more mature musicians were not allowed membership.
In 1985 the Blue Mountains Training Orchestra was formed with Suzanne Hodge as the Musical Director. In 1986 Suzanne Hodge became Musical Director of the training and senior sections of the orchestra. The orchestra was incorporated in October 1995 under the Associations Incorporation Act 1984 and became the Blue Mountains Orchestra Inc. Suzanne stayed as Musical Director until her retirement in 2013. Mal Hewitt was Musical Director from 2014 to 2019.
The Orchestra is presently under the musical direction of Christine Bartlett and performs two concerts per year. New orchestra members are welcome to join, (please see our "join us" and "contact" pages). A number of orchestra members have made professional careers as music teachers and/or musicians.