Grantley Sutch

Grantley is a Co-Director of Cocurricular Music, Head of Bands and Coordinator of Brass. He is responsible for the ongoing development of the Band program and the Year 5 MEBS program; teaches trumpet; and conducts the Symphonic Winds, Wind Ensemble and the Senior Stage Band.

Grantley Sutch began his Music career at the age of nine, first playing the euphonium and, later, trumpet. Throughout high school, he studied trumpet with Stephen Hoggerhyde and Geoffrey Spiller (Principal Trumpet – Queensland Symphony Orchestra). He continued his study with Geoffrey Spiller while at university and also studied with Don Wilson (Sydney Elizabethan Trust Orchestra). Grantley specialised in Classical and Baroque Trumpet and graduated from the University of Southern Queensland and the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Music and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.

After graduating in 1992, Grantley was employed by Education Queensland as a Brass teacher, working in several schools from Sunnybank Hills to Yeronga and Indooroopilly. In 1996 he began teaching in the Ferny Grove region, finally settling at Ferny Grove State High School where he taught Instrumental and Classroom Music. Whilst at Ferny Grove he was responsible for conducting the Wind Orchestra, Big Band, Stage Band, Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensembles and Choirs. 

Grantley was granted the ASG Inspirational Teaching State and Territory Award from NEiTA (National Excellence in Teaching Awards) in 2010. In January 2016, he was appointed Co-Director of Cocurricular Music and Head of Bands at St Peters. 

Outside of St Peters, Grantley works as a freelance musician (currently performing with the Brisbane Contemporary Jazz Orchestra and the Peppers Pep Band) and is in demand as a visiting instructor and guest conductor. 

Christine Taylor

Christine is a Co-Director of Cocurricular Music, Head of Choirs, Coordinator of Voice and Keyboard Studies and a Curriculum Music Teacher. She has been a member of staff at St Peters since 2005.

Christine Taylor graduated from the University of Queensland with degrees in Music and Science and a Diploma of Education. These degrees qualified her to teach Curriculum Music, Biology and Junior High Science. She has since completed a Certificate in Church Music from the Newcastle Conservatorium and is now studying for a Master of Music at the University of Queensland, specialising in Choral Conducting and Music Education. 

As one of three Co-Directors of Cocurricular Music, Christine works with her colleagues, Grantley Sutch (Head of Bands) and David Deacon (Head of Strings), to enrich and enhance the musical opportunities available to the many students involved in the St Peters Cocurricular Music program. 

Christine has been involved in choral music as a chorister and conductor for many years. She is a current member and past national and state committee member, of the Australian National Choral Association. As Head of Choirs at St Peters, she coordinates the extensive choral program which includes ten choirs catering for students in Years 1–12. These ensembles perform a rich and diverse repertoire of music at concerts, church services, choral festivals and as part of national and international tours. Christine conducts Bella Voce Girls’ Choir, Junior High Songmakers and Saints & Singers. She also assists with St Peters Chorale. 

With more than 30 years of curriculum teaching experience in Brisbane, Cairns and Sydney, Christine teaches Curriculum Music classes for St Peters students in Years 7–12, including Years 11 & 12 International Baccalaureate and Queensland Curriculum courses. As a music teacher and choral conductor at Wavell State High School, Christine wrote and implemented Queensland’s first school-based subject in Vocal Music and Technique. 

Throughout her teaching career, Christine has been the Music Director and Stage Manager for many theatre restaurants and musicals. She has been the Producer for all productions of Year 8 Arts Kaleidoscopes, since its inception in 2007. In 2012, Christine was invited to speak at the 30th ISME World Conference on Music Education in Thessaloniki, Greece on the topic 'An Alternative Approach to the Concept of “The Musical” for Junior High Students'.

David Deacon

David is a Co-Director of Cocurricular Music and Head of Strings. Since 2008, he’s taken great pride in passing his extensive performance knowledge on to students in the St Peters String ensembles.

David Deacon is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium, where he studied violin and viola with Elizabeth Morgan and John Curro. He has completed postgraduate studies with the German violist, Wolfram Christ (Principal Viola – Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) and has performed extensively across Australia and throughout Europe and America. David has been an active soloist, chamber player and orchestral musician from an early age. He was Principal Viola of the Queensland and Australian Youth Orchestras and, upon joining the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 1996, was the youngest musician in the ensemble. 

David’s passion for conducting developed while he was a member of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra—from 1996-2006 he toured internationally and played with world renowned conductors such as Edo de Waart, Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Upon returning to Brisbane in 2006, he became Acting Associate Principal Viola with The Queensland Symphony Orchestra while also performing chamber music and teaching viola at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. Throughout his music career, David has sought to understand music from many different genres and styles. He has performed in specialist Baroque and Contemporary ensembles, Film Music Orchestras, Irish Folk Bands and as a Jazz violin musician. 

In 2008, David commenced a new career path in music education by accepting the role of Head of Strings at St Peters. He currently maintains this role, while also being one of the three Co-Directors of Cocurricular Music at the College. David takes great pride in passing on his knowledge learned through performing with the world’s best to St Peters Music students. He does this through ensembles like the St Peters Soloists and Chamber Music.