Damian Crisp

Owner / Guitar / Ukulele

BA

Damian’s love of guitar began from a very young age, where he began guitar lessons whilst growing up in Melbourne. After completing a Bachelor of Arts at the University of the Sunshine Coast he continued his studies, exploring and playing across a range of music styles. Now as Tempo Allegro School of Music’s owner and principal guitar teacher he brings a wealth of professional performance and teaching experience to his role. 

As an educator for over 20 years, Damian has worked as a primary school instrumental teacher, an instructor at private music schools in Brisbane as well as teaching many students of all ages privately. Working as a professional musician for over 20 years Damian has played in various bands and duos, has worked extensively as a session musician and has played alongside some of Australia’s biggest acts. 

Damian believes in a fun and practical approach to learning to play the guitar that combines building a solid technical foundation with increased musicianship, allowing students to realise their musical goals in a fun and inspiring environment.

Michelle Bull

Student Administrator / Voice

BMus Hons (Voice/Performance), GradCert (Creative Production/Arts Management)

Tempo Allegro’s vocal teacher Michelle Bull has been coaching aspiring singers for over 25 years. Since graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music with Honours in Classical Voice, Michelle has worked with singers of all ages throughout Queensland helping them to discover the joy of singing and their own unique sound.

Michelle has taught both in a private studio setting as well as at schools and workshops throughout Queensland. Combining her love of teaching with a varied performance career, Michelle has performed at many events throughout Australia, Europe and the Middle East, highlights being the Italian Australian Film Festival Gala dinner with Sophia Loren’ in Sydney and the opening of ‘Reemalum Aluminum’ in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She has also performed at various Australian Festivals and events with Brisbane vocal ensembles ‘belladiva’ and ‘Babushka Cabaret’.

Combining her love of teaching voice with performing, she continues to work as a vocal soloist for various corporate and private functions and events across Australia and overseas.

Beth Allen

Voice / Piano

B Mus Hons (Voice)

With over 30 years of voice teaching and performance experience, Beth’s teaching highlights include designing and implementing the voice program for the Bachelor of Music Theatre at CQCM, training teachers and students at Grammy’s Academy of Music in Bangkok and running her own vocal studio. 

With a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Voice (QCM), Beth studied music theatre at Sydney Actor’s Centre (learning with legends such as Nancy Hayes and Judi Connelli) and in London, studying voice with Mary Hammond (vocal consultant for many West End shows) and acting at the Lee Strasberg Studio.  She researched the science of the voice with international specialists at the National Voice Centre in Sydney, giving her the tools to help students maintain vocal health while changing styles. 

Gaining her A.T.C.L. in piano during her last year of high school, Beth kept studying piano at the Conservatorium.  She has enjoyed teaching piano students since graduating and has accompanied many singers and choirs over the years. Beth has worked with the Lyric Opera Chorus of Queensland, and as an oratorio soloist. She self-created several one woman shows and composed and recorded two CDs.  Currently, Beth is working on a collaborative art and original music project for Pomona Gallery called “Clouds and Beyond” and is looking forward to sharing the joy of music with the students at Tempo Allegro.

Matt HOme

Guitar

BFA (Music)

Matt Home is a passionate guitarist, performer, and songwriter with decades of experience in both teaching and live performance. Picking up the guitar at 14, he was drawn to the instrument as a tool for songwriting and creative expression. His love for guitar and arranging and crafting music led him to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music at QUT Kelvin Grove, where he further developed his musicianship and artistry. 

As a solo artist and band member, Matt has performed extensively across cafes, bars, and live music venues, refining his skills as both a guitarist and singer songwriter. Specialising in acoustic arrangements and songwriting, he enjoys exploring the nuances of solo performance and creating dynamic and engaging interpretations of songs.

As an educator, Matt takes a personalised and practical approach to teaching, adapting to each student’s learning style and musical interests. He emphasises musicianship, technique, and creative confidence, helping students develop their own sound while building a strong foundation on guitar.

When he’s not teaching, Matt continues to write, arrange, and perform, always looking for new ways to push his artistry and inspire others through music.

BRUCE ZHANG

Piano / Cello

Bruce started playing the piano at the early age of 5 in his hometown – Auckland, New Zealand. By age 11, he had further developed his love for music through learning the cello. As a multi-instrumentalist, this enabled him to perform in various music groups: duets, trios, quartets, orchestras, jazz bands, musical productions, and choirs. 

As a pianist, Bruce regularly participated in concerts and competitions. He passed his ABRSM Grade 8 Exam with distinction and the ATCL Diploma Exam with distinction by the time he was 15. Later, progressed to private piano teaching to students between the ages of 3-10. Only 4 years into learning the Cello, Bruce had already completed his Grade 8 ABRSM cello exam with high distinction. He held the position of Principal Cellist for 4 years at his high school, leading the cello section for the Premier Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. 

Aside from Bruce’s musical life, he is also a current undergraduate student studying Medicine at the University of the Sunshine Coast. 

“The unique approach and method required to teach each student are what challenge me to prioritise teaching in a way that is specialised and tailored towards each student. With almost 23 years of combined experience as a musician and knowledge from private teaching and theory to preparation for music exams, I have a deep understanding of what my students’ goals are and what I can do to help them achieve them.”

CHRISTINE FERRARO

Piano / Voice

Bachelor of Music (Victorian College of Performing Arts), Post Graduate Diploma in Music Education (Australian Catholic University)

Christine Ferraro has an abundance of performance and teaching experience.

As a graduate of The Victorian College of the Performing Arts, she has performed and recorded with Australian State Opera Companies in major soprano roles plus modern and popular works. She has also performed with The Australian Pops Orchestra, The Victorian Concert Orchestra, The Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra (with the late John Curro) and with the Christchurch Orchestra (New Zealand) for broadcast and others.

Christine was the singing voice for actress Greta Scacchi in the ABC series, “Waterfront (1984)” and engaged in character voice work for the film “The W-word (2021)” by Lindsay McCauley.

She won a Melbourne Sun Aria scholarship and trained with the celebrated vocal teacher Daniel Ferro at The Juilliard School of Music in New York. She performed and lived in Europe, and sang in the “SpolettoFestival” as solo guest artist in Mozart and Stockhousen’s “Stimmung,” then returned home to take up roles with Victoria Symphony Orchestra (Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto) and other concert performances, including Melbourne Spoletto Festival singing “Olive” in Michael Tippets “The Knot Garden.”

Christine breathes and lives for music and appreciates the individual support each student needs. A primary goal in her teaching ethos has always been to teach young singers the art of natural voice production, stage presence, and poise and confidence while having heaps of fun! With her additional skills of piano accompaniment and voice training, she has been successful in teaching voice and choir direction to many aspiring singers including one of the 10 Tenors, who currently lives and sings in the UK.

Her other students have successfully auditioned for musicals all over Australia. She has enjoyed teaching young singers and directing choirs in Melbourne and now, on the Sunshine Coast, where she recently prepared young singers for their roles in “Aladdin” and “Annie.” She found it very exciting to see their joy as their young voices developed and they became confident on stage. For Christine, it is a very special privilege to do this job: nurturing young voices and helping them attain their dreams.