Full-time Staff
Paul
Edgeler—Head of Music and Trumpet
MMus, BMus (Hons), LMus, DipT
Before coming to Brunei in 2001 Paul was the Assistant Director of Music at St Cuthbert’s College in Auckland, New Zealand. His specialist areas are Music Technology, Composition and Jazz. He has received two commissions from the QEII Arts Council and his compositions have been recorded and performed in Japan, South America and New Zealand.
James Instone—Junior Music and Clarinet/Saxophone
BMus (Hons), FTCL, LRSM, DipT
James is in charge of teaching Primary Music at JIS. A clarinet/saxophone player, conductor/composer he has produced two CDs of his own compositions and has taught music in New Zealand, Australia and Singapore for over 18 years.
Garry Thin—Middle & Upper School Music and Piano/Voice
BMus, LRSM, LTCL, QSM, DipT
Garry is a pianist/accompanist, singer and tuba player. He is a member of the Serunai singers and before coming to Brunei he was the Head of Music at Cashmere School, in Christchurch, New Zealand for 18 years. He was also Director of Adult Community Education and conductor of the Cashmere Community Orchestra.
Bronwen Gill—Middle School Music and Cello/Double Bass
BMus (Hons), DipT L Mus TCL, LRSM (piano), LRSM (cello), FTCL
Before coming to JIS in 2007, Bronwen worked as a classroom music teacher and instrumental teacher for over 20 years in Christchurch, New Zealand. As well, she is an experienced conductor, chamber music tutor, music arranger and performer, particularly in her own trio and quartet.
Jill Chen—Middle & Upper School Music and Flute/Piano/Saxophone
MMus (Hons), BMus (Hons), LTCL, DipT
Jill joined the Music Faculty in January 2008 after graduating with a diploma in teaching and Master of Music with First Class Honours in Flute performance from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She also has a Licentiate Diploma in Piano Performance. She has been teaching flute and piano as well as accompanying and
performing for over ten years.
Jamie Sales—Violin/Viola
BMus. (Violin Perf)
Jamie has over 20 years teaching experience and for the past six he has directed string ensembles and taught violin ,viola, cello at JIS. Previous to this he was a professional musician on cruise ship tours travelling around North America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, Alaska and the Caribbean.
Pg. Sallehuddin—Drum-Kit/Percussion/Gamelan
Pg. Sallehuddin is a drummer and arranger with over 20 years of experience. His specialist areas are Latin, popular, jazz and
traditional Malay and Bruneian styles of music. He has taught at JIS for the past 3 years.
Erwani Matussin—Music Secretary
Erwani joined the Music Faculty in January 2005 after working in the Stationery shop for a year. Previous to this she was employed at the Empire Hotel.
Part-Time Staff
Nicole Sumich—Flute/Clarinet/Saxophone
MMus (Hons), BMus (Hons), LRSM, LTCL, DipT
Before coming to Brunei in 2001 Nicole was teaching secondary music at Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland, New Zealand. She has played flute professionally in various Auckland ensembles and she has been teaching flute, clarinet and piano for over 15 years.
Phyllis Thin—Piano ATCL, NZLA(Cert), AIRMT
Phyllis is a piano teacher and singer and is a member of the Serunai Singers. She has sung in choirs in New Zealand for over 20 years and has taught piano for a similar period from pre-school through to adult students.
Tony Chan—Electric /Acoustic Guitar and Bass Guitar
Tony is a guitarist and arranger with over 20 years of experience. He is employed fulltime as a professional musician with the RTB television
orchestra and he has taught at JIS for the past three years.
Chung Jiunn Yan—Classical Guitar
Jiunn has over 20 years experience teaching and playing classical guitar. He teaches guitar at the Do-Ray-Mi centre in Bandar and he has taught at JIS for the past two years.
Ir. Suhanda Hadiwinata—Piano M.M, LTCL, ATCL, A.Mus.A.
Suhanda is a pianist and music arranger with interests in classical and
romantic period music. For the past 30 years he has been performing and teaching in various countries including Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia & Brunei.
Sharon O Jusay @ Syahminah Rasyidah—BMus (cum laude) – Piano Perf.
Pianist, accompanist and singer with over 12 years teaching experience. She was a member of the Philippine Circulo de Pianistas and has
performed professionally both as soloist and as part of various music ensembles. In 2001, she was elected member of the Phi Kappa Phi
International Honour Society, University of the Philippines Chapter. At present she teaches at JIS in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Melissa Robbins—Violin BA (cum laude) MA (distinction)
Melissa began playing violin when she was 5. She is trained in the Suzuki method and integrates Suzuki philosophy into her teaching. She has played violin in orchestras in the U.S. and studied traditional Indonesian string instruments.
Sarah Jane Jusay @ Marian Sarah—Piano/Guitar BSc, HND, Dip
Sarah started playing the piano at the age of seven and then the guitar
at age eleven. Apart from piano, she also teaches guitar (both classical
and pop). She took up drums while in college and has been teaching it for almost three years now. Main areas (drums): rock, pop, shuffle & blues, ballads.