OUR ARTISTS
JOSEPH LALLO
Melbourne Saxophone Artistic Director
Joseph Lallo is a Lecturer of Music at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne, and performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. He is the Artistic Director for Melbourne Saxophone and the Melbourne International Saxophone Festival, and was the artistic and programming assistant for the 2015 World Saxophone Congress and Festival in Strasbourg, France.
Joseph has performed with the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria and The Australian Ballet, and as a soloist with China’s Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, and Melbourne's Pro Musica Orchestra performing Chu Wanghua's Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra, Joseph is a member of the esteemed chamber music ensemble Collide with cellist Yelian He and pianist Yasmin Rowe, as well as Duo Obax with oboist Briana Leaman.
Joseph has performed and given master classes in Paris at the Cité Internationale des Arts and the Théâtre du Châtelet, Singapore’s Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Saxophone Symposium and the Lasalle Contemporary School of the Arts, Tennessee’s Vanderbilt University, The University of South Carolina, the Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy in Thailand, Beijing’s National Library Concert Hall, The New Zealand Saxophone Academy, The Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music and The Monash Sir Zelman School of Music, The Australian Saxophone Retreat, and The Strasbourg Conservatorium of Music.
Joseph is a Selmer Saxophones Artist and a D'Addario Woodwind Artist, and performs on Series III Alto & Soprano Saxophones, Selmer Concept mouthpieces, and D'Addario Reserve Reed
JUSTIN KENEALY
Justin Kenealy is a multi-award-winning saxophonist who has been described as “an up and coming soloist who is worth watching out for” (classikON). Lauded for his “sensitivity and elegance, a broad range of dynamics and impeccable pitch and finger technique” (Classic Melbourne), he is currently completing his PhD in Music Performance at the University of Melbourne where he also teaches Music Performance and Saxophone.
He has earned fellowships in saxophone performance from Trinity College London (FTCL) and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (FRSM). His other successes include numerous awards such as the 2011 E&D Rogowski Award for Scholastic promise, the 2014 Lady Turner Exhibitions Award for excellence, the 2014 Orloff Family Trust Scholarship and the 2015 Donovan Johnston Scholarship. He has also had several competition successes, earning first prizes in the 2011 Australian Saxophone Society Competition, the 2014 Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Concerto Competition, and the 2015 Australian-Chinese Youth Music Festival Competition.
Kenealy has performed throughout Australia, France, the United States, Netherlands and China. Alongside pianist Coady Green, Kenealy performs as Duo Eclettico, Australia’s most professionally active saxophone-piano duo on the concert circuit. He performs regularly with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria and has also received guest invitations to perform with the Australian International Opera Company, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Concert Band, and the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) Orchestra among others. Kenealy has been featured on ABC Classic FM, 3MBS Fine Music FM, the Foxtel Arts Channel and the Chandos recording label.
Kenealy has also performed as a concerto-soloist with the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Symphony Orchestra, The Melbourne Musicians Orchestra, Preston Symphony Orchestra, The University of Melbourne Wind Symphony and the Eltham High School Concert Band.
DR. NESSYAH BUDER GALLAGHER
Dr. Nessyah Buder Gallagher holds degrees in saxophone performance and music education from Northwestern University (B.M. 2011), ethnomusicology from the University of Miami (M.M. 2013), and saxophone performance from Shenandoah Conservatory (D.M.A. 2016). She has studied with world-renowned saxophonists Fred Hemke, Dale Underwood, and Timothy Roberts.
In 2016 she helped found the all-women’s music collective, Re-Joyce! which performed in August 2018 as part of the Rosh Chodesh Society’s Art and Soul course. She has participated in numerous jazz, classical, and contemporary music ensembles including the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, Fairfax Wind Symphony, Doahnamics Saxophone Quartet, Melbourne Saxophone Ensemble, and 100SAX.
She has also participated in many music competitions, festivals, clinics, and masterclasses, including the International Saxophone Symposium held annually in Washington, D.C., and the North American Saxophone Alliance quartet competition.
She has conducted the Phi Mu Alpha Community Jazz Band, been a marching band clinician, adjudicated for sectionals and all-district band, directed saxophone ensembles, and has taught numerous classes and private students in saxophone, music theory, music history, composition, recorder, piano, voice, flute, trumpet, and guitar. Additionally, while at Northwestern she was the Artistic Director of the Northwestern University Saxophone Ensemble.
She is the 2012 University of Miami recipient for the Presser Music Award and a 2019 recipient of the Bright!Tax Scholarship for academic excellence. She is currently pursuing a PhD in musicology at the University of Melbourne to write the history of the concert saxophone in Australia.
SARA BEALE
Born in 1980, Sara began her saxophone studies at the age of thirteen. Coming from a predominantly sporting family in Gippsland, Sara was fortunate to have her curiosity for music nurtured. Sara was inspired to study music at university after hearing a performance of the VCA Wind Ensemble at her school, where she saw a baritone saxophone for the first time.
Sara attended The University of Melbourne completing a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Teaching. During this time, Sara studied with Ian Godfrey and decided to major on baritone saxophone. During her undergraduate degree, Sara was the recipient of the “Lois Singer” Foundation Award for the most meritorious music student completing the Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of teaching degree. Sara decided to return to University to complete a Master’s of Music majoring in Performance, she was the first female to attain a Master of Music Performance on the saxophone in Victoria. Throughout this time, Sara has been a member of “SAXE” saxophone quartet, who performed at the World Saxophone Congress in the U.S.A in 2004.
Sara has more recently performed with the Hador Saxophone Quartet, The Melbourne Saxophone Ensemble, Orchestra Victoria and the newly formed Clinch Quartet.
Sara is particularly passionate about delivering quality music education to children from the country. She has worked in the South Gippsland Schools’ Music Program for the past twelve years, teaching clarinet, saxophone and classroom music, as well as leading the Senior Wind Ensemble. Sara is also assistant conductor at the Wonthaggi Youth Brass and a member of the Wonthaggi Citizens’ Band. In her spare time, Sara plays in a funk band called “The Hip Pockets” and loves to play golf and tennis.
ADAM SIMMONS
MIRA STEPHENS
Australian saxophonist Mira Stephens is fascinated with exploring and expanding the edges of traditional saxophone performance, discovering new ways to incorporate elements of interdisciplinary art forms through composition and performance projects.
Within her Bachelor of Music Performance (Honours) at The University of Melbourne, Mira had the privilege of starting a duo with Finnish percussionist Tiia Toivanen. Embracing the challenges of the pandemic, the duo explores live improvisation and creativity within the online video call medium.
As an Artist at the 2021 REMIX Saxophone Festival, Mira was commissioned to write and perform a new ensemble work and run workshops with Festival participants. This is a precious opportunity to share the skills she has developed so far with younger saxophonists and engage wider audiences within a curated concert experience.
Her position as Administration Coordinator at Melbourne Saxophone (and Acting General Manager of the REMIX Saxophone Festival) has extensively expanded her leadership and collaborative skills whilst working alongside renowned international and Australian artists.
Mira’s entry Echos of a Peaceful Journey won finalist place in the 2020 Australian Saxophone Competition. As a participant in the Young Artist Program at the 2019 Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy, she had the opportunity to cultivate her extended creative techniques through a collaborative performance experience.
Alongside a study of music and art history, these experiences have been pivotal in inspiring her career trajectory. Mira is broadening her study of music and will continue to make creative projects that push past the expectations of traditional music performance.
ROB VINCS
LUKE SEVERNS