Nathan is employed by the Chorale, joining the West Gippsland Chorale as Musical Director in February 2022.
Nathan is a highly regarded music educator, choral conductor, and accompanist, known for fostering musical excellence across diverse
educational and community settings. With a career spanning education, choral leadership, and musical theatre, he is passionate about creating inclusive, engaging environments where performers of all abilities can thrive.
As Musical Director of the Chorale, Nathan has led acclaimed performances of major works including Mozart’s Requiem (2022), Fauré’s Requiem (2023), Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem (2024, in collaboration with the Heidelberg Choral Society), and Handel’s Messiah (2024, with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Chorus). His leadership has strengthened the Chorale’s
artistic profile and broadened its community partnerships.
Nathan is equally active in musical theatre, having produced, directed, and musically directed
numerous productions, including The Addams Family – School Edition, Peter Pan JR, and Footloose
at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, alongside work with Latrobe Theatre Company and Class Act Productions Inc.
Nathan holds a Bachelor of Music (Piano) from the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, where he studied under Dr Mark McGee, and a Master of Teaching (Secondary) from the University of Melbourne.
Nathan teaches Music and Drama at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, directs several school-based ensembles, and currently serves as VicePresident of the Association of Music Educators VIC Inc. (aMuse) and Secretary for Class Act Productions Inc. He has previously held committee positions with the Australian National Choral Association (ANCA) and Australian Choral Conductor Education and Training Inc. (ACCET).
Accompanist – Chris Sim
Chris is employed by the Chorale, joining the West Gippsland Chorale as accompanist in May 2019.
Chris has performed and taught both locally and in Melbourne for many years. She completed her formal music education at The University of Melbourne’s Conservatorium of Music under the tutelage of Igor Machlak, Olga Kharitinova and Anna Goldsworthy.
Chris has been awarded both her Associate in Music Australia and Licentiate in Music Australia for piano, and, after obtaining her Bachelor of Music degree with Honours, qualified with a Master of Teaching (secondary) degree from the University of Melbourne.
A recipient of the Janet Clarke Hall Scholarship, the Vera Moore Scholarship and the William Angliss Scholarship, Chris has held positions as both a non-resident and resident music tutor and official accompanist at University College, The University of Melbourne, as an instrumental and music theory teacher at the Parkville Music School, an orchestral pianist for the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet Orchestra, and as classroom, ensemble and instrumental teacher for a number of metropolitan and regionally based schools.
Chris continues to teach music theory and piano privately in Gippsland, while performing as an accompanist for both chamber and solo engagements, in eisteddfods, exams and musicals.
Musical Director Emeritus – Jan MacLean
Jan has had a lifelong interest in Choral music and during her teacher training she sang with Melbourne University Choral Society, then Yallourn Madrigal Singers under the late Val Pyers, Geelong GAMA Singers and Hamilton Lydian Singers, gaining valuable insights in leading a choir from a variety of skilled conductors. In the early ’70s directed the Southern Mallee Choir in Hopetoun for their first ever Messiah performance. Moving to Horsham , she directed Christmas Choir for several years. She has trained various secondary school choirs and directed many school musicals.
On moving to Warragul in the early ’80s she founded the Warragul Madrigal Singers, which was later renamed the West Gippsland Chorale to acknowledge the wider variety of music in its repertoire. For 26 years Jan directed the Chorale, and has always seen the big picture in preparing the choir for the future. From its earliest years when it began winning eisteddfods, she always strove for perfection and was well known for her ability to encourage the choir to enter into the atmosphere of each piece of music.
Jan made contacts over the years with leading Melbourne conductors such as Jeffrey Crellin, Doug Heywood and Peter Bandy, and thus began a series of cooperative choral ventures with Melbourne choirs and their orchestras. The Chorale under Jan’s direction became part of the musical tradition of Gippsland and beyond.
Her community work was recognised in 1999 when she was awarded an Australia Day Medallion.
Jan stepped down as musical director in June 2010, she has remained involved with the Chorale. Music lovers hold her in deep affection and love and will continue to extend to her their profound gratitude for years to come.
West Gippsland Chorale 