Louise Butler Strings
Beginner string ensemble for young musicians
Louise Butler Strings is tailored specifically for young string players who are just beginning their musical journey, from “open strings” to AMEB Grade 2 or equivalent. This ensemble provides a nurturing platform for building essential skills, making friends, and having fun!
At Music for Canberra, we firmly believe in the transformative power of performance, instilling confidence in musicians and encouraging them to share their love for music. Members of Louise Butler Strings actively participate in String Stream concerts and community events, where they have the opportunity to showcase their progress.
* To ensure the best possible experience, participants are expected to complement their involvement with additional individual instrumental tuition.
** Louise Butler Strings rehearses during the ACT school term and will align as much as possible with the school term schedule. Weekly rehearsal times will not change.
Saturdays 9am - 10:30am
Venue: Ainslie Arts Centre, Room 1
Conductor: Amanda (Mandy) Philipse
Fees: $270 per Term + Membership Fee
No audition required
Who is Louise Butler?
Louise Butler, a dedicated cellist and passionate educator, discovered her passion for teaching early in her musical journey. After studying cello under Colleen McMeekin, she formalised her dedication to education by completing her Music Education Degree at Alexander Mackie Teacher’s College.
Louise’s talents led her to the NSW Conservatorium’s Wollongong branch, where she instructed cello and tutored the training orchestra under Richard Gill.
Louise’s commitment to pedagogy flourished through the Australian String Association (AUSTA), where she engaged in workshops and conferences, eventually contributing articles to AUSTA’s national publication.
In 2010, Louise became the String Coordinator for Music for Canberra, overseeing the progression of string students through various orchestras. Her role involved mentoring conductors, supervising repertoire selection, and ensuring seamless pedagogical development.
As a prominent figure in the AUSTA ACT committee for over 30 years, Louise received the AUSTA National Award in 2015 for her outstanding service to the ACT String Community. ARIA nominated in 2017, Louise’s impact extends beyond the professional realm, with many of her students playing internationally or finding joy in local musical communities.
Her unwavering dedication to music education, and the development of young musicians remains the driving force behind her continued engagement and, as she puts it, “her idea of fun!”