Wyana O’Keefe

(ANU Bachelor of Music Performance, Master of Teaching)

Wyana is a vibrant and enthusiastic educator, conductor, and performer, with a passion for sharing her love of music and music making.

Wyana began her musical journey, learning piano as a young child. She commenced playing percussion in high school and went on to study the instrument at the University of Western Australia and the Australian National University. Since graduating from the ANU with a Bachelor of Music Performance in 2005, Wyana has been an active member of the musical community in Australia working as a professional freelance musician in Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Townsville. Highlights of her career include, touring with Opera Australia's My Fair Lady (2009), performing as soloist with the Barrier Reef Orchestra in 2021 and her role of Principal Percussionist of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra for over 12 years. She is very proud of her work as percussionist, arranger and founding member of Canberra’s premier chamber music group, The Griffyn Ensemble.

Wyana has a career spanning over 20 years as instrumental teacher and ensemble director across the public and private systems throughout Australia. Upon completion of her Master of Teaching in 2019, Wyana moved into the classroom, playing an integral role in the roll out of the Y4-6 Instrumental Immersion Program at Southern Cross Catholic College (QLD). She has been sought after to provide tutorials for music camps, youth orchestras, school music incursions and provide master-classes for ATAR, VCE, HSC and AMEB candidates and auditionees, as well as presenting professional development sessions in her specialist area. Wyana has been the conductor and musical director of numerous school and community concert bands including the Canberra City Band (ACT), Claremont Concert Band (WA) and the Junior Band at prestigious Melbourne specialist music school, Blackburn High. In 2021 and 2022, Wyana was appointed band specialist for the the Mulkadee Youth Arts Festival in North Queensland, bringing together massed instrumentalists from around the region.

Upon relocation to Canberra in 2022, Wyana joined Canberra Girls Grammar School as a music specialist in the Junior School. She was appointed Head of Bands in 2023 where she has made a marked impact on the growth of the program with an emphasis on championing Australian music. In 2024, Wyana was nominated as a 'Teaching Giant' at the TQI World Teachers Day event in Canberra.