The Musical Futures Australia Team

Ken Owen

Ian Harvey

Anna Gower

Ken is a Director of Musical Futures Australia where the rollout of Musical Futures has been supported by the Victorian Government and The Dept of Education and Training. Working with Musical Futures Australia and the Musical Futures International core team of teachers and practitioners, he continues to provide teacher professional learning to Australian Educators as well as heading up the development of new approaches and resources for teachers across Australia and beyond. Ken also lectures at Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music.  Contact Ken.

​Ian  is one of the two Directors of Musical Futures in Australia. Ian trained as a teacher but has spent most of his career working in and around the music industry, though has always maintained strong ties to music education.  Ian was Executive Officer of the Australian Music Association from 2000- 2011, a member of the National Review of School Music Education  and the designer of Music Count Us In.  Ian  and Co-Director Ken Owen established Musical Futures Australia in 2010 following the successful pilot program run in Victorian and Queensland schools a year earlier.
​Contact Ian.

​Anna worked for over 18 years as a classroom music teacher, Advanced Skills Teacher, Head of Department and Head of Community Music. Anna was a founder core team member of Musical Futures UK and now works as a freelance music education consultant. She has supported the work of many organisations in the UK including Music Mark, Trinity College London, and The BBC as well as working regularly with Music Education Hubs. An experienced presenter, speaker and practical workshop leader, Anna has also led presentations, panels, keynotes and workshops in China, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, USA, Europe and the Middle East.  Contact Anna.

​Stephen Sajkowsky is a multi-instrumentalist, teacher and the lead Musical Futures trainer in Australia.  Originally from New Jersey, Steve completed his studies as a percussionist in Toronto before coming to Australia.  Steve is a key member of the international team that produces the materials and resources used by Musical Futures wprldwide.  Steve maintains a connection with the classroom through  his work at Footscray West Primary in inner Melbourne where he taught grades 3-6.

John Paterson is a classroom music/instrumental teacher, working across two schools in Footscray West and Doveton in Melbourne.  John has  played in  indie-rock/pop bands where he wrote songs, sings, plays guitar and a 'little' keyboard as result of John's short-lived  piano lessons as an 8-year-old.  It was a decade later before he picked up an instrument again.  Since qualifying as a classroom  teacher John as been drawn back into music and he now spends all his time  sharing his passion of playing and creating with students while  fostering an environment based on fun, trust, and just having a go.  It's a simple framework that allows John to teach music in a way that makes sense to himself and his students.