Wyana Etherington

Wyana Etherington Is A Vibrant And Enthusiastic Percussionist, Educator And Conductor With A Passion For Sharing Her Love Of Music And Music Making.

Wyana began her musical journey, learning piano as a young child. She started playing percussion in high school and went on to study the instrument at the University of Western Australia and the Australian National University.  Graduating from the ANU in 2005, Wyana has been an active member of the Canberra music scene, performing with most local organisations including the Canberra International Music Festival, Canberra Choral Society, all major Canberra theatre companies and the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, of which she has been the Principal Percussionist for over 10 years. Highlights of her playing career include touring with Opera Australia’s My Fair Lady in 2009, performing as soloist with the Canberra Pops Orchestra in 2007 and her work as percussionist, arranger and founding member of Canberra’s premier chamber music group, the Griffyn Ensemble. Wyana has been the Musical Director for several shows including Queanbeyan Players, Jesus Christ Superstar (2011) and Phoenix Players, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (2010). She has also conducted bands and ensembles for Canberra Youth Music, the Combined Canberra Grammar Schools’ and Blackburn High School.

Wyana is an experienced percussion teacher having held positions at Canberra Girls’ Grammar, Canberra Grammar, Radford College and recently the prestigious Melbourne specialist music school, Blackburn High.  She is sought after to provide tutorials for music camps, youth orchestras and school music programs and provide master-classes for VCE, HSC, AMEB candidates and auditionees. Many of Wyana’s students have gone on to pursue their musical careers with such organisations as the Australian Youth Orchestra, Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Canberra Youth Orchestra, Sydney Youth Orchestra and several continuing their percussion studies at a tertiary level at the Sydney Conservatorium, Melbourne University and The Australian National University.

Wyana moved to Melbourne in 2012 where she performed with the Victorian Opera, Melbourne Wind Ensemble, CrossWinds Ensemble, the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic and developed her conducting though her relationship with the Australian Band and Orchestra’s Directors Association (ABODA). Wyana and her Husband Matt began a new chapter of their lives in 2013 as parents to daughter, Adelaide.

Returning to Canberra mid 2015, Wyana is delighted to join the team at the Groove Warehouse and share her wealth of experiences with the Groovy musicians of Canberra.