About the Initiative
Music Education: Right from the Start is a collaborative national initiative, led by Alberts I The Tony Foundation. It is driven by our collective belief in the power of music to change lives.
Launched to address the widespread inequity in access to music education across Australia, the initiative focuses on the place and purpose of music within quality education and ensuring access for all primary school children. After extensive consultation, work began in July 2021, with an official launch on 12 September 2022. It has been supported since inception by leaders and organisations spanning the music industry, education, academia, research, and philanthropy.
Our People
The Project Team:
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Emily Albert
Executive Director, Alberts
Emily is a social impact and sustainability strategist and member of the fifth generation at Alberts.
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Judith Bowtell
Project Lead, Alberts
Judith brings extensive experience in strategy, executive, and management roles across government, community, creative industries, and national cultural agencies.
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Dr Anita Collins
Senior Advisor
Dr Anita Collins is an award-winning educator, author and researcher in music education and brain development.
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Ingrid Albert
Executive Director, Alberts
A member of the fifth generation at Alberts, Ingrid heads Alberts’ philanthropic arm, The Tony Foundation, which supports organisations using music to create improved life outcomes of young Australians.
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Alicia Neil
Project Support, Alberts
With a background as Entertainment Editor for WHO Magazine and extensive experience in business support and communications, including roles with the City of Sydney Council and social planning agency Cred Consulting, Alicia plays a pivotal role in supporting marketing and communications across Alberts.
Advisory Group
The Advisory Group advises and guides our development and the implementation of our strategy. Its members bring extremely valuable expertise, experience and passion with them.
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Louise Barkl
Consultant, Education and the Arts
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Dr Rachael Dwyer
Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching, School of Education and Tertiary Access, University of the Sunshine Coast
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Anne Frankenberg
CEO, Musica Viva Australia
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Dr Jason Goopy
Lecturer in Music Education, Edith Cowan University & President, Australian Society for Music Education
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Fiona Higgins
Specialist Adviser - Giving, Australian Philanthropic Services
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Alex Masso
Executive Officer, Australian Music Association
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Stephen O’Doherty
Arts advocate & Board director
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Nicholas Pickard
Executive Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations, APRA AMCOS
Advocacy Working Group
The Advocacy Working Group advises on maximising the initiative’s impact through collaboration and strategic advocacy.
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Rory Alcock
National Partnerships Manager, The Australian Children’s Music Foundation (ACMF)
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Alice Gerlach
CEO, The Song Room
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Bernie Heard
Manager, Music in Me, Australian Youth Orchestra
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Stephen O’Doherty
Arts advocate & Board director
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Nicholas Pickard
Executive Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations, APRA AMCOS
Knowledge Base Working Group
The Knowledge Base Working Group advises on the research needs in progressing the initiative from design through to analysis.
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Louise Barkl
Consultant, Education and the Arts
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Dr Rachael Dwyer
Lecturer in Education, University of the Sunshine Coast
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Dr Jason Goopy
Lecturer in Music Education, Edith Cowan University & President, Australian Society for Music Education
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Dr Tanya Vaughn
Education Researcher
With thanks…
We’d like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of those who have helped build this initiative, including Eric Sidoti, Project Lead from 2021–2024, who played a pivotal role in establishing a strong foundation and shaping its strategic direction, as well as previous members of our working groups: Julie Sonnemann, Tina Broad, Geoff Day, A/Prof. Neryl Jeanneret, Hywel Sims, and Rob Walker.
About Alberts and The Tony Foundation
Alberts is a 5th generation pioneering Australian family business striving to have a positive impact across every aspect of the group. Through its early-stage venture capital fund investing in impact founders, to its historic music catalogues, broader investments, music education initiative and philanthropic foundation, Alberts aims to build a vibrant and sustainable future for all. Founded in 1885, Alberts has played a vital role in the evolution of Australia’s media, popular culture and music landscape, since the early days of sheet music and music publishing through to the birth of commercial radio and television and the founding of the Australian pop and rock music industry. Alberts continues to support a vibrant culture today, alongside other focus areas equality, healthy minds and a sustainable environment.
Alberts through its philanthropic arm, The Tony Foundation, has supported organisations such as The Song Room, Musica Viva and Australian Children’s Music Foundation to provide a range of music programs in schools. Music Education: Right from the Start was born of a realisation from our work and existing research that ending the vast inequity of access to quality music education across Australia is within our reach.