STAFF BIOGRAPHIES
Susan Gilmartin
Queensland Operations Manager
Susan has a wealth of experience in project, event, travel and volunteer management, and is proud to have been involved with Upbeat Arts since the launch of the first choir in 2014.
Born in Bundaberg, Susan studied piano, dance and voice and was involved in the local theatre company before leaving Bundaberg.
Alongside her professional knowledge, is a lifetime passion for and involvement in the arts through singing and performance. This combination of skills, teamed with life experiences lends itself perfectly to the role of Queensland Operations Manager of Upbeat Arts.
Before working for Upbeat Arts, a career highlight for Susan was working at World Expo 88, where she played a pivotal role in the planning and development of events at the Piazza venue. World Expo 88 was an iconic Australian event and the Piazza itself showcased 10 – 12 events each day for 180 days!
At Upbeat Arts, Susan oversees the daily operations of the organisation. Her role includes managing venues, staff, members, volunteers, and events. She handles all the ‘behind-the-scenes’ responsibilities to ensure the business runs smoothly and is well-positioned for future growth and development.
Susan is deeply passionate about Upbeat Arts and its impact in the ‘Recovery through the Arts’ arena. She thrives on how her work unites a diverse array of individuals to create something extraordinary. Working alongside the dedicated staff, volunteers, and members to bring these programs to life is a true blessing for her.
For her own mental health, Susan sings with the vocal group, Sound Avenue.
Emma Dean
Conductor - Brisbane Choirs
Emma joins Upbeat Arts in September 2024, as the new Conductor of our two Brisbane Choirs.
Emma is an internationally acclaimed musician, creativity
coach, performer, writer, composer, arranger, dreamer, and choir mama based in
Meanjin/Brisbane.
As a musician, Emma is passionate about the magical world
where music and storytelling collide. She has released over ten independent EPs, albums and soundtracks, played lead roles in theatre shows such as Cabaret and The Tempest (Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre), and toured around Australia and internationally including performances of her own shows on Off-Broadway and
Edinburgh Fringe to rave reviews. <br><br>
In 2018, Emma was a featured soloist in The Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, singing John Farnham’s iconic song – You’re The Voice – accompanied by Brisbane-based choir Voices Of Birralee.
Emma was announced as the 2023 Griffith University Outstanding Young Alumni winner for Arts, Education and Law. She was also honoured to receive a prestigious ’40 Under 40’ award – a celebration of young leaders, visionaries and entrepreneurs from Queensland.
When Emma is not on stage or coaching, she can be found writing choral arrangements for choirs and musicians, including John Farnham, Kate Ceberano, Katie Noonan, Glenn Shorrock (Little River Band) and Voices Of Birralee. She is a passionate advocate for the magical healing qualities of group singing and proudly leads a colourful community choir in Brisbane called Cheep Trill who she considers to be her extended family. (and now our two Absolutely Everybody Choirs in Brisbane)
Richard Thayil
Accompanist - Brisbane Choirs
Richard Thayil, Melbourne born, Brisbane freelance multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger, music educator and accompanist.
Richard is our resident accompanist for both Brisbane choirs and has a long history with Upbeat Arts.
Richard studied the Piano, Saxophone and Trombone in his schooling years in Melbourne.
He has been accompanying since 1993 and began working professionally as a performing musician, composer/arranger and music educator in 1997. Richard moved to Brisbane in 1999, completed a Bachelor of Music in composition at QUT. He teaches multi instrumental music in primary and high schools and currently lectures in aural studies and arranging at QUT. Richard is often called upon as a brass and woodwind clinician. As a conductor he has been MD for various musicals and shows – Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof and other local productions. Richard enjoys regularly performing locally, nationally and internationally. He loves to be in the studio recording music for various artists. Richard’s eclectic skill set has afforded him the privilege of working with many and varied artists, such as James Morrison, Pete Murray and Gerry Connelly. He is the founder, director and arranger for his big band The Empty Chair Project. Richard has a deep passion for musicians, especially his three beautiful children.
Claire Christian
Creative Writing Leader
Claire Christian is a storyteller; a writer, theatre maker and facilitator.
Claire teaches our two creative writing programs - one is online only, and the other is face to face, although with an online option.
She has four plays published by Playlab, including Lysa and The Freeborn Dames which debuted at La Boite in 2018. She has had the great joy of directing Michelle Law’s smash hit comedy Single Asian Female since 2017.
Her debut novel Beautiful Mess won the Text Prize in 2016 and was released in 2017. Her second novel It’s Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake, a contemporary adult fiction romance, was released in 2020 through Text Publishing.
Amelia Harris
Program Facilitator
Amelia is a wonderful new addition to the Upbeat Arts team.
Amelia first joined Upbeat Arts as a volunteer with the North Brisbane Choir and her passion and dedication to the choir and to Upbeat Arts was evident from day one.
In early 2024, Upbeat Arts was delighted to offer Amelia a position on the team.
Amelia now assists with the delivery of the weekly programs. She is a caring liaison point for the members and volunteers and at each program provides a welcoming smile as everyone arrives. She is an organised and ‘let’s get this done’ kind of person….Perfect for this role!
Chantal Le Goff
Sunshine Coast Program Leader
Chantal is managing our choir program on the Sunshine Coast. Chantal is a skilled project leader and is experienced in business administration, project and relationship management and has lead community support projects in the UK and Australia across a range of sectors including charities, education, finance and engineering. She is personally aware of how uplifting singing can be especially within a supportive environment and
the benefits singing can have to your overall wellbeing, energy and the importance of community and connection with others. She is also a keen advocate for promoting positive mental health and creating a safe nonjudgemental environment where you can feel comfortable to just be yourself.
Chantal is a creative, warm and energetic person with a passion for art, music and more specifically singing. She has loved singing from a young age and has an appreciation for the mental health benefits singing can provide. She has been a member of an acapella choir and has previously trained with the Sydney Philharmonia Choir for a season to perform in the televised Christmas Concert at the Sydney Opera House.
Chantal moved from the UK two years ago to make the Sunshine Coast her home and she is excited to lead the Upbeat Arts Choir program for the Sunshine Coast Community.
Lincoln Scott
Conductor - Sunshine Coast Choir
Lincoln is the Conductor of the newest Upbeat Arts Choir and he looks forward to leading our new choir members in song.
Lincoln is a highly trained singer, teacher and choral conductor. He has sung from an early age, and believes in the benefits of singing for wellness.
His long list of performance credits including several productions with Opera Australia,
a UK tour of The Pirates of Penzance, a US tour of Die Fledermaus and lead singer onboard the Constellation for Celebrity Cruises, he’s right at home on the stage.
He was also Musical Director of the Sunshine Coast Choral Society and Noosa Arts Theatre’s production of The Boy from Oz.
Lincoln is looking forward to working with the Upbeat Arts members and helping them to grow together as a choir, hone their vocal technique and to watching them shine when they take to the stage in performances.
Ally Bing
Accompanist - Sunshine Coast Choir
Ally is the piano accompanist for our newly-formed Sunshine Coast choir and is a dynamic teacher, accompanist, visual artist, songwriter, and musician.
Ally lives in the Hinterland of the Sunshine Coast near Maleny, Queensland. While taught classically on piano 1998 - 2008, her upbringing in the southeast of the United States also informed her taste for Appalachachian folk music
and she enjoys playing clawhammer-style banjo in addition to piano. She completed a Bachelors of Science degree in Anthropology and Environmental Studies from the Honors College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina in 2012. Ally has taught piano and music lessons in Australia for over ten years, and, like many who immigrate to a new area, also opened a small food business.
Ally’s joy in life is singing and harmony. She has participated in choirs for most of her life, most recently, Sweet Chilli, an all-women’s a capella choir in Maleny. Ally is well-known locally to the Maleny community for her soulful musical performances, including with her jam band Bizarrely Quartet.
Ally brings a warm, friendly, and supportive personality, with energy and musical skill, to the team.
