Ria Shekhawat
Registered Music Therapist
Director of Spark Music
She/Her

Ria is the founding director of Spark Music and a Registered Music Therapist (RMT) accredited by the Australian Music Therapy Association. She is the current secretary of the NSW/ACT Branch of the AMTA and an active member of the wider Music Therapy community. She has a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Vocal Contemporary Performance (Australian Institute of Music) as well as a Master of Creative Music Therapy with Distinction (WSU). Ria was named on the Dean’s Merit list in 2018 and 2019 at WSU. She also has over 8 years experience as a vocal teacher.

Ria has worked in a variety of settings including support units, SSPs (Special Purpose Schools) and private practice. As a new graduate, she worked within a large Allied Health team in Sydney, working closely with Speech Pathologists, Behaviour Therapists and Occupational Therapists, teaching her the value of a multidisciplinary approach. She has since relocated to the Central Coast and is passionate about providing access to quality music therapy for her local community.

Ria’s music therapy experience includes:

  • Children and adults with disabilities

  • Schools and preschools

  • Early intervention

  • Speech and language delay

  • Mental health and trauma support

  • Behavioural support

  • Aged care

  • LGBTQIA+ youth

  • Palliative care

Ria’s special interest is using singing as a tool for developing speech and language skills in those with speech delays or experiencing difficulty in communicating.

Briana Cowlishaw
Registered Music Therapist
She/Her

Briana is a Registered Music Therapist, accredited by the Australian Music Therapy Association, with a special interest in voice. She completed her Master of Creative Music Therapy at the University of Western Sydney (graduating with Distinction) and holds a Bachelor of Music from the Australian Institute of Music, majoring in Vocal Contemporary Performance. 

Bri draws on her knowledge of voice health and creative improvisation to connect with children, adolescents, and adults, supporting their emotional, physical, and social health. She plays the guitar, piano, ukulele, and percussion, using a variety of instruments within music therapy sessions based on client preferences. 

Outside of music therapy, Briana has over 15 years experience teaching jazz and contemporary voice, with previous experience teaching singing and leading choirs at The Australian National University in Canberra (ANU).  Bri is also involved in a number of creative music projects, is a keen songwriter, watercolour artist, a mum of one, and loves to swim in the ocean whenever possible. 

Bri’s music therapy experience includes:

  • Children and adolescents with disabilities

  • Early intervention

  • Stroke and Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation

  • Mental health and trauma support

  • Special Purpose Schools

Briana particularly enjoys leading choirs for improved health and wellbeing and was recently involved as a research assistant in a pilot choir program 'Harmony In C' for adults affected by cancer, through Western Sydney University. 

Jake Baynie
Instrument Tutor & Community Musician
He/Him

Jake is a talented, self-taught musician with a passion for using music to connect with others. If he overhears someone playing music nearby, he’s likely to go introduce himself, have a jam and make a lifelong friend. He has been playing piano for over 10 years and guitar for over 7 and most enjoys playing jazz piano and songwriting. He has experience working with children through after school care programs. His approach to teaching an instrument is to make time spent practising a new skill fun, playful and interactive. When he’s not playing music, he’s doing something active like paddle boarding, skateboarding, hiking or his new obsession:
foil surfing!

“My favourite thing about making music with other people is feeling a genuine connection and joy that you don’t get from many other things”