Sheila is a performing musician, I have special interests in the string-piano duo repertoire, and in art song (especially Lieder). I’m often invited to accompany for recitals, exams, auditions, recordings and competitions.
I also like to coordinate chamber music events, and this year I’m involved in some very exciting projects!
With my colleagues Philippa Cook and Lindsay Jane Gilroy we’re performing (and organising) a Recital with renowned US violinist, Charles Castleman. Our Recital is scheduled for May, and you can read more about the project on my Castleman Recital page.
In August, I undertake a Concert Tour of regional NSW, Sydney and Melbourne with another US violinist, Ms. Jocelyn Adelman. We will also be presenting master classes and lessons, especially to children in rural areas.
I always enjoy teaching music, and have taught school children and adults in my private studio, at schools, and at universities. I teach piano, theory, and music appreciation classes.
Ms. Guymer has performed around Australia and in the USA.
Her performances have been broadcast by the ABC, 3MBS and 4MBS FM radio stations.
Her CD, ‘Bitter Music’ by Harry Patch (with reader, Warren Burt) was recorded by ABC Radio and released by the American Composers’ Forum in 1995. It was reviewed by the San Francisco Examiner as “a considerable labor of love – one of the most important releases of the year.”
Having a keen interest in the string-piano duo repertoire, Sheila has performed with string players Susan Blake, Charles Castleman, Maria Lindsay, Josephine Vains (Trio 303), and with colleagues from the SSO, MSO and Orchestra Victoria. She was invited by Professor Castleman to be a Piano Intern for his Quartet Program 2005 (USA), a seven-week international summer school for elite young string players.
Sheila is also passionate about Lieder, and has performed with singers John Lander, Christine Wilson, Elena Xanthoudakis, and Shu-Cheen Yu. Her repertoire includes almost all the major songs cycles by Schubert, Schumann and Beethoven.
A committed teacher, Sheila has administrated her own teaching studio since 1987. During 1998-2004, Sheila was a Staff Accompanist and Academic Tutor at the Faculty of Music, Melbourne University; and accompanied string and voice Master Classes at the National Academy of Music. She was also appointed Lecturer at the Melba Conservatorium of Music, Victoria University. She is also Assistant to the Director of the Collaborative Piano Summer School, run by the Australian String Academy, and held at Shore School, North Sydney.
In 1997-98, she founded and directed the St. Mark’s Sunday Afternoon Concert Series, held at St. Mark’s Church, Fitzroy. She has performed for numerous musical societies, secondary and tertiary schools in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
Sheila holds both Bachelor and Master degrees in Solo Piano. She has won a number of awards both for chamber music performance, and for academic excellence, including the Margaret Nickson, the 4MBS-FM – Sid Page, the Grace Funston, and the Bill Burrell scholarships
On graduating from the University of Queensland with 1st Class Honours in Performance, Sheila was awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award to undertake further study. In 2001 she gained a Master of Music Studies from Melbourne University. Sheila has participated in Master Courses with pianists Bart van Oort, Kyoko Hashimoto, Heasook Rhee and Cord Garben.
Sheila is currently researching the Beethoven string/piano duo sonatas as part of a Masters in Ensemble Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying with renowned Australian pianist David Miller, AM.
Other valued mentors have included pianists Ian Holtham and Stephen McIntyre; and string players William Hennessy and Patricia Pollett.
