Patron:

Ian Morgan

President:

JoAnn Griffiths

I’ve been involved with Clasax since 2001 when I moved to Melbourne. Initially I conducted the Sunday Clasax Clarinet Ensemble and was on the committee.  Gradually over the years  I formed two other ensembles and I am also the conductor. Clarimania is made up of 10 clarinet players and Mixed Woodwind ensemble is made up of a mix of clarinets and saxophones. In 2013, I was elected President of Clasax and I still hold that position. Two reasons for loving Clasax include all the wonderful people I have met and worked  with over the past 24 years and secondly, being involved with making music.

Vice-President: 

Barbara Cooper

I began learning the clarinet from JoAnn Griffiths in 2004, after I retired from teaching. In the same year I also became a member of the Clasax Committee.

I organised the Clarinet and Saxophone Competition (with help from many people) from 2006 until 2025. I enjoyed meeting all the students, hearing them play, and sometimes following their progress as they entered year after year.

I am a member of the Clasax Clarinet group and Clarimania.

Secretary:

Kim Langfield-Smith

I am a qualified accountant (FCPA) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. I have considerable experience working on the governing committees of not-for-profit organisations, such as The Australian Ballet School and the Accordion Society of Australia (currently national secretary).

As a teenager, I was an active music student, playing piano and clarinet, and eventually teaching piano. However, I gave this up to pursue an accounting career, eventually becoming an accounting professor. During the Melbourne lockdowns, to my great delight, I returned to my musical foundations. It was challenging to relearn how to read music and to play my instruments. I am forever grateful to JoAnn Griffith for her encouragement and patience and to my fellow Clasax band members who have supported me as I redeveloped my clarinet skills.

Since 2021, I have been an active member of Clasax, playing clarinet in two Clasax ensembles – Mixed Woodwinds and Claramania. I joined the Clasax Committee in 2024 as secretary.

I play the clarinet in the Monash Concert Band. I also play the piano accordion with the Prahran Accordion Band, and continue to love and play the recorder as my first musical instrument.

Treasurer and Magazine Editor:

David Telford

In order to satisfy a mid-life (I hope) itch in my early 50s I started to learn the saxophone and clarinet which were much cheaper to purchase and easier to garage than a red sports car. After several years of me testing the patience of my woodwind teacher, he suggested I join Clasax to broaden my musical horizons and gain valuable experience in playing alongside others. Since joining the mixed woodwind and saxophone ensembles in 2012, under the generous and enthusiastic guidance of JoAnn Griffiths and Ross Chapman, my musical capabilities have grown enormously. I continue to enjoy the excitement of being a part of an ensemble playing pieces I would never have dreamt of attempting in my formative years. During my time with Clasax I have been entrusted with the positions of Clasax Treasurer and, more recently, Magazine Editor. This allows me to give something back to the society that has provided me with so much enjoyment.

General Committee and Website/Social Media Manager:

Brendan Toohey

I moved to Melbourne in 2012 and quickly joined Clasax after being a member of the Queensland Clarinet and Saxophone Society for many years. I played a variety of clarinets (from Eb to contrabass!) in the Sunday Clarinet Group on and off for many years before eventually starting to conduct the ensemble and joining the committee in 2022. I truly believe in the work the society does, from publishing the magazine, organising and running the annual performance competition along with many other professional development and social events. I look forward to the future and encourage you to get involved!

General Committee:

Helen Pitt

My life in music began in the primary school with … the triangle, and ended in primary school with the castanets.  Decades later I chose the recorder to continue my musical education and after I learnt to read music I joined the Victorian Recorder Guild.  This was a nerve-wracking but fantastic experience and it gave me the confidence to attempt another instrument, namely the clarinet.  I joined Clasax soon after and have been an active member for further decades playing in three groups – clarinet, saxophone and bass clarinet.

Apart from my life with Clasax I gained more experience and skills at the yearly Harrietville Music Camp.  I now play 2nd Clarinet with the South Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

General Committee:

Charley Lanning

Throughout my childhood, I always wanted to learn a musical instrument but never had the opportunity other than playing the recorder in kindergarten.  Enjoying both classical and jazz music, I discovered the saxophone late in life.  After retiring, on a whim, I bought an alto sax thinking it couldn’t be that different from a recorder to play. How wrong I was! Two years ago, I was lucky enough to be given a beautiful tenor sax as a birthday present. Wanting a challenge, I did AMEB exams to Grade 6. It was an AMEB examiner who encouraged me to join Clasax. I have thoroughly enjoyed playing with the Clasax Saxophone and Mixed Woodwind groups for the past two years. Clasax is a friendly and welcoming organisation that provides interesting repertoire and encourages players at all levels to improve their musical skills. 

I joined the Clasax Committee in 2025.  A scientist by training, I have been a Board Director for numerous science-based organisations. A Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, I bring governance skills and my passion for music and music education to the Committee.

General Committee:

Jorja Withall