Our community of passionate music students and staff specialise in popular and contemporary music.
Discover what's happening in the VU music community, attend a gig, and listen to some of the great tunes VU students and staff are creating.
Follow the VU Music Programs Facebook page, to stay up-to-date.
Read about our Bachelor of Music, and apply!
We are proud to have our music courses located at the amazing Kindred Studios, a purpose-built space for creative individuals and organisations in Yarraville, Melbourne.
We have our own dedicated music rehearsal rooms, a bespoke recital performance hall and recording studio, as well as a huge range of equipment available for student use.
We also hold monthly performances in the Kindred Front Space band room, giving our Music students the opportunity to perform in a real life venue regularly, as part of the studies.
Located directly opposite the picturesque gardens of Hyde Park, Kindred Studios was listed by Lonely Planet in the Top Ten Workspace in the World in 2016. It's no wonder our students and staff love this space so much.
During their time at Kindred, students can make use of Kindred's acclaimed, newly-renovated Front Band Room and Bar, as well as their film and photography studio.
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Listen to our talented staff and students.
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We have an exceptionally talented music team that work with our students. Learn more about our staff below.
Dr Greg Aronson is a senior lecturer in music and co-chairs the Bachelor of Music at Victoria University. He specialises in musicology and music pedagogy and curriculum.
Dr Aronson’s PhD explored the backgrounds and experiences of students in tertiary music education settings and he has teaching and research expertise in musicology, music education, and creative arts based projects.
Greg has a strong interest in internationalising tertiary music education and has worked over the last ten years on projects in China, India and Indonesia to foster intercultural awareness for students through music and creative based arts projects.
Greg is a practising musician, with over 30 years of professional experience across a range of music contexts.
Robert is senior lecturer and course chair of the Bachelor of Music at VU. He specialises in music technology, electronic music composition, arranging and remixing, and music perception and cognition.
Having taught at VU for over 20 years, Robert has also lectured at Swinburne University, Melba Conservatorium of Music and the Victorian College of the Arts. In 2018 he was also seconded to work in an associate capacity in the music department at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland.
Robert is a drummer/percussionist and composer/producer with over 30 years' professional experience across a wide range of music genres. He has played at large festivals, clubs and fashion events around Australia, South East Asia and New Zealand. He has produced work for international artists including Philip Glass, Groove Armada, Eric Powell, and DJ Vadim. He produces music under his stage name Rhythm Boy.
Check out Rob's original music on Facebook, BandCamp and Spotify.
Fran Swinn is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (Music Performance - Improvisation) in Melbourne and in 2003 went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma (Music Performance).
In 2005 Fran received funding from the Ian Potter Cultural Trust to attend the Banff Centre Workshop for creative music directed by trumpeter/composer Dave Douglas in Canada. She spent some time that year studying privately with guitarists Ben Monder and Brad Shepik in New York City and went on to Perugia, Italy to take part in the Berklee School of Music jazz clinics (funded by an Australia Council Buzz grant) where she was awarded a scholarship to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
In 2009 Fran spent 3 months touring Australia with Circus Oz and in 2011 undertook a national tour with the Fran Swinn Trio (funded by the Contemporary Music Touring Program). The Fran Swinn Trio’s debut album ‘Every Dog’ was released in January 2011 and was described as “deeply satisfying from beginning to end. They have their own sound, and it's a glorious one.” (J.Clare 2011).
In 2019 Fran toured Australia and New Zealand with Tamara Murphy’s band Spirograph Studies in support of their debut album ‘Kindness Not Courtesy’ release. Their follow up album ‘Lowlights’ was due to be released late 2021.
Fran has taught at Box Hill Tafe, the Victorian College of the Arts (Melb Uni) and currently teaches guitar and performance at Victoria University. Fran is a member of several bands including Spirograph Studies, the Improv Mill, Fun Fun Fun!, and the Louisa Rankin band.
Originally from the U.K. but calling Australia home since 2003, Daz has experience as a recording and mix engineer for radio, studio, live band shows, festivals, cabaret, comedy, and rock & roll theatre.
Darren has worked with Artists including:
The Datsuns, Arrested Development, The Drones, Magic Dirt, Billy Bragg, Tim Finn, Kaki King, Beasts of Burbon, Mia Dyson/Chris Wilson, Ethan Iverson (The Bad Plus), Crooked Still, Syl Johnson & The Bamboos, Diesel, The Unthanks, Julian Wilson/Steve Magnusson/Phil Collings, Dallas Frasca.
When not being a techy or teaching he is the singer, songwriter, and guitarist for original band RPG Radio.
Check out Darren's Original Band 'RPG Radio' on Facebook, BandCamp and Youtube.
Sherry Rich is our VU Music Agency and WIL Music Manager.
An Aria-nominated singer/songwriter, she has been active in the Australian and US alt-country, roots and indie rock scene for over 25 years. Sherry has released 13 albums, spent 10 years working as a professional songwriter in Nashville and toured the US, Europe and NZ.
Her songs have featured in television and movies and been covered by artists from Texas to Finland. She is a graduate of the VU Creative Arts Industries Degree and the first Artist In Residence for VU Music at Victoria University.
An album she wrote and recorded while in residence at VU Music was nominated for ‘Best Country Work’ in the 2022 Music Victoria Awards.
To learn more about Sherry, check out her artist website.
Kiernan Box has played keyboards and bass guitar with many Melbourne rock, jazz, blues and reggae bands since the early 1990s. His most enduring collaborations have been with Augie March and Blackeyed Susans.
He has also delivered music subjects at VU for over 20 years, covering such diverse topics as music theory, song writing, music history, technology, and music business.
Kiernan's most recent original compositions can be found on Bandcamp.
Steve Rando brings 25 years of music teaching experience across high school, instrumental guitar and Tafe to the Bachelor of Music course.
Previously Steve was the Program Manager of the Tafe Music courses at VU.
Steve is also a regular performing guitarist in numerous bands around Melbourne, including Soul Chic and Baker Boys.
Chris is the Technical Manager for the Music Programs at Victoria University.
Chris has a Victoria University Bachelor of Music (Technical Production) degree.
He previously worked as the Technical Officer at VU Music for 2 years, before leaving to move to Stockholm, Sweden, where he lived and worked in the local music industry.
Upon returning to Australia, Chris worked as a full-time audio engineering lecturer for 2 years, before moving into a position as the manager of an events compliance team, overseeing large scale productions such as the AFL Brownlow Medal, Australian Sporting Hall of Fame, and the Allen Border Medal.
Chris returned to VU Music as the Senior Technical Officer in 2019, bringing his passion for audio and music and his experience working in these industries over the last 10 years.
Victoria University is proud to support the VU Music artist in residence program, which invites a musician of merit to produce new works utilising 'on campus' spaces at Kindred Studios with the assistance of VU music staff and students.
VU Music is excited about future opportunities for artists in this program. The inaugural artist in residence is Sherry Rich.
Go to www.sherryrich.com to find out more.
The VU Music Agency represents a diverse range of high quality contemporary music acts, springing from our acclaimed Victoria University music courses.
Students enrolled in our courses are given the opportunity to join the Music Agency, opening the doors to paid professional work as a musician whilst they are studying and giving them invaluable experience working in the Melbourne music industry.
Our experienced VU Music Agency Manager, Sherry Rich, guides and mentors our students to develop their band branding, photos and setlists.
You can also book an act to add atmosphere to your community fairs festivals, art opening, corporate occasion or party. Whether you need a solo singer songwriter, cafe duo, jazz ensemble, heavy rock, funky dance, wedding or party band – you’ll find the perfect entertainment all the while supporting the local Melbourne music community.
Enquiries: music.agency@vu.edu.au
Get in touch! We'd love to hear from you with any enquiries about our music courses at Kindred Studios.
Robyn Hogan
Admissions Officer
robyn.hogan1@vu.edu.au
Phone +61 9919 5152
Dr Robert Bell
Bachelor of Music Course Chair
robert.bell@vu.edu.au
Phone +61 9919 2359
Dr Greg Aronson
Bachelor of Music Course Chair
greg.aronson@vu.edu.au
Phone +61 9919 2368
