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Jason Smyth-Tomkins

GradDipMusSt (QCM), BJazzStudies (CQCM)
Lecturer in Jazz and Contemporary Music
School of Education and the Arts
(07) 4940 7863
0402829546 Mobile Phone
Mackay Ooralea
Building 22 - Room G.10
CQCM, Ooralea
About Me

Jason Smyth-Tomkins joined the faculty of Education and the Arts at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQUniversity) in July 2010. Prior to this appointment, Jason spent 10 years as a percussion specialist and multi-instrument teacher at Education Queensland in the Central Queensland region. During his appointment at Education Queesnland, Jason developed extensive and successful high school percussion and big band programs, evidenced by numerous regional and state awards and past students who transitioned successfully to tertiary music study.

Also a Yamaha Australia Artist since 2011, Jason is a lecturer in the Bachelor of Music (Jazz and Popular) program at the CQCM, specialising in jazz and contemporary drum-set performance. In addition to this, Jason is responsible for the coordination of the Performance & Production Studies (ensemble) courses and the associated public performances as well as the Jazz History courses at CQCM.

Since 2012, on behalf of CQCM, Jason has been the Artistic Director of the CQUniversity Schools' Jazz Festival, attracting participants from Bowen to Brisbane for intensive and inspiring musical experiences through jazz education and performances. The CQUSJF has been instrumental in raising the profile of jazz education in the Central Queensland and Mackay / Whitsunday regions, supported by Queensland Music Festival, Creative Capricorn and various high profile guest artists.

Jason is an experienced and versatile drummer / percussionist having performed in jazz ensembles, big bands, corporate commercial bands, orchestras and pit orchestras.  Jason has performed with a variety of respected jazz artists including: Don Rader (USA/Sydney), Don Burrows, Rick Holland (USA), Richie Cole (USA), Kevin Hunt, Clive Moorehead, Kristin Berardi, Graham Jesse, Katie Noonan, James Sherlock, Nicky Bomba, The Idea of North, Mike Price, Jacki Cooper, James Morrison, Bob Coassin (USA/Sydney), Jeff Jarvis (USA) and Dan Barnett plus many more. 

General
Universities Studied At

Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Mackay Ooralea Campus
CQUniversity, Australia


Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Southbank Campus
Griffith University

Universities Worked At

Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Rockhampton North Campus
CQUniversity, Australia


Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music

Mackay Ooralea Campus
CQUniversity, Australia

Awards



2015 Vice Chancellors' Award for Outstanding Contributions to Learning and Teaching (Tier 2)
CQUniversity, Australia

2015 Vice Chancellors' Award for Good Practice in Learning and Teaching (Tier 1)
CQUniversity, Australia

2014 CQUniversity Student Voice Awards - Commendation for On-campus Educator of the Year
CQUniversity, Australia

2013 CQUniversity OPAL Award for Engaged Service
CQUniversity Schools' Jazz Festival, Rockhampton
Presented by CQCM, Yamaha Music Australia, Queensland Music Festival and Creative Capricorn

2008 Australia Day Senior Cultural Award Recipient
Rockhampton Regional Council

2001 Conservatorium Award for Brass, Woodwind or Percussion
Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music
CQUniversity, Australia

Media Citations

2015


2014


2013


2012

2011

Previous teaching


Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Lecturer in Jazz and Contemporary Music (2014 - )
Mackay Ooralea Campus, QLD

Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Lecturer in Jazz and Contemporary Music (2010 - 2013)
Rockhampton North Campus, QLD

Education Queensland - Itinerant Instrumental Music Teacher
Percussion Specialist, Multi Instrument Teacher, Program Coordinator & Musical Director (2001 - 2010)
Yeppoon SHS, North Rockhampton SHS, Rockhampton SHS, Glenmore SHS, Yeppoon SS, Taranganba SS, Farnborough SS, Frenchville SS, Mt Archer SS, Berserker SS, Glenmore SS, Crescent Lagoon SS, Allenstown SS, Berserker SS.

Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Conservatorium Academy Ensemble Director (2001)
Rockhampton City Campus, QLD

Mackay Christian College
Percussion Instructor (1999 - 2000)
Mackay, QLD

Professional Experience

This list represents perfomances and events in which I have acted as a performer, ensemble director, course coordinator, artistic director or producer on behalf of the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music at CQUniversity. In addition to this, I have extensive experience in external professional performance and education.

2015


October
09 - 10  Big Night In Concert Series, CQCM Mackay, guest artists - 1st Band Royal Australian Regiment (Townsville)


September

03  5th Floor Jams, CQUni City Campus
24  5th Floor Jams, CQUni City Campus
25  Friday Jazz @ the Con, CQCM Mackay - guest artist - Jacki Cooper

August

01 & 02  CQUniversity Schools' Jazz Festival, Mackay - Guest Clinician / Performer - Dan Barnett
13 - 16  Musical: CITY OF ANGELS, CQCM Mackay
21 - 23 Bachelor of Music Clinic Tour to the Village Festival, Yeppoon - guest artist Dan Barnett


July

10  1st Anniversary CQUni Merger Celebrations, CQUni Mackay
11  Artspace Mackay Exhibition Opening, Mackay
12  Mackay Festival of the Arts Jazz Brunch, Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre - guest artist Hayley Cox
24 & 25 CQUniversity Schools' Jazz Festival, Rockhampton - Guest Clinician / Performer - Dan Barnett
30  5th Floor Jams, CQUni City Campus
31  Friday Jazz @the Con, CQCM Mackay - guest artist Dan Barnett


June

01 - 05  Bachelor of Music Clinic Tour, Cairns & Atherton
03 & 04 Jazz at Bernie's Jazz Cafe, Cairns - guest artist Mike Price


May

01 - 03  Musical: GUYS & DOLLS, CQCM Mackay
07
  5th Floor Jams, CQUni City Campus
15 
Friday Jazz @the Con, CQCM Mackay - guest artist Hayley Cox
20  Judith, Stuart & Friends, CQCM Mackay
28  5th Floor Jams, CQUni City Campus


April

16  5th Floor Jams, CQUni City Campus - guest artist Nathaniel Andrew
17  Friday Jazz @the Con,
CQCM Mackay - guest artist Nathaniel Andrew
30  Musical: GUYS & DOLLS, CQCM Mackay


March

27  Friday Jazz @the Con, CQCM Mackay, CQCM Mackay - guest artist Jacki Cooper



2014

September

13  CQCM 25th Anniversary Gala Concert, CQCM Mackay - guest artists, Sophie Phillis, Hayley Cox & Kerry Armstrong

19  Friday Jazz @the Con, CQCM Mackay - guest artist, Jacki Cooper

27  Big Night In / Still Swingin’, CQCM Mackay - guest artist, Mike Price

 

August

31-03  Musical: CHICAGO, CQCM Mackay

09  Big Night In / Still Swingin’, CQCM Mackay - guest artist, Dan Barnett

10  Jazz on the Quay, CQCM Mackay

12-16  Far North Queensland Outreach Tour, Cairns & Atherton

23 Village Festival, Yeppoon - with headliner, Nicky Bomba in the Nicky Bomba All Stars



July

01  CQUniversity / CQTAFE Amalgamation Launch, CQCM Mackay
11  Friday Jazz @the Con, CQCM Mackay
, CQCM Mackay

18  Friday Jazz @the Con, CQCM Mackay, CQCM Mackay - guest artists, John Morrison & Jacki Cooper

19-20 & 26-27 CQUniversity Schools' Jazz Festival, Rockhampton & Mackay - Guest Clinicians / Performers - Jeremy Borthwick & John Morrison


May

10  Platinum Blonde: Chloe Dallimore in Concert, CQCM Mackay

23  ABC Tropical North, Radio Interview and Performance, Mackay - CQCM & ACPA staff and students

23  Big Night In / Still Swingin’, CQCM Mackay - guest artists, Onyx Reign from the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts

25  Jazz on the Quay, Mackay - guest artists, Onyx Reign from the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts

30  Friday Jazz @the Con, CQCM Mackay

 

April

05  ABC Tropical North, Radio Interview and Performance, Mackay

05  Big Night In / Still Swingin’, CQCM Mackay - guest artist, Nathaniel Andrew

11  Friday Jazz @the Con, CQCM Mackay

 

March

14  Friday Jazz @the Con, CQCM Mackay

18-21  Far North Queensland Outreach Tour, Cairns, Atherton & Innisfail            

27-30  Musical: The Sentimental Bloke, CQCM Mackay

 

February

28  Friday Jazz @the Con, CQCM Mackay



2013

September

14  Curragh Mining 30th Anniversary, Blackwater

19  Jazz at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

21  Capricorn Food and Wine Festival, Mecure Resort Yeppoon

21-23  CQUniversity Jammin’ Program, Rockhampton

26  Rockin’ Out at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

27  Big Night In, Rockhampton - guest artists Nathaniel Andrew & Hayley Cox

28  Big Night In, Gladstone - guest artists Nathaniel Andrew & Hayley Cox

 

August

01  Rockin’ Out at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

02  Big Night In, Rockhampton

03  Rump and Red Gala (Brisbane to Rosslyn Bay Yacht Race), Yeppoon

16-18  Village Festival, Yeppoon - with headline artists, The Idea of North

22  Arts Queensland Awards Evening, Yeppoon

 

July

20-21  CQUniversity Schools' Jazz Festival, Rockhampton - Guest Clinicians / Performers - Jeff JarvisBob Coassin & James Morrison (on behalf of QMF)

25  Jazz at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

 

May

16  Jazz at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

23  Rockin’ Out at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

24  Big Night In, Rockhampton

 

April

11  Rockin’Out at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

12  Big Night In, Rockhampton

 

March

28  Jazz at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

 

January
International Presentations / Performance

Jazz drum set master-class, University of Texas at Brownsville, TX
Private jazz drum-set Instruction, University of Texas at Brownsville, TX

Introduction to Jazz History, University of Texas at Brownsville, TX
History of Jazz in Australia, University of Texas at Brownsville, TX




2012


October
19  Big Night In, Yeppoon - guest artists, Nathaniel Andrew (bass) & Viv Middleton (piano)

20  Big Night In, Gladstone - guest artist, Kristin Berardi (voice)


September

11  Conservatorium Academy Performs: Jazz & Popular, Rockhampton

13  Jazz at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

13-14  Lunchtime Concert Series, Rockhampton

14  Cubanissimo, Rockhampton - guest artist, Gustavo Cereijo (percussion)

22-24  CQUniversity’s Jammin’ Program, Rockhampton

 

August

02  Jazz at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

02-03  Lunchtime Concert Series, Rockhampton

03  Rader of the Lost Art, Rockhampton - guest artist, Don Rader (trumpet / flugalhorn)

17-19 Village Festival, Yeppoon - with headline artist, Katie Noonan (voice)

 

July

21-22  Mackay Festival of the Arts

28-29  CQUniversity Schools' Jazz Festival, Rockhampton - Guest Clinicians / Performers - Jeff Jarvis (trumpet) & John Morrison (drums)

 

May

24  Jazz at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

24-25  Lunchtime Concert Series, Rockhampton

25  Jazzmania, Rockhampton - guest artist, Glen Hodges (guitar)

 

March

29  Jazz at the Frenchville, Rockhampton

29-30  Lunchtime Concert Series, Rockhampton

30  Kanga-grooves, Rockhampton - guest artist, Kerry Armstrong (voice)




2011

October

21-22  Big Night In Concert, Mackay

 

September

01- 05  CQUniversity Jammin’ Program, Far North Queensland Area

06  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

13-15  Lunchtime Concert Series, Rockhampton

17-19  CQUniversity Jammin’ Program, Central Queensland Area

 

August

02-04  Lunchtime Concert Series, Rockhampton

05  Big Night In Concert, Rockhampton - guest artist, Graham Jesse (saxophone)

14  Bridge to Botanic Performance, Gladstone

19-20  Village Festival, Yeppoon - guest artists, Gustavo Cereijo (congas / vocals) & Shane Hannan (trombone)

23  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

 

July

07  Jazz at the Glenmore, Rockhampton
11  Lunchtime Concert with 1RAR Band and US 7th Fleet Band, Rockhampton

11  Concert with 1RAR and US 7th Fleet Band, Mount Morgan

12  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

22-23  Mackay Festival of the Arts

26  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

29  Jazz at the Glenmore, Rockhampton

 

June

23  CQU Senior Leadership Conference, Mackay

 

May

03  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

17  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

20  Jazz at the Glenmore, Rockhampton

21  Relay for Life Performances, Rockhampton

24-26  Lunchtime Concert Series, Rockhampton

26  CQU Gladstone Graduation

29  Gladstone Marina Sunday Sessions

 

April

01  Big Night In, Rockhampton

19  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

29-31 Lunchtime Concert Series, Rockhampton

 

March

08  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

22  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

25  Jazz at the Glenmore, Rockhampton




2010

November

International Performance / Clinics
Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah

University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia
University of Texas at Brownsville
,Texas
University of Louisville,
Kentucky

 

October

08  Queensland Government Regional Business Awards, Rockhampton

22-23  Big Night In Concert, Mackay

 

September

04  Jazz on Quay Festival, Rockhampton - guest artists Viv Middleton (piano), Irene Bartlett (voice) & Shane Hannan (trombone)

10  Jazz at the Leichardt, Rockhampton

14  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

15-16  Lunchtime Concert Series, Rockhampton

17-18  Village Festival, Yeppoon

18-20  CQUniversity Jammin’ Program, Central Queensland Area

21-24  CQUniversity Jammin’ Program, Mackay / Whitsunday Area

 

August

03  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

09-16  CQUniversity’s Jammin’ Program, Far North Queensland Area

17  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

31  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

 

July

20  ABC Capricornia, radio interview and live performance

 

May

30  ABC Capricornia / CQUniversity - Riverside Jazz Concert - guest artist, Graham Jesse (saxophone)

 

April

23  BMusic Concert, Rockhampton - guest artist Maria Ruffino (voice)

 

February

12  Queensland Health Awards, Rockhampton

Professional Memberships

Current member of the Jazz Educators Network
Past member of the International Association for Jazz Education

Responsibilities

Course coordinator and lead lecturer for Performance and Production Studies and History of Jazz
Lecturer in jazz and popular music: Drums/Percussion and Rhythm Studies
Producer/coordinator of CQCM jazz and popular music performance events
Artistic Director of CQUniversity Schools' Jazz Festival

Consultancy Work

Jan 2013

University of Texas at Brownsville, Artist in Residence
Brownsville, Texas, USA
Individual jazz drum-set instruction, jazz history lectures, jazz drum-set masterclass, jazz ensemble rehearsals & guest artist recital


July 2012

Winter Music School, presented by Southern Cross Soloists
Rockhampton, QLD, AUS

Group percussion masterclasses, individual percussion instruction & jazz ensemble rehearsals


Various school workshops in jazz ensemble, percussion / drum-set and rhythm section direction

Publications
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Teaching
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