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 has a Bachelor of Music, in Vocal Contemporary Performance (Australian Institute of Music) as well as a Master of Creative Music Therapy with Distinction (WSU 2019). She is the current secretary of the NSW/ACT Branch of the AMTA and an active member of the wider Music Therapy community. Ria has 10 years experience as a vocal teacher.
In a music therapy session, Ria prioritises joy, free expression, silliness and building confidence. Her clinical approach is neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed and underpinned by positive reinforcement for behaviour support. Her special interest is using singing to support clients with speech delays or communication barriers to build skills and encourage vocal self-expression.
As a team leader, Ria values authenticity, compassion and collaboration. She is a new mum, has ADHD and loves a good chat. In her downtime she’s normally on the hammock in her garden, playing tennis or reading.
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Voice, guitar, piano, ukulele and percussion
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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
Shannon Walton
Business Manager,
Instrument Tutor & Therapy Assistant
He/Him
Shannon is a talented guitarist, having played for 20 years. He attended the Australian Institute of Music where he completed a Bachelor of Music (Contemporary Performance). He is a gentle, playful and responsive teacher with experience adapting lessons for children and adults with disabilities.
He has experience teaching guitar to students aged 7 and up and has over 15 years experience playing live music in duos, bands and at corporate events and weddings. He has also spent time working corporate sales, thus bringing a wealth of musical and business experience to the team.
Shannon loves playing jazz and funk guitar. He also has a love for repairing, servicing and building guitars.
When he’s not at work, he’s a dad who loves creating anything from a unique piece of furniture or a new guitar to an incredibly yummy meal.
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Guitar, bass, drums, voice and piano
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Adapted instrument lessons for people with additional needs
Traditional instrument lessons
Jamming to build skills and connections
Wellbeing & quality of life
Community music
Briana Cowlishaw
Registered Music Therapist
She/Her
Briana is a Registered Music Therapist (RMT), 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 in 2021) 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, and loves to swim in the ocean whenever possible.
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Voice, guitar, piano, ukulele and production software
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Children and adolescents with disabilities
Special Purpose Schools
Early intervention
Stroke and Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation
Mental health and trauma support
Choirs
Julie Oguey
Registered Music Therapist
She/They
Julie recently completed a Master of Creative Music Therapy at Western Sydney University and is a Registered Music Therapist (RMT) accredited by the Australian Music Therapy Association. With a Bachelor of Music majoring in Contemporary Vocal Performance (Australian Institute of Music) and 10+ years of tutoring and live performance experience, she has found a particular fondness for creating safe spaces in which participants can build confidence and experiment with their creativity. Her work as a professional musician has her singing jazz with her ukulele in cafes and playing in bands around Eora (Sydney).
Julie’s therapeutic approach is play-based, improvisational and informed by her passion for neurodiversity-affirming practices. On a day off, you might catch Julie swimming in an ocean pool, painting goofy birds, cackling with friends or playing stardew valley on her switch.
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Voice, ukulele, guitar, piano, percussion and violin
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NDIS home visits
Neurodivergence
Developmental disabilities
Music creation / Artistic expression
Mental Health
Aged Care
Schools for Specific Purpose
Ebony Cook
Registered Music Therapist
She/Her
Ebony is a Registered Music Therapist (RMT), accredited by the Australian Music Therapy Association. She completed her Master of Creative Music Therapy in 2020 at Western Sydney University, and has a Bachelor of Music from the University of Newcastle, majoring in Piano Performance.
In music therapy sessions, Ebony aims to bring a calm, safe space that allows clients to feel comfortable and promotes progress towards their goals. Ebony has worked with clients of all ages and abilities, and particularly enjoys when she is able to support teen and young adult clients build their confidence and independence.
When Ebony is not working, she enjoys seeing the sunrise, going for a swim, doing crafts and gaming with her friends.
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Piano
Voice
Guitar
Ukulele
Percussion
Recording and Production Software
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NDIS home visits
Mental Health
Neurodivergence
Developmental disabilities
Teens and young adults