Meet the Quartet
Joshua Sumich
Sumich is currently an Honours student at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), studying under the guidance of Dr. Matthew Styles and Nikki Demandolx. Joshua's musical adventure began at Trinity College, where he graduated high school, setting the stage for his future in the world of performance.
During his time at university, Sumich plays a key role in WAAPA's Symphony Orchestra, Phone Co', SWE (Symphonic Wind Ensemble), and Big Band. He showcased his versatility in various musical productions at His Majesty's Theatre, leaving an impression as a well-rounded performer. His musical skills also extend to University Drama Society, contributing to the creation of original musicals for the past three years
Sumich’s vocal journey led him to become a part of Voyces, Perth's leading contemporary choral ensemble directed by Dr. Robert Braham OAM. Through Voyces, he had the opportunity to collaborate with notable ensembles, including the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO), Adelaide Chamber Singers, Melbourne Polyphonic Voices, Sydney Chamber Choir and Brisbane Chamber Choir.
On the national stage, Sumich sang in the 2023 season of the National Youth Choir of Australia (NYCA) , directed by Dr. Elizabeth Scott in Perth. Recently, Sumich was apart of the 2024 Gondwana National Choral School and sung in the Gondwana Chorale under the direction of Dr Carl Crossin OAM and Rowan Johnston in Sydney and later will be returning to NYCA in the 2024 season under the direction of Warren Trevelyan-jones in Melbourne.
In the midst of these experiences, Sumich’s musical journey is defined by a genuine passion for performance and a dedication to honing his craft.
Grace Kay
Grace Kay is a classically trained saxophonist, receiving her Bachelor of Music Honours from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Under the tutelage of Dr Matt Styles, and earlier in her career, Dr Erin Royer, Kay has adopted an appreciation for all genres of music, and a passion for exploring the versatility the saxophone has to offer.
Her love of music was instilled from her parents and brother, all of whom engaged in musical studies of some kind throughout their life. After begging for lessons for many years, Kay began her musical journey with the piano in upper primary school. The saxophone in particular, was first introduced to her by her father, who had performed keys and saxophone in a band for many years. Hearing stories of this band, and watching a few home videos of them performing, led Kay to selecting the saxophone as her primary instrument for study through high school. Also intrigued by the percussion department in high school, Kay pursued percussion lessons for several years, before continuing to focus on her saxophone studies. Kay does note that the years of percussion lessons greatly impacted her ability and appreciation for rhythmic compositions.
Kay has performed solo in notable venues such as St Mary’s Cathedral and the Perth Concert Hall. Kay also frequently performs in musical theatre bands at the Regal Theatre, and has performed with the WAAPA Symphony Orchestra, ‘Phone Co, and Symphonic Wind Ensemble.
Kay has taught the saxophone and clarinet for four years, both privately and at several Perth high schools. She loves directing saxophone ensembles, and enjoys creating an environment for likeminded saxophone students to come together to make music!She shares her passion for the saxophone with her students by exuding excitement and interest in lessons. She loves to ensure the students question ‘why’ for every new idea that she teaches, and encourages them to have an inquisitive mindset towards their learning. This concept ties in with Kay’s love of science, and guides her teaching method.
Kay has had many memorable experiences in her saxophone career. Some in particular include; being a selected finalist for the Richard Gill Award (2023), the ‘Women of Our Time’ tour with Portia Clark (2022), Awesome Festival’s ‘Sax to the Max’ (2021-2022). Although the saxophone is her instrument of choice, Kay can also be found performing science shows at Scitech, using her stage presence skills learned at WAAPA to convey scientific concepts to children of all ages.
With experience performing on the sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor and bass saxophones, Kay loves performing works across as many of the horns as possible. She particularly enjoys works that are nuanced and creative in their composition.
Blake Faulkner is a talented saxophonist based in Perth, Western Australia. On top of being a classical music student at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Blake explores the world of cross-genre music through his involvement with not only the saxophone department, but collaboration with other streams of music as well. While studying classical saxophone in school, Blake’s involvement in the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (2019) broadened his musical view and kickstarted his love for cross-genre music.
Blake does not only focus on one particular saxophone, but aims to be versatile on them all. He has had much experience with Soprano, Alto and Tenor saxophone in the ‘Phone Co. at WAAPA, as well as playing Tenor in the Symbios Quartet, founded by fellow saxophonists. Blake is also pursuing work on the baritone saxophone in other saxophone ensembles.
With his doubling ability on other woodwind instruments, Blake is a perfect candidate for many musical theatre shows. In his first year of studying at WAAPA, Blake was asked to be a part of the major musical production “Crazy for You” at His Majesty’s Theatre. Being his first ever musical, this opened his eyes to another musical route that he now actively pursues. To date, he has played in WAAPA’s productions “Cabaret” (2021) and “Side Show”(2022), as well as performing for private theatre productions such as “Anything Goes”(2021/2022), Legally Blonde (2022) and Grease (2023)
Having an incredibly diverse background, Blake has a keen interest in delving deeper into his cultural roots. Hailing from New Zealand, this has led him to discover the mystical, musical world of his Māori ancestors. So far, he has acquired the Koauau (the Māori flute), and continues to find out more about this side. On the other side of the globe, Blake also has Scottish roots, which explains his love for the bagpipes. Picking them up in 2019, he has since joined the Perth Metro Pipe Band, performing in local parades, weddings and winning competitions. Blake is interested in bringing these into his main streams of music.
Over the span of his musical career so far, Blake has been able to receive many accolades. This includes the Squidstock Competition 1st Prize, the Rotary Club of Mount Lawley Music Scholarship, top Music Student (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) and top Jazz ATAR student at his school. As a result of his musical contribution within the community, he was also bestowed with the Christine Richardson Citizenship Award
Blake Faulkner
Andrea Jordan-Keane
Andrea Jordan-Keane is an Australian saxophone player of Irish descent. Her pursuit of playing the saxophone blossomed when she was awarded a music scholarship in the Gate program at John Curtin College of the Arts (2015). Prior to undertaking this scholarship, her main instrument was her voice. She was born in Ireland and moved to Australia at the age of four. She has always maintained her Irish musical heritage. As she develops her mature musical identity, it has led her to explore deeper connections to Celtic influences in her music playing.
In recent years, she has started writing arrangements for solo, duo, quartet, and ensemble saxophone. In 2023, she wrote an original backing track for her arrangement of Scarborough Fair. This work was performed at two concerts in 2023: The WA Saxophone Consortium Concert and the Symbios Quartet Debut Concert.
In 2023, she supported a significant commission for a saxophone piece called "Adjusting Parameters." This work is a 60-minute composition for saxophone accompanied by a backing track written by renowned saxophonist and composer Jenni Watson. The work originally for Alto saxophone has movements adapted for Soprano, Tenor and Baritone saxophone. Andrea debuted on Baritone saxophone Movement Three, Pitch from the Suite at the WA Saxophone Consortium Concert (2023).
Andrea has been furthering her saxophone studies at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts since 2021. While there, she been a part of many projects and ensembles. She has performed with ‘Phone Co.’ the saxophone ensemble run by Matt Styles. Notable performances with this group have been at the yearly Massed Sax events and the Awesome Festival run in the city (2021/2022). Other performances include, the Symphonic Wind ensemble playing in the Perth Concert hall (2021) and their Spooktacular concert (2023), Mack and Mabel the Musical (2022), Cats the Musical (2023) and HearNow in the Pickle District (2023).
Andrea uses effectively the knowledge gained from her Classical learning to help in her exploration of other genres. In 2022, she joined and toured with the Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra in their Minter Ellison Monday Night Orchestra. She has been playing in the Perth Sax Rockers since 2021, performing in the High Voltage Festival (2022/23), Imaginarium Festival (2022/23), Yagan Square Amphitheatre (2022) and the Fremantle International Street Arts Festival (2023). She is now part of a debuted ensemble the Ghosts of Montrose a group inspired by the Free Radicals based in Texas. Most recently, she is one of the founding members of Symbios Quartet where she plays Baritone Saxophone. This award- winning group had their debut concert in June of 2023 titled Symbios Quartet and A Very Symbios Christmas Concert in December (2023).
