Margaret Crawford
Flute Pedagogue
ANAM Faculty, Head of Winds (2005-2012); Guest Faculty (1990's-present)
I have taught at many institutions in my long life, but three occupations really stand out for me: Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (from 1990 until 1997); in charge of the Sydney Conservatorium High School’s Chamber Music program (from 1998 until 2003); and then Head of Wind at ANAM, starting in 2005, at ANAM’s first full-time program for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn. These three occupations have been so memorable and utterly rewarding.
My association with ANAM goes back to the very early years, when I tutored young musicians at the occasional classes given in the late 1990s.
As well as my connection with the wind department in general, I had the great pleasure of teaching some wonderful flute students. With many of these, I continue to keep in contact, and I am very proud of their achievements. Some that come to mind are: Alexis Kenny (flute 2005), Principal Flute of the QSO for a number of years; Tim Munro (flute 2005), Artistic Director of the Southern Cross Soloists and a former member of Eighth Blackbird; Hayley Radke (flute 2008), Associate Principal Flute with the QSO since 2008; Lina Andonovska (flute 2010), a current member of Eighth Blackbird and Associate Professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia; Katie Zagorski (flute 2008), now Principal Flute of the TSO; and Kiran Phatak (flute 2013), who is a founding member of Arcadia Winds.
As well as these, there were so many other musicians that I loved teaching throughout my time at ANAM. I’m still in contact with some of them, including Dean Newcomb (clarinet 2008) and Jackie Hansen (bassoon 2008), both now principal players with ASO. They now have two beautiful children. Whenever I am in Adelaide, I go to visit them!
I also had the great privilege of teaching school-aged students at ANAM’s Young Academy, which ran from 2005 to 2008. Some of these students have gone on to do exceptionally well, such as Jessie Gu (flute 2007, now Associate Principal Flute, OV) and Jessica Jiang (flute 2006, now Associate Principal Flute, Hessisches Staatsorchester, Wiesbaden). After her time at ANAM’s Young Academy, Jessica went on to study at the Paris Conservatoire, and I attended her final Master’s exam in Paris in 2014. She graduated with a well-deserved Premier Prix.
There didn’t feel like a great difference between the Young Academy and the older ANAM musicians. It was simply a collection of the country’s finest talent, learning and making outstanding music together. The ANAM musicians were very supportive of the Young Academy musicians and regularly attended their performances.
Margaret Crawford with ANAM musicians at ANAM Chamber Music Competition, 2008.
Each year, potential candidates for ANAM were auditioned around the country and selected based on their performing merit (not on their HSC!). We also interviewed each candidate to discover their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the music they most enjoyed and wished to perform. This was easier in ANAM’s early years, particularly because of the smaller number of musicians. The students had a strong sense of agency over the music they presented, both in their recitals and in their chamber music concerts. There was a strong sense of community and collaboration between the young musicians and the staff.
In addition to the many wonderful musicians who visited ANAM to give classes and recitals, there were five exceptional flute players I remember vividly: Uwe Grodd (German flautist and conductor based in New Zealand), John Wion (Australian, former Principal Flute, NYC Opera), Wissam Boustany (UK), Emanuel Pahud, and Emily Beynon (Principal Flute, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra). Emily gave a masterclass on Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G major, from which I learnt so much that I have been teaching her ideas ever since.
Arcadia Winds returns to ANAM in May 2026 in a special homecoming residency!
Homecomings
Fri 29 May 2026, 7pm
Rosina Auditorium, Abbotsford Convent
Valerie COLEMAN Tzigane
Franz KROMMER Partita in B-flat Major, op. 78
Lachlan SKIPWORTH Sextet (new work) (world premiere)
Mark HOLDSWORTH Hellfire
Richard STRAUSS Suite, op. 4
Arcadia Winds:
Kiran Phatak (Alum 2014) flute
Rachel Bullen (Alum 1997) oboe
Lloyd Van’t Hoff (Alum 2014) clarinet
Rachel Shaw (Alum 2014) horn
Matthew Kneale (Alum 2014) bassoon
ANAM Winds
ANAM Pianists
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Margaret Crawford headshot courtesy of the Australian Flute Festival