MrRobert McDougall

Rob McDougall is Associate Lecturer and Discipline Lead in Music Theatre at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He teaches and coordinates across the Music Theatre program, and has written units of study for the discipline. His teaching draws on a professional career that includes Cameron Mackintosh’s Australian production of Les Misérables, the Hayes Theatre Company and the Sydney Opera House. Students work through professional rehearsal and audition practice, safe and sustainable voice production, and the integration of singing, acting and movement.

His pedagogy is grounded in more than fifteen years of voice teaching across music theatre, classical, jazz and contemporary styles, with students ranging from beginners to pre-professional singers. He puts particular emphasis on breathing technique, vocal health and longevity. He has been Head of Voice and Choral Conductor at the Tamworth Regional Conservatorium of Music, a vocal tutor and workshop presenter for the NSW Talent Development Project, and Musical Director and Featured Artist Coordinator for CAPERS (Creative Arts in Public Education Regional Spectacular). He continues to teach in the NSW public secondary system.

Regional engagement is central to his teaching. Since 2007 he has worked as a vocal consultant and workshop presenter for the NSW Department of Education in New England, delivering workshops in regional schools. He has been lead conductor of the New England Vocal Camp and choral conductor for the West of the Divide international choral tours to Europe. He is committed to widening access to music theatre training for students in regional and rural NSW, and to building pathways from regional communities into tertiary study at the Conservatorium.