About Fusion Performing Arts

Five students accepted into the prestigious NSW talent development project, Sydney. There are 30 talented performers picked state wide for an intensive workshop programme per year. Connected to the Schools Spectacular, TDP launched the careers of Paulini, Human Nature, and Catherine Britt among others.

Final 5 in contention for the role of Young Simba in the Nation-wide Disney production of the Lion King.

27 featured artists in Department Of Education Starstruck from 2002-present.

18 successful auditionees for Hunter School of Performing Arts.

92% of Louise’s HSC music students have achieved Band 6 (top band) for their vocal performances.

Top 100 Australian Idol auditionees: The popular TV show auditions thousands of young hopefuls annually.

Nomination for Encore: Encore is a showcase of outstanding achievement in the area of HSC performance in Music. To be eligible candidates must be in the top 5% of the state. in 2002, Khiara Cummings was nominated for her solo vocal performance.

Schools Spectacular: Daniel Gordon received a standing ovation for his rendition of Bridge over Troubled Waters accompanied by John Forman on piano.

Current and former vocal students are working members of local acts The Tributes, Brown Sugar, Gen-er-8, Conga Party amongst others.

Acceptance into the Contemporary Jazz Course at Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Acceptance into the Queensland School of Performing Arts.

Acceptance into Contemporary Music degree- Lismore University.

Winners of numerous talent quests, karaoke competitions etc.

Students have performed in local productions of Grease, Cabaret, Oliver, and Annie.

Lead roles in musicals at Newcastle Grammar School, Macquarie College and HSPA.

Louise Wilkinson (Glee Director)

Louise Wilkinson has been a professional in the entertainment industry for some 20 years. An accomplished vocalist and dancer, she spent her formative training years under the dance direction of Marie Walton Mahon, training in all aspects of ballet, modern contemporary and Jazz, before adding singing to her performance repertoire in the late 80’s at the Johnny Young Talent School, under the direction of Rita Scott (ex- rockmelons) and classical training under the direction of Miss Narelle Davidson (ex- Opera Australia).

Louise has appeared in many performance outfits including the Commitments Big Band, Sydney dance act, L.S.I. and numerous trios and bands around the Hunter. She has supported rock n roll icon Izzzy Dye, international Dance act Le Bouche and guitar prodigy Nathan Cavaliri. 

She has lent her talents to many corporate events throughout the Hunter including Model For Life for the Spastic Centre, Lake Macquarie City Carols, Newcastle Council  citizenship ceremonies, to name a few.  She is a consultant for Newcastle TAFE’s  Music Industry Skills course and its Performing Arts course.

In addition, Louise has produced and stage managed many key events throughout the Hunter, including  entertainment for  NBL team, the Hunter Pirates, the Newcastle Jets, Lake Macquarie Council amongst others. .  She has directed some of the biggest names in the Australian Music Industry including Marcia Hines, Daryl Braithwaite, Becky Cole and the Potbelleez. 

Recently- Louise was entertainment and floor manager for the historic Jets V LA Galaxy match at a sold out Energy Australia Stadium, hosting David Beckham. 

She has successfully run Fusion Performing Arts in the heart of Newcastle for the last ten years, before making the decision in late 2010 to return to what she loves best- fostering young talent and producing industry standard performers, creating GLEE Club to service aspiring performers all over the Hunter Region. 

In 2011, Louise was engaged by Newcastle City Council to run their L!vesites Kids holiday programmes- taking Glee Club to around 400 children around the Hunter in a day- long format. The programmes were met with positive feedback an attracted media attention as well.

Louise was also engaged by Hunter Valley Gardens to produce their Easter and Christmas Lights Spectacular stage shows viewed by tens of thousands over the Easter and Christmas periods, and offering professional opportunities to local Hunter talent.

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Rebecca Pollard (Dance Director)

Rebecca is a choreographer of some note, having achieved success both as a performer and choreographer at local, state and national levels.

Rebecca’s performance CV is impressive. A trained dancer since the age of 5 in all areas of Technique, Jazz, Funk, Latin, Bachata,  Ballroom, and Lyrical Hip Hop, she has worked for such clients as Coke, Sydney Hair Show, the Westpac Ball and Frock On Newcastle to name just a few.

Since accepting the challenge to impart her considerable knowledge to her younger charges, Rebecca has excelled in her teaching career to date, having lent her considerable talent to Dance Central, Sydney, RMP Studios in Dee Why, the Newcastle United Jets Dance Squad since 2008, and also here at Fusion.

After a year long break to complete studies in counselling and physical fitness (this busy girl is a qualified fitness instructor and councillor to boot), Rebecca re-joins the Fusion Team as Dance Director and Partner, embarking on a programme never before seen in the Hunter.

Her “Think, Feel, Do” philosophy encourages students connect with their dancing- not only on a physical level- but also on a mental and emotional level, producing strong performers who can achieve in the entertainment industry with confidence and grace.

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Kelsie Alexander (Junior Vocal Development)

Kelsie joins our teaching staff with a wealth of experience in all things Fusion, having been a pivotal member of our performance team for the last 6 years. Kelsie is responsible for the Junior Private Lesson Vocal Syllabus, teaching the all-important fundamentals  of musicality, anatomy of the voice and performance to our youngest Fusion Students.

Kelsie also believes in the emotional well-being of her charges, undertaking a Bachelor of Social Work at Newcastle University. She is a seasoned performer, having sung at numerous community, charity and corporate events throughout the Hunter and achieved a Band 6 (the highest band) for her HSC Music in Voice. 

GLEE perform at many key events around the Hunter in 2011 including

• Newcastle Show
• Mattara Festival
• Speers Point Carols
• Jets home games
• Darby Street Fair
• Model for Life
• Charity events
• We will choose soloists and GLEE groups on a per show basis.

GLEE also host a variety of internal performances for the whole club including

• Group recital nights (Terms 1 and 2)
• A Lounge night (with trivia)
• End of year spectacular at Wests (Friday Dec 20th)