Bio
My name is Shamara de Tissera, and I have loved to sing since childhood. From playing French Horn in the West Australian Youth Orchestra to gigging on Tabla in Indian restaurants, I have pursued a lifelong love of music. As president of The Harp Society of Western Australia, I collaborate with colleagues to cultivate the re-emerging fields of Therapeutic Harp as well as Therapeutic Singing: supporting musicians and non-musicians, carers and patients to give and receive music for health and well-being.
I studied classical singing with Molly McGurk, Sara MacLiver and Seth Riggs (founder of Speech Level Singing, USA). My unique teaching methods have developed from an abiding interest in mindful movement, wholistic Steiner education, years of rigorous training on several instruments and inspiration from Simply Music Piano (AU/USA) and Tonalis Music (UK).
With a Bachelor’s Degree of Music Education from The University of Western Australia, I teach private lessons at Swan Harp Studios (singing, harp and piano) and facilitate groups such as Swan Harp Chorale, Therapeutic Harp Circle, The Reverie Harp Project, as well as “Shamara & Friends” visits to hospitals, retirement villages and aged care homes. I have taught in state and Steiner schools in Western Australia and Victoria, and worked as a therapeutic musician in palliative care at Bethesda Hospital, Claremont.