Steve Jaz is a visionary founder, managing director, and musician-turned-entrepreneur who has significantly transformed the music landscape at Music Valley.

Starting his journey as a session musician, Steve toured extensively with various shows and corporate bands, sharing the stage with renowned Australian music icons like Darryl Braithwaite and Choirboys. After earning his music degree, he balanced a dual career as a musician and a corporate sales executive for several years. Having faced the numerous challenges of sustaining a living in the music industry, Steve was inspired to create a company that addresses the hurdles artists encounter on their path to becoming full-time professionals.

Through dedicated personal development and entrepreneurial growth, Steve pioneered a new model for training, music production, and career advancement. Over the past decade, this innovative approach has positively impacted the lives of thousands of artists, thanks to the efforts of his dedicated team.

With an expanding network across Australia, Steve remains committed to realizing the Music Valley vision, aiming to give back to the community and strengthen the music industry. He is dedicated to forging new pathways for today’s musicians.

Alongside his team, Steve is on a mission to redefine the journey for aspiring artists, replacing outdated practices with more effective, cost-efficient solutions. Be sure to check out his latest article in Forbes Australia for further insights.

Music Ensemble Director, Teacher, Trainer & Mentor, Martin has over 20 years of experience as a lecturer, touring musician, composer and in curriculum design.

In addition to teaching, Martin is a composer, multi-media producer, and performing musician, specialising in Saxophone, Piano and West African Percussion.

Martin currently works with a diverse range of students at Music Valley and is our Music Ensemble Director. He brings much of his world experience into our community, introducing West African percussion ensembles, jazz performance ensembles, music theory, harmony and music composition to his classes for young and old.

His work also includes designing experiences for concert, dance, film and other multi-media, both live and in the studio which has taken him to the Middle East, West Africa, South America, Europe, Australia, and throughout Asia. Martin’s previous clients include Harvard University, MIT, Boston Ballet, and Boston Convervatory at Berklee.

Leon Varela-Mauna is a performer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Since commencing music at the age of 13, Leon has grown to become a competent multi instrumentalist, specialising in saxophone, guitar and bass.

Over the past 2 years, Leon has gained experience working in some of Melbourne's premier live music venues including Birds Basement, Nightcat, and Workers Club performing alongside music industry veterans such as Tony Silvano, Adam Rudegeair, Julian Banks, Cameron Stark and Anton Dellecca.

Having recently completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2023, majoring in music performance, Leon is currently working alongside with MV team, to further his skills as an educator and professional music instructor and band facilitator. As the youngest member of the team, Leon brings his live performance industry experience to the MV community and is a great role model for many aspiring musicians who wish to launch their career in the music industry with Music Valley.

Leon is a 2 x award recipient of the Music Bursary Award at Thomas Carr College and 4 x Award recipient of the Malaya Borneo certificate of Appreciation.

Breanne Peters, a Melbourne musician/singer-songwriter, Vocal coach, multi-instrumentalist and performer. She began classical piano and classical guitar at age 3. At age 7, she began learning acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, and voice. Her love and passion for music lead her to public performances and songwriting from age 8. Breanne graduated at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) in 2021 where she studied Classical and Jazz guitar. She is now studying a Bachelor of Music with specialisation in Songwriting at JMC Academy. She plays a variety of genres including RnB, Reggae, Afro, Soul, Rock, Classical, Blues, Jazz, and Metal.

Breanne began teaching music in 2018, and over the past few years, has honed her ability to inspire students and foster a love for music. She has a passion for making complex musical theories easily understandable for each student, recognising their most relatable avenues of learning, and exchanging their musical experiences and perspectives together. This has helped her students excel in their musical journey, self confidence, self belief, and self trust, allowing for them to not only grow their love for music, but also their love for themselves and their own creativity.

Breanne has a passion for her Māori culture and incorporates this in her songwriting and performance. Many of her songs are in Te Reo Maori, the indigenous language of New Zealand. She also includes native instruments in her songs which are available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other platforms. The past 2 years, Breanne has been touring with Jen Cloher, performing at venues such as the Sydney Opera House, The Princess Theatre in Brisbane, Northcote Theatre, and many festivals including WOMAD and Panama Festival.

Joining the Music Valley Team in 2024, Breanne is excited to collaborate and grow alongside like minded artistic developers in a community filled with support, encouragement and creativity.

Three time Latin Grammys nominee ALETHIA (Alethia Gomez) is a Colombian singer-songwriter and actress based in Melbourne, Australia.

Her musical project combines elements of reggae, jazz, soul and bolero with lyrics in English and Spanish which has allowed her to highlight her roots around the world. Her artistic development began in musical theatre at the age of 7, then she studied contemporary music at EMMAT representative institution of Berklee College of Music in Latin America.

In 2013 Alethia was a semi-finalist of The Voice in Colombia, working and touring with world-renowned musicians in Colombia and in USA. In 2018 she was awarded a full scholarship on performance at JMC academy. Having finished her musical studies she graduated with a Master's degree in creative industries.

ALETHIA is also well known for her countless collaborations with artists from Colombia, the USA, France, Iran, Korea and Japan. Currently, She is in her way to release her album debut ‘Emotions’ with her new sound, including the song Once More as a bonus track and special collaborations. This upcoming album is being featured for Rolling Stones Australia in April 2022 for its authenticity and its innovative creative approach.

Alethia currently teaches voice, performance and toplining at Music Valley, working with aspiring vocal artists to build their capabilities in vocal technique, performance, recording and improvisational skills.

Originally from Canberra, Tristan graduated the ANU School of Music with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in voice in contemporary/ jazz music. He has an affinity for performance and was awarded the Bill Hyslop award for the highest aggregate grade in voice.

A multi-instrumentalist (piano, voice, guitar, bass, drums, saxophone), Tristan has been involved in music for his entire life. Learning piano from a young age, he has developed his musical and instrumental ability through tutors and self-teaching, as well as performing in musical theatre.

Tristan writes pop/funk music, which he has performed with his band extensively, and hopes to bring to the Melbourne scene. He released his debut single “Tired” in 2022, and is currently recording in Melbourne and plans to release more of his music in 2023.

Tristan has worked with a diverse range of students, having taught music for over five years in Canberra. He loves inspiring passion in students, and adapts his teaching style to each individual’s learning style and personality. Tristan is super excited to be joining the Music Valley team in 2023, working with aspiring singers and musicians to unlock their artistic potential.

Working as a professional guitarist in Melbourne, Jack has cultivated over 10 years of specialised knowledge reinforced by real world performances and academic specialisation. Achieving a Bachelor of Music Performance (Jazz and Improvisation) from the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music at Monash University, Jack has gone on to utilise his unique musical skillset across a wide variety of genres and performance scenarios. Performing alongside acts such as the Senegambian Jazz Band, Solomon Sisay, Natty Man, and Jacob Fitzgerald, Jack has performed both locally and interstate at a range of venues and festivals including Melbourne Recital Centre, Moomba, Loch Hart Music Festival, and the Night Cat to name a few.

A two time recipient of the Bornstein Jazz Guitar Prize, Jack is excited to develop and provide a holistic approach to guitar instruction.

In 2024, Jack began his journey at Music Valley, eager to expand his expertise as an educator and professional music instructor. As one of the youngest members on the team, he injects a vibrant wealth of knowledge and insight into the MV community, serving as an inspiring role model for other budding music professionals and recent graduates.

Mark Madzinga, a born and bred Zimbabwean, is a multi-talented Music Producer and Pianist. He built a successful career in Southern Africa, where he produced and directed music for many successful artists.

Mark's musical journey has taken him far and wide. He has shared the stage with renowned international artists such as Donnie McClurkin, Joanita Bynum, Israel Houghton, Micah Stampley, Benjamin Dube, and Sinach among others. In Zimbabwe, Mark has worked with with Janet Manyowa, Amara Brown, Zimpraise, just to name a few. Mark's passion for music extends beyond performing, as he is also a songwriter, and the founder of Destiny Music & Entertainment.

In addition to his musical pursuits, Mark has achieved impressive qualifications in music theory, jazz piano, and music mixing and mastering. He is a certified Avid Pro Tools user and has studied Music Production with Berklee College. Mark's experience in the industry is extensive, having worked with various schools and artists, as well as producing and directing live recordings. He also has much experience in Sound Egineering.

With a strong love and passion for empowering musicians and using music to encourage others, Mark believes in making the world a better place through his music. His journey has been marked by strength and resilience, and he continues to inspire hope and strengthen people's faith through his heartfelt compositions. Currently based in Melbourne, Australia, Mark is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.

Diane brings a strong dedication to building lasting relationships and discovering exceptional talent at Music Valley.

Her passion and love for music, especially R&B, soul, and slow rock, fuels her commitment to finding talents who resonate deeply with audiences and whose talent deserves to be seen and heard, ensuring we connect the right talent with the right opportunities.

At Melbourne's premier music training, education, and production studio, “Where Artists Are Made,” Diane is committed to helping musicians unlock their full potential, thrive, and leave a lasting impact in today’s music industry as a talent recruiter in our admissions department.