Emmanuel Higgins
President of Eastward Missions / Camp Coordinator / Producer
Emmanuel has a love for music, youth and serving God. He caught the vision of Music Camp in 2014 after running the first pilot camp. Under his leadership, Music Camp has grown to involving more than 60 young musicians from over Australia and New Zealand.
His tireless work at camp is only the beginning of the many hours of painstaking editing to produce high quality music videos that have been broadcast on Christian TV stations around the world. He has been involved in leading youth, public speaking and production since the age of 17.
He also works full-time at Cedarvale Health and Lifestyle Retreat as a teacher and therapist and has been actively involved in leading Magabook canvassing in Australia together with Tim & Andy Hopkins.
Liesl Higgins AMusA, LMusA (violin & piano), BMus (Hons), MMus (Performance)
Orchestra Leader / Composer / Secretary
“All things come of Thee, and of Thine Own have we given Thee.”
Liesl is Emmanuel’s bride of 12 months. She recently graduated from Sydney University with a Masters of Music (Performance) under Associate Professor Alice Waten. She has been teaching violin for the past 3 years at Sydney Conservatorium, and prior to that was on the staff team at Newcastle Conservatorium. Along with over 70 music prizes and awards, she was selected as one of 10 young pianists from around the country for Piano’11 at the Australian National Academy of Music, and was recipient of the University Medal for music (2013). In addition to loving music and other ministry projects, she also works as a cook at Cedarvale Health and Lifestyle Retreat, and is passionate about literature evangelism.
Katie Bailey
Director / Assistant Coordinator
Katie has been involved with music camp from the very start. She has a love for violin, piano and voice and enjoys sharing her talents with others. She has helped organise Music Camp concerts, uniforms and filming locations. She uses her creative flair to write video scripts and works with Emmanuel to direct the filming of each video.
Henry Higgins
Orchestra Leader / Composer / Bible Teacher
Henry is an extraordinary musician who performs on piano, cello, pan flute, guitar, trumpet and piano accordion. He has produced two albums "Near to the Heart" and "Day by Day," which have been well received throughout Australia, America and abroad. As well as music productions, Henry also performs with the Christchurch Camerata, a professional string orchestra based in Newcastle. Henry's passion and enthusiasm in music is contagious. Henry's greatest passion, though is God's word and sharing with others. For the past 4 years he has worked as a Bible worker in both Australia and America. The one word that describes his work with encouraging other young people in their walk with God, is 'enthusiasm'.
Chanel Scheman AMusA (violin & piano), BMus (Hons)
Orchestra Leader / Youth Leader
Chanel is a music teacher with 11 years experience teaching both privately and in schools. She has a Bachelor of Music degree with Honours with a double major in violin and piano performance from the University of Newcastle. She has also achieved her AMusA in both violin and piano. Orchestral playing is one of her loves and she has performed in a number of orchestras including the ChristChurch Camerata, the Lake Macquarie Philharmonic Orchestra, the University of Newcastle Orchestra and the Avondale Orchestra. She has also conducted a string orchestra at a private school. Above all, Chanel loves regularly using her music to contribute to church services and is passionate about devoting her musical talents for God's honour and glory. Chanel is also actively involved in youth work and evangelism at her local SDA Church.
Dr. Don Roy PhD
Choir & Orchestra Leader
Don brings a lifetime of experience in the rich expression of faith and worship through music as a vocalist and conductor of several choirs, ensembles and orchestras in Australia and abroad. In recent years, he has organised and directed many Hymnfest events in Sydney and regional NSW, and is currently conductor of the Avondale Memorial Orchestra.
Melody Lister
Choir Leader
Melody has a love and passion for children and youth choirs. She has over 16 years experience conducting and directing choirs in churches, schools and the community. Her community choirs have toured, recorded CD's, performed at Arts Festivals, community events and concerts.
Melody is also a registered nurse with more than 30 years experience in acute nursing. She has a love for healthy eating and presenting community health programs.
Rebekah Robinson
Camp Advisor / Youth Leader
Rebekah is currently studying secondary teaching at Avondale College. She has been a counsellor at various youth camps over the last few years. She enjoys working with young people, helping them develop their skills and encouraging them to be a blessing to those around them. Rebekah enjoys playing piano, violin and clarinet, and especially enjoys making music with others. She has been involved in music camp almost from the start.
Julie Dearham
Camp Advisor / Youth Leader
Julie has just finished studies in primary teaching and has a love for young people, and leading youth to Christ. She also has a great love for godly music, outreach and literature evangelism and enjoys working with Eastward's canvassing teams. Julie is a talented singer, and has sung in an informal acapella trio with her sisters for many years.
Tim Hopkins
Camp Advisor / Youth Leader
Tim, and his identical twin brother Andy are passionate literature evangelists, leading regularly magabook canvassing teams in various parts of Australia. He loves listening to choir music, and singing acapella as a trio or quartet with Emmanuel, Henry and Andy.
He also enjoys working as an aborist, in tree removal and maintenance.
Andy Hopkins
Camp Advisor / Youth Leader
Andy, and his identical twin brother Tim are passionate literature evangelists, leading regularly magabook canvassing teams in various parts of Australia. He loves listening to choir music, and singing acapella as a trio or quartet with Emmanuel, Henry and Tim.
He also enjoys working as an aborist, in tree removal and maintenance.